The cure and the antidote on the same page. Covering all the bases ☺

Eliminating discomfort sounds appealing but sometimes embracing discomfort is essential to improving situations, particularly when it comes to resolving conflicts.

Nailed it.

Not my brightest moment that… too quick to post after skimming! D-oh!!

Rereading more slowly but no mechanism for editing my folly…

Can always count on you to cut to the chase and deliver great stuff. Well timed content for me right now, yes! yes! ☺ Thank you Derek!

Excellent straight to the point summary of what to do and not to do...
Just wished it was easy to do but as a Deaf chronically ill adult without a college degree... I am limited to work parttime and trapped in the government's limited rules in not allowing to save more than $2K. True to reduce clutter and possessions - but for the work I do, requires a lot of tools. Became houseless again & paying off all debts & trying again to move to Texas and see if I can thrive better there. I so agree how having wealth will reduce a lot of missed opportunities in life and improve my health (since health insurance practically never covers 98% of my OTC medicine to stay alive). Language barriers makes 99% of the "signing-impaired" population afraid to interact with friendly Deafies. I wish I could find the perfect at home part time job that earns a full time wages in order to live comfortably. Never have been able to. What articles have you written for the disABLEd? Very true to expect the worse - I've been through them all and no longer trust the government to provide as they cut more adnd more. But with health issues, I am truly limited in how many hours I can put in.
Still a great list, but feel it's more for the able-bodied folks.

Great post! This is something I will read every morning!

Mr. Sivers, you are appreciated.

Perfect timing Derek thank you for this!
I'm off to print this out for my wall! :)

What about "prepare to adapt"? Too many people focus on their strengths and don't prepare themselves to be challenged by variations.

Thank you this is great will save
So I can reference back

Derek thank you for posting this. I find your thinking, and writing, to be both very refreshing and most welcome.

Loved your fresh outlooks. Keep'em coming Derek!

This is the best post on the internet :) haha. Love ya work mate.

HMMMMM ? VERY POSITIVE.....

I love this.

Well said, but it may not be applicable to someone at the end of thier career who just needs incentive to keep exploring and healthfully engaged. At 72 I am switching from Database Consulting to Art Painting and an Artist who gets stuck recreating the same/similar song, painting, etc because that is what his followers want to pay most for is not on the right path. We need to keep growing personally by continuing to explore. Serving the public and making money are good indicators of the general directions we should take.

Thanks Derek-
Am planning on being a best selling author (altho I like my privacy), your post helped get me more motivated. Once I get proposal accepted - I 'd like to interview you/on this post.

Hi Derek,

You never fail to inspire. My life gets better by knowing you.
Thanks for your timely words of wisdom.

Ernie Hines

I love the fact that this is very list-y in its appearance, which makes it easier to internalize and eventually turn into a habit, as opposed to some kind of ace-up-the-sleeve move that has to be consciously conjured up. For me, I think the section titled "How to Like People" is definitely something I need to be able to do better when I meet with disagreement in a professional setting. It's going to take some effort, I believe, but once I get over the denial of having to do so, what with all the bad blood already in flow, then it's just a matter of keeping things professional, and dealing with the person's idiosyncrasies outside of the 8-hrs-a-day when such may be a necessity.

Thank you for sharing this Derek. Looking to get back to you with some positive word about how I've used this and other insights that you have shared with me to help make a difference in my life...the difference that I have been "attempting" to make but has seemed so elusive until now...for reasons all too well known.

Take care,

Rohin

Thanks :)

Thank you SOOO much for posting this! I can't imagine the (hours/days/months/years?) invested in pulling all these together! Feeling thrilled that you were willing to share. Can't wait to dig into (memorize) them just to add to and bounce off my own perspective.

Wow. Really, for all your success, you preach the epitome gospel of a 'stupid white man'.

"4. Pursue market value not personal value." Sure, bomb the hell out of the third world countries, buy stock in the military industrial complex, just make money, no matter the cost. No lack of a moral compass here.

"Do what pays well." Hmmm - Hookers, drug dealers, lawyers (not advocates of justice), doctors (not healers), etc, ad nauseum.

"Do not be the starving artist, working on things that have great personal value to you, but little market value." And yet, you promote and have made a living from many a "starving artist" - starving only because as a culture, the sheeple cannot hear what they have to say. So, you advocate artists not listen to their very soul for the creation of their art, but cripple themselves to make money from an already deformed and fiat currency that is (by the way) leaving this system. You are advocating making a whore of oneself in order to survive.

"Follow the money. It tells you where you’re most valuable." Please. Do you really believe that money is the root of personal value? Just like the stupid white man, you have no soul or sense of value. Conquer and control, roll over, bend over, and suck it up.

I love the "finest" and am a semi- connoisseur of many things, having been raised internationally. I am appalled by your blatant cow-towing to those who you think may have greater power than you in order to get ahead. Stupid white man . . . We all have the power . . . listen to your own God-given, inalienable birthright of truth . . . to say that someone will be poor because they listen to their inner voice is the epitome of manipulation and control strategy for dominance.

I could go on. You are way off track. So many great artists do not ever get seen or heard because they cannot sell their souls, as you advise. Artists, historically, have been the ones to influence, guide and shape a culture. It seems that now, unless an artist becomes "institutionalized", they have no value.

Just because artists follow you like the Pied Piper does not mean you are not leading them over a cliff.

all solid materiel. nice, sparse framework.
I would put a little body english here and there, and so would most people.
I hear some echoes of the "25 things"
that John Perry Barlow wrote.

Ab-so-lutely awesome format, Derek. Got my creative juices flowing. Now, off to create some of my own :)

Derek,

You're always provocative. I don't always agree with everything, but you always make me re-think what I thought were truisms. Thank you for that. Keep on provoking.

Rob

Well worth the wait.

Phenomenal, Derek. Very much appreciate you sharing this.

I worked out the solar panel charging for my plug-in Prius, but I think I'd prefer a Tesla. (http://www.priups.com/Prius-Solar-Charging/Plug-in-Prius-solar-charging.htm ).

Am I a lost cause?

Richard

Oh jeez Derek, this is just what my house needed. We are midst a BIG scary change to move away from comfy easy spacious LA and move to NY. To sell or rent out our home of 21 yrs, get rid of 70 percent of our possessions to live in the hub of action and inspiration. I think of you overtime I want to buy what would seem to be a knick knack for me or for someone else and I think - "Do we need more STUFF?" Anyway, this encouragement was right on the money..literally...Money!

