Derek Sivers: How to Live

Derek Sivers 最近出了一本新书：How to Live，花了两年时间写作，两年时间修改，也是他认为迄今最好的作品，（目前还未对外开放，感兴趣的可以花 $15 在他的博客上购买）。

在讲书的内容前，先简单介绍下作者，我关注 Sivers 还是从他的博客开始，他是一个音乐家，企业家，也是一个程序员，喜欢创作（Saying no to almost everything, so I can have lots of time for making.）。2008 年卖掉公司后，全身心投入到学习和创作中，这里有关于他自己的详细介绍。他的博客文章一般都不长，但往往挺有启发。我最感兴趣的是他的生活方式和处世哲学。

这本书中，作者罗列了 27 条有冲突的答案，看看哪些最能击中你，以下是击中我的部分：

承诺（Commit）

你一直在追寻最好的人、地方或职业
但「追寻最好的」就是问题本身
没有哪个选择是天然最好的
成就最好选择的是你自己
你通过承诺让选择成为了最好的选择
你的信念和行动让选择变得更好

选择一个没有退路的承诺
然后它就成了你最好的选择

You've been looking for the best person, place, or career.
But seeking the best is the problem.
No choice is inherently the best.
What makes something the best choice? You You make it the best through your commitment to it.
You dedication and actions make any choice great.

Pick one and irreversibly commit.
Then it becomes the best choice for you.

生活中那些不重要的就让它去吧
看起来可能微小，但加一起就会压垮你的灵魂
将注意力集中在少数几个你承诺的事情上，其他的就别管了

不重要的事情不做
重要的事情天天做

Ignore other aspects of your life Let go of every unnecessary obligation Each one seems small, but together, they'll drain your soul.
Focus your attention on the few things you're committed to, and nothing else.

If it's not important, never do it.
If it's important, do it every day.

选择一个职业
建立信誉和专业度
因为切断了其他选项，你不会因此偏离方向
因为你给了承诺，你就不会失败
即使需要花更多年，你也不会失败，除非放弃

Commit to one career path Build your expertise and reputation over time Because you cut off other options, you won't be derailed by distraction.
Since you're committed, you can't fail.
Even if it takes you years longer than expected, it's not failure until you give up.

什么也不做（Do Nothing）

你的情绪认为你应该回应
如果忽略它的急迫性，它就消失了
观察自己
你的大脑是最好的实验室
也是最私密和宁静的工作场所

Your emotions insist they need you to respond When you ignore the urges, they go away.
Observe yourself.
Your own mind is the best laboratory.
It's also the most private and peaceful place to work.

如果需要钱，就成为投资人
这是产出投入比最高的方式

If you need money, be an investor.
It's the only career where you profit the most by doing the least.

如果看起来有必要付诸行动，并且摆脱不了这个想法，先写下来
当你在想一件事时，通常它会变得重要
一段时间后你会发现，并不是

如果依旧觉得有必要，拉长下时间线
一年之后还会觉得重要么？
十年之后？
把时间线拉得足够长，它就会显得不那么重要
然后它就不会再缠着你了

If an action feels necessary, and you can't let it go, just write it down for later.
Everything seems more important while you're thinking of it.
Later, you'll realize it's not.

But if it still feels necessary, adjust your time frame.
A year from now, will it be important? Ten years from now? Zoom out as far as you need to make it unimportant.
Then you're free of it.

长线思维（Think Super-Long-Term）

着眼于未来
做能对未来（将来的自己和后代们）产生积极作用的[小]事情

在大脑里装一个时间机器，不断想象未来的自己和后代们会生活在怎样的世界
用行动让想象不再遥远

Serve the future Do small things now with huge benefits for your old self, your descendants, and future generations.

Actions amplify through time to have a massive impact on the future.
Let this fact guide your life.
Use a time machine in your mind, constantly picturing your future self and your great-grandchildren's world.
Act now to influence that time.

想象未来的自己评判当前的选择
做一个决定时，想象当你老了会怎样看待这个决定
未来的自己和家人会因为你做了什么而感激你
现在一些不起眼的事情会通过时间的复利在将来给予回报

Imagine your future self judging your current life choices.
When making a decision, ask yourself how you'll feel about it when you're old.
What would your future self and family thank you for? Simple actions now will compound to give them a better life.

