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107 of 109 people found the following review helpful:
A book of two halves
This seems to me to be a book of two halves. In the first half, Ferris gives a step by step action plan for eliminating non-essential work, outsourcing a lot of the remaining work, and giving a detailed blueprint for designing, test-running and developing an 'automated' on-line businesses (or businesses) - that is, a business whereby most of the functions are performed by...
Published 17 months ago by R. Reed
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168 of 172 people found the following review helpful:
Directions for Hiding from the Boss, Starting an Automated Internet Business, and Being a Global Vagabond
Did you know that if the trends of the last two centuries hold, everyone's workweek will be four hours by 2407? What will people do with all that free time? It's a good question that this book recommends you consider.
Mr. Ferriss does a favor for those who hate their jobs but cannot find work they like by explaining how you can still draw a salary while...
Published on 10 Sep 2007 by Professor Donald Mitchell
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107 of 109 people found the following review helpful:
A book of two halves, 4 Jun 2008
This seems to me to be a book of two halves. In the first half, Ferris gives a step by step action plan for eliminating non-essential work, outsourcing a lot of the remaining work, and giving a detailed blueprint for designing, test-running and developing an 'automated' on-line businesses (or businesses) - that is, a business whereby most of the functions are performed by outsourced companies, hence it is scaleable and allows the owner to keep only a very light hand on the tiller, through weekly or monthly reporting by the outsourcers. The idea is to free you up from the dull treadmill of routine work to allow you to focus on the important things in life now rather than waiting for some deferred gaol to be achieved (eg. retirement). I found this first half of the book excellent and have already started implementing his ideas - Ferris has definitely fired me up enough to give it a go.
The second part seems to focus mainly on what you should do with all the free time that you have managed to free up, and how to cope with the existential issues raised by having nothing to do. His solution is to travel extensively and keep learning (languages, martial arts, dance, etc), and so he gives a lot of tips on how to do that type of thing. It's quite a US-centric book and no doubt the concept of travelling widely is quite revolutionary to a lot of americans but I personally felt the second half of the book a bit irrelevent in the sense that a) I've been there/done that and b) I reckon I'm capable of finding my own life-affirming ways to make use of any free time the first half of the book creates for me.
But overall, I thought it was a great book, and I thought Ferris writes clearly and engagingly. I found it a gripping read and am feeling excited about implementing many of his ideas in the coming weeks.
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168 of 172 people found the following review helpful:
Directions for Hiding from the Boss, Starting an Automated Internet Business, and Being a Global Vagabond, 10 Sep 2007
Did you know that if the trends of the last two centuries hold, everyone's workweek will be four hours by 2407? What will people do with all that free time? It's a good question that this book recommends you consider.
Mr. Ferriss does a favor for those who hate their jobs but cannot find work they like by explaining how you can still draw a salary while working very few hours (by hiding from the boss and using the 80/20 rule -- 80 percent of results come from 20 percent of efforts). His method is deliberately manipulative (possibly fraudulent is another possible description that comes to mind), so you'll have to watch out that you don't get caught or you might have to repay some of that salary.
What do you do while you are hiding from the boss? Mr. Ferriss recommends starting a highly profitable online retail business that's so highly automated it can be operated in only four hours a week. You'll find details of how to do this that matches what I receive in lots of spam e-mails every week.
After you've got half a million a year rolling in by selling expensive items at a high profit margin, Mr. Ferriss provides lots of advice on how to take six-month miniretirements in cheap places around the world (Argentina and Berlin are his favorites). I'm still puzzled by why Berlin can be a cheap place to live. The rest of Germany when I've visited certainly isn't.
The book's come-on explains how Mr. Ferriss has accomplished all kinds of world-class things to boost his credibility. Unfortunately, you'll find that it isn't always classy how Mr. Ferriss does this. For example, he won the Gold Medal at the Chinese Kickboxing National Championships in 1999. He dehydrated himself more than the other competitors did the day before the competitions for the weigh in so that he could compete against men much smaller and lighter than he was, and he then simply used his quickly regained weight the next day to push competitors off the platform (three times off the platform and you are disqualified).
I find several problems with this book:
1. There's almost nothing original in it. You're just reading summaries that might have been written by a $5 an hour researcher in India. And much of what he draws on isn't acknowledged. For instance, he uses some of Dr. Stephen Covey's seven habits as chapter subtitles . . . but never references or credits Dr. Covey once in the book.
2. He provides so little information on each aspect of his ideas that I doubt that very many readers can really implement what he recommends.
3. There's no moral center to the book. Mr. Ferriss comes across as a con man in several ways.
4. He achieves a 4-hour workweek by simply skimming the cream of a business model that any one of two billion literate people can implement at some level. Are we to believe this business model will be highly profitable for the next several years? I doubt it.
5. I've met very few small business people who simply wanted to retail something on the Internet so they could work only four hours a week. Usually, small business people see their businesses and work as a creative activity that energizes them.
