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Derek Sivers

What Derek Sivers thinks about ambition

@derek-sivers · 44 positions · 3 changes of mind

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.

Everything they publish, on ppll ↗

Derek Sivers did not write this page.

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.

5 dated positions, 2016 to 2025, in their own words. Our reading of what Derek Sivers has said — not written or endorsed by them.

  1. Our readingIf money is the only thing holding someone back from what they want to do, they are not thinking clearly; there is always a way around it.

    Their wordsThe point is that if you think that money is the only thing holding you back from what you want to do, you're not thinking very clearly. There's always a way around it.

    ↗sive.rs

    Interesting
  2. 7 years earlier

  3. Our readingSay no to anything that is not an enthusiastic yes, because a life full of half-hearted commitments leaves no room for the things worth doing.

    Their wordsIf you're not feeling “Hell yeah, that would be awesome!” about something, say no.

    ↗If you're not feeling “hell yeah!” then say nosive.rs 1st of 3 in this piece

    Interesting

  5. Our readingThe hell-yeah rule is for people who are already overwhelmed; someone starting out should say yes to almost anything.

    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.

    ↗If you're not feeling “hell yeah!” then say nosive.rs 2nd of 3 in this piece

    Interesting

  7. Our readingDo almost nothing, and do the few things you take on all the way.

    Their wordsRefuse almost everything. Do almost nothing. But the things you do, do them all the way.

    ↗If you're not feeling “hell yeah!” then say nosive.rs 3rd of 3 in this piece

    Interesting
  8. 22 months earlier

  9. Our readingConsuming what everyone else consumes gives you no advantage; focus is the rare and valuable thing now.

    Their wordsYou get no competitive edge from consuming the same stuff everyone else is consuming.

    ↗Disconnectsive.rs 3rd of 2 in this piece

    Interesting