Cold Remedy: Free Flights Anywhere in the World 171 Comments

Written by Tim Ferriss Topics: 4-Hour Case Studies, The Book - 4HWW, Travel


Where would you go if you had a free ticket anywhere? The island of Bohol in the Philippines? (source: WisDoc)

Not long ago, I received the following comment — edited for length — from Ryan N.:

I hate you Tim. I had a secure future ahead of me, and I left my job, my reasonably well paying professional career all because of your book. Best thing I’ve ever done!!

I was wondering if you might be able to put up a blog post where people could post their ideas or muses as case studies. I’m sure there are a lot of people like me who would like to share their stories and listen to others living the 4HWW.

Here’s to 2010 being the year everything changes.

Indeed. Here’s to 2010 being the year everything changes.

I decided to take Ryan’s advice. Below is a post of just a few select video case studies. This is also where you can win a round-trip ticket anywhere in the world.

That would be a nice way to start 2010 with a bang, right?…

I’m sure you’ve dreamed of taking that big trip, but it’s been put off due to the million things that interrupt and overload all of our lives. The fact is this: there is never a convenient time to do the most impactful things, whether having a baby, quitting your job, or taking a dream trip overseas. It’s something you pull the trigger for despite imperfect circumstances, not because of perfect circumstances.

Let’s end the wait.

Here’s how it works – simplicity itself:

1) Upload a video to YouTube of 5 minutes or less where you describe how you’ve most successfully applied techniques or tools from The 4-Hour Workweek to your life or business. Be sure to tag your video with “4hww success” in quotation marks. Click here to see what it should look like when you are uploading your video.

2) Leave a comment on this post with a link to your video and a brief description of what worked for you (no need for more than 1-2 short paragraphs). Do all of this no later than 5pm PT this Saturday, December 26th. Early responses get bonus points.

3) I and a few secret judges will select our top favorites, and then you all will vote for the winner.

4) I will then provide a roundtrip ticket anywhere in the world that the 25+ airlines in the Star Alliance fly.

In the meantime, find below some fun examples to get your juices flowing. Included are:

- Electra, a mother who uses batching to run her business while making time for the kids
- Michael, a father of two who’s lived in Argentina and explored both international and home schooling while earning full-time income.
- Harris, a father who can take his kids to the zoo on a Wednesday or take the entire family to Barcelona for a month.
- Jed and Chelsea, who quit their previous jobs, moved to another city, and are reinventing themselves one step at a time.

Last but not least, we have Aaron Carotta, who was diagnosed with cancer but still achieved the four-hour workweek in 60 days and documented it all on video. Here is the cliff notes version, in his words:

-Diagnosed with cancer
-Lost wages
-Accumulated medical bills
-Received the book as a gift
-Documented his interpretation of the book
-Achieved goals to free up his lifestyle
-Successfully opened and sold a business in another country
-Generated automated money
-Now successfully runs a company that allows his to travel for a living, The Seven Wonders Tour [with sponsors, Vibrams!].
-Continues to live healthy, travel the world, and be happy

I’ve included a 3-part video diary compilation of Aaron’s experience at the end of this post after the other case studies. Total viewing time is just around 20 minutes.

Enjoy these wonderful examples and don’t forget — your own video submission and comment on this post must be up no later than 5pm PT this Saturday!

Question of the day: where would you travel if you had a free round-trip anywhere in the world?

###

Get the brand-new Expanded and Updated 4-Hour Workweek, published 12/15, which includes more than 50 new case studies (including families) of luxury lifestyle design, muse creation, and world travel. Make 2010 the year when you make the leap.

Recommended and Related:
Tim Ferriss on Twitter – what adventures and mischief am I up to this instant?
Tim Ferriss on Huffington Post – marketing case studies, travel how-to, and more

Posted on December 22nd, 2009

Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That's how we're gonna be -- cool. Critical is fine, but if you're rude, we'll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration)

171 Responses to “Cold Remedy: Free Flights Anywhere in the World”

  • Brendan Wenzel
    December 22nd, 2009
    9:42 am

    This is such a great idea to build buzz and share stories. I need to make a video about my story. It hasn’t been the perfect 4HWW story, but it’s done good for me so far. Looking forward to seeing all the case studies that will undoubtedly pour in here.

