Derek Sivers podcast

Somewhere in our past, we were told it’s bad to daydream , because it meant doing nothing — staring out the window — instead of doing what we’re supposed to be doing. To admit we’re daydreaming felt like it needed an apology. But now I’ve finally embraced it. Deliberate daydreaming is my favorite pastime. About half the time that I used to read a book, I now just skip the book, and sit there daydr...

I don’t know why I have this rebellious nature. I tend to want to be the opposite of my surroundings. At serious formal events, I can’t stop laughing inside. At crazy festivals, I want to hide and read a book. My ambitious friends bring out the slacker in me. My lethargic friends make me feel like superman. When I moved to Boston, as a teen, and everyone was wearing black, I dressed in only white....

I used to use Gmail. But one day, as I typed my mother’s email address into the “To:” field, Google popped up a prompt asking if I also wanted to CC my uncle. That was so invasive and creepy that I deleted the account immediately and never used it again. I don’t want automated intelligence in my private email. My friend lives in a home full of the smartest technology, and loves getting all the new...

Today my bus was delayed, and I was really annoyed. Also, I got a really nasty email, which put me in a worse mood. No, wait, I should give the full story. It takes two busses to get from the airport back to my house. The first bus leaves once per hour. That connects to a second bus that leaves every five minutes. Today I was super-lucky and got to the first bus just before it left. If I would hav...

The most relaxed feeling I know is after going back and forth between a super-hot pool and super-cold pool. Stay in the super-hot pool until you can’t stand it. Then go in a super-cold pool until you can’t stand it. Repeat that a few times, and you’ve never felt so relaxed. Today I went to the Löyly sauna in Helsinki, Finland. I stayed in the super-hot sauna room until I couldn’t stand it. Then I’...

I spend a lot time thinking of alternate ways to approach life . I re-consider my hierarchy of values. When values change, the plan of action needs to change, too. For example, if I decide that personal growth is top priority, then I plan a life pushing outside my comfort zone. But if I decide that creative output is top priority, then I plan a tranquil life without obstacles, so I can just create...

What do you call it when you skip school or work for a day, to do whatever you want instead? In America, we call it playing hooky. In England, we call it skiving. (Got another word for it?) Some of my best, most productive, and enjoyable days have been while playing hooky. I think it’s a healthy practice, to occasionally blow off a previous commitment, and do whatever you want instead. It’s a grea...

I took my 7-year-old to London today. I made two plans: if it rains, we go to a museum, if not, we go to the zoo. But when the train arrived in London, he said he didn’t really want to do either one. So we just walked with no plans. We immediately ran across some random building with a big art installation on its side. There was nobody around. We played there for a long time. At each intersection,...

Since I’m living in Europe now, I thought it would be good to tour everywhere in Europe, and get to know it better. I’m not into seeing the sights. I don’t take photos . What I want is to get to know the mindset , the world-view of each place. The philosophy . So I wondered if there’s a way to tour philosophies directly. What if, instead of touring places, we toured ideas ? Can I tour the “ -ism ”...

My friend has a huge crush on someone. He showers her with attention and appreciation. He remembers her preferences, and constantly gives her thoughtful gifts. He thinks he’s being considerate, but he’s actually being inconsiderate. Meta-inconsiderate. By holding her up on a pedestal — by making it clear that he looks up to her — he’s making her look down on him. People want a romantic partner tha...

A few years ago, I thought it would be fun to get into camping. I live in New Zealand! How can I not? I daydreamed about it, picturing how much fun it could be. I read a book about it. I carefully picked out then bought some highly-recommended gear: a tent, two sleeping bags, two air mattresses, and a light backpack. We used it once. It’s still in my garage. … Last year, I thought it would be fun...

When you experience someone else’s genius work , a little part of you feels, “That’s what I could have, would have, and should have done!” Someone else did it. You didn’t. They fought the resistance . You gave in to distractions. They made it top priority. You said you’d get to it some day. They took the time. You meant to. When this happens, you can take it two ways: You could let that part of yo...