- Good words of Wisdom !

Only those who are willing to die for a noble cause are fit to live. - Libor Brom

Friend Destined for Heaven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVapNBHMpbY

YEEEEESSSSSSS FINALLY! Going to stat applying these immediately.

Loved it.

Want to add that there is a downside to not owning your own home - especially if you are an international nomad. We have found that any legal, governmental or financial issue we had became incredibly complicated or simply not possible without one fixed address. Since we have owned our own home (even though we don't live there full time) those problems have gone away.

We know it is a luxury, but it removes a lot of stress for us.

Forgot to say ... love the expression 'multiplying skills'.

thanks Derek. inspiring and succinct!

Much appreciated, as always, Derek. Thank you for your valuable and actionable insights.

LOLOL! Great stuff, Derek. A Renaissance man with a sense of humor to boot! But if everyone becomes rich and famous, who's going to do the laundry?

Love it Derek!

The read was excellent Derek,

If I were to tell you a secret on how to turn $100k into 2 million in the next 6 months would anyone be interested?

Send me an email please

Thank you,
Marty

So, so great.

Thank you.

I am saying hell yeah! to this advice. This just has to be shared. Thanks Derek.

You just put a fork in my life again. Thus appeared precisely when I needed it... Amaaazing! Thank you. Like one person that commented here.... Also getting this printed for the wall. Keep on inspiring us!

Thank you!

Thank you. These are super useful. :)

be this..

but mainly good. although realise
that some parts of that are out of
reach, and i don't think i could
get any work done at all if i did
all that running around people
thing. you can dispel a lot of
energy that way.

Brilliant! What to do & what not do in comparison with different results...I like the triving part the most - you are on the top of the wave, Derek...Very smart!

Hi Derek,
I just wanted you to know that you've had an impact on this specific youth in his journey in a very positive way.

Thank you.

Awesome to see this coming to life Derek. 'Hell Yes'

Thanks Derek,

Best regards,
Jan

Here is my strong opinion. It ain't about the money. Money and fame might mean success to some but not to me.

Success is a really bad word because people have really different opinions on it's meaning. Monsanto, for example.

However I enjoyed the post. Other points are spot on and even funny. Thanks.

This is going to break the Internet.

Awesome! Thanks so much for this Derek, these are great.

Hey one thing I noticed about your site - youtube embeds don't fit or scale responsively.

To fix this you can do a search and replace for width="853" and change it to style="width: 100%; max-width: 853;" to have the same look, but stop it from making your page too wide on mobile.

See the difference here: http://imgur.com/a/rWbXH

#1 the page can be scrolled almost 3 times the screen width on mobile
#2 it is cropped, although it is not 100% fit for mobile it still prevents the user from accidentally scrolling out.

Apart from that, great work and keep doing what you do!

Very clear and useful stuff, and more important, not at all what I expected. Thanks

Between a photographer and his subject is a lens. Between dream and reality is focus. Derek, thank you for being that focus. Some of us are looking really hard but we need the focus to really see. This will be a mantra to alot of people but it will be a road map to few. Those few will follow and they will change their lives, be of use or even better, change the lives of others. Thank you again.

I agree with Penny. I used to read with interest what you had to say but after reading this - "Do not be the starving artist, working on things that have great personal value to you, but little market value." and similar statements, I'm sorry to say you just lost me. I wish you all the best but this isn't for me.

It must be my fault that many people are not noticing the names of the categories before each numbered list. The “starving artist” sentence is inside point #4 inside a category called “HOW TO GET RICH”. It does not say that everyone should do this thing. Just that if (if!) you want to get rich, then you should do what pays well. — Derek

For what means are we useful?

If I establish my fame and wealth through extortion, or fraud to improve my capacity to be useful would that be a zero sum game?

do virtues play into usefulness?

Thanks for your thoughts Derek.

These are all highly applicable principles. Personally biggest takeaway is this: "to appreciate someone, live like it’s their last day on earth."

Thanks!

Thank you for taking the time to post this.
Talk about strong opinions! :)

For a minute there the last title threw me, and I was sure it was miss-spelled.
Then I really read them, and the meaning became clear!

Thank you!

Excellent post Derek.

This article is just what I needed TODAY. Haven't read the whole write-up yet, but know that it is the answer the questions I have been asking. Your spot-on Sivers man!
Mel

So happy that these are now a thing in the world ☺
Printing them out now to consume off screen.

Great stuff Derek. You have a knack for simplifying knowledge and making it easy to understand.

I like the twist at the end, particularly about eliminating discomfort. I'm starting to believe life is a 'choose your own struggle' and not 'choose your passion' game. You'll succeed at the thing you're willing to persevere at when it gets hard. So pick the struggle you want!

Thanks for the refined directives Derek, i will consume what fits to my life philosofy (mostly Stoic, zen and Scientific inspired) :)

Knowledge in it self is not bad or dangerous, its what we use it for, that defines us.
Scientists developed nuclear fission and foresaw its use in nuclear reactors. Promply the government saw its use in a nuclear bomb.

Great post! I like it :) Thank you, Mr.Sivers :).

How to be useful to others

1: You can be famous or infamous in multiple ways.
A lot of people know me but even more do not even know I am alive.
2: Get rich I am rich maybe not in money but am rich in the people I know things I have done and things I know I do agree having more money would make life even easier but money is wealth nothing more rich is people you know and the live you lead.
3: strong opinion: Always a good thing to have but do not set it in stone opinions may change trough time and conversation.
4: be expensive: I strongly disagree. A pair of pants worth 10 dollar does the same job as a expensive brand name pair of pants. It is nice if you can afford to be expensive but people should take you the way you are. I put just as much value in jeans of 20 dollar as I would in jeans of 100 dollar maybe even more so.


How to get rich
Live where luck strikes:
You have to make your own luck. Do not depend on others to make you happy.
You do not have to live where it is happening anymore this used to be necessary but with the internet not anymore I think you can be anywhere with telepresence.
You make your own career you could move to Hollywood without ever getting a movie part.
You have to put yourself for sale indeed

2. Say yes to everything.
Agreed but do not try to meet everyone make it they want to meet you.
Celebrities do not like it when you cling to them just treat them like you want to be treated.

