Anything You Want Quotes

“Most people don't know why they're doing what they're doing. They imitate others, go with the flow, and follow paths without making their own.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want

“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, Anything You Want

“Never forget why you’re really doing what you’re doing. Are you helping people? Are they happy? Are you happy? Are you profitable? Isn’t that enough?”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“In the end, it's about what you want to be, not what you want to have.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want

“If you think your life's purpose needs to hit you like a lightning bolt, you'll overlook the little day-to-day things that fascinate you.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want

“Just pay close attention to what excites you and what drains you. Pay close attention to when you're being the real you and when you're trying to impress an invisible jury.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want

“Never forget that absolutely everything you do is for your customers. 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, Anything You Want

“When you sign up to run a marathon, you don’t want a taxi to take you to the finish line.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want

“Trust, but verify. Remember it when delegating. You have to do both.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want

“Make sure you know what makes you happy, and don’t forget it.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want

“No business plan survives first contact with customers.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“Success comes from persistently improving and inventing, not from persistently doing what’s not working.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“When you make a business, you get to make a little universe where you control all the laws. This is your utopia.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“any business that’s in business to sell you a cure is motivated not to focus on prevention”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want

“Most people don’t know why they’re doing what they’re doing. They imitate others, go with the flow, and follow paths without making their own. They spend decades in pursuit of something that someone convinced them they should want, without realizing that it won’t make them happy. Don’t”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“In the end, it’s about what you want to be, not what you want to have.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller were at a party at a billionaire’s extravagant estate. Kurt said, “Wow! Look at this place! This guy has everything!” Joseph said, “Yes, but I have something he’ll never have. . . . Enough.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“If you set up your business like you don’t need the money, people are happier to pay you. When someone’s doing something for the money, people can sense it, like they sense a desperate lover. It’s a turnoff. When someone’s doing something for love, being generous instead of stingy, trusting instead of fearful, it triggers this law: We want to give to those who give.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“a big difference between being self-employed and being a business owner. Being self-employed feels like freedom until you realize that if you take time off, your business crumbles. To be a true business owner, make it so that you could leave for a year, and when you came back, your business would be doing better than when you left.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“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, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“I had to make myself unnecessary to the running of my company.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“any business that’s in business to sell you a cure is motivated not to focus on prevention.)”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“Starting small puts 100 percent of your energy into actually solving real problems for real people.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“Never forget that absolutely everything you do is for your customers. Make every decision—even decisions about whether to expand the business, raise money, or promote someone—according to what’s best for your customers. If you’re ever unsure what to prioritize, just ask your customers the open-ended question, “How can I best help you now?” Then focus on satisfying those requests.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“Necessity is a great teacher.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“Even if what you’re doing is slowing the growth of your business—if it makes you happy, that’s OK.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“When you make a company, you make a utopia. It’s where you design your perfect world. Never”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“I spent only $500 to start CD Baby. The first month, I earned back $300. But the second month I made $700, and it’s been profitable every month since.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“Four years before I started CD Baby, as I was recording my first album, I needed to borrow $20,000 to buy studio equipment. My dad said, “Instead of my lending you money, start a corporation. Then the family business can buy shares in your corporation.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur

“If you’re ever unsure what to prioritize, just ask your customers the open-ended question, “How can I best help you now?” Then focus on satisfying those requests.”
― Derek Sivers, Anything You Want: 40 lessons for a new kind of entrepreneur