Why I gave my company to charity

Hi Derek!
God bless you. You get it :-)
All the best,
Richard

Great words, Derek. I always knew you had those qualities, but it was cool to see it in print (well, on screen). So, how much is enough? To most people, sadly, enough is "just a little bit more."

Good stuff brotha!

Great and clever story!
Thanks for sharing it.

AMAZING STORY! our paths in life are very similar... except i am still working on building my first company so i can benefit the world by always giving more of it than i take from it. THANK YOU FOR THE INSPIRATIONAL STORY! keep living the good life : ) simple and honest!

Have a great weekend and thank you for reading this comment.

Best Regards,

Matthew Roda
Founder of everydaystory.com (coming 1/1/2010) : )

Well said sir. I appreciate what you are doing and hope that even more generations can benefit from the gift of music.

Awesome.

After you having good fortune of getting it. Derek, clearly you got it. Thanks for the inspiration.

When I've toured Mexico, where the happiest people live, I've noticed that they have the fewest possessions and the least money.
Instead of a car, most have a 50cc honda upon which seven people ride, smiling and laughing, to the grocery store. At night, hammocks are strung between hooks into the concrete walls of the one room house. Everyone sleeps in same room. When I asked some Mexican friends why they sleep only 2-4 hours a night, the reply was, "we love living and we will sleep when we die."

Well done Derek! having material things away from necessity weigh you down. I live the same way. The only things I ever had were my guitars and the clothes in my closet. it's an amazing feeling to have that sense of freedom. it's also most admirable to give back part of so much that you contributed over the years. Indeed it's a great sense of pride and accomplishment.

Well done, Sir.

This is great, and it ain't a thing either. Very nice move you made Derek. Oh, and love your posts.

The Best Things in Life Aren't Things! So True!

Have have discovered and are living the secret my friend. Congratulations and God Bless.

Very nice, Derek! Just had a conversation with someone last night who didn't understand why I've been giving away / getting rid of all my "stuff". You get it! :)

Thanks!
Emma

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed”

Mahatma Gandhi :)

That's beautiful, Derek. Thanks for sharing your story, it's really inspiring!

Great lesson for us all Derek! ..and you tax attorney is..?

;-)

Derek,

Ever read "The Billionaire Who Wasn't? Chuck Feeney is the man!

Check it out!

Agape,

Michael

LOVE loVE LOve it!!! Thank you for writing and explaining this so clearly that even someone very math-challenged can understand. This will go to many friends and cohorts.

E

Dear Derek:

About the only thing you really lack is hair which is more than made up by an enormous heart!

"I knew all of that", but somehow you change my already changed perspective of things.
Thank you for sharing so much.

Yeah!

Until you wake up in the middle of the night sometime and think, jeez, what the hell have I done, I'm an idiot !
Hey, only kiddin'. Just wanted to try to make you laugh.

Thanks Derek. I love this story. The only way to change things is to lead by changing. Many people aren't exposed to this kind of thinking, especially young artists in America. Thanks for the post! Be Happy!

Thank you for sharing something you didn't have to and teaching me something about myself, Derek.

Hey Derek. I'm glad you are around. If you look at the papers at all you can see the selfishness level has reached new highs. I too am no Ghandi or Mother Theresa but I try to be decent and reasonably compassionate--not just up my own ass all the time. I am thankful that you exist and take the time to share what you think and feel. I am sure by the comments i read that you are literally changing the world for the better. Thanks for letting me in on it. Nice to be associated with someone who sees beyond himself.

WOW!
I completely admire your reasoning. We live in a such a material world...it's nice to hear some perspective from those who could have it 'all'.
I am in awe that that many students will be benefiting from your cause; and it makes it even better that it will be aiding MUSIC!
Amen, and Merry Christmas Derek!


Back to the basics we go!

I used to call you the patron saint of indie music. Now you're also the patron saint of arts-education as well. You're a boddhisattva Derek, an example for us all. Standing ovation.

Amazing story Derek, CDBABY will never be the same without you !

I gotta hand it to you Derek - that takes a REALLY big heart, and a small ego to do. Don't know if I could do the same. Hats off to you buddy.

I sure could LIVE on 5% of 22 million a year (1.1 million). I'd run my own recording studio with a full-time chamber orchestra!

Profound as always. Thanks for letting us in on this and thanks for your fantastic generosity.

You're a very special person, my friend. I don't say that to too many people-

plus that's a smart way to not get taxed for it. and damn 5% of 22mill plus ain't to shabby to live off of 'simply'. you've done well for yourself sir, and you've did it in a smart way. i can only wish i can do so well. i was thinking of doing biz through a nevada corp for those reasons, but maybe a charitable trust is the better way. thanks!

Great story and very true. Would love to get involved in any other music project in the coming decade. I feel I want to do something as well. Email me back; I'm on Long Island, NY.

Thanks Derek. You're a man I admire. Even more so now that the CD Baby site (it;s still your baby) is working well again.

Good thinkin Derek. I'm sure I'd have done something stupid!

The pragmatic and the ideal are wedded in your decision, Derek. This is a model of decision making at it's best. We can all benefit from this increasingly necessary approach to solving our strategic problems. "Put your gold money where your love is baby." (Robert Hunter)

Thanks for not keeping this under cover; we need to hear stories like this so full of the spirit of Ben Franklin. Perhaps, as you imply, the key realization is know thyself, honor thyself, and be confident enough in that to modify general social expectations.

Very best regards, Doug Saum

Thanks, Doug Saum

You Never fail to amaze me!

There is a unique joy of living a minimalist lifestyle, glad to hear you were able to withstand the benjamins and live it. What do you plan on using the trust for, a sivers (Carnegie) hall, a music school, marketing muscians, subsidizing musicians?

Brilliant. Your actions embody one of life's beautiful truths.... generosity creates abundance! Thanks for sharing and inspiring.
Kim

An inspiring story, but I think the claim that you weren't being altruistic is false modesty. After all, there would be nothing to stop you from having all that money yourself but not spending any of it. Well I suppose the 'deeper happiness' comment just brings it to a semantic debate about the definition of altruism.

This is brilliant. I hope lots of entrepreneurs are reading this.

Great idea Derek. Having "enough" is a beautifully simple concept (though difficult I think for a lot of us--myself included--to understand and achieve).

Wow Derek,
What a great thing to do. I don't know if I could do it, but it blows my mind how you did it.
You are one cool musician my friend.
All the Best.

ha...and now I break the chain of living in OZ.....

....sounds great in theory...

~rhonda

Oh, Derek, you ROCK! God bless your life with an abundance of simple pleasures!

Thank you for this inspiring sharing. I must say that I miss your personal presence on cdbaby.

Thank you Eric

Thank you for sharing this, and everything else

:-) what can one say :-)

Very hep. George Carlin's discourse on "stuff" just flashed.
I love you, man.

Love, B

now we finally know why you handed it over, and frankly as much as i respected you and then stuff that i've learned from these posts, that just put you on a whole new level in my book. we need more people like this in the world - people that know that possessions don't define you and they don't equal success.

Wonderful!

Love is the answer to everything.

Irrevocable trusts are a good idea. One other benefit is that you get the ongoing payments as long as you are alive, so you don't have to worry about your money running out while you're alive, like you would if you used savings.
Besides 5% of $22mil per year is still pretty decent :)

Derek-

Great story. Reflects a spirit of generosity and unselfishness that does result in a simpler, less complicated life - one of the secrets of happiness.

Xfering the company to a trust was a smart idea, one that few people would know how to do. I know because my day job is Financial Advisory (fa.ml.com/garyalt).

Keep up the good work, and the inspiring thoughts!

Wow! Derek - One of the best things you've done is provide a wonderful example! I will let my current students know what you have done - as an alum of our school you are an inspiration to our kids today!

Ya done good

Wow Derek!

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. What a wonderful and loving legacy you have created. God Bless You, Lisa

Derek - you are a gem

Yep, it was the best move on so many levels. People do forget that the more things you have the more responsibilities they bring. Freedom is not having to worry about shirking responsibilities. I know from my own experience that the goal is to avoid having the largest ring of keys. But, I do think people have to reach their own point of "extreme excess burden" to personally understand that enough is really more than enough and less is more. Once we reach that point then I think that is what we call success.

So, you did this so you wouldn't have to pay 5 million in taxes?

You still would have 17 million!

You could have started another business with the cash.

No sucking up to the bank or investor's or anyone!

Ok... is done, and if you're happy that's great, but...
No, that was not the reason at all. Sorry if I was unclear. Please re-read. — Derek

damn... speechless...

Thank you for doing this and an excellent story.

i hope your parents are proud of you. they must have done something right.

That was a brilliant move. From a personal & business perspective. But, I have to ask, do you play any music anymore or have an instrument or 2 lying around the apartment?

Having gone to Berklee (as I did around the same time as you) you must have found a strong pull to do music to express the creative power of life through that channel. Is that still a part of your life?

Just curious.

But if you're taking 5% out every year, won't it all be gone in 20 years? Maybe I'm not understanding how it all works.
The money is passively invested, earning at least 5% a year so that it grows, not shrinks, during my lifetime. — Derek

Yes! A million times yes!

Thanks, Derek. You are a gift. My greatest asset is my "gratefulness."

Brilliant! Magnificent! And music is such an awesome thing.

I've always heard that as a teacher if you effect one person's life your journey will be priceless. Unbelievable that you leave it all to music education. Imagine how many will benefit from all your insight , wisdom and generosity!

rada

Wow! I'm deeply moved by this. I think I need to change my own personal perspective in a positive way. Thanks for the words of wisdom, Derek!

Way to go, bro - your example helps lead the way up!

Hey Derek...I DON'T have enough...feel free to throw some of that unused cash my way! ;-)

You're a good man for doing what you did!

Peace,
John

Who ever said that money is the root of all evil was never starving. But who ever said enough is enough probably was both starving and rich at two points in their lives -- seeing from two points of view really can open your eyes to what is important in life!

You should run for something.
e

Great work Derek!

The most important thing is to learn who we are. Like you said you first had to learn what made you happy. I'm still working on that, trying to find out how I work best so I get things done and I'm still happy with it all. I would love to hear your thoughts and read peoples comments about how they best figured out how they tick. I think it would help some of your younger readers. :)

Derek...My Friend...

Woooooow ! You're something else buddy,The world is better because of you ! May you live happy for a hundred years more !

Bendiciones !

Jorge
Guadalajara,Mexico.

of all the 6 primary opulences: renunciation, knowledge, strength, fame, wealth & beauty, renunciation is chief, renunciation is king, renunciation is freedom, renunciation is satisfaction, renunciation is peace, renunciation is enough, renuniation is been there done that nothing to it, reununciation ....... is to walk a higher path, experience a higher taste, simple living, high thinking.

Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

I ditto eveyone on this blog. And I appreciate being apart of it all. The knowledge that we are gaining from you and each other is priceless and rewarding.


"Waiting On lOVE, Waiting On You"
Ms.Dimples

You are one smart cookie, Derek. You might be advising presidents someday. One can hope.

Derek,

A very inspirational message for all of us.

Thanks for all the independent musicians support you have given to all of us over the years.

Lucas

Wow! Sounds like you're a music loving minimalist with a heart of gold :)

God, I love you.

I have always had plans to do things for others and such if the "gods were to ever kiss me on the lips", but, I must say of all the ideas I have had... none were as good an idea as what you have done.

I'm gonna have to steal this idea... just letting you know.

Great, Derek.

You are a very good guy. You have a sort of "into the wild" feelings, that I really appreciate.

Let me think what would I do with $22 million... mmmh...

Honestly, I think I would have a similar approach. I would keep $1 million per year for me, to live completely comfortable (reeeeally comfortable!).

For the rest of the money, I would use them to create work opportunity for homeless people, to reintegrate in the society.

Anyway... :)

Have a good weekend my friend.

Gabriele

You're a good man Charlie Brown.

A wise man once said "For one's life does not consists in the abundance of the things he possesses" Luke 12:15
Thanks for the reminder
Paul O

Well done Derek! Congrats, and best wishes for the rest of your adventures.
--
Mike

and dude, what are you doing these days besides writing in your blog?

You're a model of the paradoxical leader, and you're too modest to own up to this but trust me when i tell you on behalf of many of us: you're a modern day hero.

Bene, well done! Keep on shining, All the best, Sky.

I just don't understand why some people will hate on others that are trying to do good. Why others always have their hand out instead of taking these valuable lessons to get their own. Derek, is trying to help us as artists and as human beings. I am more than happy for Derek. At least he is giving back to society. And he is living life on his terms. What ever he is getting out of life, he deserves it.Please continue to educate, to stimulate our minds, Derek.

Unfortunately you are few and far between my friend. Kudos.

As a young child my mum lived as a refugee in a mud-hut in Tanzania during WWII, and speaks of this period as one of the happiest in her life.

It's something I try to reflect upon in this materialistic world we live in.

I never measure success in financial terms.

But if ever my success were to bring with it any kind of financial windfall then I would try to put it to better use, much in the same way I give away all the extra clothes and belongings I accumulate each year.

It feels better knowing someone's making good use out of it rather than piling up in my closet.

I think your story, and the rationale behind it, touched me very deeply. Thank you for sharing...

Derek,
Excellent topic! You never cease to amaze me; thanks for teaching me something I never EVER thought of! Love to you, Phil

Why have you decided to recycle this message? I don't see my comment from 2008. J. Spaulding

Hey Derek,

Inspirational--something really clicked inside reading this--

Love it..

Congrats, as many have already said, on GETTING IT!

Peace, Michael

You are a really smart guy and that was a very nice thing to do. It is nice o hear that nice guys don't ALWAYS lose! : ) Have a Happy Holiday!

Wonderful! God Bless You!!!!

Tim Williamson

I hope that everyone you sent this link to fully respects your openness, because you owe no one an explanation for your success at all.

Congratulations on finding the things in life that are truly important to you, because most people do not find these things till the end of their life.

Ah, I forgot... I see all this blog translated in italian, how is possible?

You hired a team of translators from all around the world?
Yep! — Derek

Derek,

Thank you for sharing your richly complex simplicity! and your joy of being creative, caring and free!

While there are many examples of folks whose identity is so interwined with their status and toys, from what you've shared, I'd assume that your need for expression, freedom and sharing; your need for creating anew and not repeating yourself; your need to follow your heart's desire and sing your heart's song is the tune you follow.

Could it be that you have discovered how to continually access the unlimited resources of creativity? identifying with the beauty and abundance of lifeforce in motion? And that's what you have enough of? - the unlimited resource of love and creativity which always shares and expands. And so you will always have enough?

Thank you for sharing your soul's creative song and demonstrating through your life's many choices the unlimited inherent value of being and following your heart's song!

Love your Song!

Thank you so much for sharing. I hope that your story can inspire others to choose to be happy and live a life that they love.
J

thank you "peace"

You are a very smart person, Derek. Thanks for sharing your personal insights and inspiring us.

Robert

yo rock man. the truest meaning of music resides in your heart and spirit man. well done! well done!

lovely! I had no idea that was how you did it. That's amazing.

I think the bravest and most selfless part of this whole story was simply that you shared it with the world, knowing that you would be understood by some but misunderstood by others. Thanks for sharing. Jan

Thank you for letting us know who you are more with every post. You are truly inspiring in so many ways.
So,
If you're ever in Boston, I make a mean veggie lasagna, consider this an open invite to our table anytime!
I think we met you briefly once at NEMO. Did you have long beaded braids?

How many of us would do the same thing if we were in your shoes?

Derek, that touched my heart in a very deep way! Thanks for sharing. You sound very FREE in your decision to donate to charity. Giving always does lift us up and makes us feel so good inside. It also gives us a deep and abiding PEACe.
I Love your short and to the point articles.
Keep up the creativity....
Blessings,
Jeannie

This is great! So much funding has been cut from music and arts education in the last 9 years. When we get old and decrepit, these kids who grew up with out the arts, without magic of living, will be ruling the world and deciding how we live. Music education can change the world's future. For those of us who do not have the 22 million, I say we teach or encourage someone to make music. Even if it's just one person, it could effect so many in the future.

Hey Derek: Kudos to what you did. You went all the way...I sold my company(for less) in a non-music industry, so I could use proceeds and focus on my real passion independent musician advocacy. I am just starting out in my crusade to help independent musicians through my website and charitable contributions for music instruction and instruments to kids in underserved communities I hope to make a difference much like you already have and will continue to. Thanks for setting the example and congrats on doing the right thing which you already know. Keep inspiring.

Goosebumps! In this day and age, you're an inspiration for living from the basics. Living from the soul. And, you make me smile :) Tia
@TiaSparkles

So I guess I'm buying lunch next time?
:)

There is a place where you will get to hear all the music you helped to bring into the world and see how it touched peoples lives...

I understand that the sound system up there is pretty wicked!

D irection
E ase
R esourcefulness
E ffectiveness
K ey

S incere
I nsightful
V ital
E arnest
R estorative

...public schools... are you aware of the deep funding cuts... the arts are the first to go...

...with your proceeds from your "...charity give-away.."...maybe food for thought... and since another "donation"... a tax write-off as well...

~rhonda

thanks for sharing that with us, derek. you are truly rich, and you know it. xo

Great story..sounds like me although i haven't made it yet i ll follow your foot steps when right time knocks

You sir are a gentlemen among gentlemen.

Do you think starting out in music "created" this path for you, or would you have given away any business you built?

On behalf of parents everywhere who have kids that want to "play" for a living, thank you.

Philanthropy at its finest.

Thank you!! That story is so beautiful and rings so close to home as I, too, have started a not for profit organization involving music and education.....Blessings:)

Derek, after a decade of acknowledging and utilizing your valued music business opinions I now see that you are also wise and generous beyond your years in a much more relevant way.
James 3:17 -
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

So ya gave it away for your own happiness......selfish bastard. ;)

Seriously though. Good on ya brother. Hope we run into each other some day so I can shake your hand and say thanks.

Cheers

Love this! Thank you fellow human being, Derek!
"The highest form of wisdom is kindness" -- the Talmud

I wish I was lucky..

RTFO, D!

Your best article yet!

You just surpassed Atticus Finch, the Green Lantern AND Miles Davis in hero points.

You rule.

I want to be like you!

I want to walk like you, talk like you...

Respect Derek. Nice Banksie image too :)

Derek,

What a way to start this morning they with your article. Your Life. YOU GET IT! DOING IT! HELPING OUR FELLOWMAN. BEAUTIFUL!

Have a great weekend,

"I've never seen a u-haul behind a hearse. The only thing you take with you when you're gone is what you leave behind."
- Miles Patrick Yohnke

LIVING IN OUR OWN SKIN [PEELING BACK THE LAYERS]
By Miles Patrick Yohnke
© 2009 All Rights Reserved.

"Society is a masked ball, where every one hides his real character, and
reveals it by hiding" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The poster boy. This is whom I have been for most of my life with respect to
the issues I'm about to address. Most humans are really just sleep walking through their lives. Society tells us that if we have this car, we are somehow better than another. That if we live in this type of home we are somehow better than another. If we have this type of clothes, again, we are somehow better. But the real story is that the woman or man is doing all this to be liked. I just bought this car. Do you like me now? I just bought this house. Do you like me now? I just bought this Hugo Boss suit, this outfit. Do you like me now? If we really think about it, we just want to be liked. From the executive to the janitor we just want to be liked. We are all struggling! It makes one ask questions of who they like and why they like them. It should be the person inside. That something about them. It's not what their assets are, rather their asset is who they are.

Each of us, every person, has a wonderful story in them. Truly. We are all
children of God. At times we just need to stop, reflect, and perhaps quit
running from ourselves. It's interesting so many people are trying to find
God. Many get involved in a religion only to jump to another. In alot of
cases they are not looking for God at all. Many are joining nothing
dis-similar than a gym or a club per say. They just want to be around people that perhaps have a similiar interest. Or mostly just to feel like they belong. Most of our lives it is just that. We just want to belong! To be liked, needed, or be loved! We just need to be truly honest with ourselves and question our purpose in each thing we do. That God is in each of us, not
something to go searching for, but searching within ourselves. And in that
lies the answer. Each of us holds a beautiful story only to be told. We are
all capable of the most beautiful things.

The mind is a very powerful organ. Albert Einstein stated that we only use
10% of the brain. I was a young child when I read that. I thought it was a
typo or just me and my dealing with my learning disorder. But I never forgot
it and now years later, I understand. Most people don't want to think. Thomas Edison wrote: "Five percent of the people think, 10 percent of the people think they think, and the other 85 percent would rather die than think."

We are conditioned in ways from media/society not to think. We are banged
and banged over the head from ads and media to be this and that and not to
think. Mother Teresa once said: "One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody." We need to stop and take ownership of our lives. To realize and accept that happiness isn't in possessions. In us lies the happiness. When we realize this one has another type of life. A calm, a peace, a joy. A life that we never thought was possible.

Widely recognized and award-nominated engineer, producer, writer, poet and
founder and C.E.O. of 5 Star Productions, Miles Patrick Yohnke brings many
years of experience to the music industry; including many awards in sales
and marketing. If you are looking at developing your career, Yohnke offers
consulting in person, by phone or via email. For more info, please contact
him directly at: 306.227.6379 or email at: miles@5-starproductions.com.

Good for you Derek! that was smart and it was done for the right reasons. people like Robert Kiyosaki should admire the way you handled your former business.

Bill

Hey Derek? Will you come over and get rid of all my "stuff" for me? :)

Seriously, though, I think it's wonderful that you will go on living through your support of music education years after you have left this world. A true blessing!

What a great way to be the ultimate decider of who will benefit from the fruits of your labor.

Derek You are a lucky man.....if I had a bit of the luck and opportunities that you had I wouldnt be in my current situation.And the sad part is there is really nothing that I can do." Stay Optimistic"and "Dont Give Up" are sayings that really have no bearing on me....

Derek,

About 2 months ago I sent you one of my original songs to get your opinion on how I should handle marketing,etc.

BTW, Please don't do send your original music to Derek... I made a mistake in doing it and I apologize.

My point:
1. You took the time to write back informing me you don't give opinions, etc. You're a VERY busy man; you did not have to write anything, but you were kind enough to let me know you received my song.
My respect level for you then shot up a thousand points.

After reading this, if it was possible for my respect level to run any higher for a man, condsider it a fact.

In this dod-eat-dog music business, you, sir, are one of the true gentleman.

Your Friend,
James

One more comment...I think that what you did was good but I cant say that cd baby has been the same without you

Brilliant! This kind of thinking and action is a new world order. Thank you for following your heart so that others can see how well it works.

You are awesome.

Every entrepreneur needs to read this post. I'm not normally one to comment on blogs but you really inspired me with this one. You truly are my role model as a young entrepreneur. Keep up the good work and keep sharing with us. Thanks!

I love this, in so many ways.

We can all pursue something like this to a degree:

1. Figure out what you earn each month.
2. Figure out what % of your income you want to give away and do the math. (10% is a good goal)
3. Roll on over to http://givv.org and set up your givvlist. Every month, your "charitable foundation" does its thing.

Let me know what you think,

Jason

"Stuff"...the striving to have more 'stuff'...and to hold onto the 'stuff' we already have...brings us into spiritual and financial bondage.

The concept of 'enough' has been purposely cast aside by the advertising industry...and through their 'programming devices' they have trained up (programmed the minds of) the last two or three generations to crave more "stuff". (Why do you think they call it "television programming"!?!)

The measure of continuing freedom and future blessings for our life...depends on the measure of what we are willing to release from our life that will bless others.

-ME

Hey Derek: Awesome!!! As I'd read earlier, I'm getting ready to start my indie artist mgmt & mktg firm.I'm truly aware of the fact that happiness is a "inside job" and that money, fame and/or material things will not be able to make me happy. They would just be tools to get my life's purpose accomplished!!

I'm just looking for the opportunity to help indie artists get their work into the mainstream of our society!
If I'm able to accomplish that, then I'll have lived a happy and successful life, because I will have achieved what I do believe is God's will for my life!!!

All I want in my life is to be able to get the bills paid and to help the world's best undiscovered independent artists show their God-given talents to the world!!!

Sincerely,

Grateful Ed ~ Not The Grateful Dead ~ :-)

Great stuff Derek! Wish I had more to say in this comment, but I'm speechless at the moment.

Brilliant, again, you are my hero Derek, this is simply freaking brilliant!

Simply explained and beautifully executed.

Those were some pretty smooth AND selfless business tactics.

While I'm not about to embrace asceticism, I feel similarly.
Sure, my bank account steadily grows, but my lifestyle remains unchanged, because I simply don't NEED anything else. A roof, groceries, and the few music making tools I already have are basically all that I need.

What about wants?

Why want anything that you don't need?

(I should clarify that the reason my bank account is growing is because I'm not spending any money).

Yes,now you sound more like a Sage. 1.1 million per year, even if no growth should be enough to live on. As the sages said," the greatest wisdom of man is to know when enough is enough".

what else can I say besides ratifying others. Great move! Smart, wise and generous (not altruistic, as you had mentioned). Indeed, a role model to be followed for all.

This is the spirit of Christmas. Thanks Derek.

You get the gig. Thanks for sharing that. I had no idea! Speaking of great gigs, I'm a music therapist by trade and I just received an awesome donation of instruments for my clients from a group called Blue Star Connection--they make sure kids who are really sick have instruments to play....check it out everyone....www.grandblues.org and click the Blue Star tab.....

Derek,
You've achieved what so very few people do in their lifetimes. You have been able to deflect all the noise around you - and listen to and act from your own true voice - your values - what gives you true satisfaction. Thank you for having the courage to do so. You show that to be and do something "great" with our lives we must begin with gratitude for our daily portion of "enough." Your story is like the one of Jesus on the hillside passing a few loaves of bread and fishes around to feed the multitudes and having leftovers. Your story is an excellent example of how there is potentially enough for everyone to have a portion of the good life.

I think the best part is that you said "I've just learned what makes me happy. And doing it this way made me the happiest." I feel that is one of the greatest challenges to people is finding what happiness uniquely means to them. Thanks for sharing and Great Post!

I'm so impressed on so many levels.

First, that you could create such a successful business, helping others become more successful (which is a trick in and of itself!) and then that you could build that business to the point that it was worth 22 million dollars.

Then, that you would have the brains and the heart to create this trust that both sponsors the good things that you'd like to see in the world WHILE still ensuring that you'll never have to worry about where your next meal is coming from. Brilliant.

To the person who would have built themselves a state-of-the-art recording studio with the money: studio time is always easy to come by if you have the money for your project. Let someone else worry about maintaining the "state-of-the-artness."

The person who criticized you for not keeping the money to invest in a future business without "having to suck up to bankers," should recall that you started CDbaby without major investment capital. You simply charged a small fee for each CD someone wanted posted on your website, and then received a flat fee per CD sold. Fair, reasonable, equitable and brilliant. The right business at the right time. If it hadn't worked out (if very few artists had wanted to jump on your bandwagon), you would have sustained very few losses.

How does someone with a musically educational project apply to your trust? ;)

This is the meaning of "smart" money and true choice. Really really impressive, well done. The world needs more of this!

Derek,

You are what I want to be. Being in the company of someone who has completed this part of life's puzzle is an absolute honour and blessing. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. I consider you a friend and mentor.

Blessed are those who have enough.
Deanna

Way to go Derek! Thank you!

As I said befo, confucious, back seat please!

That's both inspiring and humbling.

Derek, thank you. Have you ever read "The Treasure Principle" by Randy Alcorn? One of my favorite principles from the book and my main goal financially in life is to "increase my standard of giving, not my stardard of living".

God Bless, Glen

"God demonstrated his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8

Derek! I just love your choices! You show the value of humble living opposed to greed. What a beautiful gift for musicians! The music education shall florish n I think bout August Rush wisdom. Yes I am happier then ever living with 30K of stuff; have zero rent; am not in the system; n have never been freeer in my life! Travel the world on minimum funds 'n am abundant in adventures. Of course I did have the BMW n all the stuff once! Now I teach others the power of detachment from stuff that's clogging up the planet. Meeting musicians from all walks of life n being inspired by musical kidz who 'listen to the music of life" out of the box is worth every moment! Derek you rock!

wisdom

Derek the world would be a better place if there were more people like you. Musicians everywhere who already hold you in high esteem will be blown away by what you have done.You are one hell of a cool dude. Always your friends David & Maxie

Wow! Great post, Derek, really!