3. Learn the multiplying skills.

Agreed

4. Pursue market value not personal value.
Do what pays well: agree and disagree you've got to do what makes you happy and pays well because if you are doing a job you do not like to do you will not be happy and cannot grow in life.
And I agree with you example of sex because you are unable to grow in this job so you soon will get to dislike it I think, also because your market value will decrease when you are getting older


5. Shamelessly imitate success.
Agreed

6. Be the owner, not just inventor.
Agreed but not always the case in the beginning yes but at a certain point it might grow to big to handle yourself

7. Benefit from human nature.
Agreed

1. Prepare for the worst.
Well you cannot prepare for the worst because you truly cannot imagine the worst…
And try not to get caught up in every doom scenario this way you get nothing done always assume the best but prepare for less.

2. Expect disaster.
Do not expect it but be ready for it as best as you can without it taking up too much of your time.

3. Own as little as possible.
Just do not put all your eggs in one basket if for example WWIII comes be sure you have a small cabin on a Island in the middle of the ocean to retreat to or something like that.

4. Choose opportunity, not loyalty.
I think you need to be loyal to the firm you work for if they are also loyal to you as an employee.
And also be loyal to past statements but make a comment that this was how you looked at things back then and that you see it differently but in that timeframe that were your words stand by them for that timeframe but agree do not let the past hold you back.
And indeed be loyal to your relationships.

5. Choose the plan with the most options.
Do not plan in detail just make and end goal and let the journey guide you.
Think your house example is wrong. Renting is throwing money away see it like if you buy a house you own is or the bank does and you pay fixed (also known as mortgage) rent to the bank and you are free to do with the place as you please whenever you want to move just try to sell for the same amount as you bought or if you are lucky more or in a bad situation you will loose money but this is not money lost this would have been your rent otherwise. And in home ownership also come other benefits. Or at least in the Netherlands do.

6. Avoid planning.
Agreed but this conflicts point 2 expect disaster

How to like people
1. Assume it’s their last day.
Agreed try to help if possible just take that one extra step the others do not take.

2. Be who you’d be when alone.
Agreed

3. Assume men and women are the same.
Agreed mostly they are

4. Always make new friends.
Agreed but be carefull you have friends and contacts.
Just when you are in hospital your friends and contacts will visit you but when you are out of the hospital your contacts will not visit you anymore but your friends even if it is only once a year or less will visit you.

5. Avoid harming the relationship.
S true relatoinship should be able to sail a storm if by a single action it is over it was not strong to begin with.

6. Act calm and kind.
Agreed

7. Don’t try to change them.
Agree and disagree.
You cannot change a person that does not want to change but you could advice them to do it in other manner this teaching them a lesson

8. Find wisdom in your opponents.
True and try to incorporate some of their doings in your own style

9. Purge the vampires.
Agreed

What to do when you get successful

1. Change yes to “Hell yeah!” or no.
You shoulf not have a fixed strategy indeed it schould be like water it is the softest thing yet they cut metal with it and it goes through rocks.

2. Keep momentum.
Agreed but sometimes live throws you a curveball and it might take a while to get back in the mojo

How to stop being rich and happy
1. Prioritize lifestyle design.
Immediate gratification is not good I think yes for the short term your happy when you visit a hooker but when you are married you are happy every day not costing that much.
Do not put yourself in the center step out of the brightest light.
Yes you may shape your surroundings like you want them but do not get overboard with this you not want to attract the wrong crowd

2. Chase that comparison moment.
I never chase I just let everything come to me

3. Buy, not rent.
This contradicts an other point you made
___________________________________________________________________________________
5. Choose the plan with the most options.
The best plan is the one that lets you change your plans.
(Example: renting a house is buying the option to move at any time without losing money in a changing market.)

4. Internalize your new status.
I just do not care about status

5. Be a connoisseur.
I think it is stuck up to want the finest. Take me I do not drink alcohol a glass of water is good enough for me.
6. Get to know your possessions.
Always handy.
7. Acclimate to comfort.
Agree but do not blame others always put thr blame with yourself and try to find ways to get the best out of everything

Better than others (other ways to proceed with life lists) and just Very Good. I have been fortunate or if I were proud I'd say prescient, to have follows most of your guidelines so far in my span of life.

Even so ....healthy reminders all! And as always signor Derek, simply expressed (and I know, that's hard to do.).

You have some solid points Derek. Most I agree with, some are way off 'my' mark.

Great post!!

Sarcasm and I got it from the get go. So these are really the things not to do. Clever way of driving it home.

Inspiring, thanks Derek.

hmmmm...not really sure how i feel. definitely makes sense ~ i think i don't love how it all turns materialistic at the end. just sayin'. ❤️
Read the name of the last category again. ☺ — Derek

Some good thoughts, maybe all good thoughts, but unlikely to be the formula for all. Introverts will suffocate under such stringent demands. I appreciate your joie de vivre however.

It's a nice to see all these directives in one place - when I listen a podcast is no possibilities to make notes.

THANKS:))) i adore love this. i remember some from tim ferris podcast ( i think or another podcast).

i would love to share this for ex on my Facebook. not sure if i am ignorant here (if it's here & i can't see it), but i think it would be lovely if you added share buttons?
Thanks! Just use the URL : sive.rs/d1 That's all you need to share this anywhere. I make short URLs so that I don't need to litter the page with little corporate logos. — Derek

Pretty clever!!

Matthew 16:26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

I was so confused by the last seven items until I read back and realized I skipped the section title : )
☺ Thank you for catching that. I think many people missed that. — Derek

Interesting, but with wide and large holes of mistakes here and there to be guidance for living. Study the WORD of GOD, The Holy Bible. It's a fantastic resource for everlasting wisdom. You'd be more useful to us when you do. TAKE THIS ADVICE SERIOUSLY.

The interesting thing is COST doesnt = value and so an expensive product doesnt necessarily mean its better.

I was paying 50c for beers overseas vs $9 at home yet, the beer overseas was much much better than the home product. The products I buy here at home country are 10x the price of what they are overseas - for the same product, yet, i guess if i told someone hey i just paid xyz for that xyz your wearing, they would not feel so good.
Yep. Agreed. I had it happen recently, too. Went to a country I'd never been to. Decided to splurge on a fancy $300 hotel room. But when I arrived the room was crap, because I didn't realize in that country $300 is the going rate for a cheap motel room. Nice rooms are $600. Using price as an indicator of quality fails in a place where you don't know the prices. — Derek

Love it! You had me at "work out the solar panels for your Tesla". That's what I'm doing this week. Closing the loop.

