The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris

I have been put off reading this book for quite a while because someone told me that Tim Ferris is not a particularly nice guy.  Well, it doesn't take long reading his book to realise that indeed he is not a particularly nice guy.  Early on he tells us a story about how he ruined some martial arts contest by gaming the rules.  It turned out that the framers of the rules of Chinese Kick Boxing had not taken into account someone like Tim Ferris.  By a bit of radical dehydration prior to the contest he managed to get into the wrong weight category, and so was able to literally punch above his weight.  Bully for Tim, who was doing it for a bet, rough on the enthusiasts who had trained properly for the big event in their sport.


But having had the man's lack of morals laid plain upfront, there is a lot to be learned from this book.  The basic premise is a simple one.  If you want money and you don't have any then you can get out of that situation if you are extremely clear minded about what you are doing. And what you need to do is to create a business that is basically a money making machine which requires minimum input and maintenance.  There are a few key factors in this, the most important of which is ruthless management of time and really really extensive outsourcing.  Once you have done this you can join the new rich like Tim Ferris spinning around the globe having fun, though hopefully not spoiling other people's sports events.

As it happens I actually I have worked in one of the sectors that Ferris identifies as being particularly rich in opportunities for this kind of semi-automated business.  Much of what he says is common knowledge among the operators who make a living from niche products such as health supplements and diet plans.  Tim explains the general principles behind it with clarity.  Like a lot else, it really comes down to being absolutely focused on what it is you want and avoiding any distraction.  If you want to live like Tim, i.e., a good income and plenty of leisure time, this is a pretty good guide to how to go about it.  My only warning is that I know people who are trying to do the same, and it doesn't look quite as easy to pull off in real life as it does on the page.   But I suspect that you need a fair dose of ruthlessness as well, and that may be harder to learn than how to outsource your graphic design to the Philippines.

Having said all that, the Ferris approach is refreshingly direct and challenging.  Being ruthless with yourself about what you are trying to do and how you are going about it is a habit that is well worth forming.