推迟满足感
今天的不适会在将来得到回报
如果未来可期，就不会在意当前的付出
你永远不会后悔没有放纵

Delay gratification.
Today's discomfort brings future rewards.
When you have a clear view of the future, you won't mind the small sacrifice.
You never regret not indulging.

把钱花在能带来长远回报的事情上，比如教育
换句话说，不要花钱，只有投资
越早开始越好，因为时间就是那个乘数

Only spend money on things that do long-term good, like education.
In other words, never spend, only invest.
The earlier you start, the better, since time is the multiplier.

尤其注意那些看起来无害的习惯
假想每个 Action 都会持续下去，而不是一次性的
吃一个饼干，持续下去，你就会变胖
开心购物，持续下去，你就会负债累累
你选择一个行为，就选择了它带来的（将来的）结果

Be extra-careful of habits that seem harmless.
Imagine each choice continuing forever.
Eat a cookie, and eventually you're obese.
Shop for fun, and eventually you're deep in debt.
When you choose a behavior, you choose its future consequences.

制造回忆（Make Memories）

如果你老了，甚至忘了经年发生的事情
如果想不起来，就像没有发生过
你可以有一个健康长寿的生命，但如果你记不住，那就像你只有短暂的生命一样
这多可悲

你要避免出现这种状况
避免单调，保持新鲜体验

What if, when you're older, you can't recall entire years? If you can't remember something, it's like it never happened.
You could have a long healthy life, but if you can't remember it, it's like you had a short life.
What a horrible way to live.

You need to prevent this.
Monotony is the enemy.
Novelty is the solution.

将你的经历变成故事
故事是经历的精华
让你的故事变得有趣
通过复述好的故事，记忆会更持久，人们会偶尔谈及或者让你再讲一遍

Turn your experiences into stories.
A story is the remains of an experience.
Make your stories entertaining, so people like to hear them.
By telling good stories, your memories can last longer, because people will echo them back to you occasionally, or ask you to tell them again.

有意义的事情越容易记住
赋予事件以意义，以便记住他们

The more something means to you, the more you'll remember it.
Give moments meaning to remember them.

精通些什么（Master Something）

成为一个偏执狂，在一些困难的事情上做到足够出色
给自己找一个可以在余生不断深入研究的东西
精通是最好的目标，因为富人买不了，急躁的人无法急于求成，特权者不能继承它，没有人可以窃取它
你只能通过自己的努力来获得

Be a monomaniac on a mission to be truly great at something difficult.
Pick one thing and spend the rest of your life getting deeper into it.
Mastery is the best goal because the rich can't buy it, the impatient can't rush it, the privileged can't inherit it, and nobody can steal it.
You can only earn it through hard work.

学得越多，待学的就越多
你能看到普通人看不到的东西
随着逐渐深入，你会发现这条路越来越有趣

The more you learn about something, the more there is to learn.
You see what normal people don't see.
The path gets more and more interesting as you go.

如果你还没有决定要掌握什么，选择任何让你害怕、着迷的东西
不要问，“这真的是我想要的吗？” 或 “这是我的热情所在吗？”
这些问题导致无休止的搜索和失望
人们不会因为选择错误的道路而失败——他们会因为不选择而失败
做出你的选择，然后致力于不断改进
在你开始找到感觉后，热情就会出现

If you haven’t decided what to master, pick anything that scares you, fascinates you, or infuriates you.
Don’t ask, “Is this the real me?” or “Is this my passion?” Those questions lead to endless searching and disappointment.
People don’t fail by choosing the wrong path — they fail by not choosing.
Make your choice, then make a lifetime commitment to constant improvement.
The passion comes after you start getting good.

当只有一个优先级时，决策就会很容易
Decisions are easy when you have only one priority

应该志向高远，这有助于你做成事
大多数人在生活中失败的原因不是目标太高，而是目标太低
如果你的目标很高但没达成，你并没有真的失败

Pursuing mastery is ambitious, which helps your chance of success.
Most people fail in life not by aiming too high, but by aiming too low.
If you aim high and miss, you don’t actually fail.

寻求痛苦（Pursue Pain）

一切美好都来源于某种痛苦
肌肉的酸痛让你更强壮
练习的痛苦是通往精通之路
艰难的谈话可以促进友谊

Everything good comes from some kind of pain.
Muscle fatigue makes you healthy and strong.
The pain of practice leads to mastery.
Difficult conversations save your relationships.