Extremely useful stuff.

It's Monday morning. I haven't had my coffee. This is the first thing I see when I log onto my computer, after looking at my book and saying, "I have one client, then I'm going out. A nice, quiet, simple day." But, then I read this! LOL! I'm a little overwhelmed, but I'll be OK ;)

Derek, so excited to read this!!! I enjoy how do this and do not do this complements each other!! Thank you for sharing!!!

This is powerful. I wish I'd heard this in high school. I'm 62 now, I just retired. I'm at a new beginning. I think I can still make good use of these ideas. Thanks!

Great Advice, Derek. Thank you for sharing! (It turns out I accurately transcribed everything you said on The Tim Ferriss Show!)

TL; DR
;)

This is excellent! Must apply.

David Brooks’ Humility Code

A coherent image of what to live for and how to live.

1. We don’t live for happiness, we live for holiness, seeking to live lives of perfect righteousness and virtue, becoming more moral over time. Increasing excellence is nurtured by moral joy. Life is essentially a moral drama, not a hedonistic one.
2. Proposition 1 defines the goal of life. The Road to Character begins with a strong understanding of our nature. The core of that understanding is that we are flawed creatures. We know less than we think we do. We give in to short term desires even when we know we shouldn’t.
3. Although we are flawed creatures, we are splendidly endowed. We do sin, we recognize sin, and we have the capacity to overcome sin. We are both weak and strong. We can sacrifice worldly success for the sake of an inner victory.
4. In the struggle against your own weakness, humility is the greatest virtue. Humility is recognizing you are an underdog in the struggle against your own weakness. Humility reminds you that you are not the center of the universe, but you serve a larger order.
5. Pride is the central vice. Pride blinds us to our divided nature. Pride misleads us into thinking we are better than we are. Pride deludes us into thinking we are the authors of our own lives.
6. Once the necessities for survival are satisfied, the struggle against sin and for virtue is the central struggle of life. No external conflict is as consequential or as dramatic as our inner campaign against our own deficiencies. The struggle against sin gives meaning and shape to life. The purpose of the struggle against sin and weakness is not to win because that is impossible. It is to get better at waging the battle.
7. Character is built in the course of your inner confrontation. Character is a set of dispositions, desires and habits that are slowly engraved during the struggle against your own weakness.
8. The things that lead us astray are short term, i.e., the Seven Deadly Sins. The things we call character endure over the long term. The things that are really important cannot be completed in a single lifetime.
9. Everyone needs redemptive assistance from outside – from God, family, friends, ancestors, rules, traditions, institutions and exemplars. One must draw from a cultural tradition that educates the heart, that encourages certain values. We wage our struggle in conjunction with others waging theirs.
10. We are all ultimately saved by grace. You have to accept the fact that you are accepted. Gratitude fills the souls, and with it the desire to serve and give back.
11. Defeating weakness often means quieting the self. Only by muting the sound of your own ego can you see the world clearly. The struggle against weakness requires the habit of self effacement and a capacity for reverence and admiration.
12. The humbled person has an historical consciousness, an inheritor of the tacit wisdom of her time. Wisdom is knowing how to behave when knowledge is lacking.
13. A good life is organized around a vocation. What problem is addressed by an activity you intrinsically enjoy?
14. The best leaders try to lead along the grain of human nature. He prefers change that is slow and incremental rather than radical and sudden. The lows are lower than the highs are high. The downside risk caused by bad decisions is larger than the upside benefits created by good ones
15. The person who struggles against sin and weakness becomes mature. A mature person possesses a settled unity of purpose.

Thanks for advice/observation Derek.
The mind is like a parachute.... It does not work unless you open:)

Thank you for posting these. Ever since hearing the first one you mentioned on the Tim Ferriss show I've been waiting for them. Very much appreciated, Derek!

Hey Derek,

Just read your directives (having heard them on Tim's podcast). They are usefully provocative. Thanks.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/

Since you a critic of being "busy", I think you'll enjoy the essay above...as well as this one:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/the-referendum/?_r=0

Both contain some of the finest writing I've read in recent years. Proof: I return to, and share, them often.

Enjoy,
Matthew

What a great article - this is the most significant text I have read this year. Thank you, Derek!

Hm. Get rich, forget personal value and focus on market value? Tell that to Mother Theresa. If someone needs a listicle to tell them how to be useful to other people, then they have more problems than they think. Cheers and best wishes, Dorothy

Howdy Derek,
How to be useful to others
1. Great Idea !
2. Wonderful Advice,do it honestly without hurting anyone. Use your wealth to help others.
3. Sometimes your opinion matters and sometimes...it doesn't...Always do and say the right thing,The Truth !
4. Lying to folks is never a " good " idea. As for_ " People who paid more for tickets were more likely to attend the performance", while that is probably true it is also a two edged sword ,if folks can't afford a ticket they surely " won't attend ".
How to get rich !
1.Solid advice
2.Say yes to everything ; Gambling is not a good idea,there are many more loser's than there are winner's otherwise good advice.
3.Never stop learning...enjoy !
4.Don't be a starving artist is good advice but not at the cost of your integrity. If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.
5. Good idea to duplicate success but never at the expense of your morals and value's.
6. Own it...true but be willing to accept idea's and direction from those who are more knowledgeable.
7.Good advice but leave the world in a better place.
How to thrive in an unknowable future
1.Prepare for the worst. Alway's!
2.Expect Disaster...It's coming sooner than you think !
3.Own as little as possible ; but be prepared and well supplied.
4.Choose opportunity, not loyalty ; bad advice if it cost's you in the long, run value loyalty and treasure it.
5. Choose the plan with the most options.
6. Avoid planning ; Footloose and fancy free sounds good but seldom works. Plan to work and work the plan is much more rewarding.
How to like people
1. Assume it’s their last day... Great advice because you never know.
2.Be who you’d be when alone,simply be yourself,always.
3. Assume men and women are the same; everyone has wants and needs. Fulfill the needs and most of the wants will be fulfilled.
4. Always make new friends; but cherish old friends and value all of them.
5. Avoid harming the relationship...
6. Act calm and kind...Always.
7. Don’t try to change them; good advice.
8. Find wisdom in your opponents; Get knowledge and get wisdom but with all thy getting...get understanding.
What to do when you get successful
1. Change yes to “Praise GOD” ...Never forget how you got there or the one's who helped you along the way.
2. Keep momentum; great advice
==============================
Since I never became rich and famous I can't really respond to ; What to do when you become successful except to say that I have reached retirement, appreciate the success I have obtained. I'm grateful for my friends and memories,regrets; I have a few because of bad choice's but I have a clear mind,peace and joy and I can rest knowing I have never hurt anyone purposely. I am faithful to GOD,my family and my country.
Thank you for what you have done to help others. GOD Bless, Jerry

