Anything You Want

Anything You Want teaches you how to build a business that’s based on who you are, and can become anything you want it to be, rather than following the traditional paths of startup or corporate culture.

Derek never intended to build a million dollar business. In fact he’d had it before, after starting a bunch of businesses that failed. But he never stopped improving his ideas and practicing his creative muscles. The only way to hit an idea that will not only take you, but a lot of other people by storm, is to keep improving them.

A great indicator that you’re on to something is when you get a lot of good feedback on your idea, instantly. For example, when Derek put his own CD up for sale on his website, his friends thought it was such a great idea, that they asked him to put theirs up too.

When lots of people want to get in on your idea early on, that’s a good sign you have a winner. Derek was almost forced to start CD Baby, because so many people asked him to help with selling their CDs. Only when you’re idea gets such great feedback that you almost can’t not start it, then it’s time to think about building a business.

It’s hard to imagine that there was a time before venture capital and angel investing. Nowadays every 8th-grader with a half-assed idea for the next bubble gum wants a million dollars before even setting up shop. But money isn’t what’ll help your idea grow.

When your idea helps people, and they love it so much they’ll tell all their friends, that’s when you grow.

Having zero money to begin with can thus become a huge advantage, because it keeps you focused on giving your customers the best experience, and doing everything you can to serve them. Start with the resources you have, and be creative in solving problems.

For example, while I don’t have the money to buy 365 books a year, nor the time to read one entire book a day, I am able to afford a Blinkist membership, read a summary every day, and publish what I learn on here. It’s about making do instead of excuses.

I’m so guilty of this one. Especially when you’re running solo and starting a microbusiness, it’s super hard to give up control. You think you’re the only one capable of doing things the right way, but you have so much to do that it’s almost impossible to keep up with everything. Not delegating can have a severe consequence though: burning out. You take on more than you can handle and eventually end up collapsing from all…