Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Anything You Want summary
Derek Sivers
40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur
13 mins
Brief summary
Anything You Want by Derek Sivers is a business book that gives an insight into how he built CD Baby. It highlights the importance of focusing on customers, keeping things simple and enjoying the journey.
Table of Contents
Anything You Want
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Starting a successful business means striving to improve your ideas while keeping it simple.
When the author set out in the world of business he never intended to found CD Baby, an online independent music store. In fact, he’d previously attempted several other businesses only to end up unsuccessful.
So, what made this one work?
A key step was realizing that the more you improve your ideas, the higher the chances are that you’ll come up with one that’s truly successful. The point is that if you’ve been promoting your “perfect” idea for years and it’s still going nowhere, it might be time for a change. That means, if you’re not getting positive feedback – and a lot of it – it’s probably best to let go of your idea.
Instead, you should try out new options and work to improve your ideas. Because if you’re always improving, you’re bound to hit on an idea that people will love. For instance, the author was totally surprised when one of his ideas suddenly caught fire among his musician friends. His hard work had paid off, and he created something that would help both himself and others.
But coming up with the right idea is just the beginning. The next step is to come up with some simple numbers and build the principles of a business plan. This doesn’t have to be a complex, 100-page document with financial projections for the next two decades, but a simple document that lays out how your company will work and how much money it’ll take to make it happen.
The key here is to keep it logical and easy to understand. That’s because the more precisely you write, the better people will comprehend and believe in your idea. It’s really not necessary to throw around complicated figures. You just need to explain how you’ll make money and if it will cover your costs.
For instance, when the author first set up CD Baby, he only used two numbers: how much it would cost musicians to list their CD on the site and how much they would make on each sale. These simple, fixed numbers were enough to calculate his projected success.
Want to see all full key ideas from Anything You Want?
Key ideas in Anything You Want
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Anything You Want about?
Anything You Want (2011) is a guide to realizing your dream business, which is easier than you might think. These blinks will teach you why the conventional ideas of amassing tons of money, consultants and technology are all wrong, and that the real key to success is you and your stellar ideas.
Anything You Want Review
Anything You Want (2011) is a book that offers valuable insights and lessons on entrepreneurship and creativity. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with practical wisdom, it provides actionable advice for anyone looking to start or grow a business.
- Through personal stories and experiences, the author shares invaluable lessons that resonate with aspiring entrepreneurs.
- With its refreshing perspective on success and happiness, the book challenges conventional thinking and encourages readers to follow their own path.
Best quote from Anything You Want
If youre not saying Hell yeah! about something, say no.
—Derek Sivers
Who should read Anything You Want?
- All entrepreneurs
- Anybody with a great idea they don’t know how to realize
Categories with Anything You Want
Book summaries like Anything You Want
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Anything You Want FAQs
What is the main message of Anything You Want?
The main message of Anything You Want is to follow your passion and create a business that reflects your values and beliefs.
How long does it take to read Anything You Want?
The reading time for Anything You Want varies, but you can read the Blinkist summary in just 15 minutes.
Is Anything You Want a good book? Is it worth reading?
Anything You Want is a must-read for aspiring entrepreneurs. It offers valuable insights and practical advice for building a successful business.
Who is the author of Anything You Want?
The author of Anything You Want is Derek Sivers.
What to read after Anything You Want?
If you're wondering what to read next after Anything You Want, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer
- Loserthink by Scott Adams
- The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
- The Seven Tensions of Negotiation by Cash Nickerson
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
- Do Hard Things by Steve Magness
- The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Featured Titles
- A Mighty Long Way
- Across a Hundred Mountains
- Anatomy of a Business Plan
- Bed of Roses
- Bid Writing for Project Managers
- Bitcoin Billionaires
- Business Plan Template And Example: How To Write A Business Plan
- Contract Drafting and Negotiation for Entrepreneurs and Business Professionals
- Create an Intensive Biz Playbook & Planner
- Explosive Growth