You are the the perfect combination of brilliant and humble. I love your posts! - Pauline

I'm a member of CD Baby and I thank you!!!

You da man Derek. I really appreciate the way you think and live.
love and peace~
Louis

truly inspiring... thank you for that!

That's a great story and a even reality if its true. I can't beleive you worked so long and hard to give away the fruits of your labor...If you (truly)gave it away...

Giving sends your brain a message that there is more than enough!

brilliant!

Derek I just sent the latest blog link you sent about giving to charity to many!

The ripple effect of everything we do never stops and when it is for the benefit of all, the whole universe dances and sings for joy!!! And God smiles.

You are amazingly inspiring and light years ahead of your time.

Thank-you for sharing.

Joy

each of us is a rose from the garden of heaven spreading the fragrance of god on earth!....by judy joy jones

yes ..brother you are an example
to the world a true hamanitarian
spiritual not in material staff..
i will do the same ...
u r one of the best

with out you ..where all of the talents from cdbaby would be
we honor you ..i mean it ....
thank you so much

good job! thanks for all you do! elliott

Awesome story Derek! “Happiness is not getting what you want … it’s wanting what you have”

Nice! Several years ago I was able to spend some time (doing research) in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea in a very traditional and quite poor (by western standards) village called Herowana. My kids (then 9 and 12) were with me. One day my son burst into our hut after a day of hunting in the forest, exclaiming "Mom! These people have nothing and they are so happy!" I told him to hold that thought..... Sounds like you found that same truth.... Thank you.

Inspiring Derek. I, too, try to live simply. I've just gone through another round of "I don't need this thing." Still need to do more.

One question: You said you were safe from frivolous lawsuits. Was that something you were worried about while running CDBaby?
Never very worried about it. Just one additional bonus. — Derek

DS,

I was about to forward this to over a thousand friends, some of whom are soldiers, but the little dig on Iraq made me wince. It wasn't necessary to get political to make what is otherwise a wonderful point. A lot of people believe in a strong national defense and you gain nothing by marginalizing them and the people that agree with you already agreed with you.

I know, how petty of me. You are still The Man.

I want your babies Derek!!! Well,not exactly... But I do think you're rad and you inspire me everyday to move forward in my career/passion and make me want to be a better person.Not to mention that both CD baby and Hostbay have helped me and my success in more ways than I ever imagined. You're the best!
Xoxo,
Amanda Richards

so right, Derek - this is true!

that first paragraph and the closing line: "I have something he'll never have, ENOUGH," is so powerful. thank you Derek!!

Very creative and inspiring! Thank you for sharing that information with us.

Stunning, brilliant and lovely, all at once! Congratulations on making such an eviably amazing decision!

Admirable - not that you gave the money away... but that you know what makes you happy and actually did it......

Fantastic post, Derek. If someone wants to do the same thing, what are some resources where they can learn how to do it? It sounds like a complicated and expensive thing to do, especially with lawyers.

Brilliant Derek, simply brilliant, long may you continue to inspire people and lead by example

One Love
Alex

Derek -

If only all hipsters could be like you, the world would be a better place :-)

Thanks for sharing this, Derek. VERY inspiring! I just love the way you truly walk your talk and make a real difference in the world! Thanks again for all that you do.

I'm astonished at the number of people who misread and misunderstand, and go away thinking Derek is saying he's raking off a million dollars a year and calling it 'living simply'

Not. What. He. Said.

You rock, Sivers!
What you did is so clear & beautiful!
Love
L.

AWESOME PLAN DEREK! Tell us more about the Independent Musicians Charitable Remainder Unitrust... Who is on the Board of Directors? How will the funds eventually be used? The only catch that I see is that you have to move on before the remaining funds begin to be put to their intended purpose.
Thank you so much!!!
No board. Just named a few music-education charities in the trust document. It's like a will, in a way. — Derek

Derek,

I sure can pick great heroes! You remain on top!

XO Allene

wow, what a fantastic story! thanks for all you've done for musicians and aspiring musicians!!

I've known you since almost the beginning of CD Baby and mp3.com and have to say you constantly amaze and inspire me.

Carl

And now you are looking through eye of the needle. Can you say no brag just fact? Give it all away and live totally by faith and you will finally do something worth bragging about. We get what we need, like it or not. Having too much is as much of test as being poor. Are you really passing? Only you can know.

Well done! What an inspirational story. I guess you typify the phrase "Enough is enough!" Happy Holidaze to you!!!

KUDOS! What more can I say?

Dear Derek,
Your description of what you did is beautiful. The world is a better place because of your work and contributions. You are deeply appreciated. Thank you!

Steve Bruce

I've always said my singing is free - it just cost money to move my stuff

always an honor to read about those peoples who makes the world a better place to leave, you are one of those, you inspire me to even work harder to become one of those at this scale. God bless you.

Great stuff as always Derek. Very smart, forward thinking and selfless. We could all learn a lot from this example. Definitely inspiring, thanks for sharing.

Derek:
I get it and fully agree and understand your philosophy re money and things. Living simply and doing for others are qualities that are spiritually inspired borne from inner wisdom and life experiences.
Thanks for sharing this and I hope that all musicians and fans of CD baby follow your example and pass it on and stop being greedy, selfish with "things" that can't make them happy.

As an International artist who has enjoyed success this has been my philosophy for years and I give and give and give and will continue to until I am no longer on this planet of greed!!!.
Peace and more Peace to all!.
Norma

Derek; Again you have inspired me.We are not so different. That's why I started my web magazine,was to help musicians. I've had the big house and cars and fancy friends and all that crap.I have very little in terms of things and net worth. Happiness is not measured by how much horsepower I can afford but by what I feel at the end of the day I've contributed.Thanks Derek

Thanks, Derek! Very inspiring and thought provoking.

Well done, I have a similar plan with the remix label! Thanks for sharing the story.

Hello my friend online of so many business years:)
Oh with this article my first impression of you from back in 2000 (or when you first contacted me online years ago) was correct.
I am as a professional musician etc. VERY proud of your choices made but can you tell me privately the name of your business aka lawyer who set this trust up or legal consultant that gave you great advice?
You & I should sit over an espresso someday ok?
Ciao,
Nikki

Undeniably, you're a genius. The other thing you have that most people don't is the innate ability to strategize and see the whole picture. That is of great value.

Nice. I wish Ayn Rand were still alive, just so we could watch her head explode after reading this. :)

Simply perfect!

Derek,when i first joined CD Baby 6 years ago, i could tell you had a certain kinded spirit of kindness and generosity that couldnt be faked. I learned long time ago that all this stuff that we build just complicates life. We all forget about the important things in life such as a true love,a friend or other people that will love you regardless of your money other possesions. Money and things only have value because our value sets has been misplaced.Im a 20 year Airforce Vet and ive traveled all around the world and Americans seem to be very off track with things. Thats why ive donated several of my songs to the Music for Troops effort on my website because there is so much more satisfaction in giving than receving. Keep sending the posts they are always thought Provoking.

Rick Stallworth

If I'm not mistaken the intro story about two friends was an actual conversation between Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller... this has been one of my favorites for a long time.

I really believe "enough" and "share" are the modern "riches".

Very cool! All your hard work, passion and wanting to help a few friends has been blessed. May your remaining years be blessed as well. I believe God put all those desires in you. Have a wonderful Merry Christmas or Happy what you celebrate! God is Good!

yes.... in so many ways the biggest challenge as a human is to channel our yearning for 'more' into positive things.. More peace, more contentment, more love... ultimately more consciousness and more of being in the moment in the best possible way we can! Thank-you as ever for sharing Derek : )

if i were single, i'd be chasing you-what a terrific guy!

You have an order of intelligence far and away superior to most. I'm glad to see that a huge heart came with that enormous mind!

Derek - as always, your words of truth and wisdom prevail. In addition to letting go of “things” … I let go of the music industry in its typical format years ago to find my “true” self and embrace songwriting from a place of "higher consciousness". Disconnecting from consensus reality has been a freedom like no other. It’s great to know that you are leading the way to a much more fulfilling realm of life on planet Earth.

There is a saying - "When you are ready, the teacher will appear".

I believe you are one of those amazing teachers that others may learn from ...in due time of their readiness.

Love, light and peace ~

That is so sweet. Mathematically sound and all that, but so sweet. Derek is as sweet as that little kitten he posted the other day. Sooo... has your mother published any child raising books?

You have a wonderful view on value Derek. Thanks for helping improve my own. Good luck with any new ventures you help create!

You did the right thing.

And absolutely, Less is More. No question!!

Therese

A wise man has once simplified his existence to the point where he traveled the globe with no other possessions but a drinking cup. Then one day he saw a little boy by the fountain cupping water into his little hands and drinking it. "What an old donkey, I am!" exclaimed the philosopher and gave away his cup. If happiness is the fruit of expanded awareness, then awareness is the fruit of deliberate simplicity. People who choose this route are no doubt the Saints of the world! What an inspiring modern real-life illustration (and confirmation) of this timeless principle!

Nice.

As always, another great story of one mans ambitions,intelegence,humanity and wit...'Goodonya' Derek.

William Tell.

You are a genius who has not let the pride and greed of life get in your way. I am honored to know you and will try to follow your example.

Uhmm. I remember writing an article announcing the sale for my italian publisher... ( http://mytech.it/digitale/2008/08/07/derek-sivers-cd-baby-venduto-disc-makers/ )
Thanks for explaining in detail.

Negative side of it: none of the money actually goes to charity during your lifetime, doesn't it?

Great article!

Really made me think about what I really need and what truly makes you happy.

Thanks for writing it!

Chad

Thank you for your great generosity and insight! Bravo!

Derek, I love you.

(But not like the love of a man for a beautiful woman...)

There are a number of honest, good people I have met in the music industry in the past 16 years, and I think you are my favourite.

It's interesting how when you act from your true self, rather than the ego,how much good can come from that. You may not want to admit that you are, deep down altruistic, because you want to help musicians. Thank you.

your attitude toward possessions
is very smart and very enlightened.

and cdbaby has benefitted many of
my friends, so i thank you for that.

thirdly, your trust sounds excellent.

so i hope you will forgive me if this
sounds like an irreverent question,
but did you ever consider channeling
the proceeds for the sale of cdbaby
back to the artists contained therein?

i have all kinds of respect for the
intelligence and the gumption that
led you to birth and nurture the baby,
but its fantastic value upon being sold
was, to a very large degree, based on
the musicians who threw in with you.

so shouldn't they have benefitted too?

-bowerbird

Now that's what I call a show!
A Life to Live By! Thanks for generations!

I feel exactly the same way, always have..
I have my music and songs friends health and a roof over my head..
the less I have the lighter I am -
THANKYOU DEREK

When you say the trust will be passively investing to earn 5%, you might be interested in the Mission-based Investing approach where endowment assets are invested in things that will generate the required return and still contribute to the mission you are pursuing. There are some great examples (heron foundation is one of the leaders) - happy to provide pointers connections if you are interested.

btw... thanks for sharing and setting the example.

ps - you are an inspiration -

Amazing I don't think I could do that, but I also know that while I always want more I will never have enough, but its a hard habit to break but maybe just maybe I could be inspired by reading something such as this.
Cheers Derek you are one in a million.
Gerald

Derek, this is the reason I try to turn as many of my people as possible on to your blog, your work, and your overall life. Once again, good job man.

Hi Derek,
Fantastic!!
Thank you for your story.
Less is more, money doesn't buy happiness.
Your life's journey is remarkable.
God Bless,
Barbara Dee

The sole pursuit of materialism ultimately consigns a person into a world surrounded by those who equally revere material things. It is a world that is a magnet for parasites, scamsters, and vacuous personalities

An inspiration! It was.

Thank you for sharing this, Derek! It's interesting how we feel better when we own few things. I have a special page named "Live Simple" on my home page where I share thoughts and advice about simple living. I just put a link to your article there, Derek.

I also display a picture of a poster I bought from the great company OSC (the developers of the audio sequencer Deck, which Digidesign used when they developed ProTools). The poster is very intersting, and you may take a look (and feel free to download it) by clicking on my name (I hope it works..).

BRAVO!!!!!!!

On so many levels.

Greetings D.,

Maximum love and respect...you are a truly heartical brethren...your blessings shall increase tenfold just from that one move alone!

JAH bless,
Jahmark

That is all said and good, except for the fact that the kids who need it most aren't in school. They learn on their own and forgo any formal training. Meanwhile, the company you started that helped people help themselves has went from cd baby to cry baby. Thanks for helping future generations learn music, but now return to square one with no help for the indies pre-cdbaby.

My daughter's about to have her 1st birthday. My sons are 8 and 14. To think that they, or their kids, might benefit from your generosity deserves a giant thank you in advance. You've made the world a better place.

Hi Derek,

This has got to be the single most profound thing I've heard from you. Your point about having "enough" says it all.
That concept allows me to do things I would never be able to do if I didn't thing I had plenty "enough"... Am I rich... Not by a long shot. But I do feel I have plenty "enough"...

Continued to success to you...
Dennis

Wow! you deserve a grant.

Sharing your story has moved many people and reflects a virtue that most have not considered. I hope you continue to share with as many as possible. It's inspiring and thought-provoking and may lead to an abundance of selfless acts. Thank you and God bless,
michele cintas
(San Diego Realtor)

Inspired ;)

a reason why you connect to so many people?

you're able to put into practice on a large scale what so many do but on a much smaller scale.

... as my dad used to say ..... "how many pairs of pants can you wear at a time? Do you need it or do you just want it?"

....oh yea .... he was also fond - when we were kids - of saying 'but is it constructive?'

you're constructive Derek, and this makes you part of the solution

In a way, this is what all music teachers do, who truly love what they teach isn't it? Those that we teach will pass that love of music on to future generations, and so on and so on...
Thanks for the wonderful reminder to appreciate myself.
You are truly blessed.

Betsy Grant

You go Derek!

Hey Derek, man that says it all !!

God Bless,

Poetry

Hi Derek,

Yes very inspiring. It's really helped me out with an idea for a project I had in mind. It's given it some momentum now.

Thanks!

You're an inspiration.

Derek,
How did yu do this? where do I get the information about it so I can do it? LOVE IT!!

Hi Derek, Good for you and thanks for giving me the chance to get my own songs around the world via cdbaby.com. You gave me a voice and a lot of inspiration. I've been places I never would have and done (legal!) things I'd never done during my previous fifty years of performing my music!
May God bless you.
Happy Christmas and keep smiling.
Dennis Derby

Your basic living expenses are 2.2 million dollars a year? And you're not an old chap,you'll live another 20 years. That's the entire value. Total blatant tax Dodge, nothing more.

thanks derek,
you always seem to write something to help me put my life into perspective.
things don't really prove you've lived living does that.

i remember i was in hawaii several years ago went and saw the seven sacred pools amazing, climbed a tree, swam in the pools, i was there lol. as i was leaving taking one last look at the falls a huge tourist bus pulled up with all the curtains drawn, a swag of japanese tourists got out, stood in front of the sign saying where they were, with their backs to one of the most magnificent sights you would be blessed to see, took their photos and got back on the bus and drove away. all this without actually seeing the seven sacred pools. I was gob smacked so went and climbed another tree for them. they would have gone home and showed the slide show with them standing in front of all the signs to the most amazing places and never experienced any of them could have purchased the dvd and stayed at home no jet lag and saved several million yen.
lol a little off topic i have no company to sell or give away for that matter although i do have "my" company which i share on a regular basis ;)
happy days
thanks for your generosity

"You should run for something." Please don't...

"Total blatant tax Dodge, nothing more."
I couldn't disagree more and it is a little callous to judge your good fortune like that, and dismiss it as "a tax dodge"!

Still, there is a question I have for you...is there ever a time when you think 'enough' is not enough? Like maybe that 22 mil could have been grown even more (to help music education) by starting another venture...your own charitable foundation, or a not for profit music school even?

You are still young indeed...and everyone that has had some contact with you in some way, whether through cdbaby, or else where wants to inherit a little of your vision. We all feel your passion for music and a peaceful, loving world, a world of peace not war. We (especially musicians) would give, from our heart of hearts, the same as you with our good fortune.

We are watching you, Derek, and learning the steps we will take to give it all away one day(you can't take it with you). Thanks for the lesson in advance...but please, Don't Run for Anything! We want you right here...on your blog;-)

beautiful. thank you for living outside your "self" in such an inspiring way.

I think it's cool you gave it to charity. It's not like anybody forced you to do that. Good for you.

I admire what you did... and resonated with what you said.

I bought a cd from cdbaby a while ago and laughed with the thank you note that arrived in my email...so funny & creative! It was a good project. And now, the good goes on.

Congratulations, Sir! :-)

With bright wishes for the next leg of your journey,

Nancy

When I wanted to be rich and own a Ferrari, before I learned what life was about. My uncle a rich man said all you need in this world is money in your hip pocket. I didnt agree at the time I was younger then. What was the use of money if you weren't going to splurge on luxuries. So Derek has it all with money in his hip pocket. With that he can stay in a unit hire a car jump on a plane and not have to worry about losing a thing. Saves on insurance too with nothing to insure... Way to go Derek just hope one day someone appreciates what you have truly done for others. I saw a person in my area give 1 million away for local childrens sport after he died... It caused a split in the community with one third borrowing another 1 million and building a rec centre in a pokey country town. Now they are in dept now they have big overhead costs and really it was a bad thing to give others control of money they hadn't worked for. Now the rate payers pay. However though Derek what an unreal beautiful thing you have done...I hope your ghost can stay in control of it and kick ass to keep it going to the right people and places after you go.

wow... thats the coolest thing i've ever heard!!!!

Now that is what I call living life. Like the animals in natural. Having only what they need and living there lives. Enjoying everyday instead of collecting thing to impress others.

If only we all had the strength to be like that.

A very very smart Ideal, a great way to get paid tax hassle free.

Well done.That is a good example for others to follow.

Great move, Derek, and God bless you for your carring for other musicians in that fashon.
My best to you,
Ted Sousares dba: Sousa-T Music

....and the good guy WINS.

Inspiring!

That's so awesome Derek. I wish I was more like you!! I'm so deep in debt I'll never get out in my life time but I hope you are an inspiration to others before they make serious mistakes. I know you're an inspiration to me.

God Bless,

Phil V

Derek,

When I grow up, I want to be just like you!!!!!

You are the best friend in the music business that I have. You make me feel good about myself but also fearless about being me! I read your article on your wise teacher but I think that now you have become that WISE master teacher. Teaching a world of musicians through your integrity and humanity!! Bless You!

I have always found you inspiring for many reasons. Yours is the only blog i follow in fact. And like everyone else, i had no idea about all this. I assumed you made a lot of money when you sold CD BABY but i didnt give it much thought.
From reading most of the comments however i feel like people are puttin you too much on a pedestal for your actions and being doing so, taking THEMSELVES off. The fact is gazillions of people struggle every day to make enough money for food and shelter. I believe MILLIONS would do exactly as Derek did IF they could but the fact is Derek is in the .000000001% minority. Derek won the lottery folks. When you win the lottery (which is about as likely as landing good major label record deal) you too can make grand philanthropic gestures, never have to work a B job again, and live 'simply'. Lots of very smart people die hungry. Its important (i think ) to recognize that Derek was in this extremely unusual position AND that many would have done as he did IF they could. Its smart, its convenient, and its ...duh...just the right thing to do when you have more than you need, to come up with a way to give back. As i speak my partner (who lost her job due to the recession) is trying to sell her possesions to avoid having Wells Fargo take away her home. Despite this, she , like me, like St Derek Aquainus :-) believes she has enough. So who is more impressive? My unemployed girlfriend, or Derek?

Wow! I had no idea! That is an amazing story.

You know, Kurt Vonnegut, who you quoted not so long ago, once said that no writer needs more than $150,000 a year to live a great life. This definitely falls under the "great minds DO think alike" category, I guess.

What a great post! It definitely helps put things into perspective.

Derek,

I said I was amazed and humbled by your generosity, but that was before I even knew you had done this. I was talking about all you've given back in time, energy, thought, encouragement, and enthusiasm on behalf of others. But this...wow. I'm just blown away, bro. To see somebody walk the walk like this -- it has ramifications in the hearts of others that you probably can't begin to know, and nobody can begin to value.

Dear Derek, Your offhanded and balanced perspective reminds me of the tone in interviews with organ donors, foster parents, habitat for humanity volunteers, and inner city tutors: you have enough, you can help, it makes good sense. No preaching or moralizing - it just makes you happy. And being bright, you get a special delight from turning the pieces of the tangram around to solve a puzzle at the same time. Bravo to you!!

You super hero you!

U gave away ur company? Were u into the business for the money or because u liked what u are doing? Philanthropy is good but arent u compromising your integrity by giving up your company? Please read The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

I feel grateful and inspired by your example, Derek! Thanks!

Now that's what I call unselfishness, unconditional love for your fellow man/woman. God will continue to bless you because you do not put money first in your life, and you truly think of others. I like that living life the simplier way. I think in a simular way.

Derek,
I knew the first time I heard u speak and met you in Hollywood for a DYI Music conference that was free to cdbaby members there was something very special about you. What you have done is so incredible, wonderful, deep and spiritual. I send you blessing. I too have been thinking about what I can give away. And how can I be of service and conect my music to a cause that I care about. I am choosing CASA for abused kids. Thank you Derek, for sharing this with us all.
Aloha

Because the things you own end up owning you. So you give yourself away Derek, in so many ways. And that makes this world a better place.

Thank you for everything you've done, thank you for this magnificent blog!

Very cool... you're a music hero!

Thanks for sharing this great part of your life.
God bless you

Sir, I salute you.

Absolutely inspiring in its' simplicity, I feel sure your story will lead others to make similar decisions... who knows where it may all end... Somewhere very good.

Big Respect !....I knew you were one of the good guys ! INTEGRITY ! being true to yourself and doing what you believe in ! taking a stand ! brilliant ! best wishes Si

I concur. I just don't have that company yet, so I continue to sell my time.:)

Started to read Paradox of Time..what a mind boggling and important book!

Derek,
People like you are very rare.
How many people really know what they need?,or how much.
"If all people helped their neighbours,nobody would be without help".You are blessed.

Your best post ever. Thanks.

This is great. I know that music education is on the decline in this country.

Schools across are quite obsessed with science and math ignoring other important aspects of a well-rounded education (music, arts, etc).

My high school in St. Louis received a $28 million donation and they decided to put it all into arts (building a theater, music room, music education, etc). They have plenty of money for science, math, English, but nothing for music. And that school is well-known in Missouri for their band.

So this is great to see even though I am deaf and it will not benefit me directly. I do know the importance of music among people in this world and am glad you are doing this.

Good for you! Sounds like you ascribe to "The Gospel of Wealth."

Truly humbled by your gesture!

Absolutly right on; the wisdom of Solomon in action...
So often we chase after the very things that in the end make us miserable. You have discovered and shared a ceaseless fountain of treasure that many can drink from.

Thank you for sharing

I love this kind of thinking.
I hope you'll have enough for the rest of your life.

God Bless.

Great post this Derek. The idea of "enough" being a goal is something that needs spreading around.

Too much of anything brings problems.

I've learned that the answer to most of life's problems is to set limits.

Less is more!

Well done buddy,
You inspired me.

Thank you for all that you do!

You stand beautifully in your own truth...May this inspire us all to live as well and leave such a legacy. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

You are a good person. Thanks for everything you have done and will continue to do.

ya make me proud to be a human and american once again, may the world be better cuz someone named derek came to us....from heaven

kudos jamie gazelle

My mom always told me that, "if you've got your health, you have everything". You're much more happier than if you had went the extreme 'rich' route. God bless you man!

You are truly an inspiration!

A little north of me here in southern Colorado is one of my favorite places in the world, Valley View Hot Springs. It was owned by many years by a wonderful couple who ran it with great integrity and total dedication to preserving it's environment, while also improving the facilities and letting the patrons enjoy the incredible beauty of the place. Ten or fifteen years ago they began to think of the long-term sustainability of VVHS should they not be there to take care of it. They created a non-profit organization - Orient Land Trust (www.olt.org), named after a little ghost town on the property, and gave the whole place to the trust, after setting up enough structure to run it and do what is necessary. I have admired them so much for their dedication to protecting the beautiful piece of mother earth entrusted to them.

I don't know that I have read of another instance of this kind of generosity, combined with wisdom and intelligence, until I read this post. Thanks, Derek - I am inspired and energized - lead on!

You are a wise man. You made me cry. You didn't take a wrong turn at Albuquerque....

Rachel

You really did put your money where your mouth was - not many can really say that! Thank you for all your support of "ideals" and musicians. I hope you have all the health and happiness you need to enjoy your life.

good job great article

great article, Derek...I'm going to send it to a very dear friend of mine to give her hope. Wasn't bad for me either!

Thanks for sharing a story that I so relate to,,,you're an inspiration to all. When I lived in L.A., I lived with the rich, but played with the poor (they had more fun with less).

In the end it's about the music - not the money - that's where the satisfaction lies - it's a truly magnificent lifetime journey and you only need the money to buy the tickets - best of the holidays to you.

Love it! Love it! Love it!

Derek. All your posts are insightful and inspirational. Thank you for making a difference with your sensibility.

Derek:

Although we've never met, I still talk about how grateful I am that you started the company which is a benefit to us indie artist whose music would have never got out there otherwise. I hope you will stil stay in contact. I wish you the best. Thanks for everything and God bless you.

wow. just wow. i think it takes so much for a person to realize the things you talked about above. that money/ possessions aren't everything, etc. most people would just cash the check and move on. i'm so glad to have read something so enlightened :)

thats a good deed you done for people hope i can do the same some day,

I LOVE YOU! YOU ARE MY HERO! HOPE YOU KEEP CLIMBING THOSE LADDERS AND FIND YOUR YOKO TO SHOWER BACK THE LOVE YOU GIVE! THANK YOU

Really inspirational. You remind people to follow things with passion to make it big rather than follow money to make it big.

It sure reminds us of our perspectives in life.

This was a nice thing to read. Good for you, my friend! ;)

i prayed to God to give me the grace to be able to do what you did, give back to the community and be absolutely free.

thank you! thank you!! thank you!!! Derek for the inspiration and keep up with the good work, your reward is your rest of mind.

i must add this, may fire burn all the haters on this site if they don't stop hating.

One of your best blogs yet!

Well done, well said!

I can't say enough how inspiring you are. The things you have done to support and further independent music in this world are simply aweing. Thanks to you for the millions of us that you have made viable in not only the current economic climate, but the current music business climate as well. Music as a whole, and more importantly as a business, has changed SO much in these past few years and you have led the way toward a viable future for many of us who will never see the "prize" of a record deal or even a real tour. Thank You so much Derek for your efforts, intelligence and foresight. None of us (musicians) could ever express to you just how much you have meant to us over the years and how much you mean to the world of music as a whole. You changed the game bro...and nothing but good can come from it in the future.

THANK YOU,
Terry Alan Martin
Ray Street Park
Detroit, Michigan

Thanks for being such an inspiration. Definitely feeds my mind with many thoughts. :)

Well thought out, well written, well... although I,ve never met you,I know you.You may just well be the richest man on earth.

Great planning! I applaud you!



Rosalind Sendawula

What can I say....

congratulations!
Thank You!
Motivational!
Amazing!
Thank you!

Hopefully, You've paved the way for a lot of small start-ups/Entrepreneurs to follow in your footsteps.

Didnt know I'd ever read something like this. I never comment, ever!

We think the same!

