The 4-Hour Workweek Book Review

Two months ago, I finished a book called “The 4-Hour Workweek“. It’s written by Tim Ferriss, a 28 year-old entrepreneur who owns BrainQuicken, a online sport nutrition supplement company. To add to his credentials Tim Ferriss has also raced motorcycles in Europe, skis in the Andes, scuba dives in Panama, and holds a world-record in tango. Is Tim Ferriss a fraud?

“The 4-Hour Workweek” is so more than just a entrepreneurial memoir however. The basic goal of “The 4-Hour Workweek” is to help you live a life where you aren’t restricted by income, location, employment, and information overload.

Tim Ferriss details the specific how-to’s among other useful strategies like: working remotely from your current office job, using the Google Adwords as an marketing research tool, finding and contacting a mentor, outsourcing your mundane tasks (and your online dating), and living in other countries for dimes on the dollar.

I enjoyed this book because I’m an entrepreneur and love traveling. The idea of having more freedom with less work, defintely appealed to me. “The 4-Hour Workweek” is not applicable to all people however. Some people don’t have the motivation, or the inclination to do everything Timothy expects to get the results you need to be able to live his life. BUT… there are many principles like selective personal information intake that could be well suited for MOST people. Timothy himself makes known in his many interviews that, although some principles are for a particular type of person seeking a particular type of lifestyle, not all people may want it or be willing to achieve it through his methods.

This is how Tim breaks down his book….

The Deal

Tim Ferriss breaks down his approach to living this 4-Hour Workweek with DEAL.

D - D is for Definition

Definition, as Tim describes, helps you get over your fears, limiting beliefs, society’s expectations, and really get down to the bottom of what you want out of life. Some might call this the self-help part of the book. Tim breaks down even the most extravagant example of one man’s quest for owning an Ashton Martin, possible with a $1400 a month lease. Definition is about goal setting, and Ferriss gives various examples to back up his claims that living a life of luxury is only limited by your expectations.

E - E is for Elimination

Elimination, is Tim’s approach to time management and selective ignorance. Tim outlines his email and phone rules which save him countless hours. Tim also explains the 80/20 rule in which everything that causes 80% of the solutions/problems come from 20% of your habits/customers/influences. The guideline here is to taken in less, and focus on what really matters: your goals.

A - A is for Automation

Automation is to create a scalable income. Tim discovered with BrainQuicken, the online sport nutritional company, that his time was getting sucked up into it. Instead of spending less time, post-Fortune 500, he was spending even more. He implemented rules and strategies to scale his company efficiently going forward. A scalable company is one that operationally remains the same if 1 order came in, as 1000. Think online, think outsourcing.

L - L is for Liberation

My favorite part of this book was liberation. When you’ve made extra time, you need something to fill it. Your life is now free to do the things you want to do - but what are they? Tim outlines options, and unloads a mass amount of techniques for world travel, eating, and adventure.

Rating: 5-star

The 4-Hour Workweek Summary

The “The 4-Hour Workweek” is a must-read, even if you don’t follow all the methods and techniques Tim talks about, you can still use it to open your eyes to your potential personally and professionally, by cutting down on useless activity and prioritizing your goals.

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