Enjoyed this.
Thanks
Jeff

Wow... Great insights as always... Thanks for sharing Derek!!!:-0~

Sincerely,

Edward Allan Moore - President
The S.M.A.R.T. Foundation, Inc.

Great List. A Must Share.
Thank you Derek.
Great video - thank you Elvin.
I will post this list on my wall. And tell friends to do the same.
Can't wait for Part II.

Very nice Derek! Here is my Do This list!

Serve others. Always be generous.

Do your best always, regardless of the duty or job at hand.

Stay unattached to the results, regardless of positive or negative outcome.

Daaamn! That's the entire wisdom of the life in the nutshell!
I am writing a book, dual languages - Russian and English

Book called: thoughts of an obstinate

I was wondering when you were going to write about "How to be useful to others" I always found the advice insightful in interviews--was almost about to write about it myself!

Great advice Derek

HA! Very interesting!

That. Is. Awesome!

Mr Sivers, I've waited for this since the Tim Ferriss podcast and have probably bugged you a few times as well -it was definitely worth the wait.

There's something freshingly simple about the list you present and it seems to "just give permission" to do some core things. For me, it was to pursue exposure.

People who are complaining about the starving artist bit are missing the fact that it was listed under the "How to get rich" section.

Derek didn't say you shouldn't be a starving artist if you want to be. Rather, it is obviously not a good strategy for getting rich!
THANK YOU Jon. Yep. And I think some people are missing that the last category is how to STOP being rich and happy. A list of what NOT to do. — Derek

I really enjoyed this. Especially the part about being an opportunist. Thanks, Derek!

Assuming this was just another list of idealistic good advice, I was going to pass it up. I was wrong. It's pragmatic, opportunistic, almost Machiavellian, but without a trace of Trumpish egotism. I found myself agreeing with more of it than I expected to. Thanks for sharing it.

Awesome - I would love to have an audio version of this.

As I read each directive, I hear you saying it. I would pay for the audio form to listen to repeatedly while doing mindless tasks like washing dishes.
Thanks! I'll be doing audio for almost everything on my site soon. — Derek

Great work as always. Thanks for sharing this.

It's frustrating that no matter how thorough, thoughtful, and clear your writing is, there will still be people that completely miss it so they can grind their axes.

"Fear not!"- that's it!

Hi Derek,

Your opinions are interesting. I'm not sure if being expensive helps others but being rich might help others. Thank you for sharing with me.

Bonny

Pretty blimin' good.
Thanks very much

I love you brother, you're my voice of the Universe speaking to me at this moment. I went on a journey to seek my treasure, and you have supplied the voice of the Alchemist. (Paulo Coelho). A year ago, this would not have made sense..., but now it rings so true.

With gratitude,

Etch

I have bookmarked, will return many times when I need a little clarity on next action! Thanks, keep sharing your wonderful philosophy on life ;-)

I believe I'll be sharing this with others for the rest of my life. Thanks for ALL you do!

Today's world is fraught with distractions which blinds us from the clarity of our true greatness. Greatness is different than success. Everyone can be great while not everyone will be successful. It comes from service as service is the highest form of human existence. It comes from loving as love never disappears. It comes from beauty as one must suffer to be so beautiful. It comes from the courage to engage daily in self examination, evaluation, discovery and development and from knowing that humility affords the best opportunity for real growth. To know is not enough. If I am to be the greatness that lies within me, I must live everyday to be a deeper love. And upon this any success that my shine upon me in my time I am grateful for.

Thanks, Derek,

Many years ago, I attended Tony Robbins "Date With Destiny." One of the phrases he had us saying after hearing a profound idea was: "SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT." Your Directive blog has given me lots to think about.

Your tips make me smile. So easy, so basic, but so forgotten. I'll have to print these out Derek - thanks for the timely reminder of what it takes to be a true human.

How to get rich #7 is innocuous on the surface but is potentially quite dangerous.

Imagine you can "adapt" to nearly any situation. There must be some moral judgement involved.

Many American and European companies profited greatly by supplying the Nazi's with products and services to wage a global war.

Sure they made a lot of money off of the situation but they could also be viewed as accomplices to murder.

Love this, Derek! Thank you!

"Get Rich" reminds me of Steve Martin's "How to be a millionaire and never pay taxes." First, get a million dollars, then...

Love all the directives except buying lotto tix.
And I really really try to follow all of them daily.

The "avoid planning," struck me the most. That bizarre question often asked at interviews of: "What are your goals for the next five years?" always eluded me. In fact each time I wanted to laugh and say- "Are you kidding me? I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow!" :) Just nominated myself for a TED talk. Why not right? I have some pretty strong opinions that I'd like to share on one topic and it is meant to help others. So- working on many of these points. Thank you for sharing your wisdom Derek. We are here to help each other. No doubt in my mind about that. xo

Since I am now 85 years old I doubt that I can make use of this but I'll do my best and I'll forward it to my grandson It's GREAT

Tks!! My friends sons lover won 67 million lotto in santa barbara..it opened my mind..

A goldmine - love it!

I luv "treat everyone like its their last day" ..what a lovely thought!
I agree! It's from James Altucher’s book “Power Of No” — Derek

Hi Derek - Another thought-provoking piece - well appreciated.

Have to disagree with you on some of this, though.

First, getting famous doesn't work. Fame is the most fleeting thing. It just goes away... Getting recognition from your peers is a lot more valuable.

Second, getting rich is meaningless. Money is just a tool. Having money doesn't mean anything. Maybe you stole it. Maybe you are worthless and inherited it. Having worked at times in fancy hotels I can with certainty that having money doesn't give you one ounce of class. Having integrity, having character, treating others with humanity, and being rich in the spirit... now that is worth something.

