Derek Sivers

Derek Sivers

• Wanted to be pro musician.
• Accepted lack of security (risk
• 1997 put out his own CD and wanted to sell online-no stores existed.
• Built a store for his CD, added friends, morphed into a business.
• By 2007 grew to 200,000+ musicians
• Sold it in 2008 for $22Million and gave it away.

Why did he do it

• Start with why,,, don't imitate, don't follow, lead. Know why.
• Money? Prestige? Fame? Legacy? Freedom?
• Choose 1 or 2, own it, admit it, and get on with it! Focus!
• Follow your compass, may have good side-effects.

Nobody knows the future

• Everyone thinks if they say it enough, they can make it true...
• Business plans are moot.
• Get ready, have a plan, launch your product/service, then iterate.
• "no business plan survives 1st contact with the customer" -Steve Blank
• Listen to customers and solve their problems