The 4-hour workweek: Escape 9-5, live anywhere, and join the new rich by Tim Ferriss

In a world filled with perfectly styled Instagram feeds, it often seems like everyone else has cracked the code to the “good life.” You scroll through posts of people saying they only work a few hours a week, soaking up the sun on exotic beaches and pulling in crazy amounts of money. But you? You still juggle deadlines and dream about what it would be like to escape the never-ending 9-to-5 hustle.

I mean, I work four hours a day, but the idea of working just four hours a week? That feels like a fairy tale. However, seeing people living what looks like a dream made me curious enough to pick up “The 4-hour workweek” by Tim Ferriss. I thought it might be time to see if there’s any truth to the whole idea of ditching the 9-to-5 grind for a life filled with freedom and adventure. So here it is, my summary of “The 4-hour workweek.” Enjoy.

Unpacking the main concepts

In “The 4-hour workweek,” the author talks about delegation, outsourcing, and automation. Basically, he is trying to show us some ways to make money without being stuck at a desk all day. But does he really teach how to work four hours a week? Let’s dig into his advice and see how we can apply it to our own lives.

Ferriss breaks it all down into a handy framework called PLAN: Pose, Leave, Automate, and New Life. I’ll explain.

1. Pose

Ferriss starts by telling us to really think about what we want in life. Work is not just about making money. It’s about what actually brings you joy. 

“The question you should be asking isn’t, “What do I want?” or “What are my goals?” but “What would excite me?””— Tim Ferriss.

2. Leave 

In this part, the author wants us to focus on cutting out the unnecessary tasks that consume tons of our time. He asks why fill the day with low-impact activities when we could focus on the ones that truly matter.

“Focus on being productive instead of busy.” — Tim Ferriss.

3. Automate

Here, Ferriss speaks about creating income that doesn’t require our constant attention. He also explains how important it is to delegate tasks. 

“Never automate something that can be eliminated, and never delegate something that can be automated or streamlined. Otherwise, you waste someone else’s time instead of your own, which now wastes your hard-earned cash.” — Tim Ferriss.

4. New life

This final section is all about living with mobility and flexibility. He encourages us to make the most of life now rather than waiting until retirement to enjoy the world.

“The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive. —THICH NHAT HANH”  — Tim Ferriss.

The good and not-so-good

Before we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of “The 4-hour workweek,” let’s take a quick look at the author. He is known as an entrepreneur, investor, and speaker who comes from a family of entrepreneurs. His father was an executive at a pharmaceutical company, and his mother owned a small art gallery.

When I did a little digging, I discovered that Tim Ferriss really put in the effort to build a successful supplement company. He spent years trying out different business ideas while also working regular jobs. It wasn’t all sunshine and easy wins; he worked super hard to eventually reach the much-talked-about $40,000 a month. The reason he can claim to work just “four hours a week” is that he dedicated years to hard work first and then learned how to delegate and prioritize tasks effectively. It’s not just magic; it’s the result of a lot of sweat and strategy.

The most interesting (not-so-good) part:

The dream that “The 4-hour workweek” sells isn’t just about quitting your job or starting your own business. It’s about creating a business that barely requires any of your time to run. Sounds amazing, right? But let’s be honest: this idea only works for a small number of people. Not everyone can magically build a system that makes money while they sleep. And what about those virtual assistants in India earning just $4 an hour? Who are they supposed to delegate their work to? 

Ferriss got so wrapped up in selling this dream lifestyle that he missed out on a more practical approach. What if he had taught people how to run a business from anywhere or how to become a freelancer with useful skills like coding, design, or writing? This may not have seemed glamorous, but it would have given many more people a real chance to improve their lives.

I’d be happier if the book were more like “Tim Ferriss productivity tips,” not a parallel universe where we all delegate and sip coconut water under the palm tree. 

Well, is there a good part in “The 4-hour workweek” summary?

Sort of. If you think critically, you can filter Ferriss’ principles and adapt them to your life situations. 4HWW indeed has a solid section on productivity strategies, which is a great introduction for those who haven’t encountered such ideas before.

Sure, I’ve critiqued the book, but that doesn’t mean you should walk away empty-handed.

