The 4-Hour Workweek

This book inspires me to look at how I spend my time at work. I do many things that could be automated so that I can spend more time doing things that machines are not great at. 

While I do not intend to work only 4 hours a week, I use the inspiration for this book to move from 75-hour weeks to a more practical 40-50 hours that allow me to have time for my non-business roles (wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, etc.). Note that some technologies are outdated, but the concepts are golden.

If you like this book, you… show more.

Tim Ferris is a genius. In his book, he describes how he crafted a lifestyle while building a very successful business. This book demonstrates how to make the most of your extremely busy day in commercial real estate and creates a "maximum value/productive capacity" that is crucial when getting started in a commercial investment career.

He discusses how he went from micro-managing everything to virtually managing nothing, all while traveling the globe and having some life-changing adventures. He is the undisputed king of outsourcing and taking back control of your life.

I read this book and started to implement some… show more.

The 4-Hour Workweek should be mandatory reading for any wannabe entrepreneur, especially those coming from a salary job—even more so those from a government job like the military! 

This book teaches you how to become extremely efficient in everything that you do, which is a must when running your own business!

You see, in a salaried position—especially a government one it seems—it is all too easy to fall into the trap of getting as much work done as necessary so as not to get fired before the end of the work day. Whereas when you run your own business you… show more.

If you want to learn how to focus on the most important things and delegate the rest, The 4-Hour Work Week is a game-changer.

This book emphasizes the importance of time management and teaches you how to focus on the one thing that matters most. It also teaches you how to delegate tasks and duplicate yourself to get more done in less time.

The book’s core message is that time is your most valuable asset, and you should use it wisely to achieve your goals. Reading this book can help you work smarter, not harder, and live life on your… show more.

This book is a classic and for a good reason.

Ferriss's emphasis on automating and outsourcing low-value work played a huge part in developing my own systems for delegating as I was growing my business.

I love how nearly everything in this book is practical and can be easily implemented. For that reason, it was a huge inspiration while writing my book.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking to build a life of freedom and fulfillment.

I think Tim works a lot more than four hours a week. But if you are doing what you enjoy is it called work? In his book, Timothy talks extensively about getting work done by other means. As someone who wholeheartedly embraces automation, I heartily encourage this. It’s a good educational foundation to start reimagining your work-life balance.

When I first read 4-Hour Work Week, I had just started my business and it sparked the idea that I could travel while running it, whereas before I thought I had to choose. The book covers how to optimize your time, become more productive, and ultimately, achieve success on your terms. It introduces ideas and strategies to streamline business operations, emphasizing the importance of delegating tasks and outsourcing. It gives practical advice on how to build an online business, as well as how to manage projects and team members in different locations. I also love the inspiring case studies from… show more.

Most of all, I love that the focus here is on freeing up time for your non-work life. This book is packed with practical advice to work smarter, rather than harder. Rather than toiling for long hours, figure out how you can leverage other people to do the work that you do have to do yourself and automate the processes you can. See what processes you can “batch” so that you do them less often, more efficiently – like responding to your email only once a day.  

In his NY Times bestseller, Ferris describes how true freedom does not come from fiscal wealth, but time. Fewer hours can equal more meaningful results. Relative income is better than absolute income, relative takes in time and money and work. This resonated with me, as I learned that I can have all sorts of business success, but if I don’t have the time to enjoy it the way I like, then what is the point?

While my go-to books obviously have a deeper lean to them, you don’t always have to have a spiritual awakening or read a harrowing story of adventure to be inspired to make a change. Sometimes you just need someone to lay out a plan for you. That’s what Ferriss does in The 4-Hour Workweek.

I must say, this is a pretty dangerous book. Within a year of reading it, I had quit my desk job, convinced my husband to do the same, and we had set off to reclaim a life under our own terms. While Tim’s path was… show more.