Founded CD Baby in 1998 and sold it in 2008, giving the proceeds to a charitable trust for music education. Since then a writer and speaker: five books, 550+ articles, and a site at sive.rs he hand-codes and keeps free of advertising.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
10 of Derek Sivers's claims fit 7 mental models. Most often: Less, but better, Say no by default, Cognitive biases.
Most good options have to be turned down, so make no the default and keep yes for what matters.
Their wordsIf you're not feeling “Hell yeah, that would be awesome!” about something, say no.
Their wordsThough it's good to say yes when you're starting out, wanting any opportunity, or needing variety, it's bad to say yes when you're overwhelmed, over-committed, or need to focus.
Once you know something, you cannot remember not knowing it. Fresh eyes see what you no longer can: a newcomer's, or your own after time away.
Their wordsEverybody’s ideas seem obvious to them. I’ll bet even John Coltrane or Richard Feynman felt that everything they were playing or saying was pretty obvious. So maybe what’s obvious to me is amazing to someone else?
Find the essence and cut the rest; simplicity is hard work, not the absence of effort.
Their wordsRefuse almost everything. Do almost nothing. But the things you do, do them all the way.
Their wordsChop the weak beginnings, like “I think” and “Whether or not”. Start with powerful subjects and verbs.
Their wordsDelete any sentence not worthy of its own line.
Your mind jumps to conclusions and defends them; look for the evidence against you and use checklists.
Their wordsYou'll ignore a mountain of evidence if you hear one good story against it or just feel yourself leaning the other way.
A longer horizon makes some problems solvable and some short-term wins look like what they are.
Their wordsYou will outlive these companies. Your writing should outlive you. Depending on companies is not an option.
Set up your situation, rules and defaults so the good choice is the easy one, instead of relying on willpower.
Their wordsI forbid myself from anything too tempting or addicting. I keep no cookies in my home. To prevent myself from falling off the wagon, I strap myself to the mast.
When something becomes cheap and plentiful, the value moves to whatever is still rare next to it.
Their wordsYou get no competitive edge from consuming the same stuff everyone else is consuming.