Mr Nobody!

bro, can I borrow $20 bucks? ;)

I think your best contribution to musicians was the creation of CDbaby. Sometimes I think people underestimate what is there. The current owners are capitalizing on your great idea of making a very deep distribution electronically world wide. This is a lot like placing the wood, cardboard and paper across the planet. Now it is the artists job just to light the fire. The only places I can't see the distribution net in is Somalia, North Korea, Myanmar and a few other places. This is a very good deal for the money.

oh sorry then i misjudged you i always hated your ideas in your letters since they seemed to me to have only one final:make more money!hmm ok sometimes i should look a littel bit closer before jude people so i life by the system of gift economy and my band is based on not get rich but happy and we do well with it.
i wish there would be a place to "sell" our music with a virtual hat so pepole could pay what they want even nothing....i once mentioned the idea and we still would be happy if this feature would exist at cd baby
marco and manana me chanto

clever boy :0)

$1,100,000 per year (at least) is enough to live fairly comfortably though. Its like the best of both worlds, I'm impressed.

Thank you, Derek for something truly inspiring. One other benefit you left out: your place in heaven is now assured.

Peace,
Philbillie

like the folk tale (or biblical story of the King searching for the richest man/wisest man in the kingdom....it was the one who had given the most away. I had no idea that this is what had indeed become of your hard work/fortune :-) Kudos! It is an example for all of us.....and once again, Thank you!

Derek I thought the story was about someone else. I am reading with tired eyes. I love that, because music education is great for learning math or algrebra. That's great it's better to give than to received. You did it the right, because you have to take care of your food, clothing, and shelter. I felt your happiness inside you. I am so glad for you. You are such a nice person. If only I had your technical mind for solving computer problems. You can throw some tech smart my way. (smile)

Soooo seriously cool
thanks for that
reminds us to remember whats really important

Just discovered you and your story. Really glad I did. I hope the world finds out about what you did. More importantly, I hope the world embraces and emulates this philosophy. I'm certainly inspired.

Wow. Amazing article. If more people caught onto the idea that WE are the gift to the earth and not the other way around, we'd all be happier. You've inspired me. Thank you.

Derek, you bring to life the words of Winston Churchill when he said.."YOU MAKE A LIVING FROM WHAT YOU GET BUT A LIFE FROM WHAT YOU GIVE!!! THANK YOU! U R AWESOME!

I own 40 acres of rolling hills, valleys,and woods with quiet nooks called 'whispering hills' The hardest part of the dream (so I believe)'a non-profit music education and art center with non-sectarian retreat' is complete in owning the land. Now the visionary process is in place for the structures to be materialized so it becomes a reality.. Any help, donations, comments, positive vibes... whatever is appreciated.. You can go to my website to see pics of the land..thanks derek

Hi, thanks for sharing this inspirational story. I caught it through Twitter and I'm glad I followed the link.

A very very good deed Derek .... Keep living a simple lifestyle. I am inspired to follow the law of simplicity.

Hi ! To day I try to use Twitter first time in my life and I got in . The first thing that happened was that your photo appeared to my computer and for the thanks I send this comment to you . Your story is very interesting. Greetings Eila R

Wow Derek. You are an inspiration to everyone on this planet. Truly!

I can relate to your decision in the sense that i think i would be happy just having enough to live, pursue my hobbies and having a little extra to find new ones.

But i can't help wondering what would it be like to be on the verge of taking that kind of decision.

My hat is off to you, sir :)

Good for you to be so honest and selfless...but ultimately I think it's good for you, that you have found what makes you most happy and tried and live by it and mean it!

What else is new? I knew that you were this good of a guy years ago, after I read the articles you wrote for us.- obviously the work of Love.

Thank you Derek! All of a sudden I feel incredibly rich. Words can't express how much I appreciate your kindness to everyone. Obviously it is a great example for each of us to follow. This would be a much better world if we would. All the best to you!

Derek,
You are wise beyond your years. Thanks from all of us still seeking the dream but more aware of the things that really matter. Things are just the window dressings of life. Laughter, Friends, Love, and what we are hear to learn is what matters. Your Pal, Lenny P.

I had know this was what you did, but liked hearing in your own words! I like the way you think!

Derek,
A beautiful example of clear, wise-thinking.
Congratulations on doing the right thing for yourself!
Kevin

Derek, you walk your talk and your wisdom is inspirational. Thank you for sharing.

Peace & Blessings,
Andre

Insightful decision given from the heart and directed by the divine source-perhaps that was the plan all along and you were the instrument of service. To not want or need anything is the key, but to be grateful for what is....

I admire what you have done.I wish you every sucess for the future............I know the plans I have for you say`s the Lord....Jeremiah 29 verse 11. Be blessed my friend..........regards........Terry.

Evolution in process
superb

Derek,simple ,free,feelin good about Life what more could any one ask for??? Great !!!

Where did you go that's yielding a 5% return? I'd like to go there too ;) LOVE THIS STORY.

Great article!
Thanks for sharing!

This is truely inspiring stuff. Thanks for sharing your reasoning and how you did it!

Derek,

I don't have much and never have...Sometimes you forget that you don't need fame & fortune to be happy. Thanks for the reminder.

can you teach corporate America a few things?

congrats, you have found peace.Edmund.King Ouxaman..Babylon a dragon rastaman a lion......Freedom street my aunts chile from tha revernile,sleep in peace,

Wow. But, then again, not completely surprised coming from you.

I salute the idea, the wisdom and the action.

TommyH

Well, you're a better man than me cause I'd rather have the 22 million.

I like your point about one less tank in Iraq. Your intelligence astounds and inspires!

Awesome! Rock on!!

I heart this post. Thank you for sharing it all, Derek.

May you always have enough and peace be upon you. ;)

Derek,

This was a really inspiring story to read. Just a few days there was a death in our family and it made me realize how precious our time on earth is. It seems only logical that we be marked by the deeds we do- the other stuff comes and goes- one man is rich and the other poor, yet we are all really the same underneath. The fact that you were able to let go of all that incredible wealth shows that you really intended on helping others through CD Baby and that you weren't just "saying" you were there for the indie guy, but really trying to make a fast buck.

Thanks

Mike

correction "but" replace with "and not" in my last sentence

Wicked man....Fantastic.

That is a truly inspiring post.

I am an entrepreneur and I wish someday I can post an article like this.

I feel the same way, it's not about being the richest man in the world, it's about making a difference in this world and having enough to live a comfortable life.

Congrats and great gesture!

Derek -
Because of this notation on your blog, others took special notice...

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S on becoming recognized as a Love Ambassador for The Love Foundation!

Your dedication to give to others selflessly is an incredible act of love ... what a wonderful model you have been to not only musicians, but to all that you come in contact with. You do make a difference in this world... thank you for all you do. ~ Tam

Been away for a few years and was just introduced to your writing. Stunning.

Great story- I am curious when did this notion come to mind? Was it while traveling, on a subway, .....?


Also, if you had to name just 2THINGS that you really would not want to do without(besides basic human need things) what would they be?


Happy Holidays-

Jose Castro-Frenzel

Good for you:).The idea of "having enough" should seem to be an easy thought, but somehow (for many) it doesn't really compute. I can agree I have a hard time computing it myself. I am one of those "ambitious" guys who always seem to want a "little" more, but I can't say I become more happy by reaching that "little more".

But that is all I know. What would I do when not striving for more money anymore? I would climb my walls in no time.

But the whole idea of making money for charity is not foreign though so I absolutly applaud you for your work and effort. Way to go.

"the less I own, the happier I am." This is my fav line by Derek in this article.

PRICELESS LESSON, Derek...thank you for sharing it with your world! *smile*

"Enough" is the best you can ever wish for anyone.

Happiness is...having "Enough."

Strength THrough Unity,

Lynn
http://PopSuperhero.com

wow. wow. so clever, smart, thoughtful, inspiring, I hope everyone reads this. I hope more people see the genius here!

Derek,

Thank you for such an inspiring post. Blows my mind how much humanity could accomplish if there were more like you.

Yaniv

Would it be possible for you to share the wording of the trust deed so that we can educate ourselves on how exactly it is done without spending money on lawyer$?
Look at LegalZoom or Nolo Press if you want a do-it-yourself (or do-it-cheap) trust. — Derek

Man when all these changes started to take place, I have to admit I was Chagrined,because I knewthat there would be changes that I cold not really deal with as far as the way things operate! I liked the way you had Cdbaby hooked up! Pay out every weak no matter the amout that I chose for my payout!Not really the same vibe!Sadly so! But I do understand that less is more, and that the best things in life aren't things at all... So more power to you! And I think it was a good thing to do if you had enough, your sanity is worth more than any amount of money! Be well and I know you are a thinker, cause I met you a couple of times in person,very deep man, with a good heart, as far as I can tell!

Well done!

You can't take it with you. There is a saying, even a website that goes something like ... poor but happy. Very admirable.

not everybody obviously could tolerate the "loss" of 17 mln $$. ;-)
Some overlook that one can't responsibily spent that much money or needs that much to begin with.
What your step highlights for me is the fact that nothing truly belongs to us in our passing time on Earth. I think that we just come into a temporary possesion of things and capital.
Sharing and passing the wealth onto others while alive is the greatest achivement of the business person.
Myself being one, I hope my time would come to do that as well...
Thanks for telling your story.

Derek, that is beautiful.

You have lived a karmically balanced life.

It is great to have you on the planet.

I'm so glad you shared your story. I've know this technique since the early 90's and wish more people would know about it.

You can have lots of money and help society at the same time.

It's brilliant.

Derek: Inspiring. The true work of a leader. You are truly wealthy! What is more compelling is the example you leave for generations to come.

My 7 yr.old daughter read this story with me, we both are inspired and will try to do something like this to help who are less fortunate. Thanks !

I just forwarded this to 110 of my best friends. What an inspiring story!
All love
GK

Not to throw cold water on this love fest , but I do have a question: The sale was for $22,000,000 cash and (Derek writes) while he's alive "it pays out 5% of its value [i.e., of the $22 million] per year to me, to cover [his] living expenses."

That's $1.1 MILLION per year. I must have missed something, but if not, that's a whole lot of "enough." So how about the "rest of the story"?
Right. 5% is the minimum payout required by law for a Charitable Remainder Unitrust. And like I said: that's enough. I didn't need or want the entire $22M. — Derek

But at $1.1 million per year, technically you'll get the entire $22 million eventually, unless you die first. And if you took the $22 million in one go, it's not like you'd spend it in one year.

In fact, if you live long enough, and the trust generates enough interest, you could get more than $22 million, it would seem.

It just strikes me that you've done a great thing by setting up a trust, and perhaps it generates enough interest to fund music programs as well as pay you the annual $1.1 million payment, but it also seems what it really does is basically delay paying taxes on the entire $22,000,000.

Am I right about all of this? If so, it seems less than forthright to claim you "gave away your company to charity".

Now, if you also give away all but a fraction of your yearly $1.1 million, THAT seems to be a real story. But how would we know the truth?
That's another way to look at it, sure. I really did irreversibly give my company into the charitable trust. Yes it'll pay me 5% per year, but because the investments can safely grow at over 5%, that means I basically get just the interest, not the principal. So I'm taken care of AND music education charities get at least $22M too. Sorry if any of this bothers you. (I know the gushing compliments can get annoying.) But I think I was quite forthright in explaining everything, in hopes it inspires a future company-owner to do the same some day. — Derek

Derek: Superb response (no sarcasm at all, just in case it could be interpreted that ). I have no problem with someone living well from the fruit of their labor, and you hit a nail on the head (about the gushing complements ).

I hope the music programs help a huge number of kids, and that you get to enjoy those fruits (seeing the world, helping others, enjoying life at a slower pace! )

Best of luck.

"All I want is the chance to prove that money doesn't make me happy" -- Spike Milligan

You've had this chance.

There are haves and have-nots. You epitomize the haves. No one who was short of money would ever do what you did.

Sure, it could get worse, you could pay $10,000 for a first class upgrade, but that's one extreme. But you're not living on the street, are you?

Ironically, you're not sacrificing anything, yet with your story you probably inspired those that are already struggling to give more.

The most ironic things is you accuse the rich of doing stupid things such as buying extra cars while you tell everyone your self-indulgent story. Who are you really trying to convince you are happy?

hi derek,

first found about you in (http://tr.im/switchphp) and learnt that it's not about a specific language rather it's about what you already have.

this action here makes you more than influential to me. i also believe in living with what you JUST need.

MORE power, God bless.

.......Ryu (2009-12-04) #
of all the 6 primary opulences: renunciation, knowledge, strength, fame, wealth & beauty, renunciation is chief, renunciation is king, renunciation is freedom, renunciation is satisfaction, renunciation is peace, renunciation is enough, renuniation is been there done that nothing to it, reununciation ....... is to walk a higher path, experience a higher taste, simple living, high thinking.

Jaya Srila Prabhupada!.......

Derek, live!!

You are one of the greatest person I have ever heard of. Indeed, what you have done is a great contribution and your sacrifice that resulted from your lifetime of hard works can greatly affect a lot of people out there who were not given the chance to say "Hi" to their future. Hope you can live well and enjoy your life. God will bless you for all the things you have done. In short, you have dedicated your lifetime of hard work to help this charity.

Hi Derek,

I had heard of your story & CD Baby, some time back (may be an year or so back). And was impressed by your achievements.

Now again I hear about you via 37signals blog, and am really-really impressed by this act of yours to say the least.

Just want to echo the sentiment of what some other commenter has said above - it seems "you really get it"!

Best Wishes for your new endeavors!

It is nice to know that people like you really do exist.

DEREK I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING MY CD'S FOR SALE ON CD BABY. LIKE YOU I TOO DO CHARITY AND HAVE DONE SO FOR OVER 20 YEARS USING ONLY MY INCOME FROM MY SERVICE IN THE U.S. ARMY. I DO CHARITY IN JAMAICA AND THE PROCEEDS FROM THESES CD'S ARE JUST FOR THAT. AS A DISABLED MILITARY RETIREE I DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT INCOME TO PROPERLY FUND MY CHARITY TO IMPROVISH CHILDREN AND ELDERS IN JAMAICA. I TRULY ADMIRE YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. YOU HAVE INSPIRED ME EVEN THAT MUCH MORE. GLORY BE TO GOD AND BLESS YOU. I WILL BE FOLLOWING YOUR WORK. GOD BLESS

I`m impressed!

Goodonya, mate.

I'm looking to do something similar eventually. Here's to the road less travelled.

John Hiler

AnomalyRecords.net
JHiMusic.com

He did what all the wealthy do with their wealth. Transfer it over to foundation to preserve it and protect it. It's exactly what I would do and the reason the old money keeps their money.

The best...

i always read ur all blogs and one thing i have realized u r da man who purely comitted and loyal with Music.
u gotta pure music soul that is spreading music and helping musicians to improve their music.
Hats off!

You are awesome, Derek. A true inspiration in so many ways! :)

Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

Very cool story. To know what enough is, is true happiness!

Well done.

Valuable evidence that we are all precious visitors here. Your perfect spirit shines forth for us to see.

I wish they would show this on MTV instead of Cribs or any other crazy show that tells the younger people (and I am 32) that you have to be rich and have material things and look a certain way to be TRUELY HAPPY!

I aggree completely and after I acquire a just few more things I will be satisfied. :-)

Wow Derek.

Thanks.

Thanks for staying true to your heart and not only seeing the bigger picture, but being the bigger picture. It's decisions like these that are timeless. Many will sail the seas of their musical dreams because of your commitment and sacrifice. May we all be inspired to see and live the bigger picture.

Wow Derek... I found this site from your LinkedIn page.... I didn't even know you sold CDBaby.... but I've been sitting here reading everything this site has to offer...

This story was enlightening...

In my opinion, the sweet spot in American life is a lower-middle-middle class lifestyle with a lower-upper-middle class income. A fun, physical, low-status job with enough money not to feel that fulfilling one's basic needs is a precarious proposition.

Yours is a great story of creating that and giving away the excess baggage, both money and "prestigious" living.

I found you on Itunes "Best of youtube" i was hooked by some interesting facts about japanese and Chinese and now i have read this blog article im wondering... after all things you have realized about the importance of "non material" things... do you belive in god? If so what do u think about the money industry behind religions? Hope u anser sometime soon and very nice to meet you.

Beautiful.

merci, en fait je suis comme sivers à la base, je suis sur le point de devenir un requin.
je vois cette article et je repense à ma première objectif.

You gave me the key. I've wondered how one accomplishes altruistic goals without starving themselves. I'm thankful to have 'stumbled' across your quotes page. You will know when I act on the opportunity to transfer ownership over into a trust fund.

Love & Light,
~Marita Avio-Sanchez

Огромная сила духа должна быть в человеке, способная победить силу плоти, желающей все иметь, чтобы всем наслаждаться.
Это приходит не сразу, а только после понимания, что обладание многими вещами не делает человека ни на милиграмм счастливее.
Поэтому, дорогие друзья, научитесь быть счастливыми прямо сейчас.
Научитесь наслаждаться свободой, которую никто не в силах отнять( если вы сами не позволите себя поработить вещам или людям).
Вы личность, и не имеет никакого значения - вы достигли чего-то в жизни или ничего не достигли.
Делайте великие поступки, не считая, сколько вам это будет стоить, вы богаты возможностями - не упускайте их.

Wow! I love you and I don't even know you. Music/Arts Education is what I'm diving into, as well. If we get them young, we GET them. Everything in my life has been from the vantage point of music. I learned about computers because I bought a sequencer program for an (get this) Apple 1 with a floppy, I mean really floppy, disk. I have a recording of myself when I was 3. My Dad was teaching me a song to sing at church for Easter. Enough about me...I love what you've done with your life. It seems like the more you give away, the more you get (to give away). Fantastic!

Your story made reminded me of a poem by Kurt Vonnegut that I read in my college news paper several years ago (needless to say the sentiment of the poem has stuck with me)....

Joe Heller

True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.

I said, "Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel 'Catch-22'
has earned in its entire history?"
And Joe said, "I've got something he can never have."
And I said, "What on earth could that be, Joe?"
And Joe said, "The knowledge that I've got enough."
Not bad! Rest in peace!"

--Kurt Vonnegut

De fato, ter demasiado prejudica a mente, que por efeito dominó, prejudicara o corpo.

It's good to know that people with money still stay in control of themselves.

Very uplifting.

Thanks for the picture!

Einfach toll :-)

This blows away the connotations of wealth being evil. Respect! Thanks for the story.

Wow, very nice!

I came here via your PHP > Rails > PHP post.

By the way, Derek, looks like your PHP code has been replaced by ASP.NET! :)

Arul

You are so inspiring Derek!
Thank you for sharing and thank you for showing me the way!

Beautiful!

To be honest, I was REALLY disappointed when I found out that you were no longer running CDBaby. CDBaby was one company in music business that I trusted, because it proven itself to be trustworthy. I was really scared of the change, how CDbaby might turn into all of the other business targeting independent musicians. Today, I am happy to see you blossom. You inspire me through your blogs. So thank you and best wishes.

Your a robinhood!

kudos to you! :)

Hey, sehr geiler Artikel! Kann das alles gut nachvollziehen :)

Meine Hochachtung für diesen, wenn ich das so sagen darf, klugen Schritt.
Wenn alle Menschen geben, leben wir in Fülle. Danke.

"Aber solange ich lebe, zahlt diese 5% des Wertes pro Jahr an mich aus und deckt so meine Lebenshaltungskosten." - Verrechne ich mich wenn ich glaube dass die Stiftung nach 20 Jahren alle Assets an Dich ausgeschüttet hat? Oder ist das nur nachlässig formuliert?
The money is invested and growing. When I die it should be more than it was, not less. — Derek

I like you more all the time! Keep up the great work!

Cody

wenn man für die funktion y=a*p^n

y=22*10^6*0,95*20 einsetzt dann erhält man 7886690 dollar...er erhält ja schließlich nur 5 % des wertes den die firma noch hat und nicht ganz zu beginn hatte^^

Absolute poetry!

That was amazing! Just came to know about you half an hour back, and man, what an amazing person you are!
FTW!!!

you make my eyes tear... ;)

Hi, Derek,

I didn't know in what language should I write then I decided try english. I was astonished with your decision at the begining but I can get what you mean. Too much money is not good for music. You become lazy and start thinking in other issues, but music. I do need money. I have a 8 year old boy who lives with daddy and need care and attention. Yet, spite of countless difficulties, I keep my piano playing in shape. I would like you watch my stuff, clips, CD and records and if it is the case we can talk about work. Actually I have a project myself. I plan to open a Coffee & Jazz Club in Rio. I'm waiting for the money release to start. We are gonna have a permanent Art Exhibition, Workshops, Courses and Lectures plus Clips, Video Art and Short Film projection on our wide screen during day light and by 6:30 PM we start with the Happy Hour Piano Bar. By 9:30 PM we begin the Jazz Club with Resident Group plus guest musicians. Our Club is gonna be interactive through HB_ITV (Interactive Internet TV) http://www.kyte.tv/ch/72241-hb-itv
with live worldwide broadcasting. HB_ITV have some 9 online Passive TV repeaters and some 300 embeds in a viral marketing spread. By now I have some 4000 friends in Facebook http://www.facebook.com/hugo.braule but we are gonna be reaching 5000 by the next "Performance Snapshots 3" release (a clip program already on the air), coming up next. I have a Coffee & Jazz Club Community Page ready made, within Facebook, which is waiting for filling up my initial Profile with friends. The Coffee & Jazz Club has its name already. I can issue you both projects "Coffee & Jazz Club" and HB_ITV by mail for analysis if you will. My clips are also in YouTube http://www.youtube.com/hugobraulepianistas as a memory archive. If, after checking out my credentials you feel we have something in common, please let me know. Thanks for your attention and i'm keen to hear from you. Best regards, Hugo Braule

This is the first comment I have ever made after reading blogs for years.

Beautiful.

It makes complete sense.

Derek, You are truly inspiring. It really takes guts to relinquish what is one's own and give it to a trust for the greater good.

Hats off to you!!

You da man. =)

Y como funciona esa fundacion? Se supone que ayuden a los musicos independientes con becas?
Saludos
Good idea. Less is better, sometimes.

A master is aware, that he/she is aware that he/she is aware.
I see God in your eyes.
Hoop

I don't know if I'm inspired or not. I was always told by music teachers and high level music professionals to "keep at it", "you've really got the talent and songs", so for 20 years I kept at it relentlessly, never wavering, never stopping, reinvesting all my money back into new albums and gear. If a band broke up, I picked up the pieces and found new players, and then again. 20 years later, what do I have to show for it...almost nothing but some great memories, but now I'm 38, too old for a pop career, burned out and deflated. I believed all that Joeseph Campbell stuff about "following your bliss" etc, but here's what I see now: a bunch of wonderfully talented, dedicated musicians and friends of mine that did everything I did and now have NOTHING. No careers, no marketable skills (unless you count banging through "Brown Eyed Girl" show after show in shitty bars for unappreciative bar managers and wasted crowds a career). So many very talented musicians are penniless after all their efforts, and the people I hear on the radio and see on Music Awards shows are craptastic American Idol winners and rap stars that write a 4 bar loop (or sample one) put some pornographic lyrics over the top and they're considered geniuses (yes snoop and the black eyed peas...I'm talking to you). I'm glad Derek had success and appreciate him attempting to give back more than he's taken, but aren't you just encouraging another generation to follow down a road that will leave most of them feeling broken and lost? I wish someone had told me after my college band (that was signed and touring with all the biggest names) to quit, invest my money in something more practical, get a straight job and enjoy playing music with friends on the weekend. I'm just not sure encouraging young kids to follow my path is ultimately a very good thing to do. Sorry to piss on everyone's parade here, I wish you all the best in your endeavours.

One more thing...yes I know that money isn't everything and doesn't bring happiness...but neither does being broke at 38 trying to find a job with no skills...I think I'd take the money at this point.

Holy words, Derek. Happiness is exactly what you say.

Sehr interessanter Artikel. Bin heute erst auf diesen Blog gestoßen. Weis noch nicht was ich so wirklich von Dir halten soll..
Es heist doch eigentlich" tu gutes und sprich nicht drüber". Aber mir ist das eigentlich egal, hauptsache es tut jemand etwas gutes.
Der Blog ist bekookmarkt und wird verfolgt!

Me parece genial lo que has hecho algo muy arriesgado y difícil de hacer.

Comparto contigo este cuento que escuché hace mucho y busqué en la web:

http://paraeldarsecuenta.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/la-ciudad-de-los-pozos/

Un abrazo desde Argentina.

Leo.

Derek,

You did not give your money away to charity.

You invested it in something that is priceless.

I have the utmost respect for you, and not primarily because you gave up personal fortune for the benefit of others, but because you worked out what was important to you and had the integrity to live by that even when it flew in the face of convention.

This is such a thoughtful and smart action.

I will remember it for rest of my life.

:)

splendid...well done...:)

What a great gift and testimony! God bless you. We are doing a stewardship study at our church entitled 'enough'. You provide an inspiring example of what it means. Sadly, we don't ask 'how much is enough' enough.

Amazing start to my day to find your e mail and read this, there are still some good people left in this world.
Stay safe and happy

all the best

Graham

@hüseyin kici: also zunächst einmal heisst es "Tue Gutes und SPRICH darüber", denn das ist ein alter PR-Leitsatz. Hier geht es aber um etwas anderes.

1. Wenn viele Gutes tun und nicht darüber sprechen, sehen wir nur alles andere und haben das Gefühl selber nie etwas machen zu müssen, weil ja NIEMAND etwas Gutes tut.

2. Ich mochte CD Baby. Es war eine frische, sympathische Website und ich habe dadurch Neues kennen gelernt. Nun möchte ich schon wissen, was daraus geworden ist.

3. Um Dinge beurteilen zu können, braucht es Wissen und dies erhalten wir in diesem Fall durch die Transparenz über die Hintergründe des Verkaufs und was mit dem Geld geschehen ist.

As my GF says, "Good on you!"

Fuck yeah. Top work. If I ever have $22 million I'll do the same. I don't suppose you could have a quite chat to Bill Gates, could you?

Respect. You're someone who walks the walk, while most of us are still talking.
Many good wishes for your future.
S

I respond to freeze the time that I met a wise and faithful man. To use our God given gifts to benefit another fellow traveller is the meaningful use of love. No earthly treasure can match that reward.Your message will be forwarded to a friend who has come to a split in the road and his compass is spinning. We were given the tools and you found the fulcrum

Back in 1971 I moved to Miami with intent to build WDNA-FM, 88.9 MHz. The Bascomb Memorial Broadcasting Foundation, a community based non-profit entity was founded to apply for an FCC construction permit and to own and run the station. In order for the community to realize that ownership was truly theirs, not mine, I had to "give away" the station and leave town.

Sometimes we have to let go to give life... or a better life... to those projects we love.

May your ideal prosper long after you, and I, are gone.

Today my quality of life project is inspiring young ballet dancers to expand their horizons beyond the stages of their own community.

Derek,
I appreciated receiving your e-mail today about what you have been doing since I bought a CD from CD Baby five years ago. You have done a wonderful thing. I admire people like you. Thanks for your inspirational words and insight to the real purpose of life. Keep up your great work and continued true happiness. You are a real inspiration to others. Without knowing it at the time, I think like you. A few months ago, I started working on sharing my time and things with others and trying to simplify my life a lot more. It does make me very happy to share with others.

WOW! As mentioned in early comments, YOU GOT IT! As a haiku and tanka poet I was once asked what made me happy. I replied, "A pen and a sheet of paper."

Mike

Thanks for sharing your inspiring story with us. I never truly knew you,but am glad I bought from such a well-rounded giving heart. A bright example to follow. I'm glad you are happy, after all the great work you have done. God bless you always.

Good for you Derek! More people should be like you. Too many people always want more.

The Kurt Vonnegut Poem is great as well as fitting.


You are an inspiration to others.

Thank you

peace luv and groove to you. your idea is inspiring!

Brilliant, Derek! In the larger sense of the word.

Thanks for sharing your story. If more smart, creative people thought like you did, imagine what a cool world this would be.

Derek,

Such a pleasure to have read your story this morning! Though at times I may feel I do not "have enough" while raising a family - each morning when I gaze at my children while they're sleeping I feel like like I've received the most magical Christmas gifts in the world.

Every day we have the gift of all that is special in our lives.. and it just takes a moment of gratitude to realize how much we have. We forget to appreciate the "simple" gifts of seeing, hearing, smelling, and tasting the wonders of the world. Having had several family members and friends recently pass on, I'm grateful that I am here and can experience and DO so much each day.

