Feeling of starting a business

Starting a business is always exciting, and it sets you and your life on a rollercoaster. Sometimes it goes fine, and sometimes it miserably fails.

In early 2021, I planned to start a side business, and after some ideation, I began on a project that focused on specific niches. It wasn’t the first time I had started a side project, but I noticed that my motivation had changed over the years. I also saw that I’m not just the same guy with the same appetite as before. My Whys are different now compared to the past.

I felt pretty motivated at first, but I soon realized that something was missing. Not in the business idea itself, but my mindset and how I need to move it forward. I see myself out of inspiration and where I need to go with my idea in the long run.

That was a point I understand I need to take a step back and gain a different perspective on how starting a business should be about. So I decided to dig a bit and find a couple of interesting books, including Anything you want by Derek Sivers.

Anything you want by Derek Sivers is a small book, around 90 pages. Without spoiling much of the book, Derek is a musician and entrepreneur. This book is focused on his journey of building CDBaby, a music distribution company for independent musicians. He started CDBaby as his hobby, which he eventually successfully sold for $22 million.

The beautiful part of this book is that Derek does not repeatedly explain his business process or success stories throughout the book. He discusses his mindset on what makes a good business, both for himself and his customers. He also shares his lessons in the book in a short story.

Now, some may say some of the points in the books are obvious facts. However, my personal experience regarding life is that the more we know and learn about it, the more we are fascinated by simple ideas.

And finally, I would like to share some quotes from this book with you. Hopefully, it inspires you to pursue your next adventure.

When you make a business, you get to make a little universe where you control all the laws. This is your utopia.

Success comes from persistently improving and inventing, not from persistently doing what’s not working.

So please don’t think you need a huge vision. Just stay focused on helping people today.

How do you grade yourself?

It’s important to know in advance, to make sure you’re staying focused on what’s honestly important to you, instead of doing what others think you should.

Make sure what makes you happy, and don’t forget it.