Anything You Want: Summary Review & Takeaway Points
This is a summary review of Anything You Want containing key details about the book.
What is Anything You Want About?
Anything You Want is an inspiring look into professional musician turned entrepreneur, Derek Sivers, success as he shares an insightful look at how he grew his passion and curiosity, into CD Baby, a multi-million dollar company. The book explores Derek’s biggest mistakes, the key to his success, and everything in between.
Here's what one of the reviewers had to say about the book: "This is not a how-to business book. It is much more a manifesto on keeping things clear, simple and taking a common sense approach to work. Sivers, founded and sold CDBaby.com. This book is a summation of the lessons he learned with the stories that taught him....This book seems to speak to the entrepreneurial spirits out there. But I also think that it serves as a fun quick “gut check” for those looking to tweak their existing business set-ups. I give this one 4 out of 5 stars." - LibraryThing 👍
Who is the author of Anything You Want?
Derek Sivers is an American writer and programmer. A former entrepreneur and musician, he is best known for starting CD Baby. Sivers grew up in Hillsdale, Illinois. Sivers started CD Baby by accident in 1997 after requests from other independent musicians for him to sell their CDs on his website
Favorite Quote: “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” ― Anything You Want Quotes, Derek Sivers
Book Details
- Print length: 90 pages
- Genre: Business, Nonfiction, Entrepreneurship
What are the main summary points of Anything You Want?
Here are some key summary points from Anything You Want:
- Takeaway 1: The more you optimize and adjust your ideas, the higher the odds are that you'll end up with one that people love.
- Takeaway 2: If you’re not getting a lot of positive feedback for a specific idea, then it’s best to adjust it. If your "perfect" idea goes nowhere after a period of time, then it’s probably wise to let go of it.
- Takeaway 3: A business plan does not have to be complex. You don't need a 100-page document but instead, a simple and easy to understand plan that explains how you’ll make a profit and when.
- Takeaway 4: Define your main target audiences and tailor your products and services to their needs. You can’t expect to please everyone so make sure you only fulfill the major needs.
- Takeaway 5: You don’t need big pockets to realize a big idea. In fact, having a small amount of money can be an advantage as it boosts creativity and simpler solutions.
- Takeaway 6: A business's main focus should be to create value and become extremely useful to its customers.
- Takeaway 7: Your customer needs can grow and develop. Listen carefully and always follow your customers’ needs.
- Takeaway 8: Failing to delegate can lead to burning out. Make sure you dedicate time to hiring, training, and delegating ongoing tasks. Also, don’t ask your employees or freelancers what they’re good at, but what they enjoy and love to do. The same applies to you. Focus on important work that you enjoy, delegate the rest.
- Takeaway 9: Over-delegating can also be an issue. Trust, but verify. Make sure you cultivate a trusting relationship with your freelancers or employees and that you put in place some simple control mechanisms.
- Takeaway 10: Pay close attention to what excites you and what drains you.
Anything You Want Chapters
Chapter 1: Ten Years of Experience in One Hour
Chapter 2: What's Your Compass?
Chapter 3: Just selling my CD
Chapter 4: Make a dream come true
Chapter 5: A Business Model with only Two Numbers
Chapter 6: This ain't no revolution
Chapter 7: It's not a hit, switch
Chapter 8: No "yes". Either "Hell yeah!" or "no."
Chapter 9: Just like that, my plan completely changed
Chapter 10: The advantage of no funding
Chapter 11: Start now. No funding needed
Chapter 12: Ideas are just a multiplier of execution
Chapter 13: Formalities play on fear. Bravely refuse.
Chapter 14: The strength of many little customers
Chapter 15: Proudly exclude people
Chapter 16: Why No Advertising?
Chapter 17: This is Just One of Many Options
Chapter 18: You Don't Need a Plan or a Vision
Chapter 19: "I miss the mob."
Chapter 20: How do you grade yourself?
Chapter 21: Act Like You Don't Need the Money
Chapter 22: Don't Punish Everyone For One Person's Mistake
Chapter 23: A real Person a Lot Like You
Chapter 24: You Should Feel Pain When You're Unclear
Chapter 25: The Most Successful E-mail I ever Wrote
Chapter 26: Little Things Makes All the Difference
Chapter 27: It's Ok To Be Casual
Chapter 28: Naive Quitting
Chapter 29: Prepare to Double
Chapter 30: It's about Being, Not Having
Chapter 31: The Day Steve Jobs Dissed Me in a Keynote
Chapter 32: My $3.3 Million Mistake
Chapter 33: Delegate or Die: The Self- Employment Trap
Chapter 34: Make it Anything You Want
Chapter 35: Trust, but Verify
Chapter 36: Delegate, but don't abdicate
Chapter 37: How I know I was Done
Chapter 38: Why I Gave My Company to Charity
Chapter 39: You Make Your Perfect World
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you're interested in furthering your personal development, I invite you to check out my list of favorite personal development books page. On this page, you'll find a curated list of books that have personally impacted my life, each with a summary and key lessons.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