Thank you for being someone who is DOing. :)

That's amazing! Thanks, Derek.

Dear Derek,
What a beautiful story. Very moving. Your generosity is overwhelming to the senses. Truly you are a blessing to the musicians in need.
Thank you,
Deb Davis

Enough is enough and you can't take it with you. That was a very classy move and the world needs more people like you.

Well done Derek. The world needs more people that see things this way, that it's about alot more than "me"...

God bless you sir.

'k...I know you get a lot of great
boosting comments...but that's cause you are simply the best.

Ergo, man does not live by bread alone ... You defined yourself ... so cool, lending credence to you gotta give it away to keep it and all that ... freedom ... a state of mind. Priceless. For sure you earned it.
A lot less fortunate, well they got a shot at it too and just as valid. That is, there is many a way. Your a positive example.

Right on, Derek. Very cool story. You've earned your peace of mind.

Simply astonishing. I'm a guy who does his best to remember, and to remind others, what really matters in life--even in the face of my own good fortune and material 'success.' But you....you're in a whole other league. At 42 years old, I hope one day I grow up to be YOU. Well done, sir.

Brilliant!

wow! having traveled in both asia and africa, i am often reminded that we in the US have too much "stuff". your story is the perfect example of someone who did something about it! i hope to follow in your footsteps!

In Small Wonder: Essays, Barbara Kingsolver writes: "For most of my life I've felt embarrassed by a facet of our national character that I would have to call prideful wastefulness. What other name can there be for our noisy, celebratory appetite for unnecessary things, and our vast carelessness regarding their manufacture and disposal?" As a former Peace Corps volunteer her words, and yours, ring true.

Someone who "gets it!" Could ya please give some pointers on morals and ethics to the morons running this country! Why is it we never get people like you governing us - oh yeah, you're too moral and have ethics. Never mind.

Well done, Derek, an inspiration to us all.

Simply perfect. Thanks for sharing.

Love the graphic. It's the relationships, that is "the thing" for me.

OK, haters, let's see you do as well or better with your business accomplishments, with all the sweat and struggle that entails.

Let's see your ideas come to fruition to such a degree that a major business player wants to hand you an 8-figure check.

And then, let's see if you can walk away from the addiction of wealthy consumption. No more gold-plated toilets, no more cars that cost more than a middle-class family's house, no more sycophants bowing, scraping and trembling at every furrow of your brow.

Yeah? You think the idea of being rich *again* isn't a huge temptation? Come on. He could have the next "iSomething" in his back pocket... and he could whip it out on a much wider scale than he did before, just because "he's the guy who made $22 mil on the CDBaby deal". Investors might line up around the block for the chance to get in on the ground floor.

Let's see if you have the brass cojones to just live like a stand-up guy, pay all your bills, no debt, no interest, no "I'll pay you next week"... and not be a burden on society, either with your insolvency or your insouciance.

Your decisions are a great example of how one can share wealth, live well and counter the fear of never having enough/losing what one has--a condition that fuels bottomless greed and why most billionaires acquire anything in their path that might direct resources in any other direction but to themselves.

A nice balance of brains and heart working together--which is how you built a successful business in the first place.

Growing a heart enhances brain power. A powerful brain processes expansively. Fuming and festering over others' success leads to the sourness, resentment and small thinking that turns people into trolls.

Strong heart + strong brain = ability to see opportunity in an atmosphere of scarcity and to find a niche that provides ENOUGH.

Thanks for offering your story and I wish you further success.

Glad you cut off $5MM going to those extra tanks. That's something the post #622 cannot claim. No matter what you do, some snide ass is going to criticize you, when they themselves are doing nothing.

Derek, you got my applause.

Before you start flaming on "$1.1 mil is still rich", just think what would happen if he got sick, or had a serious condition that needed care. What would happen if his paid-for house got hit by lightning, or a tornado or some similar Act of God? That kind of money can and does evaporate quickly these days. He's proven he can earn the cheese, but he realizes he doesn't need it. Money doesn't buy him a place in Heaven; he can find greater reward in sacrifice than in spending. Chew on that, and then ask yourself if you can do the same. Be honest. I'd like to roll around on a bed full of benjamins, but after I was done, what would I do with my life? It appears he's found an answer that satisfies his spirit, for which I say, "may God bless you."

If you stood on a corner and handed out hundred dollar bills to every person who walked by until you ran out of money, someone would find a way to criticize your actions. The vast majority of us, however, realize that you've discovered one of the major truths of the Bible: that material things are meaningless, and that love and service to others is all that matters. I applaud you.

People like you give me hope.
Thank you

Amazing :)

The quality of "virtue" is difficult to describe without sounding all unctuous. I think what you have done is virtuous, and that you are a righteous dude!
Fresh air, sunshine and a cool drink of water are so much more wonderful than a Cadillac. And money can't buy you love.

Dear Chris--

The point is, that Derek IS sacrificing very little, by his very own description.

He is not shunning the fruits of his success and is living on a nice slice of the wealth he created, which he also disclosed.

As for shunning his fellow countrymen, I think that Derek is channeling his money to other people in a specific manner as to benefit our musically-inclined countrymen.

I am self-employed and pay horrendous taxes. Every time I write a quarterly check to the IRS, I wish I could earmark that money to something I hold dear, like education and public transportation and other national infrastructure improvements that benefit all Americans, directing it away from the gazillion-dollar defense budget, which always takes the lion's share of this nation's tax dollar.

Reading about Derek's method of directing the money he made to something that he sees as meaningful brightened my day. In the meantime, he is paying lots of money in taxes on the income he makes from the trust.

Geez, man. Lighten up. You're going to give yourself a heart attack.

I gotta get back to work. Maybe you should, too.

I don't really feel that you have given away anything at all since the money is in a trust that you control and can draw on in order to live. Had the money been given away to an organization that you don't control then it would be different.

Think about it this way: the Bible states that we are to give just 10% of our earnings to Godly usage. He's letting 95% pile up until he dies, then it's released in a burst of charity. IRS scam, or geniune caring for those in definite need? I don't know. I'm going to thank him for at least trying.

Perhaps these are better questions: who are you to judge him, when there is but One True Judge who knows Derek's true motives? Why aren't you willing to do the same, instead of denigrating this man for his actions? If you 'know' Derek's greedy, then why haven't you taken the profits of your CDBaby sales and done anything that resembles what he just did?

[Luke 19:20 - 24]

The fact that you're drawing a 1 million dollar a year salary while professing to be happy "living simply" and hating "waste and excess" makes you come across as an asshole, regardless of whatever good works you've contributed to. This is obviously apparent to commenters such as Chris, but the rest of you and the author of this blog are clearly oblivious.

Geoff, you speak as if you have personal knowledge about what Derek actually does with his annual distributions. Do you? Or are you just making assumptions?

Polly you miss the point completely, he specifically states he draws 5% a year from a trust valued at 22 million dollars. That's over 1 million dollars annually. Regardless of what he does with that money he'll never want for it for the rest of his life, and yet, he credits his freedom and happiness to "simple living" and a "lack of possessions". I don't begrudge him his success but he should be honest about why he, as he puts it, has "the priceless freedom to live anywhere anytime". To do otherwise, and to do so publicly, makes him come across as an asshole.

Hello Delek.
Thanks for invite to your new musical life.That's wonderful idea.
My English is only a few,so I can not speak well.But it's so great.
Please keep in touch.Thank you!Terushige.

Greetings from Mexico Derek,

I've made a random walk through your site and now I feel nothing but grateful to know about you and the amazing things you've done. I listened the song you wrote at 18 so I can see you keep a fresh young mind that's getting wiser with time. What I found tonight is actually the kind of truth I want to believe. Thanks again

Right on brother!

Well I'll be damned !
That was one of the most amazing stories I've heard in a long time !
You rock :-)

HK

Cheers!

Great way to go forward! May God bless your next endeavor. With the gifts and grace you have, we need your energy and creativity. Enjoy the fruit of your labors.

What you have done is honorable. However 1.1 million a year income still seems like too much money to be thinking about what to do with and by no means gives you perspective on what it means to live simply.The greatest thing any of us can do is be kind and respectful to each other. If we can continue to do that under adverse conditions then maybe we can pat ourselves on the back or at least sleep well at night.

je savais bien que Dereck est quelqu'un de bien ...je suis heureux d'avoir pu etre en contact à l'époque pionniere de CD Baby qui m'a fait découvrir toute la richesse de la musique indépendante aux usa !
avoir assez et se contenter de ça ! c'est ce qui sauvera la planete ...
"very good wind " pour tes nouvelles aventures Dereck
et à un de ces prochains jours sans doute .

amitié
Robert ARNAUD

Bringing value to someone else is what makes the world go round'. You have made it there. I'm on a major detour right now but my eyes are on the prize.

Thanks for sharing Derek.

Well done, Derek..........
and you ARE kind and respectful.
enjoy your new chapter in life.

God bless you Derek. You really have found the path to Tao.

Hey Derek,

Right on Bradah!!

I lived in Hawaii for 4 years and had the amazing experiance of living in a place where most people think like you. Here are the rules they live by:

Never judge a day by the weather.

The best things in life aren't things.

Tell the truth - there's less to remember.

Speak softly and wear a loud shirt.

Goals are deceptive - the unaimed arrow never misses.

He who dies with the most toys - still dies.

Age is relative - when you're over the hill, you pick up speed.

There are 2 ways to be rich - make more or desire less.

Beauty is internal - looks mean nothing.

No rain - no rainbows.

thanks for sharing! inspiring.

Congratulations, Derek. I am impressed. I am also always relieved to know that I am not the only one who has had enough and is quite satisfied with it. It is very freeing.

Very inspiring and I'm impressed that you have read and responded to these comments. Maybe you're philosophy can become a new way of life for all, I think we would all be happier.

I could live pretty large on $1.1 million per year. I'm not a materialist either, so that would be enough for me too. Props to your tax lawyer, btw.

Derek -

I loved your story. This 77-year-old-woman is busy reinventing herself.
Gotta admit, though, that trolling through an hour or so of blogging is something I'm not likely to repeat. Keeping my focus on life, but thank you for your wisdom.

Wow, Derek, this is rather awesome. I wish that I was in a position financially to emulate it, but at 56 I am still treading water.

All the best, and thanks for everything!

Great job Derek!
I admire what you've done.
When I came to this country was not with the idea of pursuing the "American Dream", but to change it. You are ahead of my goal, since you are already living it, you are living the "American Dream" that I envision.
Sincerely,
Alx

Wow, I just read about why you gave your company to charity and it was right on time Derek. Thank u and my God continue to bless you beyond the natural!

Derek,
I am extremely impressed with the moves that you made with CD Baby. Of course you deserve a lot of credit for this but most of all you deserve happiness and health. Let's hope that by "paying it forward" so called karma will benefit us with the true necessities in life...health and happiness. All the best to you. You're a great man!

...oh and by the way. CD Baby was a brilliant concept and extremely well run. Let's not forget why the company was worth so much to begin with.

Derek: I bought some CDs a few years back (Beth Custer), was impressed with your website. Congratulations on your successful sale.

I also did the math, and 1.1M per year is a lot of money. But you could have kept it all, spent every last penny on yourself. So I applaud what you have done. I happen to think music is an important part of any cultural super-conscious, so I think you are putting the money to good use.

Best Wishes and Regards,
Scott

derek,
there aren't many like you. i'm glad to have learned about what you did with cd baby and why. i'm beginning to learn that money isn't all that as well, having been unemployed for more than a year and still being able to survive. i've adapted to living on less and this lesson will be with me always.

Wow. This is a truly amazing story. Thank you for sharing...what an inspiration. All the best to you!

I'm glade you found happiness.It's something money can't buy.

Wow, I commend you for doing such a selfless act! You know yourself and trust what your gut tells you and that is admirable.From the opening anecdote I get the sense that you don't believe that exceedingly rich people can be happy. How do you know the rich man you were talking about was completely satisfied and happily secure in his place? As if being well off automatically makes you incapable of being content or happy. My point is that we all have control over how we live and see the world.A rich person has no more or less of a chance at a fulfilling life as a pour person.Each way of living has its challenges but ultimately it is up to the individual to find peace within themselves.

Good for you, and I sincerely mean that! All of the naysayers who claim that you are far from living a simple life are missing the point. You are giving away a huge chunk of your earnings to a cause close to your heart, and there is no reason that you had to do this. None of us know what you are doing with the $1.1 million/year you are keeping, so assumptions are just assumptions. You had a great idea and made a lot of money from it, and made the decision to set aside a large portion of that money. I personally cannot fault you for that.

Thank you for sharing this with all of us. It was very touching.

There is one thing that this world doesn't have "enough" of: People like you.

right on man, peace and love 2 u

Derek,
You are an inspiration.
You have helped so many of us musicians get our music out to the world. You always generously gave advice and time to so many of us, just wanting the best for us and our music.

What you did with CD Baby was truly amazing. It has always been fun and very creative and constanly growing.

What you are now doing since selling the company is beyond words of praise. You are simply doing something great and thoughtful and hugely generous. You are continuing to think of others. You are perpetually giving.

You are a blessing.
Thank you for all you did for all us " babies" and for all you are doing to help younger ones on their musical paths.

Wow Derek. You are truly an inspiration.
Love,
Zoe

Wow... what a cool story...!! Ya done good!

Wow... what a cool story...!! Ya done good!

thank you - your email made me stop and think about my life for a minute

It also reminded me of a couple of cool lyrics

#1 "you can't always get what you want but you get what you need" - you know who

#2 "i'll never have anything more than i 've got today. if i'm not happy now I'll never be that way" - the mutton birds

i also think giving your business to a charitable trust before selling it was bloody clever

Derek, you are awesome. I like the way you think!! A wonderful example you have set for all of us.

I Have always used that saying The best things in life aren't things. I think the best things in should be friends and family. I am a Veteran and a Dad. The Guys I served with and raising my daughter are the best things for me. I'm glad You found that saying and I hope you use and live by it. I can promise a happy life.

Pas mal ! Parfois des idées naissent comme des champignons, un peu partout en même temps. Si c'est le cas le monde est sauvé !

legacy. art. gratitude. freedom.
acts to delight in and live.
thank you!

I've done the math. If the Unitrust earns 7% interest per year, over 20 years, you receive $26 million, and the trust has $30 million remaining. If the Unitrust earns 3.5% interest per year, over 20 years, you receive $18.6 million, and the trust has $15.9 million remaining. Assuming you live 20 years, you come out ahead vs paying taxes when you sold the company and music charities benefit receive more as well.

Well,at least admit you regret
you didn´t ask for 10% instead
of a lousy 5 % :-) :-)

Just kidding,great story,
all my respect to you.

You really summed up what is the biggest hurdle in my life right now...having too much "stuff" to abandon in order to make new choices in my life. You are really wise and I love the quote about the "best things in life"!

Your journey is a fabulous story that most people could only dream of! I hope your blessings continue to touch the lives of all who know you. Good luck!

Wow Derek, synchronicity is powerful-your message was/is inspirational and timely. I've been meditating on simplicity as well. You just added to my inspiration...

Thanks..

You got it! I wish that I could emulate what you have done. I will keep it as my goal. Thank you and God bless you.

Derek, you are a class act. Not many are able to be satisfied with what they have.

I'm glad I could in some way help this happen through my purchases.

You got it! My spirit leads. It attracts to it what it needs to flourish. Thanks for creating a place for spirits to flourish.

Dear Derek, Wow wonderful to know people in the 000's still have the values we evolved in the 1960's! Hats off to you! Thank you and Gob Bless.

God not Gob

I've made a huge mistake!

Enhorabuena!! Has conseguido algo que muchos anhelamos y no sabemos cómo conseguir. De momento, muchas gracias por crear CDBaby, fuente inagotable de buena música fuera de corrientes y modas perecederas aunque las hubiese.
Más adelante Dios dirá, solo desearte buena suerte y que puedas seguir sirviendo de ejemplo para muchos locos solitarios que aún quedamos por el mundo........
Saludos from Spain

Unless I'm missing something . . . it is so selfless to survive on only 5% of a 22 million dollar trust. "Things" certainly aren't important to some one existing on 1.1 million/year.

GOOD JOB!!! I hope many young musicians will benefit.

You're great!

Well done. Good thoughts & best wishes-always.

Thank you for building your company and giving it away and for sharing the big picture with everyone.
The busy-ness with things in our culture has been called affluenza, and there are songs about it that you probably know of.
Thanks for staying connected to what matters. There could be enough for all if we control our population and our material appetites. thak you again, ~KB

Yes!

Thanks for sharing your heart Derek. Your story underscores the fact that it is better to give than to receive. The fact is we don't own anything, we are simply stewards of what has been given to us to manage.....God bless you!

Good for you Derek! I wish more people knew the true meanings of: empathy
compassion
respect
responsibility
enough
Instead, we have mostly people who only know the meaning of:
greed
selfishness
mine
vanity
morality (forcing theirs on us)

Music education sounds nice. Yes.

But we have elected Obama because we know that individuals are deeply flawed in making decisions about how to spend our money, both as individuals and as a society. He has assembled a team of the smartest people in the country to decide how to spend everyone's money. And music education may or may not be important enough to rise to the top of the list.

It is nice to say that your money went for music education instead of for a tank. But the truth is that most of the federal money goes to interest on debt, social security and medicare. And yes, about an equal share goes to defense. You have deprived the country of about a million dollars for Medicare, about a million dollars for social security, and about a million dollars for interest on our growing debt. AS well as the million (not five million) for the tank.

Only a strong central government is really smart enough to decide how we Americans should be spending our money.

Good job, good work, good luck!!
peace and love

Actually George, you aren't very bright. If you were, you would know that Social Security is paid through the payroll tax, not the general fund. That's not to say the government isn't trying to loot it for the wealthy, though, but, technically, it isn't federal money.

Of course, I don't know about you, but the government hasn't ever told me how to spend my money, except after 9/11 when that amazing idiot ruining the country told everyone to go out and spend money.

However, based on your post, it's quite obvious you don't actually understand the role of government. Good luck, you're definitely going to need it and not for the reasons you think.

As for Derek, wtg, it is nice when people think of others and not just of themselves. Well done.

What an inspiration! Best wishes!

You did a splendid thing for children's souls and futures and set a beautiful example for a lot of people, Derek. Just be certain the person you designated as trustee has a sense of humor, for he/she will be doing paperwork for the rest of his/her natural life.

Kenneth has called names just because I am in support of Obama's transformation of America.

Wow.
You really get it.
...did you have lunch with my dad?

Bravo, belle démarche personnelle Derek, vous pouvez être fier de vous, car rare sont les gens qui agissent ainsi.
Amicalement.
Michel.

I enjoyed getting your mail and I do enjoy the idea behind your giving up CD - Baby. This is for sure a way to help young musicians to learn and a sure way to sleep well!

Good luck, Derek,hope to hear from you again...

@ George. Actually, "defense" spending accounts for about 50% of taxpayers' tax dollars spent by the government. In addition a lot of our national debt is a result of those two idiotic wars that have done nothing but destabilize two large swaths of the planet and end the lives of many people (also, the pretext for starting these wars were misleading/lies); the budget was balanced before Bush2.0 stole the election. Finally, the U.S. spends more money on "defense" than the next 15 largest "defense" spenders combined, so the tank analogy is actually an apt analogy for Derek to make.

Obama and the entire Democratic party are a bunch of pusillanimous legislators, who although better than the Republican demagogues, leave very little to hope for in terms of substantive policy change.

If only more of the ludicrously wealthy people in this country were as enlightened as Derek, the world would probably be a much better place.

Derek, thank you for your story, and for your actions.

A million dollars a year for you as well as knowing you are helping others. Sounds like a win/win.

Although, I hope the trust has an average annual return of greater than 5% a year, otherwise your cut is going to deplete it slowly.

Niko, I hate to read the word pusillanimous in connection with the only party which gives us hope, but whatever.

Anyway, if more millionaires avoid taxes, via the pet project charity route, that leaves me being the one to have to pay the interest on the debt, the medicare, the social security. I don't like that situation. Do you?

I am glad that Derek gave the money, but I hope that Obama's plans to stop people from charitable giving come to fruition soon so that we can make those rich people pay for the government.

This chart shows defense at 20%, by the way. Pretty much like I said. One million of the five, for the tank. Thanks.

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=1258

Derek,just another member of the chorus saying thank you! Thank you for your witness and for your passion for music and for education.
I am deeply grateful.

Derek.... amazing! Who you are, and what you did, is amazing. Know this act and the statement you have made will shine back on you. You deserve many blessings, and they will find their way to you!
Namaste,
Frank & Russ
Marin County, CA

RUN! FOREST RUN!!

I happened to look through my junk mail and found your email with this link, I am so happy that I found it.
This is simply what humanity should be about, if it were we would not be worrying about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea, we would be making music. Notice that despite these conflicts the musicians of these countries still collaborate in peace. Thank you for making a contribution to humanity that over time I'm sure will affect many lives.

Thank you for sharing your life experience and vision. I hope you will have a happy and fulfilling life. Wishins you ALL the best in the future!

Derek...what a wonderful human being you just are. Living your beliefs and sharing in such a grand and heartful way is so inspiring..and MORE. A visionary of the highest order..who needs material wealth!I thank you for bringing some real home truths to light for me...and for the difference you are making in this world.

you're truly, one dedicated guy! sincerely, jim shea (c.d. customer)

What a fabulous commitment you made! You have my sincere admiration.

I like your heart attitude, humility, simplicity, contentment, honesty, brevity and perspective. May Americans really buy into this sort of vision!

I'm sorry, but I was living well and full of joy until Katrinas water surged into our home. We spent 4 years living off our insurance, and by the time jobs came back, we had nothing. Now we live in a ghetto-the lower 9th, and my beautful house and my beautiful life is gone. I'd give anything to move back to the Lake, and never will have a chance to be able to again. And there is a hole in my soul from that. Money WOULD buy me happiness. I think your thoughts are wonderful, but I think that if you saw what its like to be really without money, without the ability to buy your medicines, you would see that those less comfortable than yourself do suffer from the lack of it. thank you for listening...

What a wonderful way to take care of something that could have been such a burden. I hope that your family supports you in this decision - do they? My favorite refrigerator magnet says the same thing: "The best things in life are not things". I put it up one Valentines Day, at the home of a friend who rents the house out to retired people. I think that our American culture is very materialistic, and many of us have lost sight of the pleasures of simple things in life, like eating together as family or with friends, having good talks with people, watching the sunset, going for a nice walk, and so on. Happy trails to you! - wherever life takes you next :)

Thanks, that's great what you did! Don't forget he is still getting 5 percent of 22 million per year until he dies!

Did anyone on here calculate what 5 percent of 22 million is ???

That is 22 followed by 6 zeros times 5 and then hit the percent button on your calculator. The answer seems to be 1 million and 100,000 dollars or

$1,100,000.00 - per year

That's not exactly "poor" ... I'm just sayin'.

you did the right thing - I wish many other "big business guys" would do the same. tnx 4 sharing the info, it's good news :-)

Wow. This is so inspiring.
I used to have a "life-long" dream. That was to perform in a band and to have the audience applaud us. But I was blessed to be a to perform in a band. With my wife singing vocals, no less! And that one performance was in a battle-of-the-bands contest. Well, God blessed us that night because not only did I get to hear the applause because of our performance, we actually won first prize.
And so having my "life-long" dream fulfilled a life too early, I am also seeking to help other musicians reach their own dreams.
I pray that you inspire many more musicians, not only in seeking contentment but also in seeking fulfillment of their dreams.

You understand Derek

Derrick,

What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lost his soul? You can have everything and bestow all of your goods to the poor, but if you have not love it profits you nothing. 1 Corinthians 13.

I hope you did it for the right reason as the Lord told the rich man to sell all he had and give it to the poor and his treasures would count for real life and peace. The end is in sight and soon you'll not buy or sell without a mark and sadly the people will find out that their money has been stolen. What you did sounds like your trying to get free and as short as time is I would make it count for what this is worth from a straight shooter.

If I had what you claim you gave away, I could fulfill the greatest cause there is to make it count for eternity. The bibe says this whole nation has robbed God. Malachi 3 and it's brought the curse upon the people thats why this nation is cursed and because The world and the churches went for the love of this world and things they were told that would destroy their soul were mocked by this nation. May the Lord help you to find rest not what the world have to offer BUT THE REST THAT only God can offer. Take care.

Jackie

Belle démarche,en effet, trop rare hélas, l'univers dans lequel nous évoluons donne à voir, des humains qui deviennent rapidement inhumains.
Pour ma part, je vais quitter le monde avec 0 euros et vivre avec rien,cela donnera je l'espère à réfléchir pour quelques personnes.
Qui pensent trouver dans l'argent une solution pour trouver le bonheur.Toute chose qui n'est pas donnée est perdue à jamais " Ghandi"
Amicalement
David

ps: bravo pour cet acte qui donne sens à votre vie, et vous rends la liberté, seule chose qui mérite d'être vécu sur terre

Danke Derek für diese Erinnerung an das 'genug' haben! Ab und zu denkt es in mir, dass ich 'mehr' brauche - dabei bin ich mit dem, was ich habe vollauf glücklich - es ist genug! Letzte Woche half ich einer Freundin beim Umzug und während ich half, ihre vielen Sachen einzupacken, war mein inneres Mantra: Danke, dass ich nicht so viel Zeug habe. Danke, dass ich beweglich bin.
Ich bin froh über deine Nachricht und sehr neugierig, was du dir noch einfallen lässt :-)

I'm very impressed by your thoughtfulness, generosity, and ingenuity. It's inspiring.

Good for you!

What a great idea. Thank you for doing it, and for sharing the story.

Derek,
Great story. I saved my email response from CD Baby from 6 years ago. Hilarious!
Mark

Very cool deed Derek.

Music is the best. FZ

Ahhh the simple life. It can be lived! Thank you for the inspiration. I have four children and am aware of of how complicated life can be with stuff and expectations. Change happens within and moves out.

Good story and glad that you have found something that most never find..."themselves". By my math, 5% of $22MM is not considered austere living where I come from. I'm too am retired, living comfortably on about 1/9th of that. No sour grapes on this end...have fun and live long.

BTW...those silly replies I used to get when I ordered cds from you were one of the things that set your company apart...good marketing!

You are part of a new trend Derek. Gates, Buffet and others have also seen that they can do more for the world by dedicating their fortunes to specific causes.

In your anecdote you say "you have enough"...but you have more.

You have the ability and experience to do "it" again when you find something else to be passionate about.

I wish you luck, and thank you for your efforts and results to date.

Wow! That's the type of story that makes my day. Personally, I'm fond of the "voluntary simplicity" idea and you've represented that philosophy through your actions.
I look forward to seeing the fruits of your work in support of music education.

Beautifully expressed, you Lightworker, you.

What an inspired move. Simplicity and sustainability for a wonderful cause. Amazing, simply amazing.

Thats awesome Derek...Keep up the good work!

Way to go Derek! Music education changed my life in a most positive way.
School budgets are constantly being slashed and music and art programs are often the first casualties of these budget cuts. "Bravo" for helping to Keep the Music Alive!

That's the way to be. Not only have you done something exceptional, you have also set a fine example for others.

Way to go Derek! It's good to see - and reinforces my hope - that there are good people still on this earth. May the Lord continue to bless you.

Just like Mark Ross above, I still have my email from CD Baby from my purchase in 2006. And it still makes me smile.

God bless you!!

Thanks for everything Derek. We used CD baby to find the musicians that made our Yoga DVD projects possible. Your efforts towards spreading the music of unknown musicians helped us tremendously and helped spread the good karma of yoga throughout the planet.

Namaste,

Steve

reading your above reasoning made me feel like my brain just got back from a successful trip to the chiropractor. There seems so little of this way of thinking in our culture right now. Imagine how many people could live like that if they could change their mind and we weren't fighting pointless wars and paying criminals to run banks.

