I recently read The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, who claims to work—you guessed it—four hours a week. The book forced me to admit that I could be a lot more productive. As we all know, time wasters abound, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing on seemingly urgent but unimportant things.
Ferriss cuts the fat in every area of business and life. His suggestions are both inspiring and cringeworthy.
For example, the book is sprinkled with two-day challenges meant to push you outside your comfort zone, which Ferriss says is necessary if you want to join the ranks of the “new rich,” who work few hours and live life on their own terms.
One challenge I still haven’t mastered is looking everyone I meet in the eye. I have no trouble doing this until the other person looks me in the eye—I’m always (ALWAYS!) the first to look away. (I think this might be an important way that men, as opposed to women, show their dominance, so I’m determined to master this.)
To free up time for truly important matters, Ferriss suggests hiring a personal assistant from a developing country where labour is cheap. This person can respond to your email and prepare your invoices. (Here’s author A.J. Jacobs’s experience with his own foreign personal assistant.)
At first, I was incredulous. I mean, who likes to profit on the backs of others? Then, at the very next networking event I attended, this same advice was touted as a great way to get more done when running your own business. Yeah, it’s a thing, along with Philippine nannies and Chinese-made smartphones.
Regardless of the politics of it all (and no, Ferriss doesn’t stop for one minute to wax philosophical on global labour), The 4-Hour Workweek is worth a read for the kick in the pants it gives readers. What do you want to do with your life? How do you truly want to live? How much money do you need? What steps can you take to work less and live more? All are questions worth thinking about seriously.