Comments on: Ask the Readers: Do You Agree with The 4-Hour Work Week? http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/ How to Live Life to the Fullest - Personal Growth and Effectiveness Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:46:30 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Barbara Saunders http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-89064 Barbara Saunders Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:08:46 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-89064 In my experience, the conflict isn't so much work vs. life; it is job vs. life and, ironically, even job vs. work. When I set aside the job construct, what I'm left with is that the things I do for fun and the things I do for money are distinct sets but with a tremendous amount of overlap. Given a reasonable time frame (say a year), I could quite easily put together a combination of activities that add up to enough (or more) money, fun, and meaningful work. What's hard is doing so when earning money gets attached to someone or some institution scheduling my time, setting my price, and preventing me from realizing the benefits of my own efficiencies! I attribute some (not all) of the popularity of the 4-Hour Workweek to its note of righteous anger from the many of us for whom all "balance" would really take is freedom not to pretend to work just to conform to a schedule. In my experience, the conflict isn’t so much work vs. life; it is job vs. life and, ironically, even job vs. work.

When I set aside the job construct, what I’m left with is that the things I do for fun and the things I do for money are distinct sets but with a tremendous amount of overlap. Given a reasonable time frame (say a year), I could quite easily put together a combination of activities that add up to enough (or more) money, fun, and meaningful work.

What’s hard is doing so when earning money gets attached to someone or some institution scheduling my time, setting my price, and preventing me from realizing the benefits of my own efficiencies!

I attribute some (not all) of the popularity of the 4-Hour Workweek to its note of righteous anger from the many of us for whom all “balance” would really take is freedom not to pretend to work just to conform to a schedule.

]]> By: VW http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-88752 VW Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:30:07 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-88752 I am actually trying to LIVE this book, so I suppose that is a very firm thumbs up that I believe it. The warning on the back is real: “Do not read this book unless you want to quit your job.” Actually, I didn’t necessarily *want* to, but despite the fact that I am a work-at-home (and from across the country) employee, I couldn’t get them to bend. However, in my case, it was not work I loved or that excited me. It paid well, and I've become attached to a "lifestyle" and the safety and all that, but I suppose I wanted more out of life. At any rate, my last day is Friday (8/1), and I am off on a 13-week solo backpacking European tour starting the next week (8/4). I get back in November. After that? Who knows... Best of luck to all of you in pursuing your dreams! VW http://wideawakeinwonderland.wordpress.com I am actually trying to LIVE this book, so I suppose that is a very firm thumbs up that I believe it. The warning on the back is real: “Do not read this book unless you want to quit your job.” Actually, I didn’t necessarily *want* to, but despite the fact that I am a work-at-home (and from across the country) employee, I couldn’t get them to bend. However, in my case, it was not work I loved or that excited me. It paid well, and I’ve become attached to a “lifestyle” and the safety and all that, but I suppose I wanted more out of life.
At any rate, my last day is Friday (8/1), and I am off on a 13-week solo backpacking European tour starting the next week (8/4). I get back in November. After that? Who knows…
Best of luck to all of you in pursuing your dreams! VW
http://wideawakeinwonderland.wordpress.com

]]> By: Donald Latumahina http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-30257 Donald Latumahina Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:14:51 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-30257 A very interesting experiment, Matthew! Thanks for letting me know about it. It's a creative way to boost the reading productivity. And you have a lot of useful ideas on effective reading in the other articles. Regarding figuring out what we love, I agree that it's "a tiny voice that often gets lost in the daily noise". That's why I think it's very important to minimize noise. I believe that effectiveness is much more important than efficiency. A very interesting experiment, Matthew! Thanks for letting me know about it. It’s a creative way to boost the reading productivity. And you have a lot of useful ideas on effective reading in the other articles.

Regarding figuring out what we love, I agree that it’s “a tiny voice that often gets lost in the daily noise”. That’s why I think it’s very important to minimize noise. I believe that effectiveness is much more important than efficiency.

]]> By: Matthew Cornell http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-30007 Matthew Cornell Sun, 26 Aug 2007 19:34:20 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-30007 I do agree re: doing what you love. I think figuring that *out* can be difficult. It's a tiny voice that often gets lost in the daily noise. I do like Ferriss's take on reducing the amount of things and inputs in your life... FYI here's a little 4-hour workweek experiment I tried: The 4-hour workweek applied: How I spent $100, saved hours, and boosted my reading workflow http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2007/08/4-hour-workweek-applied-how-i-spent-100.html I continue looking for other ways to apply the 80/20 principle, which was clearly a big influence on Tim Ferris (I'm reading Koch's book now). I'd like to hear about other experiments you've tried. I do agree re: doing what you love. I think figuring that *out* can be difficult. It’s a tiny voice that often gets lost in the daily noise.