  • Scott
    December 22nd, 2009
    9:45 am

    Hopefully next year at this time I’ll have a video on how I’ve been successfully applied techniques. I’ll get there but I’m still working on it.

    As for where in the world I’d go, that’s tough, the Maldives for Mongolia. Not sure.

  • Jason
    December 22nd, 2009
    9:53 am

    I am excited and looking forward to it! Thanks Tim for everything!

  • rob
    December 22nd, 2009
    10:02 am

    These video’s are awesome…I’d go to Waimea, Hawaii right now to escape the 14 inches of melting snow outside my Philadelphia window. Video is in the making Tim, looking forward to sharing about my project and taking my lowly freelance interest to the next level!

  • Jonas Sandström
    December 22nd, 2009
    10:23 am

    Loved the videos!
    Thanks to all of you who took the time to put together and share your stories.
    It is always a real motivation to hear about others accomplishments.

    It’s time for me to get serious now, and put in the hours.
    2010 will change my life.

  • Archie
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:16 am

    Those videos are inspiring! Tim really is starting a revolution!

  • Clint Carlson
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:27 am

    So excited about all of this! I’m in the process of opening an online store that sells mobile tent saunas that you can pack up and toss in your car trunk. Wood burning to boot! Everything is drop shipped and I’ll just run the website. SO excited to see it get off the ground! All of the inspiration comes from the 4HWW and started about 2 years ago (I’ve had like 4 other terrible ideas before settling on what I’m actually passionate about…)

    Thanks again Tim!

  • Morgan
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:29 am

    Super Idea. Hmmm… very tempting. I probably wouldn’t win but maybe I can squeeze this in atleast for fun. :-D This is at the worst time Mr. Ferriss :-p

    Free? I would take advantage of the costly ticket to Australia. :-D

  • Antonio
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:31 am

    Hello Tim,

    I’m writing from Antonio ‘Italy after reading your book in Italian’m trying to impstare my life lavorabdo less and avoid all unnecessary things.

    When will the new book of 4 hours per week? I also hope I can achieve a similar company but it is very difficult if you do not have the right people.

    A greeting to all friends of the blog

  • Flavio Copes
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:32 am

    Well, that’s a great idea.. still working on my 4HWW story, one day I’ll make a video about it :)

  • DynastyDC
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:42 am

    I would circumnavigate the earth on a luxury World Cruise Liner for 106 + days and blog the experience. On occasions, swing it for a couple of days on my own and catch up at a different port destination.

    Sample itinerary: http://tiny.cc/h7rKi

  • Antonio
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:46 am

    If I understand correctly release a new version of the book?

  • Antonio
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:53 am

    Hello Tim I’m writing from Italy

    The first book ”4 ore alla settimana” I read was great in 2 days.
    I hope to apply what I read in my life but if
    do not have the right people is very difficult but not impossible.

    A greeting from Italy in particular from the town of Sorrento!!!!

  • Nate
    December 22nd, 2009
    12:25 pm

    Man, this came at the perfect time.

    I’ll need these videos for inspiration. I just finished your book and am super excited. My fiancée and I have been inspired to make several changes over the next two years, and we’ve begun the process of planning and defining the challenges. We want to create total mobility, and promote building small homes and simplified eating habits.

    Just a couple days ago we started a free website to document the whole thing, which will basically just be our case study as its happening (click my name above). Hopefully we will have a video for you in a year.

    These vids were great, can’t wait for more. Tim, you kick ass!

  • Aaron Carotta
    December 22nd, 2009
    1:01 pm

    Tim-
    My case study finally pays off. Its not how much money I earn but the lifestyle your book gave me. Thanks for post and your the thoughts. cant wait to see others join in on this lifestyle and here see their videos!!!
    Adventure Aaron

  • Mike
    December 22nd, 2009
    1:10 pm

    These videos are truly inspiring…

    This is a great way to start thinking and planning for 2010. BTW, I’d probably want a plane ticket to South Africa for the World Cup!!!