Music and Art.....we need to get back to this! Millions of children have missed the depth of exploring their emotions through it....schools can't teach it and not even field trips are available to show them the beauty of symphonies, oil paintings....you get it....your gift is a fantastic move in the right direction....you rock!

I agree with the first comment. YOU GET IT! God Bless you! Most people go their whole lives without ever figuring it out. Brother you are smart but more important, you have a kind heart!

How cool . That is inspirational. The attitude can be applied on any level.I can easily see how it has been more satisfying for you to have given cdbaby away and benefitting so many.

Your service to musicians is real...thank you Derek.

Dear Onya !
Very good after noon from Germany !
I have no enough time to see and to
read and to see what you have sent me in today's E-Mail which i will do
all of them on Monday.I saw the Video from Leadership Lessons from
Dancing Guy but i could not hear the
voices.It is unforgetable of your"
Big smiles guaranteed !!"
Giri Dhari Devkota

Fantastic!

Since the fund will never benefit me personally, it would be a bit empty for me to say thank you.

But, on behalf of the many, many people who will benefit from this, from years and years to come, many of whom will know nothing about you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. What you have done has made a difference in my life.

Dear Derek,

This is very inspiring. Makes one think.

Anne

You've done the right thing. I think that needed some amount of courage. Congrats on it all! :-)

Perfect! Nice to know that good guys (and gals) still exist.

Well done, Derek.

God Bless.

Hi Derek,
I really can't believe what I'm reading. it sounds like a fullfillment of a dream for me. You're a saint in the city!
wish all the best,
luca

Thank you Derek.
I've learned that to share one's music with others is extremely satisfying. You have gone far beyond that. In return I hope you remain healthy and live long so everyone might learn from your kindness and insight to real happiness. Take Care. - Paul

thank you for sharing this Derek !
thank you ....
thank you ...
thank you ..
thank you .

Derek, you made the right choice. What a great idea! -Niki

Hi Derek:

You are the man! I live in a beleaguered school district outside of Philadelphia. We deal with over 70 native languages and failing scores from inappropriate testing. Nonetheless, we have a first rate award-winning music program mostly due to the dedicated faculty and committed residents of the school district.

One of one of our faculty succumbed to cancer 2-3 years ago, and we have started a memorial fund to assure his contributions won't be lost. We hold a fundraiser every year, and it continues to grow geometrically. Check this out.

http://udmusicmarathon.org/5k-run/

Thanks for supporting music and musicians so selflessly. We don't see this very often.

Hi Derek,

Sweet, sweet, sweet - thanks for sharing a delicious and wonderful story about what's important

I got your email, and only because i bought one cd a while ago from the Uk after hearing one track on a BBC radio station, I do not feel aggrieved you have emailed me about your selfless act to improve the future of musicians "across the pond", in fact i applaud the steps you have taken to ensure money goes to the trust rather than the government. Good luck with your life and your philosophy! love from the UK x

Mr. Sivers,

On behalf of all musicians from the past, the present & the future...

A Million THANKS!!!!!!!!!

It makes me sad that I haven't bought more over the years as there is some amazing music you have compiled. Thanks for your example of caring for the next generation(s) instead of just yourself. All the best...

Derek-
I've yearned for a simpler way of living since I was in my early 20's, I'm now 58. I swooned as I read what your simple life has brought you. My ability to achieve it conflicts with that I'm all about convenience, which is apparently winning over the two choices. But it is cathartic to do a major cleaning out/giving away stuff I really don't need/want anymore. Just curious- how simple are you actually living with the income you're deriving from the trust?

Robin Barr
Founder/Inventor,
Cold Sores Begone/Canker Sores Begone
www.csbegone.com

Although I could not afford to purchase often, when presented in the mail with my first order, I thought it was the most clever presentation I had ever seen for a product like a CD....and now, reading your testimonial you have once again come up with the most cleaver Idea to benefit all! It is people like you, who act selflessly ,that restore my faith in humankind. Blessings!

I am impressed with your heart for music, and your wisdom in preparing for your future. I hope you enjoy your life, and that God blesses you as you live in music, which I believe is a gift from God.

Great perspective - and true - so nice to know that you've followed through with living out your convictions. You're a model for young and old alike, having ceased chasing after the wind before the age of 70, when the rest of the world 'gets it.'

Right on! You rock the way I wanna roll.

5% of $22,000,000.00 is $1,100,000.00. Are you sure that's enough to support your "simple"
lifestyle?

Bravo Derek et encore merci. Grâce à toi j'ai pu connaître des musiciens qui m'ont beaucoup aidé à progresser dans la musique, et sans qui ma vie ne serait pas devenue ce qu'elle est maintenant
Bon vent,
Nicolas

You have been thoughtful and kind in the past - we have corresponded, I always felt you were talking to me.

So many comments have iterated what a wonderful and generous story this is - mine is a mere layer - I feel very humble in your shadow knowing I will find it difficult, at 60, to have the opportunity to do what you have done.

Paul McCartney, Bill Gates - take a leaf out of this guy's book you will never be able to spend your fortunes..............

God Bless

Quelle bonne surprise ce samedi matin alors que je ne suis pas encore bien réveillé !

Quelle surprise de lire ce mail ; tout à fait formidable ! HAT S OFF and keep the groove in the room..

thumbs up, I've bought a few Cd's at CD baby and it was a pleasant experience more then elsewhere. I didn't realize there was more behind then just a business. I will wish you all the luck with everything

Ahhh grasshopper you have found the secret to true wealth and happiness...;P. Now you are a truely wealthy person Derek...:) For you have freed yourself from the slavery of materials and found the true value in living. Living with love, living with morals and ideals. Wealth is all around us but yet ignored on a daily basis. It's in the forest, the trees, the animals and the creations of the dreaming of the mind. First you offered music from real from the heart musicians and now you offer an example of true wealthy living. You are an inspiration to all Derek... Wishing you all the best you can manifest. Namaste my friend.

bravo !
belle et grande idée

what a beautiful thing you've done

Nous ne sommes riches que des choses que nous offrons ou partageons. Merci de nous le rappeler si pertinemment !
Marc-Henri

Non seulement ton geste est noble, il est très intelligemment réfléchi, chapeau! Merci d'avoir pris le temps d'expliquer si clairement pourquoi t'as agi ainsi. Bonne route!

Good philosophy. I always tell people I'm rich.
The reason I give is quite apart from all the sentimental stuff about loved ones etc. which I enjoy in great abundance.
I have some choice financially about how I live that's all.
In a world where millions don't even have enough to eat that's rich.
derek leon elton

Respect !
Wise decision.
Take care.
DJ Andres "El Jefe"

Dude, you're awesome!

You are certainly tuned into the right frequency, and walking the talk!!

You are a great inspiration! Thanks!

CDBABY était très bien pensé. Je suis reconnaissant à CDBABY pour m'avoir fait découvrir d'excellents musiciens. Il est réconfortant de penser que le succès permette à CDBABY de continuer sans vous ---j'espère avec encore plus de bonnes idées---, puisque vous avez désiré passer à autre chose.

Je vous souhaite beaucoup de succès dans vos nouvelles entreprises.

Michel

A great story... You get it.

Derek what you have done is brilliant in in its simplicity . When I bought CD's from CD baby I never once suspected I was unknowingly a part of this awesome plan of yours. Cheers mate God Bless!!

Yes, you do understand what's important in life. Blessings come when we are thankful for what we have. I too am building Solace Radio to help others to find contentment. I don't need much to make me happy. Pretty much all a person needs (In my opinion) is the knowledge that this life isn't all there is, food, shelter, love, and joy.

I wish you much happiness, Derek. You're a rare bird. Wish you lived next door. :)

Dianne

Derek, the philosopher and mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)said:

"What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself." (Blaise Pascal, Pensees, trans. A. J. Krailsheimer, 1993)

Bottom Line,
"Psalms 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

Something to think about it......
Davin

Thanks, Derek. It is inspiring to read about someone who values something greater than the collection of assets, and who lives their values.

I once took a sixteen day raft trip down the Colorado with nothing but what I could fit into a bag. (To be honest, we had the raft guides and the food, etc.) But for those 16 days I understood how marvelous "living simply" could be. As Annie Oakley sang, "I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night."

What a great story, and what a great recipe for happiness in this lifetime. Good for you, Derek.

Derek,

I'm glad to see that there are still people in this world who know what enough is. This is very inspiring and a great way to help future musicians breakthrough in this world of followers following followers.


Best wishes,
Elliot

well done to benefit so many

Huh - Last week I pulled out that CD that I bought from you three years ago and put it in my car - it had been a long time since I listened to it. Music, art - they are always last to benefit, so whatever your personal motives, if the money goes to the cause you intend, good on you.

Wow! How wonderful! You make me realize once again what is really important in life. I was feeling kinda down this morning, but why?! After reading your story, I realize I have so much to be thankful for and I want to live in gratefulness, not a "poor me" mentality. Thank you Derek!

Oh Derek, I am so happy for you and proud too. God bless you and all your efforts to help others achive music education.Enough said :)
Love,
mary

Merci pour cette explication. C'est bon de savoir qu'il existe des gens qui osent vivre concrètement selon leurs idéaux. C'est facile de parler pour ceux qui n'ont pas le choix. Mais si nous l'avions tous ce choix de train de vie extravagant, combien prendraient vraiment tout de même la route du - assez - ? Merci de nous avoir donné accès à toute cette belle musique.

Derek you did a great job with this and I wish you the best. I am always listening to the CD's that I had received from you and will continue to. Im glad to see that you are helping the new musicians have something to look forward to!
Love,
Willow

You rock! It's passion that makes the difference in this life.

"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music."

-Kurt Vonnegut

Good man

I am trying to retire this year - but first I was trying to buy everything I wouldn't be able to afford on Soc Sec. I know deep down you are right. I'm bookmarking your site to keep my thinking straight - thank you

I certainly hope all of this is true. If it is, then Good on you!!!

There are few things which garner my admiration more completely than people who lend a hand to aspiring musicians.

Derek, you made many their day when you told us about simple things in life, you giving opportunities to others like you did. You and your clan are totally Angels on Earth. Thank you!

Buying a CD from CD Baby was an amazing experience - felt like I was buying from a kindred spirit. Creating the Trust was brilliant. I don't know if you know Fred Eaglesmith, a Canadian singer-songwriter who always says at his concerts that he is the richest man in the room because he "has enough". What a great philosophy for life - to appreciate what we have and not seek more. Thank you for this experience.

The less is the more. Mientras menos, más. Whell done.
Greetings de Mexico

Derek Sivers, you've made a very wise decision.

The bible says:

"What does it profit a man to gain a world full of riches, if he looses his soul?" (Mark 8:36)*

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)*

“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:24-25)*

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19)*

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." (Proverbs 23:4-5)*

Congratulations to any/all who follow the wisdom of Scripture.

------------------------------

*Isaiah 55:6-7*
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Derek, I don't know you, I just happened to buy Smokey Memel's CD from you at one time, but I am deeply touched by your story and wish I knew you personally. Thank you for sharing the details.

My dear Derek you have a big heart that beats to the tune of the Universe.You are a seeker and have found yourself - I am still seeking but have not yet found my true self -my ground zero!

I am so grateful that,

I took a gamble 6 years ago by changing jobs and moving further afield to make my life more simple, more content and hopefully give my career a boost in the right direction and get paid more in the process so I could live more comfortably.

Whilst at this new job, I met a man whom I formed a friendship with based mostly on philosophy but also a passion for music. It was a friendship that remains to this day.

That man got me away from mainstream music.
He introduced me to the likes of Joanna Newsom and Devendra Banhart, for starters.
He only had to push my tiny paper boat out into the lake a little and the wind did the rest.

I am so grateful to the world wide web for finding me a website a few years ago, that sold the sort of music I had grown to love.
I am so grateful that i decided to buy a cd from this website after umming and ahhing about the cost of 'things' today and that i really should save my money rather than buying cds all the time.

I was chuffed to bits when i got my rather unique email of thanks from CD Baby, it brought a smile to my face and a warm glow inside.

I am so grateful to the man who wrote to me recently to say he had sold his CD Baby business and gave the money away because it made his life more simple and happier.

I took a decision to change my life 6 years ago in order to make my life..that much simpler, more content with my lot.
But it has still taken me most of my life to realise where i have been going wrong all these years.

It is not about what you possess that makes you happy. Neither is it about what you don't have.

It is simply about the important things in life; living, loving and be loved.

For goodness sake...I have three wardrobes and two chest of drawers of clothes in my bedroom, and still I have a mountain of clothes piled at the bottom of my bed waiting to be put away... and I still don't know what to wear in the mornings (sounds familiar to any of you?).
I have to get rid NOW and I don't just mean the clothes.

Mr Sivers legacy must live on in all of us.
Thankyou Derek

anyone with questions about that last scripture quoted, please visit

www.goodtest.net

I am very impressed with your outlook on life. I'm retired but I am not sure I can decide exactly what is enough for me. I only hope that everyone who is on the receiving end of your charity will pass it on. I also hope that the company that took over your business does half as well as you did in pleasing your clients. Good luck in the future

Fico feliz de um dia ter comprado alguns Cds da Baby. De alguma forma participei, mesmo que singelamente,deste grande ato de abnegação do Derek! É bom saber que existem pessoas como D. Sivers!

i hope there are more entrepreneurs like you. if enough people thought like this, more about the well being of everyone, and less about what they want, it could change the world. hats off to you.

Wow, Derek! Thank you for sharing this. I just sent you a private email, without having read to the end of yours, where you said you had sold CD Baby. I just had to comment here on how uplifting your philosophy is, and to say I'm so glad to have encountered you and to have done business with you. I believe your example will make this world a better place.

I still remember trying to find the cd You dDon't Have To Be Jewish. You came through when no one else could. Not only that You sent a personal not too.

Good in your future.

Vic

Greetings Derek:

Thank you for contacting me.

I am glad you sold CD BABY to the RIGHT PEOPLE and the RIGHT REASONS.

I too am trying to downsize my life. If I didn't have seven dogs, I might consider living in something like a "Tumbleweed"
I want to focus my life on Animal Advocacy and things like that. Material things do get in the way more times than not. Certain music does help em focus my energy better. i. e. Suzanne Doucet's "As it is now"!

I have subscribed to your EMail list so you can continue to inspire me.

I wish you continued Health, Happiness, and Love always

Sincerely
Jo Anne
aka Pagan Witch Michi

Derek,

Simply told, and done with integrity.

Good for you, especially for recognising that musical (and artistic) education is often the first area to get the short shift in economically challenging times.

I take my hat of to you!

Rob

Isn't music a "thing"? Isn't art a "thing"? Whether it exists in the digital realm or physical, something is needed to convey the artform - and the artists need to get paid like everyone else.

Telling people that they don't need "things" is just an empty preach. If people quit buying things - then the music and the art will die. Period. Artists and musicians are supported by sales, not by fake charity funds that are simple tax evasions.

The only thing I'm not buying here is your message.

Amazing story! I love it.

That's Paying It Forward !

Wow. I'm so inspired by you, Derek. I want to share your story with everyone I know. You are blessed and a blessing. Namaste :)

Nice story.

That makes for great karma! And if nothing else....just knowing you done something to ensure music in the future. Life wouldn't be worth living if there was no music!!! We ARE all related! Love to you!!!xoxoxo

Hey Man, you made a good choice! God bless you.

All I can say is you have truly made my day. Thank's very much!!!!!!!!

Derek,

I loved everything you wrote. It seems we share a similar dream about music and musical education. CD Baby is one of the coolest music sites I have encountered and I'd love to talk with you some more

Yours,
ODed

Awesome, inspiring, this is the evolution that people need to achieve.

Well, I'm really happy for you. I'm still searching for my way in the world, but your words are an inspiration.
Ciao!
Andrea

Yours is truly an inspirational story! Thank you for sharing. Much blessings & joys to you and your family.

I purchased Irish music CDs from your Internet shop the other day.
Although I'm an amateur Irish musician, I enjoy music.
Even if we don't get any reward from playing the music, I would be content.
I'm mostly agree with your idea and philosophy about wealth and happiness.

Derek,

I am glad to know there is someone out there who cares about young musicans, there is a 15 year old in Fort Mill S.C. that is an awesome blues guitarist, and he has a awesome personality to go along with it, that I would love to see him make it in the music world. His name is Jaks Haldenwang, he has some stuff posted on you tube.

thanks for keeping the music alive!!

John

I have always enjoyed your company and the way you ran your business. I hope the folks who bought it from you follow your example, but probably not. Anyway, good luck to you in the future. It sounds like you have a solid plan in place. Thanks for all your service in the past.

I'm not a musician-- I'm a music lover who treasures the musicians among my family and friends. I've always loved CDBaby, and can see now part of what made it a great company. Thank you for doing this!

Derek,

You are one who truly understands what I would consider the meaning of life, happiness and joy. I think it is wonderful what you have done for others. To keep music alive is to keep others happy.
Thanks,

Kevin

You are the genuine Guru of Music. Thank you for your vision! You are loved:)

What a cool story.
Thank you for that.
I feel much better now.

Wisdom and the will to act on it. A potent mixture. Derek, add me to the long list of those who are impressed and hope your example is influential.

As a life-long lover of music and all things related to it (like C.D. Baby), I greatly appreciate what you've done, Derek!!!

Thanks for the email and the story.

Cheers to you for making smart choices with your money---I think we all can learn something here. The best things in life are NOT things, indeed!! :)

The best things in life are not for sale. I admire you.
God Bless ...

I can't wait to share this story with my students. Many will scratch their heads, but a for a handful it will be proof that their instincts will lead them in the right direction. Hats off.

You are AWESOME.
There should be more internet moguls like yourself.
You have made the world a better place.
We lead by example, and you are way ahead of the pack!

Good work! Thanks for CD baby and good luck with all your new endeavours.

What a wonderful idea! God bless you and keep you purely happy all your days.

Has someone done a feature on this idea somewhere? This would be an inspiring story for national feeds.

What a refreshing story, Derek. Good for you!

Derek

Way to go! You have provided a valuable public service, because I believe that music education is critically important.

I was first surprised to hear from you, but most delighted. Derek, what you have done is absolutely unique and I highly respect your views and actions. You have demonstrated that music is an elixir in life and your support to musicians is a God-blessed example.You have shown that "redistribution of wealth" can really benefit some of us (as opposed to the "rob-the-ones-that earned-it" programs pushed by our BS-IN-CHIEF and crooked Government!
God Bless You, Derek. Stay HEALTHY and HAPPY for the rest of your life

Well Done! I await your next inspiration....life is long.

Derek, the music world will thank you for years to come because of your thoughtFULL thinking, and generosity. So much talent in the world, and sometimes too little help for the struggling artists.
Bless you, Namaste, Sat Nam.
Perhaps you could write a book or do a video encouraging others to live more simply with less "stuff". What you have done is very inspiring. Much peace be with you!

I can't say anything more than what's already been said here; so I'll just leave a simple "thanks".

Makes me feel even better that I bought music from you.
The songs will sound sweeter knowing the music will grow with your decision .
Best luck ............jp

Derek,
Beautiful, simply beautiful! Thank you.

Good news at last. If only the many people with more money than sense would wake up to what is really important. Enjoy your life, you deserve the best.

Wenn nur mehr Menschen so denken würden wäre die Welt ein wenig besser !!! Respekt.

On behalf of my musician friends, thanks (!!!) for what you achieved: building a place that benefits musicians rather than middle-men.

Musicians can now have an Indie career thanks to folks like you. And humanity looks forward to the generations of new musicians who will benefit from your gift!

Wow man you have given me hope that there can be some good in the world.

Very inspiring. I would like to so something similar - link music royalties to become a long-term funding mechanism for community based development projects. First though - must market the music - then start the Foundation.

Yeah you've done the right thing, money doesn't fatten the happiness. You'll sleep better with piece in mind. I wish you a stressfree life, Gunnar Edholm.

Makes my heart smile!

Derrick,

There has been reports that there are at least hundreds of rich people pulling out because they know what is happening to the system so they can get better equiped to preserve there lives even after all the bankers met just recently it appears that the rich knows something is coming to this nation under the NWO and they are finding other ways of trying to get out of there business and were warned by there own ahead what would happen.

Most of this is hid from the people as the rich still look after the rich. There were hundreds of business that and police cheifs that just resigned after the OIL spill and the world bankers meetings hundreds were reported going out of business and we wonder why so many at once.

Is there somthing here thats happining with the rich thats not being reported?

Its either ligitimate or something smells fishy.

Jackie

Hey Derek

Very inspirational. With the direction the music business has gone, it has become very dificult to mak a living at it so we definitely need to be educated. May all good things come your way.

What an inspiration, Derek!! You are living the law of generosity!! CD Baby was my favorite "for profit" company - the emails you sent back with every order, the sense of fun and the customer service. I have had the same great service and caring from DiscMakers (although nobody has your same sense of humor)! THANKYOU for sharing your generous spirit and story!!!

We should all be so lucky! It would
be a better world.

Yeah thats a great plan if i had alot of money i would spend alot of time with charities but i feel better when i dont have alot of stuff as well the less i have the less i have to worry about

Hmmmm, how unique and wonderful your life path has evolved. I am still in a phase of hard work to support my kids' education and other responsibilities, but a glimpse of the essence of what makes people truly happy is a consciousness raiser even for those of us who cannot embrace all aspects.

Love You Music Thoughts Website, BTW

My mother had that gift. A child of the Depression, as an adult everything she had was more than she expected. And she was happy.

Thank you, Derek, for an enlightening tale of altruism!

while I was initially a little annoyed that Derek used the email address I relinquished, in order to buy a limited edition CD from Thomas Dolby, it was quickly replaced by the one upping comments from collectivist looters here who point accusing fingers at the way Derek chose to use his property the way he saw fit.

Regardless of whether or not I believe what Derek has done with CD Baby is some kind of pioneering altruistic achievement:

1. I agreed to allow CD Baby to use the email address they way they did (so it's my fault - I could have cancelled the transaction)

2. Allowing investment decisions to be made by those who create those who create things valuable enough to invest, is always a better alternative to feeding a state apparatus that uses money, received via coercion, as investments to increase their power to regulate and rule.

Since I've never worked for a "poor" person,
I only hope more entrepreneurs endeavor to starve the governmental beast of it's funding and - as a result - free the rest of us.

Well I just read your reason and sounds pretty good, so how's does your organization really work, can you explain music eduction, Thanks Antonio

BRAVO!!!

After all, "All we need is Love".

You are awesome. Good job:-)

I have been reading Don Miguel Ruiz's books, The Four Agreements and now The Fifth Agreement. You are living the Toltec way - you DO have enough and enough is all you need to be happy. I sincerely hope you have traveled and explored and found that there no limits for you. Blessings for sharing all that you were able to share through the establishment of the trust. Good on ya!
Love and light...

I really dig what you are doing. If there were more people in this world like you, it would be a much better place.

What a brave decision..We can't take material things with us when we die. Personally I don't have very much but I have noticed that in this society money talks. Without it you are invisible and without a voice. There is an imbalance in this world which is shameful so any noble deed is a good deed. Good luck with your life and well done.

What an awesome reason and way to promote music..what is real! When the lord blows out your candle away, tha only thing you take are your thoughts, the love you gave and shared, and the music that anchors those moments in your life you cherish. I commend your efforts and insight.

Clever way of managing your life, Derek and looking out for others at the same time, but you need money to do those things in the first place.

I loathed Bill Gates in the late 90s for the way he carried on, but now I can't praise him enough now for the things that he's able to do with money to help others.

Overall I can't agree that "money doesn't buy you happiness" as quoted many times in life. It actually really does! it provides opportunities that weren't there before, it pulls people out of a rut, it keeps family budgets in order, these days it even buys your health. Personally I am constantly on edge because I live from one pay cheque to another and I'm very conservative with money, so I don't or can't go wasting it. The only way you could live without money is through a utilitarian society and that will never happen.

If I did have any money however the only thing it probably wouldn't provide would be true friends. Money tends to attract many leaches. Anyway, that's my two minute speech, but good on you for your forward thinking and what you've achieved.

Well, your story certainly explains the format change of the website some time back ... at which point I stopped buying from CD Baby. Not sure if any of the 1000 posts in front of me touched on this, but I hate the new owner's design. I can't do the daily update search by genre (knowing the add date) and it doesn't seem to have the volume of daily artist adds that was present when you owned it. It's too bad as CD Baby was once my biggest source of finding new music, whether I ended up buying from CD Baby or directly from the artists. I have since moved on to music blogs as my main search vehicles (I don't listen to local radio). Glad you got your money out of the new owners as my complaints have nothing to do with yourself or your trust. Good luck in life ... health is the biggest asset you can ever have.

I will spread this around... great great work!

Wow what a great story if more people would learn to accept what they have and be satisfied with less, there would be so much more for those in need.
Peace
David

Literally, a man who puts his money where his mouth is. I hate to admit that my faith in the human race had been flagging in recent years; you, Derek, have helped restore some of that. What a wonderfull example you have set. May all of your future endeavours be blessed.

I bought my CD from CD BABY for a friend of mine. I have many musician friends and love their original music. We miss your awesome notes that came with deliveries! I used to dabble but now am a two time grandmom. Congrats on your awesome personal adventure into giving back!!! Check out Jeff Broadnax on facebook if you get a chance. A wonderful musician.

Truly inspiring! The world needs more people like you.

Inspired philanthropy & all for music!!

What you did was a decent thing to do. These days being a decent human being makes you rather heroic. From what I have seen, the post Baby Boomer generation is a rather self-centered one (not these folks didn't learn their behavior from Baby Boomer parents who lost their decency with adulthood. Whatever...good for you! And congratulations on being heroic!

To quote Don Henley, "You don't see no hearses with luggage racks." Right on, and I hope I can get out of debt and make some money to give away soon! Have already earmarked the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in my will. Best from New Mexico, where we only sleep 6 hours a day...

I love your story...so inspiring! Thanks for sharing it!

Since the inspection of money in music very few musicians have ever been in control of their musical property, setup retirements or have medical insurance. I hope you can provide guidance to all. What a great start.

Impressive and inspiring!

I remember the notes and mails that came with the deliveries. Already there I felt it was something special around you and CD Baby.

hi Derek,

thanks you for your email.. man you really inspires me.. i hope all goes well with you and happy always..

god bless..

cheers!!
frankie.

Hello
Thanks for the message
You've underscored the meaning of life, giving & perspective.
I've learned something from your story
Thanks for sharing your personal feelings
Goodluck & God's Blessings
I'm a beginner / keyboardist, no extra money for music lessons,money is tight the employer cut wages & hours but i still have a job.

Bel exemple de vraie vie, admirable !

I come to the fact that you are a rich man still for a man to live on 1 million dollars a year, is no difference than what Jesus told the rich man who went away sorrowful.

Some cast into the treasury a percentage and this woman who only had two mites gave all. Who really gave and who didn't?

Your still a rich man and now you want some of the glory. What a deception to yourself and the public and a mockery to God.

I'm free . . .

Jackie

Well done Derek I hoppe you inspire loads of people to become great musicians and have a very cool and chilled out life ahead of you.

Simon.

Derek - AWESOME. Phoebe and I have sold 2 companies, and given away almost all the $$.

Now we show other people how to grow their businesses so they can do the same!

You are an inspiration! Congrats!

Man....well done! And if anyone has an ill informed bias against your style of munificence, they can lick my drum stool.

I love the story and You actually get that you can't take it with you, so I'm going to share it now and forever. Thanks, I'm going to share your story with many more.

WOW I was just "sweeping" my hotmail and found an e-mail from you keeping in touch from the one CD Baby purchase I got out of curiosity from an artist with the same name as I (and similar nose!) way back in 2006. I scooped up your e-mail instead and started reading-what an awesome life you have been leading! Yes I DO want to stay in touch with you and your excellent karma-I'm a singer of lullabies right now with my young sprouts but will tool around your blogs to help me get re-inspired to sing out again! abarraka bake! (Mandinka thanks) Jill

Love you man, Excellent job.
Looking forward to your new projects and stuff.

Cheers, Rob.

God bless you for this. I wondered what had happened to you. This is a great story. Thanks for all that you have done.