生存之道就是与痛苦为伴
用它作为你的指南针
总是采取更难的选择
总是逼迫自己到不舒服的状态
忽略你的直觉

The way to live is to steer towards the pain.
Use it as your compass.
Always take the harder option.
Always push into discomfort.
Ignore your instincts.

选择痛苦，它就变得可以承受
它变得无法伤害你
你成了它的主人，而不是受害者

Choosing pain makes it bearable.
It loses its power to hurt you.
You become its master, not victim.

很多人没得选
一旦你驯服了自己的痛苦，就帮更多的人去驯服他们的痛苦

容易的路越走越难，反之亦然

Most people don’t get to choose how they suffer.
Once you tame pain for yourself, tame it for others.

The easy road leads to a hard future.
The hard road leads to an easy future.

成为先锋（Be a Famous Pioneer）

去经历伟大的冒险，去讲述精彩的故事，去激励他人
追求大规模的媒体关注，不是为了虚荣心或自我，而是为了让你的故事能够帮助别人打开思路，激发想象力，带领更多的人来探索。

Your job is not just to act, but to tell a fascinating story of how you did so, and inspire others to do it.
Make great adventures, but tell greater stories.
Pursue massive media attention, not for vanity or ego, but so your stories can open minds, spark imaginations, and lead to further explorations.

选择经过时间检验的事物（ Value Only What Has Endured）

新闻是嘈杂的，因为他们必须要炒作
他们试图让你关注一些实际上并不重要的事情
他们制造虚假的紧迫感、社会地位、恐惧、震惊，或任何可能的伎俩来操纵你的心理开关，最终帮助他们获利
相比之下，真正重要的事情是安静的。

The world of news is noisy, because they have to hype it.
They try to get you to pay attention to something that’s not actually important.
They create a false sense of urgency, social status, fear, shock, or any tricks possible to manipulate your psychological triggers, and ultimately help them profit.
By contrast, the truly important things are quiet.

生活在过去
观看伟大的电影
阅读经典之作
听听传奇故事
这些东西之所以能持续下去，是因为它们经过了时间的考验
时间是最好的过滤器

Live in the past.
Watch the greatest movies of all time.
Read the classics.
Listen to the legends.
These things have lasted because they work so well.
Time is the best filter.

掌握基本原理，而不是新技巧
学习那些不受时间影响的技艺
这些知识不会失去价值
在任何给定的领域，学习仍然存在的最古老的东西，因为它是最有可能持续的

Master the fundamentals, not new tricks.
Learn the timeless aspects of your craft.
This knowledge will never lose its value.
In any given field, learn the oldest thing still around, since it’s the one most likely to last.

笑对人生（Laugh at Life）

幽默是生命的精神--是健康、充满活力的思想和灵魂的标志
Humor is the spirit of life — a sign of a healthy, vibrant mind and soul.

幽默意味着超越必要性、超越现实地思考一件事
这就是为什么我们钦佩机智的人
它表明你迅速地从多个角度观察某件事情，找到最让你开心的那一个，并将其传达给别人
观察力、创造力和同理心，都在一瞬间完成
还有什么能比这更好地体现一个健康的心灵呢？

Humor means using your mind beyond necessity, beyond reality, for both noticing and imagining.
That’s why we admire a quick wit.
It shows you quickly looked at something from many angles, found the one that amused you the most, and considerately expressed it to someone else.
Observation, creativity, and empathy, all in an instant.
What could be a better sign of a healthy mind?

居安思危（Prepare for the Worst）

事情会变得越来越难
未来将考验你的耐力

到目前为止，你生活在一个繁荣的时代
你没有经历过大规模的衰败，但你可能会
赚钱会更难
会更难快乐
现在喜欢的很多东西都会消失
回顾往昔，今年是你经历过的最轻松的一年

你会受伤或生病，失去看、听、移动或思考的能力
你会向往你现在拥有的健康

Things are going to get harder.
The future will test your strength.

So far, you’ve lived in a time of prosperity.
You haven’t experienced massive devastation, but you probably will.
It’ll be harder to make money.
It’ll be harder to be happy.
Much of what you love now will be gone.
You’ll look back at this year as one of the easiest you ever had.

You’ll get injured or sick, losing some of your ability to see, hear, move, or think.
You’ll wish for the health you have now.