I do admire the book's title. It's a real grabber. It's too bad that there's not more substance to go with it.
If you want to learn how to make breakthroughs in personal and organizational productivity that allow you to live the life you want, there are better resources out there such as The E-Myth Manager by Michael E. Gerber, The Success Principles by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer, How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life by Alan Lakein, and Photoreading by Paul R. Scheele.
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121 of 127 people found the following review helpful:
Interesting mix of topics but nothing new, 12 May 2007
Tim's book has got me thinking. It has helped me re-evaluate my life and especially my working my life.
As I see it, Tim argues:
1. Life is short so enjoy it.
2. Realise that you are conditioned by society to work 9-5.
3. Don't wait until you retire to have some fun (lots of fun!).
4. Become much more productive at work.
5. Outsource much of your business and/or life.
6. Create an 'automatic' source of income.
7. Start to living the life you want (it may be cheaper than you think).
Where I have a problem is that this advice, whilst sound, is lightweight. Admittedly, the book points you to lots of (US) resources but you'll need to do a lot more work in order to create the lifestyle Tim offers. It is, after all, a 'framework' of a book and not a detailed, step-by-step, 500 page manual.
OK - I'm hard to please.
If you've not read this sort of material before then this could be the eye-opener you need.
But where I'm disappointed is that Tim suggests that the way to a regular stream of income is to create 'information products'. Mmmm, where have I heard that before?
Do a quick search on Google on this phrase and you'll find tons of better quality material. Believe me, I'm currently experimenting with this source of income and it's not as easy, or as simple, as Tim suggests.
Yes, I am hard to please but visit Tim's site and read his US Amazon reviews and you'd think that this book is somehow *totally* revolutionary.
Yes, it's a good book but it's a bit like eating another American product, a McDonalds burger - it looks tasty on the advertising but while you're eating it you realise that the bread is full of air and sugar and the whole experience leaves you with an unsatisfied feeling.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Spend your time where your values are, 24 Jan 2008
Ferris is an entertaining and flamboyant character. As you read his story at the beginning of the book you can see he has always thought big, and had an entrepreneurial spirit. He takes us through his analysis of his job, insane hours, abusive clients, and no end in sight. He then focused on the 80/20 rule, where 80% of your business comes from 20% of your clients, and he paired his clients to a manageable and productive level.
One of my favorite parts of his book are all the pull quotes that start each chapter. They're really great such as "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it is time to pause and reflect." And "By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day." They set the tone for each chapter.
He tells a funny story about how he won the national championship of Chinese kickboxing by exploiting a technical rule, and knocking his opponents off of the elevated platforms. The Chinese officials were not happy, but he won, legitimately. This is definitely thinking outside the box.
He goes through some thought provoking issues, such as saving your whole life to enjoy retirement. Why not have lots of mini-retirements now? He points out that less is not laziness, because he advocates doing less meaningless work, and focusing on what is important. The timing is never right, that's the case with everything, even having children, just bite the bullet and do it. Ask for forgiveness, not permission; don't give people an opportunity to say no. Emphasize your strengths, and don't bother fixing the weaknesses. This one is particularly important because most people do focus on their weaknesses instead of maximizing their strengths. There is a whole book written on this subject alone called First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently.
He highlights unusual things such as 99% of people believe they are incapable of achieving great things. Therefore that is exactly what you should set out to do because the competition is low. That's hilarious! And, probably true.
He gives some good ideas on brainstorming before you start your own company, and making sure you do your research before you jump in. He talks a lot about outsourcing, and using things like a virtual assistant. It sounds like a really good idea to pay someone to do what you're not good at and focusing on what you are good at.
He has some cheesy exercises sprinkled throughout the book, such as go to a mall and ask people of the opposite sex for their phone number. To me they are the weakest part of the book, and they felt like they were added in afterward simply so there would be exercises in it.
But this is a book worth reading. He has lots of good basic tenets. Don't work at a job you hate. Everything popular is wrong. Don't spend all day organizing your e-mails into crazy little folders. Check your e-mail only a few times a day, and when you do, address the issue in the e-mail so you don't have to come back to it. That's like the old mail handling idea of only touch a piece of paper once, don't set it aside to come back to it.
He makes starting a business sound easier than it really is, but it is a thought provoking book. One that makes you look at how you are spending your day. I wrote down a question from the book at have it on my desk "Are you being productive, or just busy?" That and many others he raises are worth asking yourself.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Don't give up the day job, 13 Jun 2009
Work smarter, live smarter, start your own business. This book is about all these, but there are just too many things getting in the way.
There are too many rambling anecdotes. Real life stories (if true) about how people have applied the author's ideas in practice can be helpful, but they should be there to illustrate the content, not to pad it out.
