Tim Ferriss, author of the very popular book, The Four Hour Work Week, has found himself the subject of controversy on more than one occasion. Ferris is a pioneer in the idea of not deferring wealth and the freedom that comes with it to the future, but pursuing financial success — and even freedom — today. It is through building multiple streams of passive income, rather than being a slave to a grind that gets old, regardless of how profitable it is. So what is the problem people have with the “New Rich” prophet? Critics claim he “clearly works more than four hours a week.” This is obviously true. I see him everywhere. He has written several books beyond Four Hour Work Week, including Tools of Titans, which was one of my birthday presents last year. He does podcasts, writes a weekly newsletter, and is even on late night television (I caught him on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon). All of this, takes more than four hours a week, say his critics.
Unfortunately, Ferris added to the controversy by saying, it was not work, but just part of his “evangelistic efforts” for living a New Rich lifestyle. I have read The Four Hour Work several times. In fact, it took a couple of times for me to really “get it.” At no point does he argue that implementing the principles of the book will get a person to a literal four hour work week. However, I believe that one can have even shorter weeks than that, but that depends on the discipline of the individuals who are pursuing lifestyle design and a New Rich approach. Ferriss, with his innovative book, is creating a simple metaphor that you can go from a traditional 40 hour work week to a much shorter (maybe even just a four hour) commitment.
One of the most important parts of the book is the idea of filling the vacuum that comes from moving to a “four hour” lifestyle. Ferriss argues that it is not recommended to go from a busy life of work to a listless retirement, but to fill the void with new activities that you love. Learn a language, travel (one of my favorite things to do), but do something.
I argue that people should also consider starting other “New Rich” business models. I have a business I started after my primary company that makes thousands each month, but requires less than one hour of work from me each week. Although I have dramatically reduced my hours in my primary business, I still have a way to go to the radical numbers promoted by Ferriss (that I believe, again, are a metaphor). Still, I have been able to recoup around 30 hours a week, which allowed me to start a business that makes thousands, but only requires one hour a week.
So, here’s my point, people should not have an attitude of perfection when it comes to pursuing a New Rich lifestyle. Instead, consider it a long term project, getting every hour you can as you work towards economic freedom. Hire that virtual assistant , stop allowing for meetings, do not answering phone calls from people you do not know, get out of the office, and watch the work hours disappear. As you get those hours, do what you want with them — play, have fun, learn something new — or simply start another affordable business that is designed from the beginning to foster economic freedom.
The critics of Tim Ferriss are stuck. In fact, most of them are miserable and we all know misery loves company. These critics, as a group, have never pursued lifestyle design, you can tell in the way they have chosen to write negative reviews about The Four Hour Work Week. Many are in the journalism space and only know how to work 40 hours plus! The critics do not get it, mainly because they do not want to get it. It is hard enough for people to pursue economic freedom when they want it, good luck to those who have decided to work an excessive amount of hours and want others to join them.