未来是不可预测和不可控制的
想象所有可能出错的事情
为每一个做好准备，这样它们就不会惊到你或伤害你

The future is unpredictable and uncontrollable.
Picture all the things that could go wrong.
Prepare for each, so they won’t surprise or hurt you.

想象最糟糕的场景，直到它们感觉真实
接受它们
意识到最坏的情况并没有那么糟糕

Vividly imagine the worst scenarios until they feel real.
Accepting them is the ultimate happiness and security.
Realize that the worst is not that bad.

你最大的敌人是贪得无厌
认识到你对生活的诉求，并破除这个习惯
练习品味你所拥有的东西，以及它们带给你的愉悦

Your biggest enemy is insatiability.
Recognize your desire to be entertained by life, and break the habit.
Practice being happy with what you have.

变得富有（Get Rich）

金钱不过是一个中性的价值交换物
能赚钱证明你正在为人们的生活增加价值
变得富有说明你对世界有用，为他人做更多的事
服务更多
分享更多
贡献更多
世界会奖励你创造的价值
追求财富，因为它是道德的、美好的、无限的

Money is nothing more than a neutral exchange of value.
Making money is proof you’re adding value to people’s lives.
Aiming to get rich is aiming to be useful to the world.
It’s striving to do more for others.
Serving more.
Sharing more.
Contributing more.
The world rewards you for creating value.
Pursue wealth because it’s moral, good, and unlimited.

全力致富，否则就不会发生
调整你的自我意识：你应该并且将会变得富有
如果你潜意识里觉得自己不配，你就不会变得富有
但如果你真的觉得你值得拥有它，你就会不惜一切代价去实现它
所以先调整你的自我意识

Be fully committed to getting rich, or it won’t happen.
Adjust your self-image so that you congruently feel that you should and will be rich.
If you subconsciously don’t feel you deserve it, you’ll sabotage your pursuit.
But if you truly feel you deserve it, you’ll do whatever it takes.
So adjust your self-image first.

创作（Create）

Die empty.
Get every idea out of your head and into reality.

你更愿意成为哪个？
一个因为忙于消费而多年没有创造任何东西的人？
或者因为你忙于创作而多年来没有消费任何东西的人？

不要等待灵感
灵感永远不会迈出第一步
只有当你表明你不需要她时，她才会来
不管怎样，每天做你该做的事

Which would you rather be?
Someone who hasn’t created anything in years because you’re so busy consuming?
Or someone who hasn’t consumed anything in years because you’re so busy creating?

Don’t wait for inspiration.
Inspiration will never make the first move.
She comes only when you’ve shown you don’t need her.
Do your work every day, no matter what.

平衡（Balance Everything）

坏事情往往来自于极端
这个太多
或那个太少

All bad things in life come from extremes.
Too much of this.
Too little of that.

当我们不够平衡时，我们就会心烦意乱
工作过度，爱得太浅，吃得太多，睡得不够
只注重财富，却忽视健康
专注于现在，却忽略了未来

When we lack balance, we’re upset.
Over-worked, under-loved, over-eating, under-sleeping.
Focused on wealth, but ignoring health.
Focused on the present, but ignoring the future.

平衡生活的最佳工具是时钟
就像猎人的狗一样，时钟将是您最好的盟友
它会保护你，控制你的冲动，保护对你重要的东西

安排一切以确保你的时间和精力的平衡
日程安排可以防止拖延、分心和痴迷
时间表让你按照目标行事，而不是你的情绪

与朋友一起度过美好的时光
安排体检
安排学习时间
安排你生活的方方面面，一个都不落

平衡的日程安排可以保护你免于不知所措和忽视重要的需求
你不会过度工作、过度玩耍或过度放纵

The best tool for a balanced life is the clock.
Like a hunter’s dog, the clock will be your best ally.
It will guard you, keep your impulses in check, and protect what’s important to you.

Schedule everything to ensure balance of your time and effort.
Scheduling prevents procrastination, distraction, and obsession.
A schedule makes you act according to the goals of your highest self, not your passing mood.

Schedule quality time with dear friends.
Schedule preventative health checkups. ”
Schedule focused time to learn.
Schedule each aspect of your life, ignoring none.

The balanced schedule protects you from hurting yourself, from getting overwhelmed and ignoring important needs.
You won’t over-work, over-play, or over-indulge.