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- “How to live” by Derek Sivers
Derek Sivers is a best-selling author, musician, entrepreneur and a multiple time TED speaker.
He found CD Baby to help independent artists in 1998, sold it for $22 million a decade later and donated 95% of it to charity.
Key takeaways 🎓
1. Many ways to live
There is no one single right way to live.
The book encourages us to consider various approaches and philosophies - each chapter offers a different perspective on life, often contradicting the previous one.
By considering different perspectives, we can gain a better understanding of the complexities of existence and make more informed decisions about how we want to live.
2. Find your path
Derek emphasizes the importance of living a life of purpose.
The only way to do that is if we take the time to reflect on our values, passions, aspirations and find a way align our actions with these deeper motivations.
It’s not quick, it’s not easy, it takes time and effort.
But it’s well worth it in the end.
3. Focus on mastery
The author argues that mastery is the best goal in life because it cannot be bought, rushed, inherited or stolen.
The pursuit of mastery requires dedication, patience and a willingness to continuously improve.
It enhances our self-worth, creates a sense of fulfillment and achievement because it’s something we’ve earned independently of external factors.
Closing thoughts 🧠
Derek Sivers presents 27 different approaches to living a fulfilling life, challenging us to consider a diverse range of perspectives to find what resonates most for our own lives.
The book encourages an open-minded, flexible approach because there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to life.
I love his attitude (and personality too - here’s a Tim Ferriss interview) because it embodies someone who’s living life on his own terms and not judging anyone for doing the same even if it’s radically different.