Best regards, Richard

Derek...

Thanks as usual.
Way to keep inspiring others to succeed.

...in love and appreciation,
Ron Kaplan
Kapland Records

Hi Derek,

Been following you for years. Great
article ! I shall send this to our friends and clients. Thank You !

Ross Tonkin,
Concerthouse Music

I've said it all in my two books :
"Beyond Discouragement, Creativity" and
"On Life, Death And Nude Painting"

<3, great directives!

A lot of good advice,obviously from your own personal experience.Thank you.IHowever Derek,I did find a lot there seems to be very contradictory of previous directives you mention.

Awesome. Great words to live by. Thank you.

Derek,

So regret not irecommending cdbaby!

Regards,
Alex Hellmund

Amazing! Thank you! I truly appreciate hearing what you have to say.

Thanks for this. Looking forward to audio version. :)

Thank you for this!
really great stuff especially the how to stop being rich part.

for a second i thought it was seriously the way you thought people should be, and my world started crumbling before me, then i read it again, and noticed the stop with underline.

The truth is there was a lot of stuff here, a little overwhelming.

how does one actually do all these?

what do you think is the best way to start integrating these directives into one's life?

thanks again!

Some things are indeed, not easy, nor will they ever be. I remain thankful to you Derek. Frankie Van Creef

Hahaha! This is very funny, especially how to be useful and rich. LOL. Clearly, anonymous humans who uplift the heart of someone in distress they encounter in front of them aren't useful. Hahaha. I love the materialist attitude toward service. This one made me laugh. And Cheryl's one makes sense - and made me smile ☺

Interesting...thanks for sharing Derek. :) How does God (is Spirit) factor in to this list? Are you sure about omitting God from this list?

Straight to the point! Love it.

Derek,
I cannot thank you enough for these pearls of wisdom. My question is re design & programming. These are both listed as multiplication skills. Do you have any books, courses, or strategies you can recommend for someone looking learn more about Design and Programming?

Thank you!
Sam

Good advice.

Absolutely love this. Will be keeping this one handy. I also enjoyed the response to this article by "Living On Gigging."

Thanks Derek!

Love it! Great thinking, Derek!

A handbook that anyone and all can succeed at if each and every goal mentioned is accomplished. Very well laid out in perfect order. I wish I'd had this information in my younger years.

Derek - this is PURE GOLD.

I love them so much that I added them to an email sequence.

So people can get them one by one, every other week, so they have time to digest them.

Find them here:

http://www.ovi.co/do-this-directives/

Hope this helps.

Thank you! Great as always!

Hi: So how do you supposed someone get famous. As strange as it seems, fame would solve a great deal of my issues with regards to getting my writing out there. The money part would be beneficial to me as well because then I could spend my time writing and not going to a job I don't like in a building that sucks the life out of me just walking in. I would like to make money doing what I enjoy and that's writing, but being a nobody of no significance, no one wants you.

I might be going a bit more deeper than intended with your "get famous" speech, but would enjoy your feedback on what I've said.

Thank you, Derek

Well......a FEW of these points, I'm successful in. And all of these points you make have value. I'm not sure how many of these points would be useful to a retired person, like me, however I AM searching for a house to buy......I guess that's SOMETHING.

Keep sending me these articles, Derek. I find them absolutely lifting.

Had a good chuckle over the advice regarding how to be 'made it' rich and UNhappy; how true! (Oh, wait a minute…don't I need 2 b rich 1st 2 agree w/this?!?)
;)

Like! Felt this way a long time. Looking for the breakout!

Love this list - thank you!

The, "How to stop being rich and happy" section really does my head in though. It's like I have to flip everything you've listed to the opposite. I've tried just rewriting each subtitle to it's opposite (to have an easier list for my brain) but I could only cleanly flip 2 of them.
3. Rent
5. Like what you like, critics be damned

Look forward to the extended version. It will make an excellent book. - B

Great Info check me out need promo on the site www.cdbaby.com/blaquemaskjbiggs

So much wisdom in such few words. Awesome stuff per usual!

As usual, Derek, you are so inspirational and insightful! Thank you for your continual sharing!

Solomon? Is that you?

Great Slivers of Sivers, really Delivers. Thanks!

This is excellent. So excellent in fact I am printing out the most relevant items to me personally and posting them on my office wall as a daily reminder.

Perhaps next is an app? "Daily Reminders from Derek" ;)

Hey Derek,

You're man on fire. Love it! I have that wooden sculpture of the stomach-less woman leaning on her arm. I didn't oil it and it broke several times. :( Oil it. Just like life!

Lisa :)

I can only hope that this is satire, written to mean the exact opposite. To stir people's emotions, get them fired up for what they really care about: to enforce the idea that small things, small people actually matter.

So much goodness in here, and I particularly enjoy the meet-everyone system in "Say yes to everything." I think I do quite well at staying in touch and nurturing the relationships, but it'd be so great to really follow through on a system like that! Yay to new ideas.

I also love the pivot to saying no once you achieve a level of success. I agree that as you're first starting out, it's your yeses that will create your expansion and network. Later on, it's your focus that will move you along. I'm sitting in between the two stages right now... an uncomfortable but important place to be.

Thanks for these nuggets of wisdom, Derek. They're juicy!

Great ideas Derek. Simplicities, tempered from lots of thrashing. Pithy descriptions of deeply developed thoughts are much appreciated.

Re: aggressive comments for parsed words: I don't think people are wrong because they've never been exposed to the truth; I just think they haven't experienced enough of the truth themselves to see it as fact.

I'm usually so inspired by what you write, but this time I'm rather confused. It's late though, so maybe I'll try again in the morning...

Fine, solid thoughts Derek...., you should be doing your own nationally-syndicated radio or T.V. show.

I enjoy your work.

Thanks.

Warmest regards, Trade

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/8293964/edit/info

I am conflicted on the part of being expensive in creating value. I think it should be rephrased to having a reasonable obstacle as a filter for people to attain things. Perhaps I still can't let go of the thought of being expensive as something negative.

I hate being poor.

;) Very good, Hope you enjoyed the weekend!

