The Book: Four Hour Work Week

[ken nubo]

Bought the book when it just came out, implemented his tips - I just came back from a 3 months long vacation in Asia.

[stayfly]

Originally Posted by ken nubo

Bought the book when it just came out, implemented his tips - I just came back from a 3 months long vacation in Asia.

can you share with us how you implemented his tips? especially for your recent 3 month vacation?

I'm hoping to take a 3 month vacation in the next couple of years and am keen to hear any insights and advice you have

thanks

[joeljonathan]

I absolutely loved the 4HWW. It was very encouraging to read the work of someone else who thinks very similar to me as far as entrepreneurship is concerned and also has to struggle with how to answer the "What do you do for a living?" question.

[jthomson71]

I thought the book was great, but much like anything in life timing is everything. when I found the book I had quit my corporate job, took a consulting job which gave me much greater flexibility and started a home based business. I spent a big chunk of the next year working in many different locations, most of the time I was working in Ecuador where me and my family were living and helping my wife's family run a hotel by the beach. It is my belief that working in an office for 40 hours a week will not be the only option and I agree that the illusion many have sold people about retirement is just that an illusion. Most people both can't afford to retire and live their dream life and really for those that have stepped out and taken a chance and seen the other side is the dream life not working at all? My dream life doesn't have working in an office for someone else in it but it does have being productive and generating income involved really for as long as I'm alive. When I am not being productive and earning income I want to have the flexibility both financially and with my income producing activity to live the life I want, like spending 2 months living in Ecuador, learning new things. I don't think we need to put our lives on hold until we are 65 because that is what we've been told. I think Steve does a great job of opening people's eyes to a new world that is emerging with the advance of technology and breakdown of the corporate structure.

[ken nubo]

got the book when it just came out -- july 2007 or so. Implement it and now I'm living the "4 hours work week" life style (sorry if it's cheesy but it's true)
__________________
Here's how you can make $400 by the end of the week on the Internet, cold hard cash -- the methods are free!

[stayfly]

[QUOTE=ken nubo;314457]got the book when it just came out -- july 2007 or so. Implement it and now I'm living the "4 hours work week" life style (sorry if it's cheesy but it's true)

please tell us more

[Justin Razmus]

There are certainly mixed feelings on this book. I don't agree with every single point in this book, but most people won't. I like the alternative viewpoint on what work is all about, and the positive message that life can be different. The real point I get is: "Don't waste your life working, just waiting to retire. Enjoy life now by working more intelligently."

[Justin Razmus]

I just heard that the author of the four hour work week is writing a new book. Has anyone else heard any details on this?

[ken nubo]

Stayfly:

Basically, 80 percent of my income comes from making monies on the internet, 20 percent from poker.

And -- making money on the intenret isn't hard.

For example, I invest in 5 hours of my time building an adsense site with high paying keywords -- pay day loans for example. (anywhere from $0.50 to $1 per click)

I spend some time and money generating traffic for that website (article marketing, SEO, video marketing etc)

That website earns me $5 a day. Not impressive right? But 5 x 365 = $1825 for 5 hours of work.

Think passive income.

[StacyT]

Originally Posted by jendoe

I've been really stuck in the corporate thing - and am a very obvious misfit there But it's draining me, and feels like it's killing every good aspect of myself It hurts.

I know exactly what you mean - it is a living HELL. I did it for about 8 years and then one day I just gave my 2 weeks notice and walked out the door. I didn't have a plan or any money to fall back on, but I didn't care. At that point I would rather have been dead than stay there a second longer. (Melodramatic but true!)

I did read the book and was already familiar with the concept of passive income. After I left my job I created a website that replaced 1/2 my corporate income, but it still wasn't something I was passionate about doing, and I didn't have enough $$ to outsource my customer service (or the trust that someone would treat my customers the way I would treat them).

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that I enjoy working hard when it is work I enjoy doing - I actually want to work hard at something - I just don't know what that thing is yet.

Four Hour Work Week is a very inspirational read....but for me it isn't the be-all-end-all...there's another piece somewhere that I'm missing.

[dannielo]

Great ideas through the whole book, however a "muse" will not be sustainable for long in the way Tim Ferris presents it. Better replace the concept with a business you are passionate about, can be largely automated, but you still have spend a couple of hours a day on it. If you don't want the income source to dry up and panic, that is.