Well done Derek.
if there were more people like you the world would look much better.
i only bought one item from cdbaby but i enjoyed the email i received very much.
best always
Peter Loenen

eres admirable y digno de elogio
un abrazo desde España

Thanks for sharing this story it is both inspiring and practical. As a private music teacher, I appreciate your dedication to music education. God bless you.

Simply amazing!

Derek, thank you for the reminder to live simply. I am going to share your story with my kids tonight. "Stuff" is a distraction to what matters in life. Thanks again!

Todd

Great Karma. I wonder if you were always that way. Having enough is all anyone needs. I am an investment adviser in the UK and my clients fall into two types. Those with more than enough and those with not enough. Neither group are satisfied.

May you live a long and happy life.

Bendiciones - a great story. I think music education has saved many kids, including me, my brother and my daughter. Thanks for giving it what it needs (the $) and keeping what you need (a living) for yourself.

Derek, Thanks for sharing the "rest of the story." I've been thinking of ways to simplify my life...thanks for the inspiration!

Music has been my life and I'm so happy that your trust is set up to fund music education. Our young people need the soothing and inspiration that music bring.

May God bless you will all good things.

Hi, big D!

What can I say besides "it's your life, enjoy it!". I had CD Baby as one of my indie music researchs for a really long time (after the end of MusicDownload) and, be sure, the site were one of the most interesting things that happend in my life since I found on a web search.

Hope your fund works as well as you gave many benefits to all musicians that were (and still are) on CD Baby!

See ya, guy!


Alberto de Avyz

hm....hm....,oh, hi, Derek,
Firstly,Surprising to have an e-mail like this one,I feel..curious..

However,I have to congratulate you that you HAVE your happiness you seek in life....brillient.

The best things in life aren't THINGS...??? hee hee, hm...I don't think I agree with this notion/idea.
I tend to quantify things in terms of their value/satisfication to me functionally or mentally ,which means,for example, a coffee maker worths higher than a bally bag tossed in my chair(oh,no,it is more expensive than that stupid bag,what am I saying?)...fine, a Siemens phone contributes more than my hand-made shoes, or a USD30,000 chandlier worths only USD450 to me.

so you see, each thing has its contribution/unique value to some people or some individuals,but it depends how you see/put price on it.(quantification)

Thus, from your life experience , I sincerely wish you were happy to the top.
and hope you have already taken care of...."what now?"...know what I mean?
For life is a consecutive process,it won't rest or stop after a project ended.
So,keep on being positive and happy,and easssssssssssssy.

B.RGDS
Trevor

Amazing story! I didn't think people like this actually exist in real life. I wish you all the best, but then again, it seems you already have it :-)

Enhorabuena por tu valentia. Un fuerte abrazo desde España y muchas gracias.

Well done, good and faithful servant! You are living testimony that serenity comes with detachment. Bravo!

Derek,

I remember when I came across CD Baby, it just struck me as "This has been set up by a simple guy who has a love of music and wants to help others"...........It allowed me to hear music like McKrells etc i would never have otherwise! I'm soooooo chuffed at what you have "Donated" to life etc. TY for restoring my faith in life. What an example to others. Good luck & Best wishes, BJS

I am floored.

You are a hero.

orale! que padre hacer algo como lo que hiciste, se requiere mucho valor entre otras cosas, y que mejor que se quede en algo que te guste, y en el cual estamos relacionados de alguna forma como es la música felicidades desde México..

No good deed goes unpunished.

Or something like that.

I had breakfast this morning with an old friend and the shape of our conversation was about your intentions and the decisions you've made in business and beyond, though I did not know it at the time. I had not received your eMail or read your clearly written explanation until this very moment. This experience will no doubt increase our breakfast epiphany index. Looking forward, R. A.

VERY COOL!! NEED A NEW BUSINESS PARTNER??!! LOL! THE SAME WAY I FELT WHEN I SOLD MY HEALTH FOOD BUSINESS. GOT INTO VINTAGE GUITARS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, NOW LOOKING FOR MY NEXT ADVENTURE!!

BONNE CHANCE MY FRIEND!!

BRAD

Best wishes! I think it is great that you have found what truely makes you happy and had the courage to go for it!

Derek,
Got your email today, based on one purchase from CD Baby.
Great story. Best of luck.

Derek, if there were even a dozen more people in the world with the heart and philosophy of life you display, we would all be living in a much better place. Talk about having your priorities firmly established!

Blessings!

Derek, if there were even a dozen more people in the world with the heart and philosophy of life you display, we would all be living in a much better place. Talk about having your priorities firmly established!

Blessings!

Derek, if there were even a dozen more people in the world with the heart and philosophy of life you display, we would all be living in a much better place. Talk about having your priorities firmly established!

Blessings!

I'm not sure some of these people would've been impressed unless you gave your money to them directly. I think you've been very wise. Good job. -Charlotte

Really amazing story, and sincerely touching to read. I love that you do get it. I would say bless you, but I think you already know that you (like the rest of us) are so very blessed already. Thanks for sharing :-)

great story derek, im glad your happy sounds like you know what you wanr out of life and that is the most important thing, money cant buy happiness good luck to you mike seeley keep in touch

My hat comes off to you.
A true example of a champion.

Derek...you made my day...!!! seriously...All the best of luck to you....

Wow! Amazing!I just had a lightbulb moment.Thank you very much,for sharing this with us. I dont have a company, but I can give in other ways...and I will. You are right, I just want to be comfortable. And I can do that for others as well.THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

In a world where the ideal of putting others before you seems to have gone to one side with an ever growing sense of 'me', reading this makes me happy too, and makes me glad that I chose to get stuff from CD Baby instead of some other company. May karma continue to shine on you and may happiness always be with you.

Dear Derek:
Usually I visit CD Baby to window shop and of course I usually listen to the CD's I bought there.
I think your selling CDBaby is a sign of a profound change in your life and by what you point out in your e-mail, a positive change.
That there may be more meaning to life than feeling good about yourself.
Of course, I congratulate you for how "daring" you've been, according to modern times where everything has a different meaning: nothing should be enough .....
Finally, thank you for sharing something so personal with us and of course it would be good for us to stay in touch.
A hug.

Ok. I admit I was cynical when I first read the story because you do get the $1.1 million and you can do a lot of complicated living on that income. I did give you credit for being smart enough and lucky enough to make the $22 million in the first place. Then I thought about my _daydreams_ if I got lucky enough (I'm not motivated nor gifted enough to make that kind of money) to make several million. Honestly, I'd be helping my family, and then my favorite charities. So realistically and honestly, you did a smart thing. You get income that is comfortable and then some. You help your favorite charity. You still pay taxes (we all need government to some extent--if only to protect our investments). This is really a win-win-win-win. I'm almost embarrassed to have been cynical. Music has a special place for me because I have no talent in that activity either (mine appears to be in science and history in case you're wondering). I depend upon others to make music for me to enjoy. So your charity is great. And, in my opinion, teaching is one of the most undervalued activities in human experience. So again, good plan. But here's my challenge: don't stop here. You've got talent and resources in abundance still. Keep helping make the music (if that's what drives you) or find another passion too. Make more people think like you do. Just don't stop and rest on your laurels.

Derek:
I was just speaking with a co-worker today about simplifying my life. This was my most inspirational read of the day. Way to go !!!!!!!

Blessings.

An amazing and impressive act. Thank for the inspiring article.

now i know why! bless your heart!

Sometimes the simpler life is the more fulfilling it becomes. Thanks for remembering those that you have come into contact with throughout the years.

Derek, I too got your email today, and am so glad I did. What a stunning act of courage and generosity. I won't ever forget it.

Wow... even when you start CD baby, it already give me a thumbs up. Your site (IMHO) did great helping other musician to grew further. But what you did (after I read it) is not only helping fellow musician but also inspired the non-musician as well (just like me).

It is very true : "The best things in life aren't things". It is the heart for caring others that what makes life is more meaningful

Good Luck Derek !!

Good Show!! Too bad we couldn't do something about the Wars!!! Keep in touch!LOL!

Brian's Dad

Hmmmmm... on the one hand I'm grateful that there are still folks like you who get what's really important. On the other hand I'm concerned that the company I love so well (along with Alligator Records) has been purchased by yet another group of heartless, lifeless Wall St. bean-counters. Cudos to you and your joy, and thankyou for your joy in creating CD Baby!!! Kris Rosvold 541-480-8981

WOW! How wonderful is this. It makes me so happy to see you able to live your dream, I can only hop it inspires so many others.
Thanks for it all and thanks for sharing..

Nicely done.

You are the man. I hope that one day, i will be brave enough to do something this awesome with money.

You have paved the way my man!

Hope you are diggin' your travels!

Much respect and love

-PhotoFM

Honest, compasssionate and intelligent.
Derek, thank you for your efforts in making our music community a better place.

Simply outstanding.

Many thanks from present and future musicians and lovers of music everywhere.

Congratulations!

I've always been a big supporter of music education. Good on you and thanks!

Derek: Great story. When someone wants to see the footprints, well there they are. Not just talk, but has walked the walk and the talk.
Walter

Derek,
That is a wonderful thing that you did for music education and children everywhere. I work in a school that focus on performing arts and music is a big part of that.
Thank you for being so generous.
Joanne

You make me wish I was a better person, more like you. Thank you for remembering me, you made me feel someone cares about just me. Thank you, your email was sent on a very bad day for me and made me feel that I do have someone that cares, even though we have never met.

a moving story, made me reassess my life

Thank you very much for sharing this.
This is touching and I admire your philosophy.
Music nowadays needs people like you!!!

Hallo Derek, welch ein Schritt! Ich habe Hochachtung vor solch einer Entscheidung und wünsche Dir, der Stiftung und auch CDbaby, das ich als Kondensationspunkt für interessante neue oder auch nicht so neue Independent-Musiker schätze, alles erdenklich Gute. Wir sehen uns!

good job, you are the best

A true minimalist, good going Derek. This makes me proud to be human again.

Well. That's quite profound. It's GREAT, in the classical sense.

I had no idea. I just bought some cool CDs a while ago.

Thanks.

I too would like to abandon the struggle, but the urge keep a roof over my head is quite overwhelming.

Good luck.

wow!
i love you for that.
really.

big big HUG.
irina

Derek,
If only the rest of the world could live by your philosophy.Your actions are very inspiring.

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.
Henry David Thoreau

I must find the courage to go where you have gone.

Awesome job!

A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.
Mohandas Gandhi

Thanks! Things will get better!

Dans notre monde qui se veut compétitif,perfectionniste,matérialiste, il est toujours rassurant de rencontrer des humains à part entière. Mon bonheur m'appartient, il me revient de le fabriquer non pas à la mesure de ce que je possède mais à la mesure de ce que je suis. Merci pour le cadeau que vous me faites en me rassurant sur l'essentiel (soit le coeur et l'âme). Merci et bonne route sur la ''mélodie du bonheur''.

Meister Eckhart says: "lassen."

What blesses one blesses all comes to mind these days more and more. Thank you very much for sharing this wonderful action and idea.

Peace and love, KURT

I'm like wow! All I can think of is "Sweeeeet!"

I'm not surprise about your decision and I only say : BRAVO
Long life to you

You did just what Jesus would do.Thanks for the update best wishes.

You did just what Jesus would do.Thanks for the update best wishes.

Here Here!!!!!
If more people would get it, this seemingly endless streak of misery the world is living in would come to and end. Some days I'm pretty feed up with humanity and then I stumble across an individual like you that gives me hope so I hang on and continue the ride.

The world needs more people like you. You are an inspiration. Thank you.

Ein toller Schritt und eine grossartige Erkenntnis. Besonders die Schaffung einer Musikstiftung mit dem Schwerpunkt der Ausbildungsförderung finde ich als passionierter Berufsmusiker natürlich besonders schön! Denn was wir immer vergessen ist, das es ohne geförderte Musikausbildung auch keine gebildete Zuhörerschaft geben wird.
Gratulation noch einmal!

Thank you for the funny comments while you were with cd baby I truly enjoyed your spirit and now I see that it was not a fluke but a wonderful attribute. You offer such a simple joy that I must admit I often lose sight of - "enough". I have in the past and will again offer my extras to charity as I do know how wonderful I feel when I reach out even just a bit. Thankyou for your reminder.
Be Safe Be Strong

Wow, my sister just sent this to me and I would love to share it online on my facebook page. Would that be acceptable?

Thank you for a wonderful reminder.

Outstanding and inspirational

What you wrote has left me speechless. I've never had a lot so don't have a clue what a burden that might be. To be able to ease your burden while your efforts are still working to make life better for others must be a wonderful pleasure. I wish you the best in your new endeavors. Now I want to go and find out what those are.

Sos un genio...
no sabia lo de la venta de cdbaby, pero ahora me da gusto que lo hallas hecho de esa forma..
saludos.

Hi all, I feel two ways about your story, 1st, I like what you did and your thinking on it-but, 2nd-I feel it would be nice to have a business owner such as yourself that people can do business with, if that makes sense. we all need a certain amount of (stuff) and it's nice to know you're buying from a person or company that has values instead of some corporation that is giving no return to the public in some way and/or spreading it's own message to better the world-at least to those who may care. Hope I made some sense out of what I'm trying to say.

So ture many people do not realize the tax we get zapped with when we sell something that was worked so hard on and the government take a huge chuck and leaves little left for the hard work put in.Also to give to education is super and music is great because in many schools this artform has been dropped for more profitable forms such as football and such. Were is the art going to go but downhill if not kept alive by ambiscious peolple such as yourself thanks so much from one educator to another cheers and long live music and dance Layla

Hi Derek;
You don't know me, I don't know you, and yet you took the time( however much ) to send this e-mail, thank you.
It is inspiring to find people who are making the effort to find the truth, or a truth, about themselves.
I commend you for your courage to take action on what your heart is telling you. If you keep going in this direction , you will never go far astray.

Yours;

Chris Marvin

Hi Derek,

I found your email enlightening and somewhat uplifting so much so you have made me think about Bible Jesus and LAZARUS.

Obviously you have seen the light,

Good luck to the future

SOOO ADMIRABLE!!
Money isn't everything and Everything isn't money.

Derek, what a wonderful way of simplifying your life and still enjoy peace of mine. Thanks for all of your help in the past. Let's try to keep in contact. May God bless and keep you.

Peace to you.
*
Jim

$1.1M to live on each year is a kind of simple I could get into.

But, good for you anyway. CD Baby was a great invention.

inspiring!

Well, Derek,
this is a heck of a story, let me tell ya. What you did is absolutely remarkable and should be taken as an example for the whole world.
Thank you for letting me know, it really enlightened my heart...
Alessandro

cheers bras

Great story but i do have one question: I'm an up and coming musician... how do i get my hands on some of the $22M? ;)

Your story is fantastic!

Your business strategy is brilliant!

All the good that you have done for the music community speaks great volumes about the kind of nice person that you are!

Thank you!

Derek,
Thank you for your kind words and great energies. I wish the world had more people like you in it.

You are an extraordinary man, Derek!

Derek,
I bet you never could have imagined that making the decision to invest in the greater good of many would come under such controversy and scrutiny. Regardless of what anyone says you surely are a beacon of hope during these times of corporate greed and self serving behaviors. The world needs more people with your values and humanity. I think instead of criticizing you the doubters should aspire to learn from you and find ways to improve the world by one action at a time. Be well my friend and enjoy your life!

All the best to you, brother! I plan to support you in any way I can....giving is living!

You made the best choice!

great, Derek!

No surprise that the guy who had the fantastic foresight to set up CDBaby, which serves musicians as no one else has ever been able to do in such an earnest and sustainable way, would put his insight and intelligence into what to do with it & to do it RIGHT, as you have.
Nota Bené; Every positive email is a blessing that comes back to you. You have generated not only the ultimate...the respect and trust of every independent musician on the planet, but also our blessings. Maybe you should change your name to Guru Eric! Love ya, baby. You ARE the best.

Maravillosa historia y ejemplar decisión. Muchas felicidades.

Thanks for doing this "for the music," Derek. I only regret I didn't buy more tunes from CD Baby back when. Good luck with the new ventures.

People like you make the world a better place, very cool what you have done for schools, its nice to see you have a genuine happiness for simple needs too.
To the person who said you are still rich and make a mockery out of God...I would respectfully tell them to shut up lol.
There are 2 things that cause wars, one is money, the other religion....some people will not be happy unless you give up everything and live like a caveman... the hypocrites sit back condeming you from their laptops in their homes with electricity...because you kept a small percentage LOL oh man...
Anyhow ty for what you do for our children!!!!!!
Loraine

I remember a wonderful email from CD Baby. I saved for months and showed it to so many people. As recently as six months ago, I found it again and showed it to some more people.

Well done on what you created there.

I am filled with admiration for what you did with your company, the decisions you made, your clarity about what you need, and don't need.

Kind regards

Donal

Bravo!!!

fascinating...

Derek, thank you for sharing your story. You are clearly an old soul and the source of much inspiration. If I'm not mistaken, there's a line from a song that is sung by Sheryl Crow that (paraphrased) says "it's not having what you want but wanting what you have". Music is a universal language. May we all become fluent!

Great post Derek! I had heard you sold CD Baby to Discmakers - but it's interesting to hear your philosophy, and what you did with the gain of the sale.

i must say that i think that that is amazing and inspiring. it seems to have been a well thought out plan. i wish you success and peace in your heart which i feel you already have. Congradualtions! very few of us have that.

Thanks for being a very inspiring example Derek!

This is impressive. Thanks.

Derek, that was a joy to read, and a speck of bright hope for us humans.

Like others, got an email from you recently because I'd bought an album on CD Baby and clicked the link to read this story. And that made me want to say that it is one of the smartest bleeding things I've read in a good, long while. Top notch thinking and acting.

Derek,
I probably would never be able to do what you did, but it is inspirational to know there are still people like you with pure hearts in this self-centered world. Thanks for giving us perspective and hope.
Kurt

That is so cool! Such a contrast to the greedy MFs that have managed to reduce music education. May you live long and happy!

Extraordinary and inspiring, Derek. Wow, you have been blessed; not in your success, that was fueled by a passion, hardwork and a little bit of luck, but blessed in the clarity with which you see things, and being able to distill it down to the the things that matter to you, that make you happy. And on top of that, what makes you happy is sharing with others. Be well, and God Bless.

Very cool! More power to you.

Good to know you know your purpose in life.....U are one of a kind on this earth, and i'm glad to have met someone like you...God bless you

Yes. Wish you could see the smile on my face, I get it and always have. Glad to hear that someone else does also. Now if there were just a whole bunch more of us, and we lived in the same community......

Who we are lasts for only mere seconds in the vast sense of time and space.... What we do with our moment in time on the planet (how we add value to humanity) is what matters. We take with us only the love we have given and the love we have received.
LIVE TO INSPIRE!

I want to be like you when I grow up :)

I have been traveling for the past 4 years, and for the last year, I have been supporting myself with passive income selling my friend adder software. Often times, my clients ask... why don't you have an affiliate program? Why don't you do X? you could make millions! I get this and offers from people with big ideas and a lust for more money. I know when I've had enough, but a lot of people can't seem to see that.

So I'm 100% with you on this. I have no car, no house, and no monthly payments to anyone. I have a loving family, a wonderful girlfriend who travels with me, enough money to sleep/eat/enjoy/travel and all the time in the world to fulfill whatever it is that my heart desires. I often said that if my software becomes "big" that I will give what I don't need to charity. It's hard to say things like that when surrounded by materialists, but you have given me hope that there are others in the world who value love and experience over money.

I dig it. A little over three years ago I went totally insane, quit a lucrative IT career of 20+ years and started a dinky little creative services company to help artists with small creative project budgets turn their works into marketable product. As luck would have it, the world-wide "economic upheaval" began the same year I decided to go insane. Life immediately became an exercise in extreme frugality to keep the company going and still provide quality, affordable service to artists without pillaging their own strained budgets.

I've never been happier. 90% of the work I've done on such projects has been performed on a laptop, using electricity from solar and wind power generators here at the home/office. Only 10% has been on-the-road, on-site work using juice surging from the national power grid.

With no excess income for junk food, fancy transportation or other frivolous "excesses", life is distinctly healthier and more enjoyable all around.

I've worked in public service ever since college. After a trip to Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil... my quest for simplicity took over my life.

I'm even more motivated now by reading your decision to sell CD Baby. I also have enjoyed all the comments of the masses you inspired.

Thanks for sharing.

Way to look at what matters and what doesn't!

You have clearly learned what I am just becoming aware of, and the truth of your ideas are self evident. Thanks for providing me with help in my quest to divest. We truly are only free when we free ourselves.
My best to you. Thanks for your gift to us all.

Very cool Derek,

Derek, you are living by exemplifying that Kindness precedes all virtue. Success isn't enough for you, as you are keenly interested in benefiting others, enriching their lives.
We hope you will be in So.CA, during your travels. We are selling a good, peaceful property here - country in the city. Keep on going and do it again. You carry a rich, unusual brotherhood toward all, wherever you go (and stay!)"Whatever you put into the lives of others comes back into your own." You live the belief that "There is a Destiny that makes us brothers..none goes his way alone." If you visit our area, I will quickly find the author's name!

Thanks for sharing, Derek. That's awesome! Way to put things into perspective.

Derek,

I was so inspired and proud of you for your decisions. I miss Cd Baby and the great messages I use to get every now and then, but, now I understand why. I wish you so much luck in the future in whatever may come your way. Truly an inspiring story for a music lover and for the music organization! Thanks, Sandy

Awesome story!

Simplicity is the key and virtue is the essence - Lovely Derek!

amazing. I totally love this reality. you gave so much, but you are forever rewarded in your heart. what an awesome way to bless others.

very inspiring, thanks Derek.

I understand completely. My wife and I have just enough to be happy. It's a paradigm shift in thinking knowing you're free of financial burden. I have no anxiety about losing my job or being out of work for a while. It's almost like being a kid, no responsibility to worry about. :) Spending my life collecting stuff in order to fit in just isn't for me.

Congratulations Derek on sharing your positive practices of being in Divine Flow with The Universe. I applaud you! For all that you give in Life and to the Musicians Trust, you receive greater rewards and uplifting Life Experiences!

Wow, Derek, I love all you shared. You're awesome!

Truly, a great story, you are a MAN who will reap the benefits you desire!!

Thanks so much for your generosity ... to music education and in sharing your story!

Amazing action and thought! People like you don´t grow everywhere! Wish you the best in life, with much more music, and good friends!

Thanks for sharing! Anna

This is exactly what I needed to read to start my day...and a new journey in life.

Having "enough" is what I already have for a while, but now I don't feel awkward anymore. I will be able to talk and behave like someone who has "enough", not caring about people laughing at me.

Thank you Derek.

With all the greed,excess and surplus in this part of the world, enough is good.
"Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have..." Hebrews 13:5

Most of us would have enough with an annual income of $1.1MM without lifting a finger:-)

Percentage-wise you've outdone Gates and Buffett. Way to go!

Hi Derek,
Great results. You've succeeded and are passing it forward. Liked the TED talks, too.

Wow & thank you for sharing your story Derek.

It made me really stop & think about all the things that I thought I needed to be happy!!!

Derek,
I admire your decision. Even though you're not retiring to a shack in the woods, you are still keeping up with the spirit of Thoreau when he "simply" wrote "simplify, simplify, simplify." This sentiment has echoed throughout time by Plato, Francis of Assisi, Ghandi, Thomas Merton, etc. Unnecessary possessions do have a way of dragging us down. Derek, you're an inspiration to all of us!

Derek, The world will never forget you. Music makes the world go round.

So wonderfully inspiring. You are a brilliant soul, inside and out, Derek. What a lucky group we are (as musicians and fellow human beings) to have you in our midst! You leave me thinking of things I can do myself, in terms of time, energy and focus.... and keepin' things simple. Thank you.

nice very nice

You are amazing...It's nice to know that are are people like you out there in this world!

I'm just learning about all the good things Derek has done and is doing. What an inspiration!

oh man i knew i loved you way back when i first met you! way to go--this is such an inspiration!!!

xo

Derek thank you so much for your inspirational words. Now that I know what CD BABY is all about, all my next CD's should go to your company because it has a great cause. I am also trying to build my company Fely Productions as an independent distributor specialized in African music, I am learning allot from you, and I would need you help. God bless you!

I give thanx for the good example you´ve set...best wishes for your projects.
:D

I think it's really sad that you thought the only options were keeping the money to buy extra cars/houses or giving the money away. That sounds like entitled upper class bubble back patting. If you kept the money you could have bought thousands of people health insurance, shelter, or food. There are starving, homeless, orphaned people in every city of the US, you dont have to go far to find a different way to spend 22m if you dont want to buy mansions and cars. Depressing article.

I've been realizing more and more how I'm far too attached to 'stuff'. It's been this way for a long time. It's so rediculous how much stuff I have that I don't even use. It'll take time, but I look forward to finding more in Jesus Christ than I could in anyone or anything else and having less stuff, placing less importance on the stuff I do have. Bless you for being a wise steward.

To put a little perspective on this, Larry Ellison (who is probably as close to the diametrically opposite of Derek as is possible) is worth (in VERY round numbers) about $25,000,000,000, which is about 1000 times the amount of money that Derek made ($22,000,000) on CD Baby.

If Larry actually ever considered what HE "really" needs to live, and lets assume that his needs are say, 100x as great as Derek's (to be sure, Larry probably needs a lot more cars, jets and yachts than Derek does to "survive", not to mention homes in Silicon Valley, Europe, Lake Tahoe and who knows where else, because a single reasonable apartment, or heaven forbid, even a single large mansion AND one vacation home is assuredly not sufficient), if he took $2.5 billion (1/10 of his net worth), put it into a charitable trust, and then gave himself 5% of the assets a year, what would he get? He would get $125,000,000 a year, even after taxes that would be about $67,000,000 a year.

That would mean that EACH YEAR, if he actually CHOSE to live like Derek, he could create three more charitable trusts, each equal to Derek's ($66,000,000) and still leave himself $1,000,000 a year to live on (and that is AFTER taxes).

And he would still have 90% of his original net worth left to do something else with.

I mean really, when I hear the nonsense about how it is "wrong to tax the rich more than the middle class" I have to stop a moment to keep from wretching.

Really, how much IS "enough" and how much is WAY WAY WAY "too much"?

There indeed are people who have WAY too much, and ought to think about spreading it around.

Derek, you should be considered a hero. I always wondered what I would do if a software product of mine had hit a "home run" (and I had several chances at bat, sigh), but I know that I would have done almost exactly as you have done. My charity would have been theater (also the arts) but it could be science or humanitarian aid in Africa or whatever, as long as you do something to give back to the rest of the world for your good fortune, and keep enough to be comfortable, you would be one of the true great people in our world.

Even if you choose to be extravagant yourself, how much extravagance do you need? Does ANYONE think that $50,000,000 a year would be sufficient? Even at that level, Ellison could still give away/distribute more than 90% of his net worth to charity and have WAY more than he could ever need to live on.

Knowing how many people in our world live in poverty, barely having enough for their next meal, his kind of extravagance is criminal, at least in my mind.

Wow! This is one of the most moving things I've read in a while.

I was particularly taken by the line "It's not that I'm altruistic. I'm sacrificing nothing." Exceptionally self-aware and humble.

Thanks for existing.

It was great to meet you and your lovely wife in Boston.

Cheers.

This story is so inspiring! It so invigorating to see that in the real world, there are people who choose a path that is slightly different than the one they are expected to take.

If someone was to tell me the story of a man who started with little and built a $22 millions company, and then gave it away to charity...well... I would think it's a modern fairy tail to prevent children from becoming greedy.

It feels now very palpable and feasible. W.O.W.

Nice ..Thanks for this ..

Your story is so inspirational. The manner in which you share your talents is spiritual. Thanks for your good works. I've learned a great deal from you.

Thanks Derek!

As I said to you in Boston: You've given me my exit.

My family is the most important thing in my life, and I have been a bit scared of making as much money as I might, because I'm sure nothing would screw my kids up as much as having too much money.

And then I look and see what has made them into the amazing humans they are: Music. Yep. And we didn't plan it - we just sent them to a school which believes in music. It just snuck up on us.

