Tim Ferriss on the New 4-Hour Workweek

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Marketing podcast with Tim Ferriss (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes

For this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing podcast, I grabbed a few minutes with Tim Ferriss, author of the newly released – The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated. The expanded edition features over 100 pages of case studies and anecdotes taken from people that embraced Tim’s Lifestyle Design theme and put it into action in their lives over the last few years.

Tim’s book was a surprise run away best seller when first released and landed him in the spotlight for those who garnered hope from his positive message of work less and live more. However, his message also created a camp of doubters that likely felt the message was unrealistic. I find it ironic that Amazon has his book selling in tandem with Gary Vs CrushIT message of work 80 hours a week until your eyes bleed.

I’ve always felt that Tim’s detractors fall somewhere in one of the camps of resenting his books sales, resenting his go get em sales tactics, or misunderstand the core message of the book. I wrote a post long ago called The Four Daughter Workweek that takes what I think is the message of this work and makes it relevant for me.

Hey, putting yourself out there as the 4-Hour Workweek guy is always going to have people questioning, it’s like saying your holy or the world’s best parent -if you do, your kids sure better behave in public Either way, hope you enjoy our conversation and I welcome your thoughts.

In this podcast:

Expansion of The 4-Hour Workweek
Applying the 4-Hour Workweek principles
Tim’s tech tool tips
Concept of selling around the product

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Posted by: John Jantsch on Dec 29, 09 | 12:12 pm
Category: Podcast | Tags: , Tim Ferriss

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Chad Thomas

I loved this book and have read it multiple times. I have also given it away to many of my friends as gifts. The first 100 pages or so was nauseating. It seemed all about how great Mr Ferriss is. After you get past that, there are very useful tips that really can change your life. I went from working 50 hrs a week to around 30 with no change in income. I think the goal should be to take the pieces out of the book and apply only those that work for you.
Tamara Gruber

Do you have links to the tools he mentioned? I was driving while listening and didn't get to write them down.
David Lanning

I loved the 4-Hour Work Week. It contained some really great information and ideas for the business person.

But, like the fad diet that promises you will loose weight while gorging on Twinkies and Coke, almost everything is the result of the work you put into it.

People are always looking for the easy way. But, it ain't going to happen.

You need to work hard. You need to work smart. And, you need to put in a lot of hours to succeed in business.

Take what Tim Ferriss says and look at what you can implement into your business. But, don't think for a minute that your going to accomplish big things without the effort.
BryanStapp

I love the 4HWW - I have given away dozens of copies and have dog eared my own. I've got three businesses running on "autopilot" and it's really cool. I think the trick is to find things that you are passionate about, and having the dicipline to resist diving in to the weeds and create work for work's sake. Here's a link to my review of the book - it's part of my "required reading" list - http://www.loudamplifiermarketing.com/the-4-hou...
Aaron Hoos

The lesson here for anyone who wants to be successful is this: If you have an idea you're passionate about, run with it. There will be zealous supporters, there will be passionate detractors. Some will gain huge value and inspiration from it, others will think it is flimsy.

If you believe in it then focus on it, enjoy the success and ignore the detractors.
ducttape

Well said Aaron - that's how we should all live our lives.
Mark

Hi wish u 2010, great post over marketing stretegies done a good deed all the tips you've shared very fine thanks.
markstewart

I bought Tim's book and thought it was a worthwhile read. While some of the things he advocates are far fetched the idea I got from it was there are ways to streamline your life so go ahead and do them.
As for his talk it is basically a rehash of very old ideas. Read Dale Carnegie's book "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living". The second chapter of the book deals exactly with this concept and has examples of business leaders and philosophers that have done this.
That being said, Tim's experience in using this technique is useful in getting the discussion going what accomplishment takes.
Elmo

i loved this book. Whether it was practical or not, I'm not sure. I like the concept of getting maximum results from doing the least, but I am a firm believer in the bust-yo-butt work ethic. Anyway, Ferris had some great stuff in there and I really need to reread that book to pick upo some more great tips.

God Bless!
ELMO
Jake G

I've never commented on a blog, but that first book was such a crock, I have to say something. Yes, I get the message that you delegate everything other than what you do best and that makes sense. But one of his "accomplishments" was becoming a karate champion or something - all by finding a loophole in the rules. Not by actually succeeding at being good at karate. While reading the book, I got the feeling that the rest of the "4-hour" workweek is designed around the same shady tactics. The book title is one clever piece of copywriting that will not fool me again.
jasonclegg

I think a lot of people misunderstand Tim's ideas -- either because they simply don't read the book or they don't read it very closely. I've read and re-read 4HWW a dozen times, and I can honestly say that Tim's ideas and tactics are sound. Sure, nothing's perfect, but I think the 4HWW philosophy deserves much more credit than being considered a "clever piece of copywriting."
Jake G

Ferriss tested the book title with google adwords to see what more people would respond to. It is - literally - a clever piece of copywriting.

The book is nothing more than common sense and sells a dream life with infomercial-esque puffery about how to try and get away with the least possible effort while leaving off the part about what the least possible effort usually produces as a result.

Yes, delegate your work. Have others help you when then can. Makes sense. Obvious. Again, common sense. What is so revolutionary about this?
David Lanning

Whenever you read anything, you really need to do so with an open mind and look for the ideas and concepts that you can realistically implement in your business.

Here's a killer quote to keep in mind when reading anything:

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."

Buddha
ducttape

Jake - welcome to the world of blog comments - I alluded to the fact that Ferriss has fans and detractors so no surprise there. Any idea that get really popular usually does so with a strong enemy.

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