[Tenn]

Me and my friends all have this book and we have weekly meetings on how we together make this work. It's also a discussion group and we can honestly say it's working.

It was not as eye-opening as Rich Dad Poor Dad, but it's definitely up there.

[JackTP]

I liked his book..

BUT

The make money internet thing is not sustainable for most, outsourcing is more expensive now with less quality. As always take the general idea and work from there.

I don't like spending to much time on the internet anyway. I enjoy human interaction, and the truth is unless you are a genius, you will spend a lot of time online if you are going to make money just for the sake of making money online.

That being said, passive income is passive income. If something is sustainable long term, then its worth it.

Until then, I think cutting working hours is better.

[sabrefist]

I like the concept behind the book. I've not yet finished reading it but so far most of the ideas could be tailored to fit my ideal work life.

My passion is learning. I love to refine my learning ability so that I can pick up new skills and knowledge quickly. By using methods such as outsourcing, automation and combining that with the personal growth and value providing ethics of steve pavlina's book I will hopefully be able to live a lifestyle where I can continue growing conciously and intelligently without having a job get in the way.

I find the ideas presented in Steve Pavlina's book and 4HWW by Tim Ferris supplement each other in creating a blueprint for both vertical and horizontal growth.

[jendoe]

Originally Posted by StacyT

I know exactly what you mean - it is a living HELL. I did it for about 8 years and then one day I just gave my 2 weeks notice and walked out the door. I didn't have a plan or any money to fall back on, but I didn't care. At that point I would rather have been dead than stay there a second longer. (Melodramatic but true!)

I did read the book and was already familiar with the concept of passive income. After I left my job I created a website that replaced 1/2 my corporate income, but it still wasn't something I was passionate about doing, and I didn't have enough $$ to outsource my customer service (or the trust that someone would treat my customers the way I would treat them).

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that I enjoy working hard when it is work I enjoy doing - I actually want to work hard at something - I just don't know what that thing is yet.

Four Hour Work Week is a very inspirational read....but for me it isn't the be-all-end-all...there's another piece somewhere that I'm missing.

Hi Stacy! It's very validating to hear that someone can relate - sometimes, when you're surrounded by people at your work, I feel like such a weirdo - I understand that the environment works for some, but I just feel so different from everyone there. Definitely not my tribe. What's even weirder (to me) is that they like me just fine, they believe I fit in just fine, and I seem to do great work (my boss loves me ) - but I'm so incredibly unhappy and it feels completely toxic.

I'd love to hear more about what you did and how it's working for you! It seems like such a difficult decision to make (I think I have too much "patience" for suffering through crap!) - how are you doing now? How much did you know about web stuff before you started your site, and how hard has it been?

I'm currently doing a class on web marketing and learning about setting up these sales-oriented sites. While it's not a 100% match for me (I'm more geeky than salesy!) - there are aspects that I think could really appeal to me... and I'm trying to keep my monthly expenses low.

But I think I'm about to hit a breaking point with the job... and may need to quick in the next few weeks... gonna make a new post about that.

Back to the book - I did really enjoy it, and got some perspective from it - but it hasn't been as hands-on practical as I thought it would be. That's ok for me, I feel like I needed the perspective shift, and that for me personally - my eventually "new life" is going to be a result of a long, slow shift from lots of different sources, 4HH, Steve's Site, other sites and conversations - it all slowly builds a new model in the back of mind that makes me more open to this type of life. This is an awesome thing, since alot of what we get from the world is "get a job, be secure, go to work, eat your veggies, blah blah blah" - and some people clearly get it much faster But I'm working on it!

Cheers.

[CubicleBailout]

You have to keep in mind that the book isn't a formula, just like any other self-help type of book. You have to think about what applies to your situation and take elements of the book and apply it.

Will I be able to work remotely 100% of the time and fly around the world? No, I have a family that would be going with me and that is expensive. Could I apply his concept of building up travel miles on a credit card? Sure. Could I work remotely a couple days a week so I can concentrate on my muse or side job? Definitely.

Everyone's situation is different and it's best to look at all self help information with an open mind, but analytical too.

It helps to re-read through books like 4HWW or Steve's book as well - your frame of mind will be different and you might pick up more helpful info. I think of it like watching a movie for the 2nd or 3rd time - you're going to pick up on things you didn't notice the 1st time around.