For years, I'd say yes to almost everything, trying to be nice and generous. Feeling obliged to be of service to the world. Maybe also a fear of being forgotten if I don't. But I paid the ultimate price in doing that, because for all those years, I got almost no work done! Some famous authors have written about this: that if they said yes to every request, then they'd never have time to write another book again.

Derek Sivers

Categorized in : Book Writing Nice

Business is not about money. It's about making dreams come true for others and for yourself.

Derek Sivers

helpful marketing dream

Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.

Derek Sivers

drains

There is no movement without the first follower. See, we are told that we all need to be leaders but that would be ineffective. The best way to make a movement, if you really care, is to courageously follow and show others how to follow.

Derek Sivers

leader would-be needs

Steve Jobs gave a small private presentation about the iTunes Music Store to some independent record label people. My favorite line of the day was when people kept raising their hand saying, "Does it do [x]?", "Do you plan to add [y]?". Finally Jobs said, "Wait wait - put your hands down. Listen: I know you have a thousand ideas for all the cool features iTunes could have. So do we. But we don't want a thousand features. That would be ugly. Innovation is not about saying yes to everything. It's about saying NO to all but the most crucial features.

Derek Sivers

independent jobs hands

You're free to do anything you want with your company. It's more like art. You don't have to follow any norms. It's an expression of how you feel the world should be. When you make a company, that's your little place to make your own little utopia.

Derek Sivers

expression world art

You grow (and thrive!) by doing what excites

Derek Sivers

passion everyday trying

Customer service is the new marketing.

Derek Sivers

great-customer-service marketing educational

When you make a business, you get to make a little universe where you control all the laws.

Derek Sivers

universe law littles

Everyone who became great at something has a similar story: For years, they worked on their craft every day, even if they weren’t in the mood. Always pushing, practicing, working, and improvingYes it takes thousands of hours of practice, but that’s good news! It’s a clear path and it’s under your control.

Derek Sivers

news practice years

Let’s never forget that whatever brilliant ideas you have or hear, that the opposite may also be true.

Derek Sivers

motivation inspiration opposites

How you do anything is how you do everything. Your "character" or "nature" just refers to how you handle all the day-to-day things in life, no matter how small.

Derek Sivers

things-in-life matter character

The most important lesson is probably to spend less than you earn.

Derek Sivers

important-lessons lessons important

Don't be on your deathbed someday, having squandered your one chance at life, full of regret because you pursued little distractions instead of big dreams.

Derek Sivers

regret dream littles

The creative person basically has two kinds of jobs: One is the sexy, creative kind. Second is the kind that pays the bills. Sometimes the task at hand covers both bases, but not often.

Derek Sivers

sexy jobs hands

The first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. … The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.

Derek Sivers

motivation inspiration nuts

Repeated psychology tests have proven that telling someone your goal makes it less likely to happen.

Derek Sivers

motivation inspiration goal

Care about your customers more than about yourself, and you'll do well.

Derek Sivers

helpful marketing care

If you really care about starting a movement, have the courage to follow and show others how to follow. And when you find a lone nut doing something great, have the guts to be the first one to stand up and join in.

Derek Sivers

motivation inspiration nuts

Obvious to you is amazing to others.

Derek Sivers

obvious

You can't please everyone, so proudly exclude people.

Derek Sivers

helpful marketing people