So want could be better than doing what you did, and assist more kids by giving the school more ability to make other kids' lives.

Between Dharmesh and you and Youngmee - wow. What a conference. I would have loved to meet your wife - actually, I've said to my wife we need to visit you!

Thanks heaps. I get it.

Neil

Derek,

I love this post. One thing I have realized in life is that the more I give to people, the happier I feel and the better I can sleep:)

I use this philosophy with my clients in sales. I love giving 10 times more value into people's lives than what they expect.

Your story is very inspiring. Thanks for the post Derek. Keep in touch.

I am about to go read this book called The Art of Happiness. You should pick it up when you get a chance it is an amazing book

Well this is beyond remarkable; but somehow, coming from you, Derek, it doesn't surprise me so much. Since the beginning of my association with you and CD Baby, you have been the soul of generosity. Thank you for all the help, time, information you so freely gave to all of us. Becka Brown loves you!

I never really had anything of monetary value to lose so i guess i will never miss it either :)

On the other hand i have the love of my wife and kids ,.. and as you say,.. it is for me ,..enough.

Some men are destined to live past their lifetime.
amen.

Hi Derek,

I saw your interview on TV the other day then now read your blog. I must say you are A Beautiful and Wise Example to the world. Thank you and you are so blessed to use this lifetime to bless anyone who meets you and/or meets everything you have done for musicians and education.
From my heart, Frederic

My man,

Makes sense to me ! It's your life... You have to keep yourself happy because you can't please everyone in life. For every person you have a positive impact on has got to feel good to yo soul pimp. I'm saying tho stress kills so, positive vibes and energy gotta be better for the health. I feel you we tryna live out here tho...

Hello Derek, I just wanted to say thanks. Your blogs have helped changed my life in a positive way. I am moving to abroad to teach English and do my music. I have applied many principles that you and Tim Ferris have spoke of on your respective blogs. Thanks once again for sharing your experiences with as many people as you can.

Thanks for the inspiration! I'm reading a book called 'Make Millions, Make Change' and it talks about this very philosophy. Make a bunch of money and then give it away. It's authored by founder of grassroots.org and Make Change Trust and free for anyone else who might be interested in making supporting charities near to their heart.

http://www.makemillions.com/

You are a true inspiration Derek. Your views of the world are so refreshing and are eerily similar to mine.

Then perhaps you can understand why I retired from the Rock n' Roll scene to became an ordained Gnostic Priest. Now I sing the High Mass and Litanies. It's everything being a performer isn't; it's about being the instrument not the musician, something it seems I'm much better at.

I'm happy for you, Derek, and it's a noble thing you've done.

But I wonder if a fortune like yours - and never having to work again for food or shelter - I wonder if that doesn't do more harm to person than good. I wonder if it doesn't disconnect a person from the real world.

I've seen independently wealthy people who don't work become self-absorbed and bring no day-to-day value to the world. My hope is that you are dedicating some of your energy and talent to help your community, not just your money.

That was just priceless.

I wanna be just like you! No really I admire you. So funny I should read this now. I just keep thinking I don't need anything more..I want to get rid of everything extra in my life...such a strange feeling! Time to be creative is what I'm always seeking and it is hard to rationalize sometimes. I just spent 2 1/2 months living out of one suitcase and I spent my time reading, writing and recording and walking in the countryside...my hope is to live the same way now that I'm back in the city. I will look to you for inspiration Derek you are becoming a mentor to me as I learn more about you. Thank you for sharing and please don't stop sharing your thoughts. Blessings, Tawny

Just want to thank you for sharing your thoughts, tip/suggestion & advices.

kindest regards
Ali

Wow, man good for you! Really positive and inspiring story. The more you own, the more it owns you...

I love what you've done with your money. I'm currently spending down
savings at a rate that will run me out of money in the foreseeable future. Your continuing service to musicians like myself is obviously a deep mission for you. I'm going to continue exploring your web presence to see what I can learn from you, which is a lot! Thanks for acting with wisdom, love and generosity...

This really warmed my heart!

You have a heart of gold. Very inspiring story. Hope this blessing caused many others.!

Incredible stuff Derek! You're an inspiration - I think if we live this way in our every day lives, even if we never become millionaires, we'll get to the point where we can live with "enough" for a long time without struggling. And that, of course -- should be enough!

I am a musician who fights like you to give to the musicians I know or who know me, much information as possible on services online!
I will also know your philosophy ....
Thank you for existing!

Saverio

This is very very inspiring. You're one of the very few people who can part with their money wholeheartedly. I can't even imagine myself doing that but I hope I do when I come to that point. May God bless you so dearly Derek. Keep up the good work.

derek,
god bless you,
you found what it means to be in the moment,
which is really all all that matters in life.
may the sun shine on you forever,

declan

Helping others is the beauty of being human! Excellent choice.

M Scott Worthington - Author
The Line In The Sand

hey love the story - just fantasizing about doing the same...

Can I ask - th 5 % you get every year - is that 5 % of 22M or 1.1M a year ?
It's 5% of the trust's current holdings. If invested wisely, the trust fund could grow over the years. If not, it will shrink. But the 5% is of its current value, yeah. (As I said, it's still “too much”, and I would have preferred less, but I just re-invest what I don't use.) — Derek

From a business point of view, a brilliant move. From a humanitarian point of view, it's beautiful.

Bravo Derek!

Ayant découvert ton blog il y a peu de temps, je dois dire que je suis impressionné par tes conseils,
quel style de vie!
merci pour tu ce que tu fais pour les indépendants:).
Greeting.

How inspiring and so very true!

Derek, you're truly one of the most exciting people to follow on the web. I can't explain how inspiring this is for me! I feel like I've stumbled upon a goldmine.

to some your choice may seem crazy in our materialistic society however I have learned recently that most often less is more and if you really want to screw something up try to make a living from it I am a musician and I love music and making music but to make a living from music can more often than not take you away from the very thing you love I hate business and all things pertaining to the business of music as it kills creativity and dumbs down the audience to the lowest common denominator we are only on this earth for a short while and though I haven't been blessed with financial success on your magnitude I have been more than blessed with a healthy and angst ridden teenager and a wife that can deal with an obsessed and often distant husband that is always trying to learn how to perfect his own muse. in short life itself is more than enough to make you happy if you take the time to remember there are no uhauls in a cemetery ..... you take what you came with .....nothing but you and that's enough

Like I said... totally "crush" worthy. lol ;)

Thank you for sharing and for SHARING - enough is enough!

Derek - best idea (& implementation) I've heard in a very long time. Deeds like this have a great trickle down effect. thanks.
cheers
Michael

God Bless You!

Derek Dear precious intelligent one...
Question: I have been told that having a fb or similar site can cause problems to my computer and files... true or false? Can you advise? Check out my new book
Anna From Prince Mountain, PublishAmerica.com, B&N, etc.

Thanks my old friend,
Anna
False. You are quite well-protected against anything harming your computer, these days. If in doubt, back up your personal files to a USB drive, then format your entire computer, re-installing the newest version of Windows/Mac operating system. Then load in your personal files back from the USB drive. — Derek

wow i just read this for the hundredth time and i still find stuff in here that speaks to me unbelievably

Thank you so much for sharing - and inspiring so many people with what you did!

Brilliant. Inspiring. Gave me goose bumps as I give up a corporate job to follow my heart! Thanks for caring enough to explain yourself.

THAT is both cool and amazing!

Thank you for this and your story.

Nicely put - refreshing indeed. What's also awesome is the wave of responses since!

Thank you for sharing your insights and your philosophies - you are truly an inspiration to us all.

Not what I expected, but wholly refreshing and equally humbling.

WOW! You are an amazing person Derek. Thank you for following your heart and not losing focus of what's important to you. I am an educator and musician, so I hear your heart. God bless you and your efforts!

An inspiration.

You blew me away with your insights and story (AppSumo videos). You're truly inspirational and your words will be with me forever... I need to work on a more minimalist and fulfilling life. In the meantime, I'm working on humanizing our site.

Rock on!

You are a great person Derek. It's not common to see those kind of people around...

Derek ! you are great!!

a site like legalzoom would never be able to get something that complex set up. And those take way to short. This is something that you want done right and you want to be sure is done right, not take 10 minutes and viola! You've got a trust! Check out

Totally Badass!

Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have. – Anon

very cool Brother!

God bless you! Happy that you are so close to the truths of leading a great life.

Hey Derek, It was good to hear from you. I didn't know you had sold CD Baby so I guess I learned something new today lol You and I are alot alike in the giving dept., the only difference is, the only thing I have to give to others is my time. :) Take care and keep doing what your doing, cause it seems to be working!

Thanks for sharing your story. You have inspired me.
I totally get your though process. Now it is time for me to execute :) You remind me of this quote:
"If you're not living on the edge, your taking up too much space" anon.

As a blogger who puts his Christian faith first, I'm once again speechless. You're the man Derek; you know what life is all about. Congratulations man, you really do get it.

Very inspirational story. It would be great if forex traders could just donate 0.1% of the money they made to charity and this world would be a better one!

Good on you for your refreshing view. Steve Jobs could have learnt a lot from your approach to life :)

What a beautiful story - I feel really inspired! If all the wealthy could only make a small contribution - it would be amazing!

I admire this story! I have read it few times and I find it inspirational and it helps me to put my own things into perspective...

Thanks for sharing it, Derek!

I respect your wishes. Ironically, I wrote a song (not finished) called, "Made Alot Of Money Then Gave It All Away." It was a fantasy song. I live in abject poverty. My life is a living hell because I have no money.

I have my songs uploaded on a 1/2 dozen sites like ReverbNation, Soundclick, etc., but the reason I'm not attracting attention has nothing to do with the songs or my talent. It's because I can't afford to re-record and master in prep for commercial release.

I lost my recording studio because of a family tragedy which then turned to hardship. Hey, no violins here. Just the facts. I don't want sympathy. I want solutions. I want out of this hell.

I have great ideas. I'm also a writer and created the Entertainment Cyberscope, a portal and blog for all things behind-the-scenes in entertainment. I can't get attention because I don't have the funds to build a showcase site.

I have a column on Technorati called "Convergence In Entertainment" and a an eBook set to publish under the same title.

Plus, I have a Masters in Liberal Studies and one of the first self-designed BS degrees in Songwriting, both from the Univ. of Minnesota.

Yet, here I am, no car, no furniture, and 2 days away from rent I don't have. They shut my electric off 2 weeks ago. Do you have any idea what it's like to live without electricity? A charity that helps with utilities managed to help get it turned back on, Thank God.

So, if I have a hard time with you giving so much money away, hopefully you can understand why.

I don't know if people like you are lucky and people like me are unlucky. I'm still wrestling with that one and the Law of Attraction.

I suspect you worked your ass off, as I have. No, I don't want the swimming pools and mansions. I want to make the world a better place. But I tell ya, there is no integrity with living in poverty.

I also believe that helping people in need is important. I get to help people everyday by sharing my gifts with those who need it. I look forward to the day when my company is large enough to be able to give even more to people who need it. Thank you for the inspiration!

Thank you so much for this article Derek! I would love to share the link, and in particular the photo summary. What a wonderful expression.

You're the Man!! A man that can find happiness in everything he dose.... God blessed you Derek.

Even more exciting than the premise of the story here is that you're happier now than you'd be perhaps if you'd squandered the money away like most Americans would.

I'll admit, I just now started Googling the crap out of your development history with CDBaby, and I own SoftwareDevelopmentForums.com (which I'd love to discuss with you).

You don't have to publish this comment, figured I'd try to get in touch in more ways than one.

Thanks so much Derek!

Derek, you are a different bread of human being... Your perspectives are truly amazing yet simple

Inspiring, and a peice of intellectuality too... great job....

I am not very rich now but surely gonna help onther with financial aids too... thanks for the post... :)

Very inspiring !

Awesome. Inspiring. Cool. Interesting. But, mainly just freakin' Awesome.

As of this date has "the trust" made ANY charitable gifts or grants to musicians?

If "yes", totalling how much?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charitable_remainder_unitrust
No, and it won't until I die. It grows and compounds while I'm alive, and is paid out in full when I die. — Derek

I liked your comment about your lucky streak Derek.

Too many successful people believe that 100% of their success is down to genius or some other personal quality.

Not many have the humility to realise that luck also plays a part. Congratulations on what you have done and the choices you have made.

I don't get the reverence.

yes I get the stuff about living with less, that's what I do too, I live off like 500x less.

you could move to Africa and put up an incentive program. great musicians to be found. contact me for better life-investment options.

I don't get the stuff about giving your fortune away. you definitely did not. it is still yours, but much safer from the government and other leeches.

should you invent you need a mansion, you can still easily get a loan based on the guarantees of your income.

so the commenters got it all wrong. like they need a hero and you gave it to them. like, man, they think you're Jesus man!

but I don't.

maybe you wished you could go farther, but this was the feasible thing to do. you know you ain't Jesus.

in the end you are a sheep in an american hurd, but double sized because of your efforts, like a shepherd. that's very commendable.

as a hurd, even sheep can be violent. the TV poachers know all about stampede mentality. they love it. so yes, you moderate that, that's what your example does. I applaud that.

but the sheep continue to get exploited. they don't want to be a stampede. your example doesn't change those fundamentals.

so enough, the word you emphasized.
you have enough, and you bought yourself some dignity. good for you.

now you can fly like an eagle, let your spirit carry you.. you want to fly like an eagle..
sugar baby..

but you're still heavy.
not light enough.
not light, not enough.

the reverence coming your way, answer it.
live with less.
enlighten me

Thank you for sharing this, Derek. How inspirational! I think we can all learn how to have "enough". I know that I have lately started thinking about the difference between "wanting" something and "needing" something. I have a long way to go, but your story has helped me gain new perspective, and for that I thank you.

Nice Story.

Derek you are amazing the way you gave the money from the company and set up the trust. You are a genius not only for music but for business as well.

Happiness without to much means everything and your view on Airline tickets etc is great.

Continue your quest of happiness so all those around you can shine like you do
Happiness Always
Ken Davis (Sydney Australia)

Wow, you're an inspiration! This is a great lesson, you don't need to have a lot of things to be happy. I hope I can learn to think the same way.

Derek,

There are no words. Just love. Thank you.

This is very uplifting and many people should follow in your footsteps.

You have to respect the leadership demonstrated in such an uncommon way of looking at the material world.

Why on earth wait until you die for that money to be put to good use and making a change in an area you're passionate about???? That's crazy. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have both specifically mandated that their money be given away NOW and on a somewhat speedy timeline because they want it to be doing good in the world NOW, not just sitting in some endowment.

So why not take whatever chunk of the money that you want for yourself to live on and then start using the rest of the fund for musical purposes? Seems insane to have it all just sitting there kicking off interest for decades to come.
I am doing good in the world now. When I'm dead, my life savings will do the work for me. — Derek

This is inspiring stuff Derek, thank you for these powerful thoughts i think it helps me know my path to happiness. you will hear from me in the future.

p.s: I have read what some people have written to you and abt you, I always seen this as a common denominator that people want to tell you what you should do, when they themselves are struggling with their daily lives. Amen.

The same beginning the same end, play the game of life inbetween you enjoy best! By the way I fully agree with your notion of 'having less giving more happiness' and to be able to 'live anywhere you like.' I did not have the foresight at your age and I could not extract myself from family. Now a bit deficient in both health and money, though still comparatively happy.

:) Fun how life connects us all...my sister gave me The 4 Hour Work Week to read, I haven't completed it yet but have enough interest to keep up with Tim's blog and today it brought me to this page. I very much admire where you are in your life & look forward to finding that peace myself...growing everyday!
Lynn ;)
"There are always beautiful flowers for those who choose to see them."

You are so inspiring! I think it takes a lot of guts in this world to live based on the laws of truth, rather than what we are taught our whole lives will make us happy. I am so glad I read this!

Yes. Enough is what I have. For many years I had barely enough. Being an actor with seven children, making it month by month, show by show, somehow, I always had enough.
There's an old story: A little old lady goes up to the window to buy a bus ticket from Nashville to Memphis... She places a jar on the counter, containing pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters.
"The price of the ticket is eight dollars and fifty-two cents."
"There it is, sir. Count it."
The man grumbles, but counts every last cent.
"That's it isn't it!?!"
"Yes, but just barely."

That's the best use of money... To invest money to impact other peoples lives...

Derek, thank you for sharing your wisdom. I've been a musician my whole life and I am now totally seeing why music and entrepreneurship go so well together. I sold my first Cd on Cdbaby in 2009 not knowing who was the mastermind behind the concept. And that's what this is all about: concepts. Apply the concept and see what happens. Thanks again.
Andrew

WOW, you do not meet many who will do what you did.

Derek, you rock man!
You really made me re-think my life and priorities.
Nothing makes one happier than Knowing he has enough...

You're an eye opener and a genuine inspiration, thanks much.... and long Live Music, its education, benefits, power and how it connects us.... I tip my hat bro : )

Awesome! Derek,

I came to know about this from Tim Ferriss blog. You are really awesome and I really like your thoughts. I am inspired. Thanks!

I've read and re-read this story so many times and it's still every bit as meaningful to me. One of the wisest posts one could hope to find.

That's awesome Derek. The world future looks brighter with people like you in it. Great idea with opening a trust by the way. The less money Uncle Sam gets his dirty little hands on the better.

Peace,
Justin

Dear Mr. Derek,

It feels like the greatest relief I could ever have when reading your blog posts. And until this post, you make a huge impression on me. I am working for a multimillionaire, and that lady thinks it is her money keep us alive, so she does and says whatever she wants to all of us. I wish you both could meet one day, and if that day happened, please help me give her a lesson about ENOUGH.

God bless you and your family and friends.

Hi Derek, this is absolutely inspirational. Not many can share your sentiments so affectionately and mean what you say, that's only my opinion! Helping people who need that help is one 'call of duty' that everybody should get involved in. I salute you!

Some great food for thought here.

There's no downside to this - everyone benefits.


Thanks Derek

I admire your decision. Even though you're not retiring to a shack in the woods, you are still keeping up with the spirit of Thoreau when he "simply" wrote "simplify, simplify, simplify." This sentiment has echoed throughout time by Plato, Francis of Assisi, Ghandi, Thomas Merton, etc. Unnecessary possessions do have a way of dragging us down. Derek, you're an inspiration to all of us!

Brother, I wish you that your "enough" will lower and lower as much as possible and this will bring you more and more happyness!

It wasn't until I had children that I could fully understand your thought process. Something changes inside you. I only hope that I, one day, can achieve the same.

Awesome! Thanks

“Yes, but I have something he'll never have: enough.”

That's genious. What a great quote.
Yeah. I love it. I think of it often. Comes into play in daily life, too, not just huge extreme situations. — Derek

Thank you on behalf of every musician who struggles every day with the dilemma of continuing to have (or try) for a career in the art form that so ensnares us. Good music nourishes and protects the soul it gives solace and comfort to those who need it and it is more than synchronicity that the perfect piece of music appears at exactly the right time when it is needed to heal or empower the wounded listener.

Derek, kudos for the love you offer yourself and gratitude from the rest of us who benefit from your engineering and wisdom.

Nice problem to have - glad to see you picked the right path!

This is a great story and very inspiring!
Thanks for sharing

This was an absolute blessing to read. What you did was awesome and very honorable. I feel very inspired to try and follow your model.

Wow! That's truly amazing Derek. You really are going full circle on us now. Great job & of course keep creating!

Wow! That really is an inspiring look on life and what's truly valuable. I think I am not alone when I say I don't know too many people who would have done what you have- very commendable.

Derek...you simply rock. And are a great role model for people like myself who are still trying to figure out the values, etc., of life. Thanks...for ALL you do and for who you are.

Thank you.

No cravings and the ignorance of wisdom are the most difficult for most.
Past must have served you very well that little was attached to your present.
More great would come...

Thank you.

Wow, this story truly touched my heart. It is great to hear of people do something so selfless. I admire you for giving your company to charity. You will have great karma for the rest of your life! Thanks for sharing your story!

If I wasn't happily married I would propose.
LOVE
Linda

very inspirational! thanks for posting

Thanks for giving me the inspiration that that hope that there are still people out there they don't need "the stuff" and value more things than that!

This will change my life.

THANK YOU!

Thanks for sharing. Love the whole concept.

Wow

My Dearest Derek,

Thank you so much for posting this! I love that you did what you did with giving away your business. I think sharing your perspective and mindset is excellent for the younger generations to read - with all the reality TV shows portraying all of these people living "the life" with the glitz, glam, and spending need to hear from a real person who has achieved wealth and financial security with this thought process and reasoning. In otherwords, to have someone who has already made it speaking out about what truly makes one happy in spite of having all this money and the burdens and responsibilities that come with it. People aspire to have all this wealth, but don't think about what comes with having all this wealth or how they would handle it or what would make them most happy. I think it's really important that you shared your reasons for giving your company away to charity, and my prayer is that everyone who reads this will be inspiread to evaluate their own life and what really makes them truly happy.

You kick ass.

What a tremendous example you are setting for business people regarding both your approach to how redefine wealth, and your tremendous good karma coming through the charitable move of funding music opportunities for people who are alive already and some for those yet to be born.

Awesome.

Peace be unto you.


Carson D. Kelly

Mr Sivers! wow. What a wonderful story! We can all learn a lot from this eh? Most heartwarming, inspiring and smile-making! :) Brilliant! Do you have other music centric ventures in the proverbial pipeline Derek? All good energy to you Sir! Bless You!

Derek,

This is one of the most inspiring and coolest things I have read in a while. I knew about it long ago but reading the "why" part is awesome. I can truly say I wouldn't have much use for 20+ million dollars either but I still doubt I could part with all or most of it. Guess I'll have to find out :P

Hi Derek-

I am a recording artist, and music teacher. You could google me and find a songwriter multi instrumentalist whos played with a lot of bands whovesold a lot of records, lately Im trying to be more of an original artist, and started a musicscool I call Music'scool ( "because it is!").

I am a pro musician, never had a lesson, am self taught, but started teaching after seeing "School Of Rock", and being assured the parents of Santa Cruz, Ca. didnt care if i could read, or had a degree.

My first scholarship student was James Durbin, a fantastic young singer who has aspergers/ tourette syndrome,I got him going playing keys and guitar, and started a student band to showcase him, later had him guest with The White album Ensemble, my Beatles band. He got standing ovations everytime he opened his mouth, then he went on to 2011 American idol. here is a video I made of a song I wrote, about the things you speak of, what matters, and what you can "take with you"- with James singing, featuring a bunch of students and teachers at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFQ249wOfYA

I still have Musicscool, and have 2 autistic kids who are doing great, even a down syndrome girl who plays piano! i am always broke and need help to expand. If this reaches you, and you havent spent your money in the 4 years since you wrote it, please consider this as a positive outlet!

Peace-
Dale Ockerman
http://www.facebook.com/musicscool
http://www.whitealbumlive.com

HELLO; I AM WRITTING TO SAY THANK YOU AND THIS IS THE MOST TOUCHING STORY I HAVE READ LATELY...IT IS FILLED WITH SELFLESS SERVICE AND SENSE I AM A GOSPEL ARTIST THAT USE DISKMAKERS AND CDBABY IT IS GREAT TO HEAR OF THE HISTORY...I WANT TO AGAIN SAY THANKS FOR BEING SELFLESS AND THINKING OF OTHERS FOR LIFE! GOD BLESS AND MAY YOU FOREVER HAVE HAPPINESS ON EARTH. PEACE

That's pretty cool. I don't know if I could ever do that, but I've got a lot of respect for you even though I don't know you personally.

Currently, I'm looking for a business or "job" I can do from anywhere in the world. I'm also trying to rid myself of as many possessions as I can so I can travel light.

I really struggled to get out what I wanted to say, my son said "live in the moment, not for it' a phrase which I remember every moment of everyday, when we work with the young people we do.

I believe, life is just...life, but living is being true to who you are.

People who think of other before themselves, generally have a reason for doing so, like us; people say 'they don't know how we do it', it's easy for us, we have no where else to be, nothing in our life is important; and so making a difference to others allows us for some time to 'live'

The real heroes are the people who do it voluntarily, those who give their time, advice, experience or whatever...for no reason other than 'they want to help, real people making a real difference'.

These people, are truly inspiring, their huge hearts making the difference in people's lives.

They don't have to...they just do...those people...like you...those people are the real heroes.

Ian & Dawn McManus
'Live in the moment'

Thank you for writing this beautiful inspiring article that will inspire people and maybe help them discover what it is that can truly bring happiness.

This was a well-expressed piece, thank you so much for writing it. I've been browsing your site this evening and it's helping me find my way (or think about finding my way). I've always been a proponent of getting out of one's comfort zone, but right now I feel like I can't find the right door. Or maybe I'm afraid to open one or just impatient. Whatever the next step is I hope to be half as centered as you are now. Thanks again for putting your thoughts down for the benefit of others.

-Adam

Your video caught my attention; I also believe "leadership" is almost idolized in our society. I once read somewhere if you want to be a leader find a parade and jump out in front. :)

Dear Derek,

Someone very kind shared your free PDF with me today while I was in the pursuit of learning how to build a more successful business. While not in the music industry, the concepts I learned are so simple and so relevant that I have already implemented some ideas, with the first 27 pages having helped me to clarify who my client base actually is...and whilst it is a very small niche market THAT is exactly who I want. So thank you for sharing. And thank you for presenting it in a way that is digestible, non-confronting and so user friendly.

Then I read this post about why you gave your company to Charity and I am so moved and even more thankful to have found you. I have a constant struggle with wanting to be successful (and what that means to me) and the inner voice telling me the best things in life aren’t things. This post reminds me that simplicity is the key and to be grateful for all that I have and the Freedom this brings.

Thank you.

True inspiration Derek we have given away thousands (not millions like you) mainly cause we don't have millons (yet anyway :).

I am a U.S. Government employee and we've moved cross-country 10-times in 20-years...stuff ain't too important to us either.

We'd be working at a Children's Home in Dominican Republic right now IF Possum Town CD (which you published for us) had been picked up by Cracker Barrell.

As it is we have to withstand another 6.5 years as a fed to have a $30K per year retirement...granted $30,000 in Dom Rep will be enough for us to live comfortable and fly stateside to visit our 6-kids some but SIX more years of cubicles, bureauacy and feeling like a dog in cage ain't gonna be fun.

Bright side is I do have a few more "bright-ideas" and reading your articles encourages me to keep trying non-traditional (but legal) ways to replace our income so we can OWN our own time! One such ida involves a product I think would be of interest to Victorias Secret (Imagine a Christian making his retirement income off Victorias Secret...soun like something Derek Sivers might do)

Fair Skies & Still Waters!!!

Rod "Corporal K." Kellow

Derek,
I am serioulsy MOVED. What a fabulous outlook on life, and to live it so wholeheartedly to create so much more "goodness" in the world is just, well quite simply... awesome.
I love that you have highlighted how free, safe and happy you are, all for the sake of not having "stuff", or more importantly, recognising the lack of need for it in the first instance.
I really feel in our modern society we lose sight of what is really important and what really manages to make us happy, because the glamour of excess is idolised in a fashion that verges on the ridiculous. What a fabulous existence for you to be living, and for that existence to have such a positive impact on aspects of the community that you are passionate about.

Thank you for sharing your experience, I know I'm very much richer for having read the above today.

Geeez Derek!
I'm fully stoked out on your path! Your goodness will live on, follow you and help people forever.
Right on brutha!
Tl

Thank you for clearing my thoughts. Your ideas are wise and enlightened!

typo, needs fixing: irrevo*c*ably
Nice catch! Thank you. Fixed. — Derek

Wow! Needed that. I do have enough. That's quite a concept. Gratitude. Abundance. Thank you from all of my heart.
Cynthia

This is brilliant. Thanks for posting this.

this is very similar to shadyac point of view. it's funny how the world shows you more like minds when you open up yourself to real possibilities, real humans with hearts as big as mountains. though it keeps me wondering if I or my son will live long enough to see the change our world has to go through when people like you are the norm, not the exception. god bless you

After 3 years, I just read this--I still buy from cdbaby.com.

