Comments on: Tim Ferriss Revisited http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/ Spurring innovation and entrepreneurship. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:31:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Mike Tieden http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-347553 Mike Tieden Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:25:04 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-347553 I believe what Tim is trying to convey in his book is this: we have turned into a culture of workaholics and it is causing us to miss life. He is simply trying to help us realize that working all the time to advance in life, causes us to miss living life. If you are happy with your job, if you are doing something positive with your job, etc. he would not have a problem with it. He simply is showing how to become more EFFECTIVE rather than EFFICIENT with everyday procedures (answering phone calls, checking email, etc.). If you utilize the principles, rather than focusing on his personal application of the principles you will be better off. And when he outsourced his dating it was a joke among his friends. All of the women who were involved were informed of the experiment. He clearly states this on his blog and in his book. I believe what Tim is trying to convey in his book is this: we have turned into a culture of workaholics and it is causing us to miss life. He is simply trying to help us realize that working all the time to advance in life, causes us to miss living life. If you are happy with your job, if you are doing something positive with your job, etc. he would not have a problem with it. He simply is showing how to become more EFFECTIVE rather than EFFICIENT with everyday procedures (answering phone calls, checking email, etc.). If you utilize the principles, rather than focusing on his personal application of the principles you will be better off.

And when he outsourced his dating it was a joke among his friends. All of the women who were involved were informed of the experiment. He clearly states this on his blog and in his book.

]]> By: Funny1 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-347445 Funny1 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:00:44 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-347445 Tim, I would like to know more about your dehydration techniques you used for kickboxing and power lifters. Can you please contact me funnyclownboy1@aol.com Tim,

I would like to know more about your dehydration techniques you used for kickboxing and power lifters. Can you please contact me funnyclownboy1@aol.com

]]> By: savage-girl http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-347443 savage-girl Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:23:44 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-347443 Wow... I just wrote a "positive" blog in response to this, in what I think is a bit more of a critical fashion, rather than bashing. Maybe I was bashing. I dunno. But it'd be interesting to see your feedback. Wow…
I just wrote a “positive” blog in response to this, in what I think is a bit more of a critical fashion, rather than bashing. Maybe I was bashing. I dunno. But it’d be interesting to see your feedback.

]]> By: Bruce http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-346913 Bruce Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:34:28 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-346913 I am in the middle of reading Timothy's book a second time. The first time was over a year ago, and I decided to make changes in my situation which, as a consultant, is very flexible. The truth is that I have changed very little. I am still working the same number of hours. I am still wasting an inordinate amount of time on minutiae. I am still working 40-50 hours a week. And I am a believer in many of the philosophies found in the book. To be honest, if I simply focused my efforts on the vital few tasks that bring me the greatest results, and eliminated or outsourced the rest, I could definitely cut down to a 20 hour workweek and make the same amount if not more. The problem is that the habit of work for work sake, and allowing the whims of others to consume additional time is hard to break. So here I am a year later, still dreaming of the four hour workweek. The lesson here is simple. ANYONE can do it, but almost no one will. I am going to give it another try. WISH ME LUCK. Tim's techniques are neither good nor evil. They are simply tools. How you choose to use them determines whether or not they are good or bad. If you free up 30 hours a week and use them to help end animal suffering, spend time educating your children, take your grandparents on a dream cruise and take up rock climbing, that would be good. If you chose to spend those 30 hours a week manufacturing and selling crack cocaine to school children, that would be bad. I sense that there is a lot of jealousy toward Tim Ferriss and people like him. That is a shame. People are wasting their powerful emotional energies on worrying that this one guy is doing something they do not understand or approve of. Have a day. I am in the middle of reading Timothy’s book a second time. The first time was over a year ago, and I decided to make changes in my situation which, as a consultant, is very flexible. The truth is that I have changed very little. I am still working the same number of hours. I am still wasting an inordinate amount of time on minutiae. I am still working 40-50 hours a week. And I am a believer in many of the philosophies found in the book.

To be honest, if I simply focused my efforts on the vital few tasks that bring me the greatest results, and eliminated or outsourced the rest, I could definitely cut down to a 20 hour workweek and make the same amount if not more. The problem is that the habit of work for work sake, and allowing the whims of others to consume additional time is hard to break. So here I am a year later, still dreaming of the four hour workweek.

The lesson here is simple. ANYONE can do it, but almost no one will. I am going to give it another try. WISH ME LUCK.

