The first time I read Tim Ferris’ 4 hour work week, I was put off. Flying off here and there, it wasn’t a sustainable lifestyle at least not for me. I like the unconventional thinking that drew me to the book but there felt like an underlying arrogance when reading the book. For example, I didn’t think that winning the world championship for Chinese kick-boxing on the skill of the rules and other hacks versus the skill of the sport made you a champion. But it does as that is part of the skill. Maybe my initial interpretation of arrogance at the time was jealousy for freedom he created and the sense of accomplishment he was seeking that I didn’t think I could have. Maybe.
There is even controversy if some of the claims he made in the book were true as there is no evidence. I am not writing this to be a nay-sayer, I want to focus on what was good in his books.
After being in business for myself now for many years and coaching people all over the world how to grow their businesses through various strategies- his strategy worked. It is the result that matters (as long as there is no lying, cheating or stealing involved).
During my initial reading years ago, as a mother of 2 babies at the time, taking risks and being mobile wasn’t an option. That’s how I defined it. I am shedding some of those limiting beliefs to open up new opportunities.
Now I realize that this book is really about getting people to think differently. Get out of your old paradigm. If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten. BUT you want more so you have to think differently.
Tim’s books are worth reading! Here is a short overview of his book summaries:
4 Hour Work Week:
Tim Ferris writes about his escape from the 9-5 word and his entry into the New Rich. His book shares his story, his thinking and some tools to help you join him living anywhere, and Join the New Rich.
In order to join the “New Rich” you have to think differently. You can no longer trade time for money, you need to create residual income streams, think like a business owner and investor, not an operator.
According to Tim Ferris there are 4 steps to living a liberated life. He isn’t necessarily talking about how to make millions, he is talking about how to create a lifestyle of freedom.
The four steps are in the acronym DEAL
D=Definition – Change the way you think and define yourself and your limitations
E=Elimination –Eliminate the unnecessary, redundant and unimportant
A=Automation – Set up your systems to work without you
L=Liberation – Create mobility, freedom, and contribution.
You are being measured on your results, not the time and effort. There are no rewards for busy. Be productive by being efficient and effective.
Download here for free
4 Hour Chef
This book was born out of the mindset that you can learn to be a pro in anything you choose and you don’t have to have had a formal education in order to be a pro. Many people talk them out of their dreams to learn something from a perfectionist bug in their head that they cant compete with the pro’s or they aren’t good enough.
I understand that I had the same feeling in the world of technology many years back.
I didn’t have a formal technology coding background but I loved technology and what it could do to make things more efficient and effective.
In my first accounting job, I found a way to create macros to automate the month end process and save myself days of time every month end.
Someone suggested I go out on my own and become a contractor. They said you can make so much more money with the hours you are working. I couldn’t do that. I didn’t have a formal IT background. Then I sat across from this contractor from England. He was making $200/hour and I was his boss on the project and better than he was. That was the defining moment, “If he could do it, I could do it”.
The 4-Hour Chef isn’t just about cooking, it’s about teaching you how to learn new skills quickly and easily. If you like to cook or just want to learn something new, have a read. It is always interesting how you break something down to learn it and have fun!
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Tools of Titans
This book is a conglomeration of tools and tips that Tim Ferris gets from his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, interviewing over 200 guests. He asks specific questions to provide the listeners with the opportunity to mimic habits and behaviors exhibited by some of the most successful people in the world. Tony Robbins Says “Success leaves clues” so read/listen carefully to what makes these people successful to tap into your greatest potential.
Buy the book here:
Where can you find out more about Tim Ferris?
- Tim Ferriss‘ blog, one of the top 1000 blogs in the world according to Technorati.
- Tim Ferriss on TED
- Tim Ferriss on Huffington Post, the #1 most-linked-to blog in the world.
- Tim Ferriss on TechCrunch’s Crunchbase