Derek Sivers

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Own your platform

  Strategy

  Use third-party platforms only as secondary distribution channels while keeping your own website as the primary source of truth.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Use the internet, not just companies, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Respect the recipient's time

  Productivity

  Write short, direct emails with descriptive subject lines to increase the likelihood of a response and show consideration for the reader.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Use the internet, not just companies, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Charge to sustain your craft

  Pricing

  Charging a fair price allows a creator to focus on their work without being drained by unrelated jobs. Financial success provides the time and resources needed to improve one's art.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Shed your money taboos, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Shed money taboos for longevity

  Career

  Avoiding the subject of money leads to a hard life and ultimately hurts the quality of the work. Embracing the business side ensures the work finds an audience that truly values it.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Shed your money taboos, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Create until it touches you

  Creativity

  When creating from the heart, the work is finished when it touches the creator in just the right way, rather than endlessly seeking more information.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source the best book ever written, 2024  (opens in a new tab)

• Internalize proof to drive action

  Productivity

  Finding and internalizing proof for a helpful perspective allows a person to act with more confidence and purpose.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source It shows what you need to believe, 2024  (opens in a new tab)

• Beliefs as tools for growth

  Mindset

  Understand that beliefs have a contextual value; what is constructive for one person's life might be destructive for another.

  Source It shows what you need to believe, 2024  (opens in a new tab)

• Curiosity over contempt

  Mindset

  Replace the urge to judge or dismiss different viewpoints with active questioning to understand their origin.

  Source I want to lose every debate., 2023  (opens in a new tab)

• Embrace contextless starts

  Decisions

  Entering a situation without prior knowledge allows for a unique, step-by-step discovery of how the parts form the whole.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source I want to lose every debate., 2023  (opens in a new tab)

• Know your enough point

  Wealth

  Once basic needs and happiness are met, additional wealth may not add value to one's life, making it better to use for others.

  Supporting quotes

  • “I'll admit, it made me ridiculously happy to make $250,000. I was expecting way less than that, so it was a big surprise.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Combine short words for brandability

  Brand

  Create unique and memorable brand names by combining two short, hand-picked dictionary words.

  Supporting quotes

  • “If you need a new domain name, and you want a .com , and you don't want to type random ideas into a registrar search, here's a way to do it.”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Stop theorizing and start selling

  Sales

  Instead of asking for opinions on a business idea, find one paying customer to validate the concept in the real world.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Frequently Asked Questions, 2016  (opens in a new tab)

• Build a personal knowledge archive

  Learning

  Read for self-improvement based on current needs and take notes for personal reflection rather than for external review.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Frequently Asked Questions, 2016  (opens in a new tab)

• Take responsibility for your timing

  Mindset

  Understand that you are not a priority to others, so you must take responsibility for your own timeline and move forward when ready.

  Source Never wait, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Ship before perfection

  Productivity

  Avoid the trap of procrastination disguised as a search for perfection, as it prevents products from ever reaching the market.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source Never wait, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Ask why to reveal needs

  Customers

  Asking why someone wants something helps them distinguish between a passing desire and an actual need, leading to better solutions.

  Source To question is to consider, not refute, 2024  (opens in a new tab)

• Consider the human factor

  Leadership

  Effective communication requires acknowledging that people often have emotional or ego-driven responses to direct questioning.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source To question is to consider, not refute, 2024  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize avoiding harm over seeking thrills

  Strategy

  In long-term relationships, it is more effective to avoid negative actions that cause damage than to constantly seek positive highs.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Let go of people that don't welcome and encourage your change.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Internalize your inspirations

  Learning

  A mentor does not need to be an active contact; one can learn by observing leaders from a distance and anticipating their advice.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source How to ask your mentors for help, 2019  (opens in a new tab)

• Categorize your sources of inspiration

  Strategy

  Organize mentors into groups based on accessibility, such as daily contacts, inner circle boundaries, and untouchable global figures.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source How to ask your mentors for help, 2019  (opens in a new tab)