As an adult in the 80s I learned to hate greed and competition. I equated money with greed and refused to see any positive aspect to it outside of what was a necessary evil to sustain oneself. American culture was disturbing. I wish I could have read this wisdom then, as I have come to see money as a tool to achieve good in one's life and of those around him/her as well as achieving a state of well being. Self imposed poverty might have some benefits in regards to spiritual cleansing, but it is extremely restricting in taking action in the world except for as an ends to its own means. The days of being a Henry Miller, living off of the good will of a patron who will tolerate your financial needs for the exchange of a short story or a discussion on European Literature are long gone. And the point about who you surround yourself with- the vampires vs. successful (internally and externally) people- sometimes that takes experience to learn the distinctions. Charismatic people come in all forms, but some can be very draining. A radio talk show host who I rather dislike most of the time did offer one excellent point years ago, and that was that he took great effort to befriend highly successful people, and through that was able to learn techniques and garner motivation. As cruel as it might seem, there are people that can offer you little and create a drag on your slipstream. How one negotiates that is probably up to your own personality.
Thanks Chuck. Very wise. — Derek

Thanks for sharing this. I am endlessly excited to "pursue the undivided life" where my heart is aligned with what I get to do., playing music. And, I am getting rich!l love my life and appreciate the boost this gave me. Thank you Derek!
Allison Scull
AllisonandVictor.com

BRILLIANT, as usual.

I recently changed companies twice in the same industry looking for a better opportunity and can really relate to the "keep the momentum " section above as while in the groove it seemed easy to keep my momentum up but once I slowed down from the company changes, it's been hard to get back up to a speed I previously found easy. Great point simply stated Derek, thanks.

Hi Derek:

Great stuff!

Love it. Thanks for sharing Derek. You always find a way to simplify the eternal truths.

Thanks for this amazing list.
I actually made the word file and shared it with my sons ( who are 21 and 17)
I sent you cc of that email
Thanks again
Rakesh

How to be Rich: two methods; 1. Be named Richard. 2. Realize the word "Rich" is not a state of being, but a state of mind. If you've renounced money and live as a monk, is that person not rich in spirit? If you've won and lost fortunes, and are a beloved peson, are they not considered rich? Rich is a relative term, relative to why you're on the planet, why you chose to be here, and what lessons you chose to learn here. (As I'm fond of saying a relative term, in my case a distant relative.) Once you examine the thousands of reports of people talking about why they chose their lifetime, chose their parents, chose their circumstances, you get a clearer picture of the journey. Being without attachments puts one closer to what it's like on the Flipside to be sure - because we have none there, other than what connects us to our loved ones. But by realizing this is a stage that we choose to perform on, choose our costumes and props, choose who we're going to interact with, be part of their lives, to teach or learn from - allows us the ability to see pursuit of objects or things as part of the play we're currently playing. There's no pejorative for choosing a life in poverty, in suffering, in distress - since between lives none of that exists - but it takes courage to choose a lifetime of poverty, or distress, of what appears to be suffering. From a flipside perspective, we can lose the stress of who we are and why we're here by identifying who we came to teach, or to learn from or to reconnect to. The thing that people most consistently describe on the flipside (the subject of my documentary and three books) is that we are all connected, we come here for reasons of love and compassion, and we learn and teach the lessons here because we signed up to do so. Like signing up for Derek's comments - as noted, they allow us to solidify our own experience on this journey. But for me the fundamental question is Why did I choose to be me? What am I here to learn or teach? And only each of us can answer that question, and it requires great compassion to allow everyone else to have their own reasons for their journey, without judgment. I was filming one woman under hypnosis, a skeptic, movie exec, and she got to a point to ask her "spirit guide" some questions, one of which was "what or who is god?" His answer was "god is beyond the capacity of the human brain to comprehend. It's just not physically possible. However, you can experience god by opening your heart to everyone and to all things." So the path taken by others may not be our path or preference, but if our heart is open to them, then we can honor them for taking that path. My two cents.

Derek - just a thought, but it would be useful if you had footnotes for the ideas you express so that someone could dig deeper into the idea if they so wished.
That's the goal. (See the original post.) But was taking too long to finish and everyone wanted this list, which is why I posted it now. So inside each section you see certain words are clickable. Clicking those will take you to the source of the idea. Almost none of these ideas are mine. — Derek

Hey Derek, I like what you have done. I can tell a lot of thought and insight when in to this. Keep em coming.

Steve

ACE!!!

My favorite :
appreciate someone, live like it’s their last day on earth.

it's a new little instruction book!

love it all, Guru Derek. xo from Ohio

Great insight!

Many "set you back on your heels" ideas here...wonderful quality. Really don't understand the market value approach to art. I do think many artists (I am one, so this discussion ain't my first rodeo) fail to serve others, and fail to take signals from the market, i.e., actual folks, non-artists. And their work might be more illuminating/moving/inspiring/healing etc. were they to lift their heads and look around. But many years ago I was profoundly struck by the thoughts of jazz guitarist John McLaughlin in an interview. If I may paraphrase, he said the job of the artist is to experience the substance of his medium more deeply than an average person is willing to (or even, is able to), and SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD (can't help shouting for a minute, excuse). So a fine artist sees more, a musician hears more, a poet understands and feels language in an extraordinary way. Now when the sharing happens, the work may not "focus group" well. We now understand to a degree what Monk was creating, van Gogh's paintings, William Blake's visionary poetry...with time and devotion, we share in their genius. Michael Jackson was brilliant, and sincere. His was a genuine pop sensibility, and he moved millions of units (and millions of bootys), and gave joy. But...what market are you talking about? Starving artist?? Absolutely not...I detest that trope. Honorable cultural work...a living wage if possible...financial success, by all means. But to use a single metric here is to dwarf creative enterprise.

I really enjoyed this.

Nice post, Derek!
What do you mean by "How to stop being rich and happy" ?
It means things you should not do. — Derek

Great stuff Derek...insightful as always. Thanks!

I would give you 85% or grade "B" for this message on video.
The idea of getting your message out to people is great if your message is useful in a positive way. Some messages and strong feelings some people have, are extremely negative and serve only to fuel the flames of hatred.
So what is my point? Some things are right and some things are wrong!
In society today where it is being taught to children that 2+2 = 5 is an ok answer if that is what the child chooses to believe, is where the infrastructure of the building blocks that made the society in the first place are being torn down and replaced with a chaotic system that eventually will beg for a resolve that cannot be achieved from within from an outside source that's just lurking in the wings to take over every freedom we have today.

