REPLAY: Derek Sivers On Life Advice, Writing and Entrepreneurship (BONUS EPISODE)

Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal

Happy New Year! While I’m currently working hard writing my book and getting ready for Season 5 of the podcast which is just around the corner, I thought I’d share with you a bonus episode taken from the livestreams I recorded during lockdown (which aren’t available anywhere else on the internet). This episode is a conversation with Derek Sivers, a writer, musician and entrepreneur who founded CD Baby, an online CD store for independent musicians, back in 1997. He sold CD Baby in 2007 and has since embarked on other ventures including writing 4 books including Anything You Want: 40 Lessons For A New Kind of Entrepreneur - one of the three books that I've listed as changing my life. This is one of my favourite interviews from the livestreams and his advice on book writing felt particularly timely as I sit two years later writing a book of my own. Enjoy :)

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(00:45) Background and Career

(02:00) Anything You Want Book Discussion

(03:00) Writing a Book

(07:00) Fear of Plagiarism

(09:35) Advice on Writing, Apps and Productivity

(16:05) Current Books Being Written

(19:00) Building Your Own Store

(24:20) Do What Makes You Happy

(27:30) Avoid Quoting From Other People

(32:50) Identity: Music and Being A Doctor

(37:20) Music Theory: Is it really that valuable?

(44:45) Musical Originality

(46:05) Derek’s Singing Journey

(50:15) Ali’s Singing Experiences

(53:00) On Making Friends

(55:45) What Does Friendship Mean?

(59:40) Vulnerability, Exposure and Making Friends

(01:07:00) Talking To People On The Phone

(01:08:45) The Famous Broadway Musical Composer…

(01:13:35) Weird Like Me, Shared Experiences and ‘Burning The Ships’

(01:20:00) Connecting With People and Strangers

(01:23:20) Replying To Everyone

(01:28:30) Replying To People Asking For Advice

(01:33:20) Imposter Syndrome

(01:35:10) Goal Setting in Life and Business

(01:42:45) The Most Powerful Thing to Remember About Goals

(01:45:30) Closing Thoughts

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📗Hell Yeah or No Your Music and People
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