Derek Sivers — The Joys of an Un-Optimized Life, Finding Paths Less Traveled, Creating Tech Independence (and Risks of the Cloud), Taking Giant Leaps, and Picking the Right “Game of Life” (#668)
Illustration via 99designs“I think that saying ‘good enough’ is a superpower.”
— Derek Sivers
Derek Sivers (@sivers) is an author of philosophy and entrepreneurship, known for his surprising, quotable insights and pithy, succinct writing style. He is a former musician, programmer, TED speaker, and circus clown, who sold his first company, CDBaby for $22 million and gave all the money to charity.
Derek’s books (How to Live, Hell Yeah or No, Your Music and People, Anything You Want) and newest projects are at his website: sive.rs. His upcoming book is Useful Not True.
Please enjoy!
P.S. To follow the exact step-by-step “Tech Independence” instructions from Derek, please visit sive.rs/ti.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
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Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#668: Derek Sivers — The Joys of an Un-Optimized Life, Finding Paths Less Traveled, Creating Tech Independence (and Risks of the Cloud), Taking Giant Leaps, and Picking the Right Game of LifeThis episode is brought to you by Allbirds! Allbirds are incredibly comfortable shoes, sustainably made, with design rooted in simplicity. I’ve been wearing Allbirds for the last several months, and I’ve been alternating between two pairs. I started with the Tree Runners (in marine blue, if you’re curious), and now I’m wearing the Tree Dashers, and the Tree Dashers are my current “daily driver.” I stick with the blue hues, and the Dashers are in buoyant blue. The color pops, and I’ve received a ton of compliments.
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Want to hear the first time Derek was on the show? Listen to our conversation here, which discussed developing confidence, finding happiness, saying ‘no’ to millions, Derek’s favorite books, and much, much more.
#125: Derek Sivers on Developing Confidence, Finding Happiness, and Saying No to MillionsWhat was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Derek Sivers:Website | Podcast | Twitter | YouTube
Useful Not True: Whatever Works for You by Derek SiversHow to Live: 27 Conflicting Answers and One Weird Conclusion by Derek SiversHell Yeah or No: What’s Worth Doing by Derek SiversYour Music and People: Creative and Considerate Fame by Derek SiversAnything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur by Derek SiversTools of Titans: Derek Sivers Distilled | The Tim Ferriss Show #202Derek Sivers on Developing Confidence, Finding Happiness, and Saying No to Millions | The Tim Ferriss Show #125Derek Sivers Reloaded – On Success Habits and Billionaires with Perfect Abs | The Tim Ferriss Show #128Go Go Goa Loose Leaf Gift Cube Chai | T2 AustraliaThe Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry SchwartzSartorial Talks | YouTubeSuits | The House of Michael BrowneExcellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I’d Known Earlier by Kevin KellyThingvellir National Park | Heart of IcelandPADI 5-Star Dive Center Iceland | DIVE.ISWet Suit vs. Dry Suit: What is The Difference? | Boat SafePanic Attack | Better Health ChannelWellington | 100% Pure New ZealandTech Independence | Derek SiversWhat is the Cloud? | CNBC ExplainsThe 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy FerrissVPS (Virtual Private Server) Explained | IBMThe Everywhere Cloud | VultrLenovo ThinkPad T400 6475 Notebook | AmazonA Free, Multi-Platform 4.4BSD-Based Unix-Like Operating System | OpenBSDWhat is an SSH Key? | SSHHelping You Feel Close | Marco PoloDomain Name, Web Hosting, Email and SSL Certificate | NetimAn Oddly Satisfying Experience | PorkbunLanguage Opens Worlds | Klingon Language InstituteFree and Open-Source CalDAV and CardDAV Server | RadicaleRsync | WikipediaContinuous File Synchronization | SyncthingBlog Tool, Publishing Platform, and CMS | WordPressSecure E-mail for Private and Business Customers | Mailbox.orgWe Respect Your Privacy and Put You in Control | FastmailTransactional Email API Service For Developers | MailgunEmail Delivery, API, Marketing Service | SendGridCreate Your Online Store Today | ShopifyCompress the Complexity of Modern Web Apps | Ruby on RailsApr. 24–Apr. 26, Atlanta | RailsConf 2023Marylebone: The Underdog Terminus | Jago HazzardWicked the Musical | LondonDo ‘Maximisers’ or ‘Satisficers’ Make Better Decisions? | BBC WorklifeHey Jude by The Beatles | YouTubePatrick House on Consciousness | EconTalkThe Incredible Reason Why Richard Branson Started Virgin Atlantic | Travel + LeisureNot Disappointing Myself | Bookbear ExpressMoral Relativism | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophySam Harris: Science Can Answer Moral Questions | TED TalkThe Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values by Sam Harris | AmazonWhat Everyone Needs to Know About Islam: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions, From One of the America’s Leading Experts by John L. EspositoThe History of Utilitarianism | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyThe How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja LyubomirskyA Simulation Role-Playing Video Game | Stardew ValleySomebody That I Used To Know (Feat. Kimbra) by Gotye | YouTubeHow to Get Rich: One of the World’s Greatest Entrepreneurs Shares His Secrets by Felix DennisThe Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence by Josh WaitzkinPapaoutai by Stromae | YouTubeSHOW NOTESEditor’s Note: Timestamps will be added shortly.
The Derek Sivers School of Enough.Scuba diving in Iceland.Categories we apply to ourselves and others.Derek’s people compass.How to secure your tech independence.The un-optimized life.The meaning of Derek’s upcoming book, Useful Not True.The problem with moral relativism and other -isms.Giant leaps.Finding and asking mentors for help.Games.The wisdom of quitting when you’re ahead.Why would Derek — never in need of external validation — seek fame?What makes Derek so darned interesting?Has Derek always been a satisficer?Living on the edge case.The real question behind “What would you tell your younger self?”Giving directions in Antarctica.How do you teach an 11-year-old to act like a 16-year-old?Parting thoughts.MORE DEREK SIVERS QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“If you wonder why I’m so happy, why I’m thriving, why I seem to be doing well, a lot of my happiness comes from this worldview that is radical doubt. It’s skepticism. I’m going to give this the shorthand of calling it ‘Useful Not True.'”
— Derek Sivers
“If you set up your business to serve the people that you love being around, even if it makes less money, you’re going to be much happier.”
— Derek Sivers
“I think that saying ‘good enough’ is a superpower.”
— Derek Sivers
“We spend the first half of our life deferring to authority and thinking that authority has power over us. And at a certain point, you realize that you’re free. You’re liberated from that as long as you don’t break the law.”
— Derek Sivers
“The temptation to keep playing, even though the rewards are done, isn’t that the definition of addiction? Continuing a behavior even though it’s not rewarding you anymore?”
— Derek Sivers
The post Derek Sivers — The Joys of an Un-Optimized Life, Finding Paths Less Traveled, Creating Tech Independence (and Risks of the Cloud), Taking Giant Leaps, and Picking the Right “Game of Life” (#668) appeared first on The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss.
