First things first. Do NOT read this blog post unless you want to give up your job. Yes, Maverick businessman Timothy Ferriss says it with conviction and detailed plans to boot. That’s what you will get if you read his book, The Four-Hour Work Week. From mini retirements to outsourcing your life, it’s all here. Whether you are a wage slave or a Fortune 500 CEO, this book will change the way you look at work. And I have none other than The New York Times to back me up on this.
So what is it about this book that makes me so gung-ho about it?
For one, it tells you to earn a lot more by working a lot less.
That’s not all.
It tells you to enjoy life more and work smart, not hard.
But the biggest incentive comes with the book’s tagline: ‘Escape 9-5. Live anywhere. And join the New Rich.’ Here is where I have some observations to make.
For one, the 9-5 job we have is boring no matter how much passion you put into it. Here is why:
1. Your vision and capability is limited to just that and nothing more.
2. You cannot make the most of your other talents, because your 9-5 job sucks all the marrow out of your life, leaving you with no energy or motivation to do anything more.
3. You become blind to the merits of being your own boss.
4. You become a victim of habit. You wake up the same time. You go to sleep the same hour. You walk the same walk and talk the same talk.
5. Most of all, it robs you of your licence to enjoy life. Every other distraction in life, be it holidays, sports or hobbies, need special sanction from your employer before you embark on them. And even when you manage to take time out, it’s much less frequent.
So how does Ferriss show the way? Simple. Outsource your work and telecommute to work. What are your laptops, Internet connection and cellphones for?
A typical scenario goes something like this. You kick your job and become your own boss. You are a famous writer and start your own media firm. You outsource your work to different people. One person helps you in researching stuff on the Internet for a piece you are to do. Another rewrites stuff you’ve already written, so you can syndicate it to other publications. Yet another person acts as your assistant and looks after everything your job entails: fixing up interviews with celebrities; booking your air tickets, hotel room, and so on.
Showcasing actual case histories, Ferris shows you how people have enhanced their productivity and yet are working a lot less than before. If you still don’t get me, you could buy the book or check his site (http://www.fourhourworkweek.com). It’s worth all the time you spend out there. It will CHANGE your life. Best of luck!