I do like Ferriss’s take on reducing the amount of things and inputs in your life…

FYI here’s a little 4-hour workweek experiment I tried:

The 4-hour workweek applied: How I spent $100, saved hours, and boosted my reading workflow
http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2007/08/4-hour-workweek-applied-how-i-spent-100.html

I continue looking for other ways to apply the 80/20 principle, which was clearly a big influence on Tim Ferris (I’m reading Koch’s book now). I’d like to hear about other experiments you’ve tried.

]]> By: Donald Latumahina http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-29260 Donald Latumahina Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:06:19 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-29260 I think our views toward the book are similar, LJ. There are some things we can learn from the book, but there are also some other things which may not fit our values nor situations. As you said, we should "take a lot of the book with a grain of salt". I think our views toward the book are similar, LJ. There are some things we can learn from the book, but there are also some other things which may not fit our values nor situations. As you said, we should “take a lot of the book with a grain of salt”.

]]> By: LJ http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-29100 LJ Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:34:45 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-29100 I was intrigued by the book, but realized. as you have, that my work excites me, and I would hate to leave it behind. And part of what excites me is mixing with people at the office. Working from home alone gets to be numbing for me. I need people. I can't imagine being isolated from my coworkers on a regular basis. I did rearrange my schedule so that I work part time, (prior to reading the book) and that has given me more freedom to spend time with my family. I like that part of the idea, being able to reduce my time commitment to work. I found I had to take a lot of the book with a grain of salt, though, after reading the story of how he won the Kickboxing Title...There are some great tips, but I'm still out as to the overall value of the content in my life. There are some things I am not willing to do to achieve my dreams. I believe in playing by the rules. I was intrigued by the book, but realized. as you have, that my work excites me, and I would hate to leave it behind. And part of what excites me is mixing with people at the office. Working from home alone gets to be numbing for me. I need people. I can’t imagine being isolated from my coworkers on a regular basis.

I did rearrange my schedule so that I work part time, (prior to reading the book) and that has given me more freedom to spend time with my family. I like that part of the idea, being able to reduce my time commitment to work.

I found I had to take a lot of the book with a grain of salt, though, after reading the story of how he won the Kickboxing Title…There are some great tips, but I’m still out as to the overall value of the content in my life. There are some things I am not willing to do to achieve my dreams. I believe in playing by the rules.

]]> By: Donald Latumahina http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-25744 Donald Latumahina Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:34:40 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-25744 Congrats, Lea! You already live a mobile lifestyle. It's cool to be able to do the work you love while also having exciting things to do in your spare time. "Going to the beach everyday" sounds like something that will make many people envious :) Congrats, Lea! You already live a mobile lifestyle. It’s cool to be able to do the work you love while also having exciting things to do in your spare time. “Going to the beach everyday” sounds like something that will make many people envious :)

]]> By: Lea http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-25677 Lea Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:09:17 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-25677 I agree with you Donald. I escaped the 9-5 rat race 4 years ago and now travel the world, working on my laptop via the internet. Currently in the Caribbean and going to the beach every day in between the work - which is not quite 4 hours a week but is certainly not the 60+ hours I used to do. But would I want to work just 4 hours a week? No way - I love what I do and would keep doing it regardless. What matters to me is what there is to do when I want a break from work - and floating about in the Caribbean Sea does it for me! I agree with you Donald. I escaped the 9-5 rat race 4 years ago and now travel the world, working on my laptop via the internet.

Currently in the Caribbean and going to the beach every day in between the work – which is not quite 4 hours a week but is certainly not the 60+ hours I used to do.

But would I want to work just 4 hours a week?

No way – I love what I do and would keep doing it regardless. What matters to me is what there is to do when I want a break from work – and floating about in the Caribbean Sea does it for me!

]]> By: Donald Latumahina http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-25209 Donald Latumahina Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:12:44 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-25209 Just like you Bill, I also love the new paradigm and practical ideas offered in the book. I think the new paradigm about work is one of the main reasons of the book's success. Though, as I wrote above, work may not feel as work if we really love it. Just like you Bill, I also love the new paradigm and practical ideas offered in the book. I think the new paradigm about work is one of the main reasons of the book’s success. Though, as I wrote above, work may not feel as work if we really love it.

]]> By: Bill http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-25170 Bill Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:35:20 +0000 http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/07/06/ask-the-readers-do-you-agree-with-the-4-hour-work-week/#comment-25170 I really liked the book, there are many practical ideas and advice whether for business or just managing your time better. While not everyone really wants to escape their work, it's great to see that it is possible. I think we will be hearing more from this guy. I heard him say in an interview, he would have called it the 2 hr work week if anyone would have believed it. Four hours, yeah that seems about right. Tango anyone? <a href="http://www.audiobooksalive.com" rel="nofollow">www.audiobooksalive.com</a> I really liked the book, there are many practical ideas and advice whether for business or just managing your time better.

While not everyone really wants to escape their work, it’s great to see that it is possible. I think we will be hearing more from this guy.

I heard him say in an interview, he would have called it the 2 hr work week if anyone would have believed it. Four hours, yeah that seems about right.

Tango anyone?

http://www.audiobooksalive.com

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