Many of the suggestions about how to research the potential market for an idea or product are good - the principle being to tune your product to the market before you start selling. Unfortunately, Ferris has failed to take his own advice. This book is written for an American market with no concession to a UK or European readership. Most of the advice and information is explicitly American and is either irrelevant or seems designed to get you a starring role on "Watchdog" quicker than you could say "Advertising Standards Authority".
As with any book of this kind, most readers will find one or two useful tips, but, for my money, there are too few nuggets and too much dross. Don't give up the day job.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
A wonderful life changing read!, 19 Aug 2008
Tim Ferriss has really hit the nail on the head with this book. I, like many others I am sure, have been preoccupied with trying to find a golden million making idea, all the while slogging it out in the 9 to 5. Alas, those ideas are rare and Tim Ferriss enlightens us with the fact that it is the 'millionaire lifestyle' we all covet as opposed to the millionaire material items. He admits that those items such as fast cars, big houses etc are nice but it is time, quality time at that, which is so precious to us. Time to relax and time with our loved ones. That and really seeing the world by planning 'mini-retirements' as opposed to short holidays so you can really take in the culture and heart of where you are rather than just sit by a pool. However, that is also fine if that is what you want to do!
Learning new skills is also emphasised in this book, and scheduling time to expand our minds and learn. He really focuses on achieving your chosen lifestyle and having a business, but not a business which you have to spend 12 hours a day cosseting, a business that in essence 'looks after itself'. Outsourcing the main administration and dogsbody aspects of your chosen business is suggested to leave you time to really live your life.
The book is packed full of inspirational ideas and really got me buzzing with enthusiasm. I have read many books like this one but none have made me sit up and say 'yes, this is not how things have to be - I can do this!'. A week later and I have come up with my plan, and have handed my notice in! After all we only get one shot at this life....so adhere to the warning that is on the back...don't read this book if you don't want to quit your job!
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41 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
I feel tricked, 18 May 2007
The book teaches to make money while working as little as possible, how to seem an expert on a subject, etc. Several times while reading the book I felt like the author just pulled the tricks he teaches on me by tricking me into buying the book. Someone may argue that this can seen as proof that it works.
The book shows lack of background research. Take for instance the chapter "The Last Chapter: an E-mail You Must Read". The author claims it contains piece of a letter from a terminally ill girl. This however is a widely known hoax chain letter (see for instance snopes.com). The contained poem is written by David L. Weatherford, an adult male child psychologist.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
The Wealth Coach Loved The 4-Hour Work Week, 2 Sep 2008
I really liked several things about this book, not least that Tim Ferris didn't make it all sound easy, but rather, showed us why it is important to find a way to be financially free. Driven, successful people often find it hard to just lie on a beach, and how would you just take off on your own if you have always had people around you.....it sort of put me off a bit - which could have been sabotaging my long term success! I've always struggled with the idea of what to do when I no longer have to stay in the UK, when the kids are grown up, but can travel the world drawing a passive income from my business.....well, thanks to Tim, now I know what I'm going to do, I'm going to have "purposeful holidays". I'm going to go and live for 3-6 months at a time in an area I've always liked the sound of, rent apartements rather than live in hotels, and learn how to do things, speak languages, help people. How cool is that thought? I highly recommend this book which complements the other wealth creation biggies like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "Think & Grow Rich", "One Minute Millionaire" etc. My only tiny niggle with the book was that Tim didn't go into too much detail about his path and challenges creating his own internet business and passive income, that would have been really interesting, but could form the basis for his next book perhaps?
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Patchy, 13 May 2009
The first section is thought provoking, then the rest is padding. It is too narrow a prescription of how to outsource your life and really live, written by a single guy with no ties.
But it did have some good pointers that got me thinking about what non work things can I achieve in the next half year that would be exciting.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Awesome! Only for those that really want to get FOCUSED, 12 May 2008
I read this book at the start of this year (2008) and it's totally changed my way of thinking.
Comments such as 'it's not millions that we want, but the experiences that we believe only millions can buy', that help get you thinking. Also there are plenty of people earning a good wage, although do they have any time to enjoy life? What we all want is the TIME to do the things that excite us - that requires an automated system, he helps you form this, but first:
When you define those adventure holidays or trips around the world, you realise that they don't cost that much!!! But by actually DEFINING it you start to focus on HOW you can get it - within 6 months of course.
You work out what money you need per day in order to live your dream lifestyle. Then you work towards getting that: 4 step process
DEFINITION
ELIMINATION
AUTOMATION
LIBERATION
He provides lots of recommendations and useful tips on using the internet throughout the book and highlights the vast opportunities we now have within the new 'digital age'.
Great book for anyone who wants to improve their life and get more focused in obtaining the experiences that you most want.
I'm a budding entrepreneur and it's helped me out very much! I'm presently automating my life and planning a number of adventures including cycling the US, Travelling to Spain for a month of skydiving, Diving with sharks, adventures in the Amazon, and many more! I'm in the process of starting a blog, feel free to contact me for further guidance! Search Sean Nuzum
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