This week’s post is on “The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live anywhere, and Join the New Rich.” – written by Timothy Ferriss (2007), an American author, entrepreneur, angel investor, and advisor to startups like Facebook, Twitter, and many more.
Our guest writer is Michelle, an MC intern who is focused on curating the Consulting Bootcamp program.
If you want to submit a review on a book you’ve been reading, follow the same format, target 600+ words and send it over by email!
Enjoy!
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Why Read The Book?
This is not your typical time management book. In fact, it dives deeper than that. All of our behaviors/actions are based on what we think we know about ourselves, others, circumstances, careers, etc. I think this book helps give a framework for you to discover what would be most satisfying in your career, what you are working towards and the key steps to get you there.
Quick Review of The 4-Hour Work Week
This book serves as an opportunity for a paradigm shift of how people perceive life, career, money and retirement. You will learn about his life and journey from being employee to entrepreneur to investor and advisor. The thorough process he went through that ultimately changed his course of life forever. Overall, it was noteworthy that Tim Ferris is married with children and lives with no excuse not to succeed.
Takeaways From The 4-Hour Work Week
When you’re overwhelmed as a student or at work it’s important to identify the roots of frustration starting with time wasters, time consumers and empowerment failures. Time wasters would be things like checking email. There are always messages coming through, so it is best to consolidate the time emails are read at specific times during the day and ensure clients, co-workers, etc. understand the times they can expect you to read your emails. This also empowers you to set expectations of those you support or the customers and allows you to keep your sanity.
Many of the things we think we need easily end up being distractions to what our goals really are. It would be wise to go through all of your belongings and get rid of the clothing, furniture, toys, books/magazines, etc. that are not used and are taking up space or adding to your list of house chores. A life less complex is totally achievable.
Loved his idea of not waiting to really live and enjoy life until retirement. Most people work their hands to the bone to work towards retirement and find that either their health has decreased in the process, or they have become bored and aren’t interested in doing what they originally thought they would during retirement. His approach is simply to plan for the fun during the prime of your life and not put it off until retirement. He calls this process “death to vacations” and the “birth of mini-retirements” throughout your lifetime. Everyone needs to live a life full of purpose throughout their whole life.
Summary Of The Book
This book is an easy and fun read. Timothy Ferris provides an abundance of great viewpoints, possibilities, resources and tips for time savers, travel, eradicating office interruptions, increase productivity in whatever field or position you are in. He also teaches you the wonders of learning how to say “No” to time-wasters, clutter and unnecessary interruptions from bosses, co-workers, suppliers and clients.
All in all, this book truly is empowering. It gives the reader permission to re-evaluate why they do what they do and for what reason they are doing it. His point is that you don’t have to wait to realize your dreams, and you really shouldn’t. It’s time to kill the fear and excuses and get to planning and dreaming. What are yours?
By the way, over here at MC we’re an entirely virtual team focused on living a life of mini-retirements. Want to know more about how we do that? Invite us to come to your campus or community group, and we’ll share both how we got into consulting – and why we got out. :)
Interested in reading The 4-Hour Work Week? Pick up your copy here!
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