The Goal of This Post

This post shares some of my favorite passages, quotes, and thoughts from Anything You Want, by Derek Sivers. Derek Sivers is the founder of CD Baby and a champion of small, intentional businesses.

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#1. What’s Your Compass?

• You need to know your personal philosophy of what makes you happy and what’s worth doing.
• Success comes from persistently improving and inventing.
• The real point of doing anything is to be happy.

Never forget that you can make your role anything you want it to be.

#2. Make a Dream Come True

• When you make a business, you get to make a little universe where you control all the laws.
• When you make it a dream come true for yourself, it’ll be a dream come true for someone else, too.
• Whatever you make, it’s your creation, so make it your personal dream come true.

I wasn’t trying to make a big business. I was just daydreaming about how one little thing would look in a perfect world.

#3. Care About Your Customers More Than About Yourself

• Absolutely everything you do is for your customers.
• Make every decision according to what’s best for your customers.
• Ask your customers “How can I best help you now?” Then focus on satisfying those requests.

Care about your customers more than about yourself, and you’ll do well.

#4. Every Interaction Is Your Moment To Shine

• You can’t prevent bad things from happening. Learn to shrug.
• At the end of every computer is a real person.
• If you find even the smallest way to make people smile, they’ll remember you more for that smile.

Decide from scratch what seems like the right things to do, instead of just doing what others do.

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Final Quote: Make Your Perfect World

Business is as creative as the fine arts. You can be as unconventional, unique, and quirky as you want. A business is a reflection of the creator.

Pay close attention to what excites you and what drains you. Pay close attention to when you’re being the real you and when you’re trying to impress an invisible jury.

Whatever you make, it’s your creation, so make it your personal dream come true.

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All content credit goes to the author(s). I’ve shared the bits I’ve enjoyed the most and found most useful.

Cheers ’til next time! Saludos!
Alberto