Tim’s techniques are neither good nor evil. They are simply tools. How you choose to use them determines whether or not they are good or bad. If you free up 30 hours a week and use them to help end animal suffering, spend time educating your children, take your grandparents on a dream cruise and take up rock climbing, that would be good. If you chose to spend those 30 hours a week manufacturing and selling crack cocaine to school children, that would be bad.

I sense that there is a lot of jealousy toward Tim Ferriss and people like him. That is a shame. People are wasting their powerful emotional energies on worrying that this one guy is doing something they do not understand or approve of.

Have a day.

]]> By: Lance http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-346836 Lance Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:36:37 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-346836 I have to agree, on a practical level Tim's system might work for Princeton-educated bestselling authors, but it certainly doesn't wash for the blue collar types. The construction industry immediately springs to mind. His system is really only good for entrepreneurs and at-home freelancer types. With that being said, there are a lot of good tips in there for increasing your productivity, cutting down on wasteful activities, and outsourcing, so the message has value. I have to agree, on a practical level Tim’s system might work for Princeton-educated bestselling authors, but it certainly doesn’t wash for the blue collar types. The construction industry immediately springs to mind. His system is really only good for entrepreneurs and at-home freelancer types.

With that being said, there are a lot of good tips in there for increasing your productivity, cutting down on wasteful activities, and outsourcing, so the message has value.

]]> By: Frank http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-346468 Frank Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:53:55 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-346468 Obviously not everyone can do this. I don't think that was Tim's ultimate aim either. Personally, I wonder what is so good with hard work anyway? What is so beneficial with hard work? My mom works really hard (read: many hours) and she can barely make ends meet. And she is not a spendthrift at all. She is good at keeping expenses low. But still, hard working, broke as hell. Tell me where the smart ass function is to be found in that situation, dear Watson. As I see it: Being to lazy is not good, being too hard working is also not good (read: stupid really). And about "cheating". Who doesn't cheat these days...hehe? Are you telling me that you are never cheating (or any of you who have commented here)? If so, I will tell you right of....LIER :). I cheat daily, small and big. And who cares about the next person in line, anyway? They cheat as well and wouldn't care a shit about me or you. Think about it. About TFHWW book: If it helps my personal agenda, then I will follow it from cover to cover. If it does not help my personal agenda, I won't follow it at all. I guess that is what it ultimately boils down to. Right? Obviously not everyone can do this. I don’t think that was Tim’s ultimate aim either. Personally, I wonder what is so good with hard work anyway? What is so beneficial with hard work? My mom works really hard (read: many hours) and she can barely make ends meet. And she is not a spendthrift at all. She is good at keeping expenses low. But still, hard working, broke as hell. Tell me where the smart ass function is to be found in that situation, dear Watson.

As I see it: Being to lazy is not good, being too hard working is also not good (read: stupid really). And about “cheating”. Who doesn’t cheat these days…hehe? Are you telling me that you are never cheating (or any of you who have commented here)? If so, I will tell you right of….LIER :). I cheat daily, small and big. And who cares about the next person in line, anyway? They cheat as well and wouldn’t care a shit about me or you. Think about it.

About TFHWW book: If it helps my personal agenda, then I will follow it from cover to cover. If it does not help my personal agenda, I won’t follow it at all. I guess that is what it ultimately boils down to. Right?

]]> By: Rob O. http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-346435 Rob O. Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:02:08 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-346435 Not to discredit some noteworthy concepts he lays out, but I kinda agree with you that Tim's approach doesn't really embody the ideals that we hold up as the template for being an American. Actually, I'll take it further... Tim could be considered a shining example of the worst of Generation Y - a.k.a. a bunch of self-entitled, slackers, who want accolades & wealth, but don't have the drive or dedication to do the work needed to earn them. You said, "Today we are a country of people who outsource almost everything." That's a very polite way way of saying, "We're becoming a nation of lazy bums" - and it's true. You wouldn't believe the looks of shock & awe that I get when I (proudly) tell co-workers that I mow & tend to my own lawn and wash & wash (by hand) my own cars. Sweat equity is good for the soul. I burns off a few calories. It helps you take note of life's little details that would go by unnoticed by most. It keeps you grounded. Not to discredit some noteworthy concepts he lays out, but I kinda agree with you that Tim’s approach doesn’t really embody the ideals that we hold up as the template for being an American. Actually, I’ll take it further… Tim could be considered a shining example of the worst of Generation Y - a.k.a. a bunch of self-entitled, slackers, who want accolades & wealth, but don’t have the drive or dedication to do the work needed to earn them.