  • Olivier
    December 22nd, 2009
    1:29 pm

    Hello Tim,

    I can make a video case study… but in French. Will you accept it ? ;)

  • Richard Shelmerdine
    December 22nd, 2009
    1:32 pm

    Wow lots of videos. I’m gonna watch the cancer survivor guys story. Sounds interesting.

  • Stephen Wise
    December 22nd, 2009
    2:13 pm

    Aaron Carotta’s documentary was awesome, inspiring, and shows that once you get past the fear, it’s well worth it. He went from being the crazy guy of his friends to the guy people wanted to be. He did it so quickly too, compared to several who seem to let it drag on for months after reading your book.

    Great work to everyone involved. I’ll be there for the live session tonight, thanks!

  • Joshua Lowman
    December 22nd, 2009
    2:58 pm

    Hi Everybody,
    So here’s the link to me video.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnH8_wiDYJs

    Did this make me New Rich? No. Did it help me do something I really wanted to do and prime me for success on my next try? Hell Yes.
    The biggest piece of advice I can give is don’t half ass it. Don’t think you can skip a step. It won’t work, there’s a reason they are there, and if you skip it and fail(and you will at least once). Don’t stop! Do it again and again until you get it right and you get the Muse that works for you.
    If you want to check out the iPhone app that resulted, it’s here:
    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simian-speed-reader/id296829522?mt=8

    If you want a free copy, the first 25 people to email me at joshua dot lowman at gmail dot com will get one.

  • Erik Ciccarelli
    December 22nd, 2009
    3:18 pm

    Once again, another great post that really makes us think. I know on a personal level your last few post have really been something special. They have captivated the readers and made us stop and think about what we need to do to make our lives better and better.

    Can’t wait to submit a video!

  • Erik Ciccarelli
    December 22nd, 2009
    3:20 pm

    Once again, another wonderful post. The past couple posts have really made me think. You do a great job of involving the readers with something that benifits us not only through entertainment but with building our careers and achieving what we REALLY want.

    Thanks again, and I look forward to submitting my video (I can’t now because I’m at work).

  • Erik Ciccarelli
    December 22nd, 2009
    3:38 pm

    Sorry for the double (now triple) posting. I messed up, I did’nt mean to be obnoxious.

  • Jorge Morales
    December 22nd, 2009
    7:01 pm

    Hello Tim,

    Here’s my youTube video on the 5 things that I’ve been able to apply from your book to my business.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoBAoi825G8

    Thanks,

    Jorge Morales

  • Adnan Pirzada
    December 22nd, 2009
    8:25 pm

    As a pre-med student who’s equally enthralled with this lifestyle, I would looove to see a physician who’s not necessarily pulled off the 4HWW, but utilized the same principles to achieve a similar lifestyle.

    I honestly don’t think it’s possible; some jobs just don’t allow it, but I couldn’t be happier if I’m proven wrong.

  • Radek Marzol
    December 22nd, 2009
    8:51 pm

    Listening to all these stories have given me goose bumps. I have read the book several times but never applied the financial concept. 2010 will be the year of the change. In 2009 I used the principles of the work out that made me gain about 25 pounds of muscles in about 4-5 months. Than I lost about 15-having hard times eating so much. I still look buff, work out every now and then for 40 minutes and get instantenous results I also applied Tim’s ideas to learning foreign languages-I am a language freak. (English is not my first language). Next year, though, I will be financially free to travel.

  • Sam Holomua Chillingworth
    December 22nd, 2009
    9:32 pm

    Tim, you’re gonna play Santa Claus? I am so in on this! WIll record the video first thing in the morning. Keep an eye out for the guy living in Hawaii, no longer simply Enduring life, but embracing what it means to truly Live! It has been an amazing ride that you helped embark me upon…
    Many thanks to you for all that you do.
    I’m a believer.

    p.s. to Rob who wants to come to Waimea, Hawaii to escape the snow in Philly, I was in the water at Waimea yesterday. Come on over. I’ll try to my best to set you up.

