As
someone working ridiculous hours, seeing a book in Bookazine which proposes
a four hour working week, was to be seen as manna from heaven - if it was
really possible. Timothy Ferriss, in his book The 4-Hour Work Week
(ISBN 978-0-0919-2911-4, Vermilion Imprint, Ebury Publishing, 2011)
proclaims on the cover, “Escape the 9-5, live anywhere and join the New
Rich.” You got me, young Tim!
Each chapter is introduced with quotes from the famous,
and I liked the one from Oscar Wilde, “Anyone who lives within their means
suffers from a lack of imagination.” I could relate to that, having been
told by successive bank managers that I have lived beyond my means. I may be
in debt, but at least I have imagination.
Many points that author Ferriss brings up are actually
very valid, and I have to admit that I have always confused “Being Effective
vs Being Efficient.” He states that, “Being efficient without regard to
effectiveness is the default mode of the universe.”
Ferriss brings up Pareto’s 80/20 Law which can be looked
upon as 80 percent of the outputs result from 20 percent of the inputs. He
also advocates ways to cut down on your necessity to check emails and even
how to avoid answering the telephone.
Much of his recommendations require you to outsource your
work, leaving you with more time, which you should use effectively. This of
course is more easily said (or written) than done, especially if you are a
9-5 wages employee. Ferriss had a mail order business he had started, which
was very successful, so consequently could outsource much of his managerial
duties. He admits that this does take away from the bottom line, but the
additional time that this gives is enough to start enjoying one’s leisure
life. He gives examples of his Virtual Assistants (VA) who are in Bangalore,
but who are meticulous in their research. And just how much time he has
freed up, and his VA only costs $40 per hour, but he only needs an hour of
the VA’s time, so that represents $40 a week to free up eight hours. And
yes, he does mention the outsourcing company and how to contact it.
Towards the middle of the book there are various answers
to the FAQ’s you will have regarding VA’s before you even formulate them.
Ferriss is very much the pro-active person.
His advice on just how to handle this ethereal body,
called the VA, is very salient, and there are even prices quoted and how
many hours must one take per week. The $7 an hour VA is not so cheap when
you find you have to contract to use the VA for 20 hours per week.
At B. 495, this book is a cheap investment in your
future. Ferriss even gives examples of how to start up and the pitfalls to
avoid. By the end of the book I was ready to branch out with an idea of my
own. It may not work, but it will be fun and I like the thought of having my
own VA.
