In Anything You Want, Derek Sivers shares 40 lessons he learned during the ten years he ran CD Baby. His primary point is that, in business, you can be as "unconventional, unique, and quirky" as you want. Like a painting, a business is a reflection of its maker.
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I was half way through my 6-month sabbatical after leaving PeopleKeep. I was trying to decide whether to go out on my own or join someone else’s startup. I read this book to help me think through how I might approach starting my own company. The author, Nathan Latka, might rub some people the wrong way, but he does share some useful tips and frameworks in this book. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, check out these notes and takeaways.
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I first discovered Simon Sinek’s concept of The Infinite Game via a video in December 2019. The points made in The Infinite Game help explain many of the challenges I faced as the CEO of my last company. Ironically, prior to discovering this book and concept, my friend Tyler and I started a podcast with a focus on a similar theme: building companies that are meant to last. It’s literally called Startup to Last. This book has provided me with some new words (and justification) to help explain why building a company to last is so important to me. I hope these notes help you explore the possibility of adopting an infinite mindset as well.
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I had just launched LegUp Ventures and I needed a framework I could use to validate my new venture ideas. The Mom Test came highly recommended from several trusted friends. While the book focuses on business idea validation, the concepts discussed in the book can be used to help validate any idea you have (e.g. family, personal, etc.). I really enjoyed it and it was a quick read.
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