Anything You Want [Hardcover]

Derek Sivers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2011

Best known for creating CD Baby, the most popular music site for independent artists, founder Derek Sivers chronicles his “accidental” success and failures into this concise and inspiring book on how to create a multi-million dollar company by following your passion. In Anything You Want, Sivers details his journey and the lessons learned along the way of creating CD Baby and building a business close to his heart. “[Sivers is] one of the last music-business folk heroes,” says Esquire magazine. His less-scripted approach to business is refreshing and will educate readers to feel empowered to follow their own dreams. Aspiring entrepreneurs and others trying to make their own way will be particularly comforted by Sivers straight talk and transparency -a reminder that anything you want is within your reach. Anything You Want is also available in a 5 pack, 52 pack and very limited edition Collectible, signed by Derek.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Tim Ferriss Reviews Anything You Want

Tim Ferriss is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Body and The 4-Hour Workweek. He has a diverse background of experience, including working as an actor, speaking seven foreign languages, holding a world record in tango, and being a national Chinese kickboxing champion. He has written for Maxim and the Philadelphia Inquirer, has appeared on MTV and CBS radio, and has been interviewed or featured in such major publications as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and more. Read his review of Derek Sivers's Anything You Want:

I love this book!

Derek is the entrepreneur's entrepreneur. Just as important, perhaps more so--he is a phenomenal teacher. Whether detailing the fascinating rise of CDBaby, explaining catastrophic (but common) founder mistakes, or teaching me about relational databases in two minutes using analogies, he makes the complex simple. Moreover, he makes it all actionable.

If you want a true manifesto, a guidebook with clear signposts, and a fun ride you'll return to again and again, you have it here in this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. --Tim Ferriss

Derek Sivers's Recommended Reading
 
We asked author and founder of CD Baby Derek Sivers to tell us about the books that have influenced him the most as an entrepreneur. His list includes everything from What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful to The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World. Check out Derek's complete list of recommended reading for those aspiring to follow their passion to build a successful business--and a rewarding life.

See the complete list of Derek's recommended reading

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Review

"One of the best hours you’ll ever spend will be reading Derek Sivers’s new book…Anything You Want." -- Forbes

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 88 pages
• Publisher: The Domino Project (June 29, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1936719118
• ISBN-13: 978-1936719112
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > New Business Enterprises
  • #91 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Entrepreneurship

More About the Author

After making a living as a professional musician, Derek Sivers went looking for ways to sell his own CD online and ended up creating CD Baby, once the largest seller of independent music on the web with over $100M in sales for over 150,000 musician clients. Since 2008, Derek has traveled the world and stayed busy creating and nurturing creative endeavors, like Muckwork, his newest company where teams of efficient assistants help musicians do their "uncreative dirty work." Derek writes regularly on creativity, entrepreneurship, and music on his blog: http://sivers.org/.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An honest account, July 2, 2011

By 

Vanessa (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anything You Want (Hardcover)

While there is little here that you can't find in many other business books, it sounds like a very honest account of one man's journey. It's a short book that details the decisions (good and bad) and events that happened on the way to creating and eventually selling CDBaby. There's no secret in the book that will help you succeed in a similar way, but there are some important mantras that can be taken away, such as the importance of focusing on the customers above everything else. Due to the length of the book, it's hard to rate this book as you would a 300 - 500 page work. The book is worthwhile, but not great. Think of it as an opportunity to sit down with the author for an hour and having him tell you about the experience... definitely worthwhile.

70 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In the end, it's about what you want to be, not what you want to have, June 29, 2011

By 

B "B Campbell" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anything You Want (Hardcover)

"In the end, it's about what you want to be, not what you want to have."

If you agree with that statement (I think my favorite quote from this book), you need to read this book.
If you're looking for inspiration.
If you're afraid of failure.
If you want to start something.
You need to read this book.

"Don't pursue business just for your own gain. Only answer the calls for help."

Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby shares his success and his failures in this remarkably straight forward and honest book about how he basically accidentally founded a remarkably successful internet company - long before the internet bubble and without knowing anything about it.

I read this book in a couple of quick subway rides, to and from work. Don't be fooled by its ease, though. While you'll zoom through it, you'll close it feeling inspired and ready to start something new and, most importantly, you'll close it feeling less afraid of failure and less self-conscious about doing what makes you happy in life.

One more favorite quote: "... if you think true love looks like Romeo and Juliet, you'll overlook a great relationship that grows slowly." Revolution - in business and in life - often starts with a small step.

This book will help you remember that.

50 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hit me CD Baby One More Time, June 29, 2011

By 

Tyler D. Hurst "Squirrel!" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anything You Want (Kindle Edition)

I've never met Derek Sivers. Never bought a CD from him and don't know of anyone who has. As far as I know, Derek doesn't know me either.

But I get him. I think.

I get that he likes to solve problems. I get that money isn't his sole or main goal. I get that he wants to live life on his terms.

I get that some of the best, most enriching ideas in the world never started out that way.

And that's what this book is about. How to create, maintain and let go of an dream that morphed into an idea that morphed into a solution that morphed into a business that morphed into something that made money.

Too many of us are always looking for the next thing. We're looking for whatever comes next.

We'd be well served just solving problems now and see where that goes.

I think Derek would agree.