Anything You Want

40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

by Derek Sivers

4.7(5,067 ratings)

14 min read

Brief overview

This book explores how to build a meaningful, customer-focused venture on your own terms. It shows you how to find genuine enthusiasm for your ideas, stay honest about what people actually want, and cultivate a business that suits your life goals. Strongly emphasizing personal growth, it inspires you to do what feels right, solve real problems, and ignore the noise of traditional success measures.

Introduction

Have you ever pictured running a business exactly the way you want, free from rigid rules and corporate constraints? This book offers a refreshing mindset: Business can be a creative, evolving experiment, not an endless chase for profits. As the founder learned firsthand, focusing on genuine engagement and user delight can drive success far more effectively than splashy promotions.

Even if you’re not sure what comes next, taking a humble first step is often better than obsessively planning. The author discovered this truth while unwittingly creating the independent music store CD Baby. Combine passion, curiosity, and a willingness to help others, and you’re on your way to a sustainable venture—without needing a massive influx of cash.

This introduction lays the groundwork for why this approach matters. You’ll see that big money or huge plans aren’t the ultimate key to building something remarkable. Instead, a sense of purpose, an ability to pivot, and the joy of delighting your customers can set a sturdy foundation. Get ready to rethink the standard business playbook.

In the pages ahead, we’ll explore stories, tips, and principles designed to spark your own creative solutions. You’ll see that a small, intentional action can sometimes have more impact than a grand, complicated scheme. Let’s dive in and discover how to design a fulfilling business—on your own terms.

Strive for Real Value

Starting a business by focusing solely on revenue often leads to superficial goals. Instead, it’s better to start with the question: “How can I truly help people?” By putting customers first, you create a bridge between their needs and your creativity. That bridge forms the basis of any venture, whether you’re teaching music or setting up a global digital store.

The author’s early attempts at various business ideas weren’t immediate hits. Only when he noticed a real gap—independent musicians needed a simple place to sell their work—did his efforts start resonating. The lesson is to watch for enthusiastic responses. If potential clients react with excitement and relief, chances are you’re onto something worth pursuing.

Be wary of clinging to an idea that barely sparks interest. It’s painful to scrap a long-planned project, but if nobody truly wants it, persisting won’t magically fix the mismatch. Instead, redirect your energy into refining or entirely rethinking how you help people. That’s how you unearth genuine value.

Success emerges when your solution aligns with a pressing, real need—no forced promotion required.

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What is Anything You Want about?

"Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur" by Derek Sivers is a compelling guide for anyone looking to breathe fresh life into their entrepreneurial journey. Packed with insightful anecdotes and practical advice, this book challenges conventional business wisdom by fostering a mindset that prioritizes simplicity, authenticity, and personal joy. Sivers, the creator of CD Baby, shares lessons from his own experiences that encourage budding entrepreneurs to craft businesses aligned with their values, ultimately nurturing ventures that are not just financially successful but also personally fulfilling.

The book addresses the inherent tensions of entrepreneurship, such as the balance between personal freedom and necessary constraints. By focusing on customer satisfaction and putting genuine enthusiasm over outdated metrics, readers are guided to redefine success on their own terms. This is a book about redefining entrepreneurship as a human-centered endeavor that propels innovation and growth, all while staying true to individual vision.

Review of Anything You Want

Derek Sivers' "Anything You Want" is a refreshingly authentic take on entrepreneurship. A delightful blend of storytelling and actionable strategies provides a new perspective for anyone weary of traditional business advice. The book's key strength lies in its focus on real-life anecdotes that illustrate practical lessons rather than abstract theories, making it accessible to aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs alike.

One profound takeaway is the emphasis on simplicity and human connection over complex strategies and impersonal growth metrics. For instance, Sivers demonstrates the power of small, genuine customer interactions, like memorable email confirmations, which transformed CD Baby into a beloved company. This book reminds readers that meaningful impact often comes from actions born out of sincerity and personal connection.

The writing style in "Anything You Want" is both engaging and straightforward, making it approachable yet insightful. It appeals specifically to those who value authenticity and personal growth in their business endeavors. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering or currently navigating the entrepreneurial path, particularly those looking to build businesses that align with personal values and prioritize customer satisfaction over conventional measures of success.

Though not focused on rapid-scale ventures, the wisdom shared here is essential for those seeking a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey where the end goal is happiness and societal contribution rather than merely profit.

Who should read Anything You Want?

Aspiring entrepreneurs looking for guidance on starting a value-driven business
Small business owners wanting to align their ventures with personal values
Creatives and artists aiming to monetize their passion projects
Business coaches seeking fresh perspectives on entrepreneurship
Corporate professionals considering a transition to self-employment

About the author

Derek Sivers is a renowned entrepreneur and author, best known as the founder of CD Baby, the largest online distribution company for independent music. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1990 with a major in professional music. Sivers successfully scaled CD Baby to $100 million in sales for 150,000 musicians before selling the company in 2008 for $22 million, which he donated to a charitable trust for music education. He shares his entrepreneurial insights in "Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur," drawing from his extensive experience in building and managing a successful business.