Practical tips to take away

Here are some tips I found helpful and not harmful:

Tip 1: Define your goals

Just think about what makes you happy. Write it down, sketch it out — whatever works for you! I love using Diarly to track my thoughts and set clear intentions. If you want a more creative approach, try Muse and put your ideas on canvas. Remember that writing your goals down makes them feel real and can motivate you to take the first steps toward achieving them. 

Tip 2: Cut out the clutter

Your life can really get cluttered with tasks that don’t matter much. To avoid this, I regularly look at my to-do list and get rid of what’s unnecessary. I use NotePlan to keep everything organized and focused. Give it a try, too.

Tip 3: Set boundaries

Protecting your time? Absolutely crucial. Don’t be afraid to say no to stuff that doesn’t align with your goals. It might feel awkward at first, but trust me, standing firm on your boundaries is key to staying focused on what you really want to achieve.

Tip 4: Take action now

“Tomorrow” means “never.” Whatever the task, take that first step right now! If you’re hesitant, it might mean the task isn’t aligned with your interests. Use Be Focused to implement the Pomodoro technique. Set a timer, work for 25 minutes, and then dive in. For me, it’s a great way to get started without feeling overwhelmed.

Tip 5: Automate where you can

Automation is your best friend if you want more spare time. So, I recommend you look for ways to set up systems that run pretty much on their own. This could be as simple as automating your bill payments or organizing your daily routines with helpful apps. The more you automate, the more time you have for the things you love.

You may also like “Workflow management: How to start automating routine processes now.”

Tip 6: Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses

Improving your weaknesses usually brings only small progress and keeps you at an average level. Instead, if you focus on your strengths, you can achieve great results more easily.

If you want extra help to build on your strengths, check out UpLife. Created by professional psychologists and based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles, UpLife offers over 100 guided sessions, meditations, and personal growth challenges. You can access everything conveniently on your iPhone. It’s a great way to develop your talents and enhance what you do best.

Tip 7: Experiment with time management

Tim Ferriss says that most time management tips teach you how to get more done in a day, but what you really need to focus on is doing less. He suggests you tackle the hardest tasks first and cut out the rest. 

If you want to learn how to tackle your biggest tasks more effectively, read my summary of “Eat that frog” by Brian Tracy. The book teaches you how to prioritize your tasks and complete challenging ones without feeling overwhelmed.

Check out more useful tips on time management.

Tip 8: Embrace deliberate forgetting

Start seeing most problems as self-resolving. Stop treating every little issue like a crisis and embrace the idea of “deliberate forgetfulness.” The less information you consume, the less time you’ll waste searching for, absorbing, and reacting to all those non-productive distractions. Try cutting back on news consumption and limiting your texting and phone calls. Respond to emails just twice a day — say, at noon and 4 PM. You’ll find that this approach not only saves you time but also helps you focus on what really matters without all the noise.

Is living the 4-hour week realistic? Final thoughts 

When I think about “The 4-hour workweek,” it’s clear that Tim Ferriss is good at what he does. But his ideas don’t always apply to everyone. In reality, many people inspired by Tim’s ideas deal with uncertain income as they attempt to create that elusive passive income stream. Most of those aiming for the “muse” lifestyle may never achieve it, and that’s just the truth.

However, if you’re working as an employee or a freelancer, you can absolutely build a stable income. From my experience, I can say that I found that sweet spot between freedom, work time, and money. Unfortunately, the author doesn’t promote this lifestyle. Not fancy, huh?

Ok, while I’m not here to bash “The 4-hour workweek,” I do appreciate some universal principles Ferriss shares that anyone can benefit from. Defining your goals in life gives you clarity, and cutting out clutter can really free up your time. On top of that, automating tasks helps you work smarter, and focusing on your strengths rather than your weaknesses allows for growth and fulfillment.

But the most important part that the author omits is that it’s essential to be realistic! Not everyone can live the dream lifestyle Ferriss describes. However, embracing some of his concepts can lead to a better work-life balance.

Note that the tips I’ve mentioned — like using Diarly for journaling, getting Muse for brainstorming, using NotePlan for keeping your stuff organized, trying Be Focused for productive work, and experimenting with 

UpLife for mindfulness — can help you along the way. And the best part? All these apps and 250+ more are available under a single subscription to Setapp, making it easier to start your journey.

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