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Book Review: The 4-Hour Workweek – A Different Take (Part 3 of 3)

Mark Pescatrice Book Reviews, Entrepreneurship

Harrison DillardConclusion

Can the 4-Hour Workweek be done?  If you are an artist, a laborer, or assembly line worker, and you want to continue doing that, then the answer is “No”.  If you are a consultant and you want to continue doing that, the answer is “No”.  If you are a business owner, the answer is “Maybe”, depending on your business.  If you are an entrepreneur, you analyze it, break it into pieces, and say “Probably” or “Yes”.  Personally, I think it is completely achievable and in some respects I am already moving in that direction.

The problem with entrepreneurship, for most people, is the risk.  I am not referring to starting a business.  Starting a business is easy, but this is not the same thing as entrepreneurship.  As entrepreneurs, we expose our minds, bodies, and souls to the world at-large.  Accepting risk as a normal thing is difficult, as humans are biologically programmed, by way of the evolutionary process, to avoid risk.  Implementing a 4-hour workweek takes skill, daring, and a certain amount of fearlessness.

How has this book improved Matrice Consulting?

  • A measurable time savings of at least 5 hours per week since implementing some of the time saving tips and tricks;
  • Hiring of a phenomenal virtual assistant, Taby, who helps us with a variety of back office activities, which included rebuilding this website and blog;
  • Opened my mind to pursuing other opportunities;
  • Allowed us to produce more billable hours, which means more revenue and more opportunity for growth.

How has this book improved my personal life?

  • As mentioned earlier, I have more time with my wife and children;
  • I am able to relax at the end of the day;
  • My mind is generating all sorts of new ideas and concepts, as a result of the recommended media fast;
  • I no longer work on weekends.
My recommendation to you is this: ignore the haters and bad reviews, read the book with healthy skepticism, and try to implement what you can. Your life will be richer as a result.  If you feel that you should not give money to Timothy Ferriss or his publisher because you think he is a con artist, then borrow the book from your library, buy it used, or borrow a copy from a friend.  Once you cut away some of the fluff, there are some valuable gems in there.

2 thoughts to “Book Review: The 4-Hour Workweek – A Different Take (Part 3 of 3)”

  1. I totally agree with you here.

    If you are stuffing spam into cans you probably cannot negotiate a “work from home” agreement, so I guess that there are some requirements to your work situation.

    But if you’re working in an office there is a good chance that you can use some of the techniques in this book.

    If nothing else it’s a manifest that will trigger how you view your own life.

    At least it did so for me. I’m currently down to working a few months out of the year as a consultant. The rest of the time I spend with funny ideas, travelling and my family.

    1. Thanks for your comment. I am at a point where I can work about 8 months out of the year. I think there is something in this book for everyone, if they choose to apply it. I’m glad to hear you are living the life you want on your terms. That is the message.