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.
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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:
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
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
Review
"One of the best hours you’ll ever spend will be reading Derek Sivers’s new book…Anything You Want." -- Forbes
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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
86 of 95 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
Format: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.
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.
72 of 82 people found the following review helpful
By Vanessa
Format: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.
56 of 63 people found the following review helpful
By Tyler Hurst
Format: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.
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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Story of Derek Sivers and his CD Baby
"Anything you want" is a very short book. Page-wise, it's about 70 pages, but the pages are very small and the spacing is large, which means you ought to be able to read it in an... Read more
Published 4 days ago by Bas Vodde
5.0 out of 5 stars
Straight to the point
Great book that gets down to the nuts and bolts from cover to cover. Lots of great concepts and ideas to help you think outside the box! Derek you have a new fan for sure!
Published 10 days ago by BucFanz7
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice read... Like sitting for coffee with Derek
I enjoyed reading this book. It's one of the few that I looked forward to picking up to continue. The writing style is very honest and personal. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Noorss
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just Ok
I was first introduced to Derek Sivers while watching a TED Talk. I thought his three minute speech was brilliant, so when I saw that he had written a book I was very excited to... Read more
Published 25 days ago by Jonathan Stephens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do it your way
I love a good personal story. It makes sure it's real and it can be done, not some vague theory about what should be done. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Bas van de Haterd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honest and inspiring
I haven't read a single book the was this honest and inspiring. I love the chapter entitled I miss the mob. Quick read which makes even more enjoyable.
Published 28 days ago by Robert F. Karsch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Story and Great Read
I loved reading about the incidental emergence of CD Baby and the lessons learned through the business life cycle. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Dave Guymon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anything You Want Review
Amazing book! Remarkable stories by an entrepreneur/musician that made his dream come true. Totally inspiring, and with lessons that would make your entrepreneurial journey more... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mikhail Baynes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for those waiting enough money or detailed business-plans...
This is a book about a guy named Derek Sivers, who happened to be a musician that was not pleased with the music distribution industry. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Marcel Pechman
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Story You Should Hear
If you've ever thought about starting anything, read Derek's story. You'll get a perspective that will help you find what you are looking for.
Published 1 month ago by Samuel Lindberg