I love it...an excellent digest of your digests.

Have been waiting for this since hearing about it on the TF show. Thanks, Derrick. (And keep them coming)

Hi Derek,
You are an appreciated star among us, and an expensive great friend to have. Thanks for the wonderful post!
Best,
Gong Qian

Your directives are as concise as your URL structure. Thank you for distilling your ideas and sharing the heart with us.

Your directives got people thinking, just like the wooden carving at the bottom of the article.

As for me, I'm doing well to remember to pick up a gallon of milk for my wife and kids on the way home from the office.
☺ Thanks for liking my short URLs. They make me happy. — Derek

It's not about money. It's about the importance of family and also being good to others. So your #1 is the only topic I had any interest in.

Derek, all's good, but what overrides all "to dos" is the aspect that every aspect of our creative being, right upto the odd things we do adds to "complementing" our main agenda or you can say core job, whenever its time is right. So doing music as a non musician (pro) with peak seriousness or the chef in us making those lean periods exciting are the strengths that we need to possess. Important in work that you do is to make people aware of their own inherent strengths lying in doing anythong with do for max impact (presumably what is harmless too I suppose hahaha).

I love being on your mailing list. 💕
I like your rent not buy suggestion, makes me feel more comfortable where I am!

Will do! ☺

Absolutely loving this post! Simple yet powerful!

Hi Derek, I love this kind of stuff and appreciate you sending it to me. I also like the short nature of these articles, I just don't have the time to read everything I'd like to.
preciate ya!
Dan

Thank you for sharing and making it simple to understand. even though the steps you have described aren´t that simple or maybe I just make it complicated haha but thanks.

You, me, us, we THE PEOPLE = TEAM!
T= Together E = Each A = Accomplishes M = More.
Our Generation Gap? band is now rolling on rocking in rocking chairs. Just want you to note it only took almost three decades of patience and perseverance to help our Mother Earth's people finally see what was going on in reality time. - No clowning. Seriously,Derek, you need to take full credit for the part you played in this fix it mission statement. Your voice taught me so many wonderful lessons. Your lessons were paid forward to many students when I taught in their classrooms on Vernon Street and at the Montessori School in Massachusetts. Your voice will always play a major part in our lifelines! Thanks Kid!

Thanks Derek.
To Be A Real Success Takes Time And By Experience, There Is No Short Cut To True Success.
I Love Your Quote, 'Avoid Awareness Of Competitors'.
Wallace Wattale, The Author Of Science Getting Rich Said, 'Avoid Competition, Embrace Creationism'.
Competition Drains The Human Mind Of Lucrative Ideas.
Then I Love Your How To Help Others. The One That Strike Me Most Was, 'Share Your Strong Opinions, Someone May Benefit Out It'.
It Boosted My Morale To Help Others With My Articles, Books And E Books.
Lastly, I Cherish This Quote From Your ETR Article, 'People Who Buy Expensive Books, Do Value Them More And Make Best Use Of It',
I Sell Some Expensive Business Ebks, It Seems Some People Do Not Know This,
I Invest A Lot In Books.

Derek
Great way to present great information!
I like to read one of these "axioms" then ponder it for a few minutes.
It is like writing one's own chapter of a book with that subject.
I do the same with the book of Proverbs.
Cheers!
John

thank you for sharing so generously 👏👍😂

There are so many unchallenged assumptions in How To Be Useful To Others I don't know where to start. When I watched the video I thought it was a joke and was waiting for the punchline.

I love this, it is so simple and makes perfect sense.

ein tolles, sehr gut erklärendes Video wie man ein Geschäfstmodel aufbauen kann. es gefällt mir sehr gut. jetzt lege ich los und werde die ganzen Schritte umsetzten. DANKE

I just wanted to reply to RaVen (2016-04-18), a responder who has disabilities. Hi RaVen, I wish you luck. I have noticed that many folks have raised money for projects used websites such as KickStarter, GoFundMe, and others. I also had a friend raise money on Kiva. Perhaps these may be the ticket you need when the Government cannot help. Best of Luck!!

This is brilliant, can't wait for more!

Yes... directives... yes Derick. :)

Awsome directives Derek. Thank You

This reminds me of the Paul Graham essay, The Top of My ToDo List", which is so short it can be reproduced in its entirety here:

A palliative care nurse called Bronnie Ware made a list of the biggest regrets of the dying. Her list seems plausible. I could see myself—can see myself—making at least 4 of these 5 mistakes.

If you had to compress them into a single piece of advice, it might be: don't be a cog. The 5 regrets paint a portrait of post-industrial man, who shrinks himself into a shape that fits his circumstances, then turns dutifully till he stops.

The alarming thing is, the mistakes that produce these regrets are all errors of omission. You forget your dreams, ignore your family, suppress your feelings, neglect your friends, and forget to be happy. Errors of omission are a particularly dangerous type of mistake, because you make them by default.

I would like to avoid making these mistakes. But how do you avoid mistakes you make by default? Ideally you transform your life so it has other defaults. But it may not be possible to do that completely. As long as these mistakes happen by default, you probably have to be reminded not to make them. So I inverted the 5 regrets, yielding a list of 5 commands

Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy.

which I then put at the top of the file I use as a todo list.

so simple and appealing yet effective explanation

Frank, bold and feels a bit extreme when reading.
Having practised the opposite most of my life and still not there, I am sure these nuggets can get you what you want.

Like how you have done the category here. Plus you have a great voice so a podcast is apt.

Excellent. I had started similar list of things to tell kids... exact same thinking, less succinct mind! Great work!

Hi being with Cheryl b, If you left out volunteering,in many cause i was on time
packing for others,bring in for others,in the need of a system that is not account.no one ask,but it was to give to this volunteering for a governing will
continue to give for others,is the same as being useful to others.after my way
was clear,if you understand the food bank that i volunteer, for in 2004 for 7 months, on the other side the reward that i get was also useful to me.witch was
products, and food tougher,from the supply.

Brilliant. Can't wait to see the rest of these!

Hi Derek, are you still planning on publishing the rest? I'd love to see them.
Some day! — Derek

I'm soooo happy you shared your "Directives" on your site! I've listened to your talk with Tim Ferriss over and over again. It's one of my favorites. Take care and thank you!

Juli Hoffman