  • Karanime
    December 22nd, 2009
    10:26 pm

    http://etherpad.com/oMFOVNtU9e

    Our notes on the Q&A. If you want to add, we’d gladly welcome you!

    I’ll hit you up on Twitter sometime tomorrow. G’night. :)

    /<3

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 23rd, 2009
      6:04 pm

      Wow, thanks so much, guys!

      Incredible — I love Etherpad, and the people in the community here.

      Happy holidays to you and yours!

      Tim

  • troysteel
    December 22nd, 2009
    10:46 pm

    Notes from tonights call, please use this to collaborate and collate notes.

    http://etherpad.com/oMFOVNtU9e

  • C.J. Ford
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:02 pm

    Tim, great call tonight! Thanks for the insight on all aspects, although being a huge Penelope fan, I was disappointed to hear that she’s, well, not all that and a bag ‘o chips. (Yes, I asked the question…) Good insight on Ms. Portman, however! Love an Israeli mix! :o)

    Anyhow, I wrote down a lot of info you mentioned, especially in the way of books and sites. I can’t wait to go exploring!

    One thing you forgot to cover was your goals for 2010. You mentioned that you’d touch on them… I’m just curious as to what they might be.

    Happy holidays!
    C.J.

  • Matthew Bailey
    December 22nd, 2009
    11:15 pm

    Just wanted to be first this time! Woo! lol. Hard to compete with those examples but give me the first half of this year and I’ll make one again!

    What “The Four Hour Work Week” did for me was reignite my passion for traveling and making it more desirable with creative ways such as couch surfing. It wasn’t very long after reading the book that I decided to test it out. On my way to Newfoundland to visit family, I did a 1 week stopover in boston. Never having been there before, I decided to send some emails to fellow couch surfers and found myself a place to stay near boston College for the full week. It was great! good company, local advice, comfortable accommodation. It couldn’t have worked out much better. The girl also worked in a restaurant so I got great meals, martinis, and a party almost every night.

    This made me realize that traveling alone could be great fun so I worked 4 more months and then took 6 months to go to Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia. I met great people along the way and stayed more than a month with locals. A whole different experience and my next plan for 2010 is South America!

    Next FHWW technique: Muse and Automation!

    Thanks Tim!

  • Maxim
    December 23rd, 2009
    1:10 am

    Thank you for the inspiration!

    I would travel to Asia first (Singapore!, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, Japan!), then to Europe (Denmark!, Sweden, Switzerland!, Austria, etc), then to Canada I guess. And after that probably Latin America, New Zealand, Australia.

  • Pete Williams
    December 23rd, 2009
    2:21 am

    Hi Tim,

    Here’s my entry:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIK5DtBJhrA

    I’ve really embraced the 4HWW principles in by “business life” with to two full time Philippine Virtual Assistants and a range of part-time specialists across the world taking care of all the day-to-day stuff; so I can spend more time working on the 3 businesses I own (rather than in them) – This process culminated in being named Global Runner up in JCI’s 2009 Create Young Entrepreneur Awards (ceremony in Tunisia) and a mini-retirement to the Halloween Party at the Playboy Mansion.

    The first three dreamlines (is that the right derivative) I’ve set in place (and booked) for 2010 are 1. Join the circus and learn how to trapeze, tight rope walk, handstand etc (Jan-March) 2. Trek the Himalayas to raise money for charity (April) 3. Train for the NYC marathon

    Thanks again Tim…

    Pete

    p.s. I do think Bohol in the Philippines would be on my list; as I could visit Em and Al Anthony.

