21 min
June 21, 2022 #176 Derek Sivers (Sort of). Three Questions to and Answers from a Modern Sage The Jason Wright Show
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- Entrepreneurship
Derek Sivers
Derek Sivers is a modern sage. He’s been wildly successful by all the typical measures, but that’s not why I like him and his work. Nope. It’s because Derek seems to have beaten the game of life.
He lives on his terms. Just because everyone thinks you should sell your company and make millions and then live the FU money life, Derek does not. He keeps things simple. He doesn’t waste time, words or seemingly any aspect of life.
He appears to live one of the most contented and thoughtful lives of anyone I’ve witnessed. So naturally when read his book, “Anything You Want,” and saw his invitation to email him I jumped at the opportunity.
Where one of my other virtual mentors and close friend of Derek’s Tim Ferriss erects walls and fortresses to keep everyone not in his inner circle out (and I don’t blame him) Derek says, come on in. I’ll talk to you.
So I emailed him. Eventually, he responded and then multiple emails back and forth later we had some digital dialogue. I’m grateful to say the least.
I like that this episode stretched me a little. I had to find a way to make it worthy of an episode, and I think I pulled it off. I hope you enjoy learning more about Derek. One day, I hope to have him on for a lengthier conversation. Until then, I’m truly honored to have at least got a personal touch for the Jason Wright Show.
Here’s one of my favorite Derek TED Talks on goals. I’ve adopted this discipline. I actually learned if from Steven Kotler, but Derek drove home the point for me.
More About Derek:
I always write for my audience, not for myself, so this feels indulgent. When I think of expressing this kind of “about me” stuff in an article, I stop myself because it’s not directly useful to you.
So this is just one big page where I can write all about myself, without feeling the need for it to be useful. And some day this site will be all that’s left of me, so I might as well write my own mini autobiography.
Time line for context:
* 1969: born in California* 1976: started playing piano, viola, and clarinet* 1979: got a TRS-80 computer and dove deep into programming in BASIC* 1983: started playing guitar, decided I wanted to be a successful musician* 1987: started Berklee College of Music in Boston* 1988: joined a circus, as ringleader/MC musician* 1990: graduated college, moved to New York City, got a job at Warner/Chappell Music* 1992: quit my job, and toured Japan as Ryuichi Sakamoto’s guitarist* 1993: lived alone on the Oregon coast for 7 months, writing and recording music full-time, in a town with a population of 2* 1994: played around New York and universities with my band “Hit Me”, and the Professional Pests* 1995: started a record label, booking agency, and recording studio* 1996: recorded and released my album* 1997: started CD Baby* 1998: quit the circus, after 10 years and about 1000 shows* 1999: started HostBaby* 2000: moved to Portland, Oregon* 2002: moved to Santa Monica, California* 2007: rough year, moved to London, decided to quit my company* 2008: moved to San Francisco, a href="https://sive.
Derek Sivers
Derek Sivers is a modern sage. He’s been wildly successful by all the typical measures, but that’s not why I like him and his work. Nope. It’s because Derek seems to have beaten the game of life.
He lives on his terms. Just because everyone thinks you should sell your company and make millions and then live the FU money life, Derek does not. He keeps things simple. He doesn’t waste time, words or seemingly any aspect of life.
He appears to live one of the most contented and thoughtful lives of anyone I’ve witnessed. So naturally when read his book, “Anything You Want,” and saw his invitation to email him I jumped at the opportunity.
Where one of my other virtual mentors and close friend of Derek’s Tim Ferriss erects walls and fortresses to keep everyone not in his inner circle out (and I don’t blame him) Derek says, come on in. I’ll talk to you.
So I emailed him. Eventually, he responded and then multiple emails back and forth later we had some digital dialogue. I’m grateful to say the least.
I like that this episode stretched me a little. I had to find a way to make it worthy of an episode, and I think I pulled it off. I hope you enjoy learning more about Derek. One day, I hope to have him on for a lengthier conversation. Until then, I’m truly honored to have at least got a personal touch for the Jason Wright Show.
Here’s one of my favorite Derek TED Talks on goals. I’ve adopted this discipline. I actually learned if from Steven Kotler, but Derek drove home the point for me.
More About Derek:
I always write for my audience, not for myself, so this feels indulgent. When I think of expressing this kind of “about me” stuff in an article, I stop myself because it’s not directly useful to you.
So this is just one big page where I can write all about myself, without feeling the need for it to be useful. And some day this site will be all that’s left of me, so I might as well write my own mini autobiography.
Time line for context:
* 1969: born in California* 1976: started playing piano, viola, and clarinet* 1979: got a TRS-80 computer and dove deep into programming in BASIC* 1983: started playing guitar, decided I wanted to be a successful musician* 1987: started Berklee College of Music in Boston* 1988: joined a circus, as ringleader/MC musician* 1990: graduated college, moved to New York City, got a job at Warner/Chappell Music* 1992: quit my job, and toured Japan as Ryuichi Sakamoto’s guitarist* 1993: lived alone on the Oregon coast for 7 months, writing and recording music full-time, in a town with a population of 2* 1994: played around New York and universities with my band “Hit Me”, and the Professional Pests* 1995: started a record label, booking agency, and recording studio* 1996: recorded and released my album* 1997: started CD Baby* 1998: quit the circus, after 10 years and about 1000 shows* 1999: started HostBaby* 2000: moved to Portland, Oregon* 2002: moved to Santa Monica, California* 2007: rough year, moved to London, decided to quit my company* 2008: moved to San Francisco, a href="https://sive.
21 min