Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal

Happy New Year! While I’m currently working hard writing my book and getting ready for Season 5 of the podcast which is just around the corner, I thought I’d share with you a bonus episode taken from the livestreams I recorded during lockdown (which aren’t available anywhere else on the internet). This episode is a conversation with Derek Sivers, a writer, musician and entrepreneur who founded CD Baby, an online CD store for independent musicians, back in 1997. He sold CD Baby in 2007 and has since embarked on other ventures including writing 4 books including Anything You Want: 40 Lessons For A New Kind of Entrepreneur - one of the three books that I've listed as changing my life. This is one of my favourite interviews from the livestreams and his advice on book writing felt particularly timely as I sit two years later writing a book of my own. Enjoy :)

Show Notes

Happy New Year! While I’m currently working hard writing my book and getting ready for Season 5 of the podcast which is just around the corner, I thought I’d share with you a bonus episode taken from the livestreams I recorded during lockdown (which aren’t available anywhere else on the internet). This episode is a conversation with Derek Sivers, a writer, musician and entrepreneur who founded CD Baby, an online CD store for independent musicians, back in 1997. He sold CD Baby in 2007 and has since embarked on other ventures including writing 4 books including Anything You Want: 40 Lessons For A New Kind of Entrepreneur - one of the three books that I've listed as changing my life. This is one of my favourite interviews from the livestreams and his advice on book writing felt particularly timely as I sit two years later writing a book of my own. Enjoy :)

📚Check out my New York Times Bestselling book Feel-Good Productivity!
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(00:45) Background and Career
(02:00) Anything You Want Book Discussion
(03:00) Writing a Book
(07:00) Fear of Plagiarism
(09:35) Advice on Writing, Apps and Productivity
(16:05) Current Books Being Written
(19:00) Building Your Own Store
(24:20) Do What Makes You Happy
(27:30) Avoid Quoting From Other People
(32:50) Identity: Music and Being A Doctor
(37:20) Music Theory: Is it really that valuable?
(44:45) Musical Originality
(46:05) Derek’s Singing Journey
(50:15) Ali’s Singing Experiences
(53:00) On Making Friends
(55:45) What Does Friendship Mean?
(59:40) Vulnerability, Exposure and Making Friends
(01:07:00) Talking To People On The Phone
(01:08:45) The Famous Broadway Musical Composer…
(01:13:35) Weird Like Me, Shared Experiences and ‘Burning The Ships’
(01:20:00) Connecting With People and Strangers
(01:23:20) Replying To Everyone
(01:28:30) Replying To People Asking For Advice
(01:33:20) Imposter Syndrome
(01:35:10) Goal Setting in Life and Business
(01:42:45) The Most Powerful Thing to Remember About Goals
(01:45:30) Closing Thoughts

📝 Live Blog Notion Page

🔗 CONNECT WITH DEREK

💻 Website
🎙 Podcast
🐦 Twitter
📕Anything You Want: 40 Lessons For A New Kind of Entrepreneur
📗Hell Yeah or No Your Music and People
📘How To Live

🔗 CONNECT WITH ALI

📚 Download my FREE 100 Books To Live Your Best Life Reading List
🎥 YouTube Channel
💻 Website
📸  Instagram
🐦  Twitter
👥 Linkedin

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Creators & Guests

Host
Ali Abdaal
Producer
Amber Baxter-Clarke

What is Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal ?

Dr Ali Abdaal is the world’s most followed productivity expert and author of Feel-Good Productivity, the brand new book that reveals why the secret to productivity isn’t discipline, it’s joy. In his podcast, Deep Dive, Ali sits down with inspiring creators, thinkers, entrepreneurs and high performers to help listeners build lives that they love.

Ali’s cheerful style, positive approach, and well-researched content have made him a trusted voice when it comes to productivity. The internet means that we have access to more knowledge and information than ever before - but it can also be overwhelming. So, Ali and his expert guests focus on simple, scientifically proven, and actionable steps you can take to make real changes in your life.

Ali’s a firm believer that happiness isn’t the result of success - in fact, happiness is the key to success in the first place. Ali made this discovery while working as a doctor in a chaotic hospital ward. In the past, hard work had been the answer to every obstacle in his life. But no amount of hard work was going to combat panic and burnout.

So, Ali dedicated himself to figuring out a new approach to productivity - one that focuses on enjoying the journey and working towards truly meaningful goals. Deep Dive, with its authentic and engaging conversations, will give you all the insights you need to do just that.