Are you helping people? Are they happy? Are you happy? Are you profitable? Isn't that enough? Derek Sivers More Quotes by Derek Sivers More Quotes From Derek Sivers Five years after I started CD Baby, when it was a big success, the media said I had revolutionized the music business. But 'revolution' is a term that people use only when you're successful. Before that, you're just a quirky person who does things differently. Derek Sivers media successful baby If you keep thinking about putting on a conference or being a Hollywood screenwriter, and you find the idea terrifies but intrigues you, it's probably a worthy endeavor for you. You grow (and thrive!) by doing what excites you and what scares you everyday, not by trying to find your passion. Derek Sivers passion ideas thinking Don’t pursue business just for your own gain. Only answer the calls for help. Derek Sivers gains answers helping Pay close attention to when you're being the real you & when you're trying to impress an invisible jury. Derek Sivers real trying attention When you make a business you're making a little world. Derek Sivers littles world Never forget why you're really doing what you're doing. Derek Sivers never-forget forget I'm not interested until I see their execution. Derek Sivers execution not-interested Make every decision—even decisions about whether to expand the business, raise money, or promote someone—according to what's best for your customers. Derek Sivers raises customers decision Go find very early versions of things: the first TV pilot of a later-successful TV show; early audition tapes by famous actors; early demos by famous musicians. Focus on these early examples, not what they became over the next 20 years. Remember that what you're doing will constantly improve. Derek Sivers tv-shows successful years The purpose of money is to trade for things that make you happy. So if you can bypass money and get directly to the happy, you've saved a lot of trouble. And it makes others happier, too, when you organize your business around non-monetary things. Derek Sivers bypass purpose trouble It's only a little difficult to say no. You've got to believe that the work you're doing is ultimately more useful to the world. Derek Sivers littles believe world Learning. It's really the primary reason behind everything I do. Programming, entrepreneuring, writing. Derek Sivers programming reason writing Distributing the music is so easy it's moot. So now the delicate art of calling attention to your music means everything. Marketing is distribution. Derek Sivers music easy attention art Everything I ever wanted to know I just ask a search engine and there's the answer. So the least I can do for my clients is share what I've learned. Derek Sivers answer search know i-can There are plenty of millionaires who would pay millions to hang a Van Gogh painting on the wall, but hardly one that would have ever had the crazy nut over for dinner. I feel like the big companies are like that with musicians. They'll say, 'We love music! It's all about the music!' - but if a musician shows up at the door, they call security. Derek Sivers dinner music crazy love For some reason, ever since I was a little kid, I wake with the most energy of the day, and it slowly declines from there. Derek Sivers some day energy reason A work-only zone does wonders for your productivity. So, I prefer working at the office now. I spend 8 focused hours there, then I go home to be present with my family. Derek Sivers your go family home I'm so into music that I just stop and listen, whenever there's music on. That's the problem with being a musician for so long. I can get lost in the bassline, fascinated with the arrangement, curious about the production. I can't shut it out. Derek Sivers stop music problem long