YOU ROCK!

Keep living the good life.

Sincerely,

Susan

Can you show me this way? I'm kinda stuck..

Hi Derek, I am so impressed and inspired by your generosity and your philosophy. You are one of a kind, a rare gem. I missed this e-mail when it came, but I hope you still get this so that you know how much you are admired. You shine brightly in this darkness where we see the wealthy corporates using their power in order to influence our governments into making laws to enable vaccinations, GMO:s, even chemicals spread from the sky (Chem-Trails) to make us sick in order to make even more money off of us. Furthermore we see persecution of whistleblowers, healers of natural medicine, farmers and individuals wanting to eat and grow natural food- and have access to clean water and environment, healing herbs and privacy- our basic rights to keep ourselves and our families well. In this New World Order of corporate fascism you stand against the tide and give us hope that there still are good people in the world, and wealthy who realize they have enough for themselves and generously give the rest to those in need- and have the courage to do it while still living! God Bless you, and thank you for making my day!

Wow! What a lovely story.
Please e-mail me, I would love to know more.

Awesome!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE this. Your clarity is enlightening

And here I read about "attachments" in this article!! Really wonderful! Yes, the less we have, the lighter we are, and the lighter we are, the freer we are...
I have never had a blog, and I never read blogs unless I am searching for something in particular. Your blog is making me want to write (something I always want to do, but for some reason it never happens)..

It's taken me a better part of my lifetime to know a similar truth, "I am enough."
As a musician who loves to and lives for learning new ways to get around on a guitar neck, I instantly became a better player when I stopped thinking about how someone else would play it and just close my eyes and play it. The great Taj Mahal once said, "it ain't what you eat it's the way how you chew it."

Mr. Sivers, what is your oppinion of the way CDBaby is run now? Do you believe it is benificial to musicians?
Sorry I don't know anything about it. I haven't spoken with anyone there since 2008. — Derek

Great!

Thank you. I love the way you think about the meaning of money. I share your idea about enough.

With my company I love to attribute to an honest economy.
This I call 'All Benefit Circle'; we're offering beauty and comfort (ecological products for the funeral) to people who have lost a loved one and doing so we share labour. In the future we share the profits with others; the destination is to support the elderly people in Slovakia (Eastern Europe).

That's my drive to work hard! I would like to meet you when you are in Holland to share knowledge about this issue; you're welcome.

I've followed you and your career for several years online, and I must say that you're a very altruistic and caring individual, that most others whom had acquired such a fortune in riches should aspire to. Please accept my compliments for being the person that you are.

One trivial thought: you saved $5 millions in taxes, but, aren't taxes interesting for the common wealth ? What's so wrong with taxes ?

Thoughtful. Intelligent. Artistic. Humble.

Hi Derek,Amazing story, i had a friend who had 50 million in his bank and just like you he lives in a decent home and drives a toyota prius. If u looked at him, u would think he was just a average guy but he wasn't , he is no longer alive and before he went he told me to give his every penny out to those in need because he was single and died at a young age, i still wish he was alive till today. Please email me back

Very inspiring Derek, truly. Unique in my experience and an example to everyone of a better way of living.

Over the years I have lived well and lived what some would consider poorly I have eaten off of fine china and eaten out of dumpsters the most important lesson I learned in life is that it is not what you have that is important but what you do with it. As a songwriter/musician I have never played "for the money" rather tried to touch some ones life for a moment to give them pleasure or hope for the future

Derek,
What you said really speaks to me. I never had music in my life the way you did, I only had sports. I believe that sports play as intricate a role in a child's development as music does. Both are strengthening their creative abilities, their discipline, their humility, and teach them how to interact with others. For this, I will be forever grateful that I had the healthy competition in my life and the urge to push further.

I want to speak briefly about your act. Plain an simple, it was an act, but a good one in my eyes. Not just for others, or how society would view you, but the way it made you feel. I'm sure that feeling was priceless. Thank you for reminding me what is important in life. I greatly appreciate you sharing your story and wish you the best.

Sincerely
Your new friend,
Christian Childs

Truly inspiring!!
Well played sir!!

Thank you for doing your homework and sharing it with the rest of us!

Much Obliged,

John Clark

It is truly inspiring to hear of this. I can't help but be reminded of a few chapters from The Brothers Karamazov.

From a conversation between the Elder Zossima and his strange visitor, regarding wealth accumulation:

"For everyone now strives most of all to separate his person, wishing to experience the fullness of life within himself, and yet what comes of all his efforts is not the fullness of life but full suicide, for instead of the fullness of self-definition, they fall into complete isolation. For all men in our age are separated into units, each seeks seclusion in his own hole, each withdraws from the others, hides himself, and hides what he has, and ends by pushing himself away from the people and pushing people away from himself. He accumulates wealth in solitude, thinking: how strong, how secure I am now; and does not see, madman as he is, that the more he accumulates, the more he sinks into suicidal impotence. For he is accustomed to relying only on himself, he has separated his unit from the whole, he has accustomed his soul to not believing in people's help, in people or in mankind, and now only trembles lest his money and his acquired privileges perish. Everywhere now the human mind has begun laughably not to understand that a man's true security lies not in his own solitary effort, but in the general wholeness of humanity."

And after from the Elder Zossima's talks and homilies, regarding freedom in response to criticisms of monks:

"The world has proclaimed freedom, especially of late, but what do we see in this freedom of theirs: only slavery and suicide! For the world says: 'You have needs, therefore satisfy them, for you have the same rights as the noblest and richest men. Do not be afraid to satisfy them, but even increase them' - this is the current teaching of the world. And in this they see freedom. But what comes of this right to increase one's needs? For the rich, isolation and spiritual suicide; for the poor, envy and murder, for they have been given rights, but have not yet been shown any way of satisfying their needs. We are assured that the world is becoming more and more united, is being formed into brotherly communion, by the shortening of distances, by the transmitting of thoughts through the air. Alas, do not believe in such a union of people. Taking freedom to mean the increase and prompt satisfaction of needs, they distort their own nature, for they generate many meaningless and foolish desires, habits, and the most absurd fancies in themselves. They live only for mutual envy, for pleasure-seeking and self-display. To have dinners, horses, carriages, rank, and slaves to serve them is now considered such a necessity that for the sake of it, to satisfy it, they will sacrifice life, honor, the love of mankind, and will even kill themselves if they are unable to satisfy it. We see the same thing in those who are not rich, while the poor, so far, simply drown their unsatisfied needs and envy in drink. But soon they will get drunk on blood instead of wine, they are being led to that. I ask you: is such a man free? I knew one 'fighter for an idea' who told me himself that when he was deprived of tobacco in prison, he was so tormented by this deprivation that he almost went and betrayed his 'idea,' just so that they would give him some tobacco. And such a man says: 'I am going to fight for mankind.' Well, how far will such a man get, and what is he good for? Perhaps some quick action, but he will not endure for long. And no wonder that instead of freedom they have fallen into slavery, and instead of serving brotherly love and human unity, they have fallen, on the contrary, into disunity and isolation, as my mysterious visitor and teach used to tell me in my youth. And therefore the idea of serving mankind, of the brotherhood and oneness of people, is fading more and more in the world, and indeed the idea now even meets with mockery, for how can one drop one's habits, where will this slave go now that he is so accustomed to satisfying the innumerable needs he himself has invented? He is isolated, and what does he care about the whole? They have succeeded in amassing more and more things, but have less and less joy."

Love your statement! Good for you!!

Smart and inspiring.

This is an awesome story! I had heard your story from a video you made some time ago, and I knew you gave away the money, but I never knew the details and now that I do I'm even more impressed. I hope I can do the same someday.

How true this grafiti in the wall is. For example, nothing can beat a hug or kiss from my son, there's no "thing" that can make me fill that way.

great story

Great idea Derek. Someday I hope to do something similar.

Thanks for spreadin' the love and not the greed, being another hoarder of millions. Funny how many of those there are who are giving as long as someone else is watching. You have given me a very wonderful idea for the future. Thanks for the inspiration, and for looking up instead of down. Peace.

My complements D.
The talk and the the doing with your company...
Do you do consulting on similar projects? Id love to get some advice.
Respect Alex
I don't do official consulting, but just email me, and I'm happy to answer any questions. — Derek

I was missing you so googled to hear what you've been up to.
Wow!!! Miss you even more.

wow. it makes me that much happier when I read one of your blogs these days that the advice you're giving is coming from such a wise place.

Rock on, brother. Love this. Such a smart way of doing business, keeping the end game in sight the entire time.

I look up to folks like you and appreciate your stories as inspiration.

I released a cd a year ago that raises money for a homeless org in Vermont called the COTS cd: Harmonies for Humanity. Basically, I got all the musicians to donate licensing to the org in perpetuity unless they revoke them, and uploaded the music directly by the org, so there is no middle man. Just created a rev stream for them, to raise money with music for homeless and economically challenged folks. Best release I've ever been a part of.

Nice job in doing this the way you did. Really inspired, and thankful you posted it.

Thanks! - Alex P.

I'm very inspired by what you've done and what you wrote. When I was in high school CDBaby helped me and my band mates achieve our dream of getting our EP out there on all major platforms. I am now in college studying computer science and I just happened to see your foreword on Michael Hartl's ruby on rails tutorial book. Thank you for your contributions to music, and for your inspiring words and outlook.

-MH

I loved your TED talk about the Japanese streets and adresses. You blew my mind in less than ten minutes. Thank you. Your enthusiasm for sharing and inner joy were infectious.

Derek,
Ever since I had my son Julian in 2008, I have been off the radar so to speak. And that is the year you sold CD Baby!
I just read this, I had no idea, and I am so proud of you. You frickin rock. WOW.
Love, Debbie

I really can't add much that others haven't already said. I am at the point where less is better and am working to rid myself of excess. Thanks for your inspiration.

Kind Regards,

Robert

Thank you very much. I will love to do something similar with my future success.

That is an inspirational story. You a are a rare person in this world and i salute you.

My little boy is severly Autistic and music is something that helps him very much. He now likes to spends time in my small little studio and listen as i write music on the computer, while we do this he is happy and calm and it is wonderful. Because of this I am hoping to give my music away for free with the option of donating money to the National Autistic Society. I doubt that the music my little boy and I make (he helps by giving his approval or dissaproval lol) will bring in much money, but i like the idea of this special time that my son and i share making music, generating at least a little money to help him and others that suffer as he does. Just need to work out how to impliment it.

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Once again Derek, you are an amazing person, I wish there were more like you out there!

This message is as good as any sermon or homily I have ever heard. My wife and I are downsizing and liquidating burdensome assets (real estate), and at 66 I am beginning to experience the true freedom of which you speak. I have a successful law practice, but it is my band, "T.O.S.", an acronym for "The Other Sun", that gives me much joy these days. The band just released its first album, "Weathered", on the CDBaby platform. That is how I found your message. Can I bring you to St. Louis to speak at an event? I am active in a non-profit, "Art Unleashed", and its network of students, teachers and supporters would be inspired by hearing your message. Carry on.
Thank you.
Mike

I love those whose life emulate unconditional love for ALL EXISTENCE... in their "WORDS & DEEDS!" Thank you for your INSPIRATION to the World!

Hey Derek, How are you? We exchanged conversations years ago in the early days of CDBaby. I wish we would have had a chance to meet face to face. I now have a venue where our focus is to Keep Live Music Alive. Our mission is to provide a place for young people to learn, grow and showcase their talent. You are welcome to visit. Please visit my pages via gofundme.com/keeplivemusicalive
Musically yours,
Mark

Hi Derek,
I fully understand what you mean. I gave up my lucrative job in corporate America 10 years ago to life in South Africa helping the utterly poor get a better start in life. My focus is on pre school age children and my organization here has many avenues to help these children. Success is not an option in the life of a child, they must. I don't know if this link is good anymore, but if every you have a thought on how I could introduce a meaningful music avenue to our outreach i am a willing audience.
Thanks for your time.
Michael Calamia
michael@aworldaware.org
www.aworldaware.org
www.aa-sa.org

PS: I still enjoy the many artist i became Aware of at CD Baby. Thank you.

Thanks so much for the inspiration!

Yes. very much agree. and the older I get the more I realize it's not about the money. Thanks for sharing your story.

Hi Derek,

I was cleaning out old e- mails and came across an email you sent me 6 years ago.
I hadn't read this story about you selling CD Baby. Of course CD baby is much more well known now and I thought wow…you sold it off… and created something else…to benefit who knows how many people..not just musicians and other people in that business but all the people who come into contact with the music.
Incredible legacy that must fill you up with satisfaction and a warm feeling of contributing to the human race.
Well I hope you are still able to survive happy in this less than "friendly and hospitable" western society that has developed over the last 50 - 60 years.
cheers
Peter McLennan

This is one of the most brilliant ideas I have ever heard. Just finished "Anything You Want". I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's nice to read stuff from someone successful who is still well grounded and humble.

Best regards,

Alan Carty
Founder: Automation.com and Automationtechies

I love you !
To many wealthy people, there is no such thing as 'enough'.

I'm going to do this...

I'm just happy to see the tutorial on how to do something like that. Very smart.

Learned about you from the TFS! I love your humility and honesty. This is a perfect example of putting sooo much means towards the greater good in a smart, efficient way not only in the present but long term. Thank you for such a great example!

I really wanted to share this post but couldn't without a share button. If not an oversight on your part for this awesome blog, ignore this message.

Thank you Derek, I got Goosebumps while reading this. God bless you man.

Hey Derek,

Are you still out there?
Clearly. — Derek

Incredible to read this & appreciate your position. This is really an amazing story - however, having heard your talk with Tim Ferriss & that you rejected many offers for multimillion dollar acquisitions/inestments of CD Baby in the early years, it comes as no surprise that you have completed the final chapter in this way. Inspiring & wonderful. Thanks for sharing the longer version of this story.

I'm a musician and entrepeneur, and you are my new HERO. Discovered you via the TED Talk on Leadership. Your mentorship couldn't have come at a better time. Thank you so much for YOUR Leadership and being the 'Lone Nut'! ;)

... Yeah ! ... sounds good .. what you're doin' .. but ain't NO good .. what they doin by now with some artists .. claimin for copyright .. for some soundtracks created with MAGIX Music Maker ...
like .. ' Looking for Pain - Meskens Geert ' .. provided by CD Baby ! ... Voila ! ...

You kick ass Derek. Good for you!

You have the heart and mind of a philosopher king.

Thanks a lot for sharing this Derik! I was thinking of how I might give back to my country via some form of SME/Entrepreneur incubation centre,libary,training centre etc later and this process points me in the right direction.

Now onto actually making the money/giving value first.

Very wise person. My treasure is in heaven where my heart also is. This life is very short and filled with what ultimately prove to be but props. How we use them will, according to Jesus, determine whether we shall be given actual true riches that are not props but eternal and fade not away. Many that are now first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Wow! Mr. Sivers,

If there were only more people like you in the world. I applaud your clarity of mind to be able to do something for others when you could have just done something for yourself. Not that it means much coming from someone you don't know, but GREAT JOB! This is inspirational to me.

Thank you for being you!
Maximo

You really inspire me!

loving the ethos you are running. I don't quite agree with your statement about a business plan but think I know what you mean - the plan, however large or small should give you the burst of energy to give it legs and then to keep the energy flowing.
In my experience the process of preparing a plan can unlock some 'hell yeah' moments that people didn't know they had. A well constructed plan will create the energy to take that plan to implementation.
Cheers
Gordon

Wow... Such Inspirational story for me!

I haven't heard about you and CDbaby until yesterday! (Yep and I'm exist :) )

I read your review on the front page Josh Kaufman's book "The Personal MBA" and googled your name.... and spent couple hours reading what you wrote here...

Thank you for sharing your story with everyone! I'm kinda at my life's crossroads and things like this make me motivated and inspire.

Sharif

That's awesome. I like the way you say you are not being altruistic. I get it. Do you think through the attainment of high levels of success and financial abundance at a certain point in your career create a shift and gave you full understanding of "enough"? Or did you already have that mindset when you were a musician/performer? PS loved your interview with Altucher.
Yes to your 1st Q. I was very ambitious up until a point that felt like enough for me. — Derek

Wow. I didn't think people like you existed - without being on 'something'.

I say it like it is which didn't sit well with my family. But, lucky me, my husband of 40 years and I are still crazy about each other.

When asked, years ago: "Whom do you believe in?" I said, without thinking: "Me. I know right from wrong. It's inside me". It has to be in others, but are they listening?

I understand why you offered your millions to others because there is a time when enough is enough.

A currency’s greatest value is when it is being shared.

Just listened to your Tim Ferriss interview & loved it.
Great perspective and philosophy on living an examined, thoughtful life.
Well done!

Man, that is really some kind of something. I'm impressed with your generosity and lack of materialistic gluttony.

Interesting to read. Now, I've got to go make some money!

And you don't pay taxes from that 5% you receive each year?
Of course I do. 30% of all my income goes to tax. This was not a tax-saving move in that way. It was a way of not having the money come to me (and therefore be taxable) because I didn't want most of it to come to me. — Derek

Thanks.

God you're a refreshing human being Derek. Got exposed to you through Ferris's Pod Cast, and have listened to it probably four times - your voice and manner relax and inspire me... (it's not weird ;)

Anyhow, keep being awesome.

Jamie

Derek!

Just caught your interview with Tim Ferris and happened upon this article, love this story and really enjoyed the interview and your insight on life.

Also, Thanks for the book notes - keep being awesome!

Ben

You are inspiration. Very grateful to you for all your work.

The world needs more people like you!

Dear Derek

Wow - someone else on the planet who doesn't have to hold on to everything until they die. I tithe 10% of my income to charity even though to a lot of people I don't have an amazing income but it makes me feel wealthy that I can afford to give this away!!! and like you said, it makes sense taxwise - I get to give away 10% and then the next year I get to give away 10% (plus the 30% of the previous year's donation which I got back on my tax which essentially makes the Australian government donate that amount to a charity of my choice instead using my tax to pay for weapons or idiot govt policies that I don't agree with paying for.) It is all win/win.

All because I actually have more than enough....

Regards - Holea (ok - it is not my real name)

Awesome! Glad to have read your story! I am doing a presentation in my Music Business Management course @ Full Sail. I think that what you did was DOOOOPE! I commend you!

Hi Derek:
That is just awesome what you did !! I thank you on behalf of all who will benefit from your legacy of music education. Music is so important to young and old (or more mature so as to not offend anyone) In a society where most people never have enough, it is so refreshing to read how you set up your success and how you'll share it with millions of other people. Simply awesome!! Thank you.
May God bless you always, Valerie

...well, it was your money, you were free to do with it anything you pleased. I believe you made a very good and wise choice, seriously.I like that pic. above. Unfortunately, on this earth, things are often time valued more than humans. Humans are just a sheeple- for international bankers (who print out the dollar from thin air-a valueless piece of paper). Wish there were more ppl. like you, perhaps world then would be a little better place.
When i was younger, i had a dream. If i ever got to have enough money, i'd buy a big land and make a sanctuary for cats and dogs and other creatures. Still working on it ;)

Right on! I also used the CRUT vehicle when I cashed out of one of my startups. It's a brilliant vehicle!

Warmly,
Fred.

For many, money is emotional; if you're poor you look in the mirror and see a schmuck looking back at you. If you're rich, that schmuck looking back at you looks like the coolest guy in the world.
Give food to the hungry. Help out a friend. Or a stranger. Or an enemy. Then look in the mirror. That's you.

Awesome deal, so at 5% you get $1.1 million per year!

Enjoy, all entrepreneurs deserve it.

That's amazing! I don't know you but I think you're great. Cheers.

Great thing to do, great guy. Music and art are so great, fantastic gesture to help the many.

Your knowing that giving your company away to aid music education was more than just simplifying your life. You followed God's leading. In process, you continue to see how your altruism is benefits countess students.

Thank you!

I love it! What an elegant idea! What a brilliant way to create a life of abundance! Affirm that you have enough! Give away what you have in the most brilliant way imaginable! I wish there were more people who think as you do. So outside-the-box! We've met several times, Derek, and I've always had great respect for you, but you have now crossed over to my Heroes List! You are on a plane way higher than 99.9% of the people on this planet.

My request, and I know it's kind of selfish...
Please don't disengage from the world entirely. Really, we need you!

Love it!

Hi Derek,

Occasionally I make some comment in response to articles that you post online. I would usually say, "Hey Derek, you've done well in life so how about giving some of it back?" I would also make reference to such countries like the Philippines, a country I have visited many times and have found the people to be terrific for the most part. Anyway, then I ran into this article about your charity. I was really surprised! You did it! You're a really good guy after all. I will wish you well. You deserve everything good in life. :)

Derek - my buddy Doug Wong sent me the link to your story - and I'm glad he did. - great story

%5 of 20 Million is still $1,000,000 a year isn't it? Assuming the company is growing in value, no?

hi derek,
I heard your interview with tim ferris and I'm totally inspired.
I've listened to your short audio book as well. Although you naturally found out how to do it right, I had to struggle with letting go of the money trap etc.
I would like to chat with you if you have a moment.
858 699 5336
henry.

Perf!

You are just amazing! I hope we bump into each other again one day xxx

few people have the wisdom of you !thx for your contribution to music society for now and because you from hereon

yes!

as a guy who is now debt free, i am beginning to understand...

a credit card a vicious temptress when one is aching to fill a hole in one's heart... a mortgage a anchor stone on a life dreaming of flying... a lawn in a neighborhood run by an HOA nothing but another metric of one's status or malfeasance as a neighbor... always the watchful eye of compliance drives away one's sense of bliss and humanity...

let us travel light - toss from the train the sandle that did not fall off our foot as we boarded, so someone may feel the worn curves our feet made for them...

you are on the path Derek, and it is inspiring...

dan

Hi Derek,

Inspiring words. Would love to explain you about our organisation www.bridgesformusic.org
We are creating a movement in the electronic music space around a new model of education, harnessing the power of artists like Skrillex or Richie Hawtin among many others, and working with key stake holders in the industry. We are currently building the first music and entrepreneurship academy in Langa, a township in Cape Town.

Would love to share our journey with you and hear your thoughts.

Thanks in advance and comgratulations for your move.

Hi Derek,

Inspiring words. Would love to explain you about our organisation www.bridgesformusic.org
We are creating a movement in the electronic music space around a new model of education, harnessing the power of artists like Skrillex or Richie Hawtin among many others, and working with key stake holders in the industry. We are currently building the first music and entrepreneurship academy in Langa, a township in Cape Town.

Would love to share our journey with you and hear your thoughts.

Thanks in advance and comgratulations for your move.

Thank you for sharing your story. You and Chuck Feeney are visionaries and truly inspiring!

Chuck Norris once noted (in his autobiography) that one of his friends was paranoid about whether people only wanted to befriend him for his money, and of course such paranoia was why poor Howard Hughes, such a gifted capitalist, was so reclusive.

I don't plan to be rich myself, but if ever I am, I do believe I'll do the trust thing, and then I can trust people to have good motives.

The first word that came to my mind, WOW! As in Wow, how amazing and enlightening. Reading this story instantly changed teh start to my day in a positive manner.

Thank you!

Your story (not just here, but elsewhere too) teaches a profound lesson in authenticity and maintaining proper perspective. Thank you for all you continue to teach.

Casey

Strange, for my comment above, I completely forgot to say, "Me too!" You spoke of pride and happiness.

The last few times we all got a big bonus at work, I told colleagues all I can buy is wool.
Yarn?
No, marino wool clothing from New Zealand, mostly base layers, because "I am the man who has everything." There's nothing else to buy!

Since then I have gone back to wanting more: More pounds sterling, that is. I have just returned from London, and now I am saving up to holiday there again. But still, I remember that "man who has everything" feeling.

It seems interesting.

Hi Derek,
Great Act on your part.I am touched,though i wont be able to practice the same.
All your reasoning have resonated with my core values. Very rare indeed,Best regards

Awesome Derek!

Great idea. I gave bulk of money to my son. Felt a freedom. Had got hooked on making more and more.

This was really smart.

Wonderful.

You have what is needed in life. Freedom.

I am on the path........

I am late in seeing this but have rarely heard of anything so wonderful! I have always remembered the humor that went along with a CD Baby purchase and I'm sure you take that into everything you do. And I agree that living an uncomplicated, simple will lead to the most contentment.
Best wishes!
Barb

Derek!
Thank you for this resource, its just what I need.
If you are happy with the attorney/ firm you used for the charitible remainder trust.
May I get their contact info?

Your 10 years into this & Id like to do this correctly.
I live in California.

Kind Regards
Rani Naik
+01-650-520-0808
The lawyer I used is Oregon-only, and on to a new firm now. But anyone can set this up. It's quite basic. — Derek

Awesome.. just awesome.

Wow, very cool! I've only been following your blog for the last year or two, so I hadn't seen this before. I'm wondering a few things:

- Exactly what is the trust "passively invested" in? If by passive you mean "safe", my understanding is that safe investments like savings accounts make only around 0.1% to 2%/year these days.

- How has it performed so far? Has it, in fact, made over 5% a year?

- Now that the trust has had around 10 years to grow and made 10 years of annual 5% payments to you, what is its current value?

- At sive.rs/trust#comment-29702 you said that you "re-invest" what you don't use of your annual payments. Does that mean you give those amounts back to the trust, or do invest them some other way under your own name?

- With your simple lifestyle, roughly how much do you actually spend in a year?

- A more philosophical question: before you created the trust, did you consider that your future, perhaps wiser, self might decide you'd rather use your wealth for some other purpose besides music-education-after-you-die (for example, for planting millions of trees to help avert suffering due to climate change)?
About passive investing, read these book notes. — Derek

Чувство меры и след, который ты оставишь людям не понимают только "недалёкие"и тупые!Спасибо, что подали пример!

heard your name from the Tim Ferris podcast, found your site. You are an inspiration and a benefit to our planet, thrive

Romtein Rostami
801-556-7876

Well guys, I guess one of the reasons for the oft-noted benefits—while one is also saving, investing and planning—for giving to charity and good causes, it that "giving" gives one an undeniable gut feeling of "having enough."

And that is a feeling beyond price.

Wow, truly an inspirational story!
Regards,
Aditya

Hi derek
What a guy!
I really admire the attitude you take towards belongings and also your generosity keep up the great work!

Its such a pleasure to read your words. You remind me that we are all blessed with what we need in our lives.
You and Christian Kroll (founder of ECOSIA) have so much in similar. ECOSIA is also transferred to a charitable trust irreversibly so that no one can make profits out of it.. and all the profits go to tree planting

I will keep it short. Well done that man!

I really love your philosophy. It is something that I can always try. I want a rich life - and somehow, you have given me an idea to redefine and polish it.

I am living just with the same manner that you have mentioned in your comments. I have stepped in my 80th year of my life, still feeling myself enough lucky to be happy most of the time. I began my 80th year one month ago, by travelling across Caspian sea North of Iran for one week, then I went to my birth place in Norh Azarbaijan province for another week. Now I am in Amsterdom after a week stay with my son and his family in Freiburg Germany.
I think it is better to have little belongings to be able to move easier and to enjoy more.
I heartly appreciate your approach to happier living.

Kudos for a brief and crystal-clear explanation of a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT), but more importantly the WHY behind your CRUT. Having drafted similar trusts for clients, I have never seen a better example of the motivation and benefits of this excellent charitable giving tool.

derek- hi, i'm reid. music person, entrepreneur (whatever that is), etc but- more importantly- husband, dad, and music education advocate.

i was recently asked to join a board of a national charity for music edu. charities don't think different about how they run and waste a lot of time and money doing things for the charity and not for the intended recipients.

i'd love to hear your insights here, async via email, should you find the time. many thanks for what you do w/ music edu. music makes us better.

thanks- R

Reconnecting earlier today, Derek, after our chance meeting a few years ago, made me to reread this your explanation for doing what you didn't consider altruistic but simply practical in pursuit of the excellence of true freedom. And, interestingly, you did it quickly before you could change your mind. 😀

You truly are remarkable Derek. Very few people like you in the world.
Greetings from Manchester, United Kingdom.