People with many interests often ask my advice on which industry or career path they should follow. Years ago, I felt I was just a programmer and entrepreneur. Yes sometimes I write a tiny blog post sharing what I’ve learned, but that’s just something on the side. But something never felt quite right about this. I spend most of my time writing, very little time programming, and hadn’t started a bu...

Which sounds better to you? “In his best-selling book on behavioral science, Thinking, Fast and Slow , Nobel-prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman said, ‘Nothing in life is as important as you think it is when you are thinking about it.’.” … or just saying it: “Whatever’s on your mind is not as important as it seems.” When I first started reading a lot of books, I started quoting them a lot....

I used to like the internet. I thought it was cool, creative, wild, untamed, expressive, decentralized, and educational. I guess it was, back then, but now? I kinda hate most of what’s out there. I don’t like social media, either. Staged photos, and people trying to get a reaction. Noise, hype, and drama. It makes me want to avoid the internet completely. Then I thought about what I do like. My em...

I’ve started writing my autobiography. I’ll keep writing it for the rest of my life. It’s private now, but will be released the week I die. I’ve written the last chapter, which is more of an afterword. (“Now I’m dead.”) So now I will just keep writing the middle chapters. My assistants, family, and friends will have instructions on how to publish it as soon as I die. A few clicks and commands and...

Cross the world four times. First, in your teens or 20s, to take it all in. See it all, do it all, and learn. Get involved. Stay up all night talking with strangers, everywhere. Kiss and fall and promise to them all. Make lots of mistakes. Cross the world the first time to fall in love. The second time, in your 30s, to tell everyone what you’ve learned. You’re full of answers, since you’ve done so...

Imagine you host a dinner party with two doctors and two accountants. You introduce the doctors to each other and the accountants to each other, assuming they’d have the most in common. But actually one doctor got into it because her mother died unnecessarily of medical neglect, and she’s on a mission to make sure that never happens again. The other doctor is in it for the money. And actually one...

Musicians, photographers, writers, and artists of all sorts: Would you make your art if you were the last person on earth? For me, it’s an immediate YES — of course! In fact, it might make the experience even better. A musician friend asked me this question, and was freaked out by my answer. She said she can’t even imagine a world-view like mine. How could I possibly want to make music if there wa...

I met a couple who were thinking of quitting their jobs and travelling the world for a year. They asked my thoughts. I suggested they should only do it if they don’t bring a camera, and don’t tell anyone but their family and few dear friends. No sharing on social media. Why? Because we often live for others, without even realizing it. We are trying to impress an invisible crowd. We like the social...

The first time, it was an accident. I’d always wanted to go to Korea. I was so excited. I set out to explore and forgot my phone in the hotel. I walked around Seoul for twelve hours that day and experienced so many wonderful things. I remember them all vividly now, years later, but I have no photos of it. It was a relief to not document everything. I appreciated everything as a one-step process in...

I’m starting a podcast today. Subscribe to https://sive.rs/podcast.rss .

I was uncomfortable, unhappy, and restless. I didn’t want to meet new people, because I felt I was giving the wrong impression. Something wasn’t right. It took me months to figure out the real problem: My clothes don’t fit anymore! Once I realized this, I had to decide what new clothes would fit the new me. Like many of us, I looked to the style of glamorous and successful people. I should wear wh...

Like everyone, I live in a little house with many doors and windows. One door goes out to my neighborhood. The local kids come to play with my dog. The elderly neighbors take so long to tell me their stories. I slow down my inner clock to listen. One window looks out at the nature around me. I’m getting to know this one tree really well. I toss a little dog food out there each day, and watch the l...

You know those people whose lives are transformed by meditation or yoga or something like that? For me, it’s writing in my diary and journals. It’s made all the difference in the world for my learning, reflecting, and peace of mind. After 20+ years of doing this, here’s what I do and recommend: A daily diary If digital, use only plain text. It’s a standard format not owned by any company. It will...