You said, “Today we are a country of people who outsource almost everything.” That’s a very polite way way of saying, “We’re becoming a nation of lazy bums” - and it’s true. You wouldn’t believe the looks of shock & awe that I get when I (proudly) tell co-workers that I mow & tend to my own lawn and wash & wash (by hand) my own cars. Sweat equity is good for the soul. I burns off a few calories. It helps you take note of life’s little details that would go by unnoticed by most. It keeps you grounded.

]]> By: Tim http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-346149 Tim Tue, 20 May 2008 13:12:38 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-346149 I had my outsourced labor in Kuala Lumpur read the book and send a synopsis to my personal assistant. From what I could gather when he summarized the summary for me, the book is just more of the old "work smarter, not harder" and applies business principles for time management to everyday activities. I think parts were good, parts were useless. If everyone were to follow it explicitly we'd grind to a halt. I still believe in hard work as the best way to get ahead. I wonder if Ferriss would have been able to manage the 4-hour workweek if he hadn't already had some success with his supplement company. -Tim (as dictated to his personal assistant and typed by his personal typist) I had my outsourced labor in Kuala Lumpur read the book and send a synopsis to my personal assistant. From what I could gather when he summarized the summary for me, the book is just more of the old “work smarter, not harder” and applies business principles for time management to everyday activities. I think parts were good, parts were useless. If everyone were to follow it explicitly we’d grind to a halt. I still believe in hard work as the best way to get ahead. I wonder if Ferriss would have been able to manage the 4-hour workweek if he hadn’t already had some success with his supplement company.

-Tim
(as dictated to his personal assistant and typed by his personal typist)

]]> By: Rim http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-346144 Rim Tue, 20 May 2008 06:55:56 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-346144 Tim admits to being extreme in his application of what he writes about -- that's really the only thing that qualified him to write a book on the subject. Chiding him for experimenting with outsourcing his dating is silly, as he will freely admit that it's a weird experiment. And he seems happy with it, too, which is an important thing you're overlooking here. Far more important than the strange notion you espouse that we should aspire to a life with more hard work simply because it's hard. That's nostalgia, not reality. It isn't a noble life -- it's slavery. If the Lord calls you to a higher purpose, shouldn't you do whatever you can to minimize the things that keep you from it? Tim admits to being extreme in his application of what he writes about — that’s really the only thing that qualified him to write a book on the subject. Chiding him for experimenting with outsourcing his dating is silly, as he will freely admit that it’s a weird experiment. And he seems happy with it, too, which is an important thing you’re overlooking here. Far more important than the strange notion you espouse that we should aspire to a life with more hard work simply because it’s hard. That’s nostalgia, not reality. It isn’t a noble life — it’s slavery. If the Lord calls you to a higher purpose, shouldn’t you do whatever you can to minimize the things that keep you from it?

]]> By: Melvin Ram http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2008/05/19/tim-ferriss-revisited/#comment-346143 Melvin Ram Tue, 20 May 2008 03:45:41 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/?p=1663#comment-346143 Why does it matter that some people can figure out how to do 10x more with much less resources? I agree that some things are more than a task... and the point of doing it is not to get done but to enjoy the journey... but most things are not. Email is where Tim recommends people start. What is the problem with having someone else read your emails, summarize it, draft a response based on instructions and having you simply approve and send them off? Sure, I probably wouldn't use a virtual assistant to create all my communication with a romantic partner but most stuff he recommends is what an assistant already does. A reader of Tim's book needs to treat his book the same as they would for any other book. Read, think, decide what might apply for them, try, monitor results, adjust accordingly. You're throwing the baby out with the bath water on this one. Tim's ideas and suggestions are solid. It's about implementing it in ways that work for you. Why does it matter that some people can figure out how to do 10x more with much less resources?

I agree that some things are more than a task… and the point of doing it is not to get done but to enjoy the journey… but most things are not.

Email is where Tim recommends people start. What is the problem with having someone else read your emails, summarize it, draft a response based on instructions and having you simply approve and send them off?

Sure, I probably wouldn’t use a virtual assistant to create all my communication with a romantic partner but most stuff he recommends is what an assistant already does.

A reader of Tim’s book needs to treat his book the same as they would for any other book. Read, think, decide what might apply for them, try, monitor results, adjust accordingly.

You’re throwing the baby out with the bath water on this one. Tim’s ideas and suggestions are solid. It’s about implementing it in ways that work for you.

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