  • Jared Heldt
    December 23rd, 2009
    2:49 am

    I’ve applied 80/20 to my weight lifting, weight loss efforts, I only work out once a week and have eliminated a lot of my training time by doing High Intensity Training. I’ve been using concepts out of the book Body By Science, Moment Arm Exercise, as well as by following advice from the 21 convention at http://www.the21convention.com, as well as advice from http://www.drewbaye.com. I used to weigh about 296 lbs and am now down to 240 lbs, I lost about the last 15-20 lbs doing HIT and such.

  • Jay
    December 23rd, 2009
    3:12 am

    Tim – Super job on the live Q&A.  Many thanks for the advice on small niche markets, using niche “celebrities” to promote your ideas.
    And making personal passion a muse ingrediant.  May be a worthy topic for a future blog post.

  • jig
    December 23rd, 2009
    3:14 am

    When I read 4HWW I thought, “wow, someone who thinks a lot like me” – I’d already done a lot of the stuff suggested. I had a muse that paid off all my debt and for an 18 month round-the-world tour (this was back before the book came out) but I didn’t know to get it fully automated so I closed my muse before I left the country. Since reading 4HWW I found notes from when I returned from the trip with plans to try again and this time automate it for a trial period over Christmas. I struggled to rebuild another muse with the same level of success but the book has helped build my confidence again.

  • Matt
    December 23rd, 2009
    3:29 am

    There are a lot of great video responses – hopefully mine can add to that list, though I had horrible hardware to record on meaning the video quality is shit (sound is fine).

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9IfE1clvc

    The 4HWW has really broadened my perspective on what I can achieve and how befuddled so many people are by social conditioning and media. With this perspective, I hope to make a BIG impact on the world in terms of improving education, helping people to see that becoming boring with age is fucked (sorry if thats a bit too course), helping people to broaden THEIR perspectives, and many such over-ambitious pursuits.

    I encourage that you listen to my video (don’t watch it the video quality is crap) and good luck to all of you out there living the 4HWW lifestyle.

    Matt

  • Jonny
    December 23rd, 2009
    5:06 am

    Can you get a plane right to the top of Mount Everest, now that is the question. If so, I choose there, that or back to Bangkok.

  • Steve
    December 23rd, 2009
    5:07 am

    Very cool concept…those videos are so inspiring. Looking forward to the Q&A session.

  • Luke Shillabeer
    December 23rd, 2009
    5:46 am

    If anybody managed to record the session (Tim included of course!), could you please post the vid/audio so we can all get a chance to listen in?

    Tried to listen in but ‘net went out, doh!

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 23rd, 2009
      6:01 pm

      Hi Luke,

      Here’s the link from Twitter:

      bradypatterson
      Here’s a recording of tonight Q & A with @tferriss Enjoy! http://ow.ly/ONNB

      Beware that I’m from NY originally and tend to curse. That’s just me being me.

      Happy holidays!

      Tim

  • George
    December 23rd, 2009
    7:47 am

    Awesome! I will be uploading video!

    The great thing about this idea is that it is so inspirational! I love hearing about other people’s successes. Definitely a wonderful way to make progress to joining the NR!

    After reading the first book, we started our business and are having great results. We just released our eBook (that helps people escape the 9-5 cubicle) two weeks ago. We are very excited and love what you have done for us and millions of others!

    Got the new book (after reading the first one twice!) and absolutely love it! Thank you!

  • Tim Koene
    December 23rd, 2009
    8:37 am

    Positive: My new and expanded 4HWW just arrived by mail!
    Negative: The guy who packed it wrinkled, creased and ripped the cover so it already looks like I found it under a bridge.

    Anyway; good job on the inspirational videos Tim! When will we be hearing from the Shopify Contest again?

  • Clay Nichols
    December 23rd, 2009
    8:52 am

    Voting is CLOSED on that Google Moderator page:
    http://moderator.appspot.com/#15/e=11fe30&t=11fe31

  • Scott
    December 23rd, 2009
    9:32 am

    Well,

    I haven’t done it yet.

    The plan is to change a state law to allow private wind energy development.

    I doubt I get it done by December 26, though. lol

    Scott

  • Pete Williams
    December 23rd, 2009
    12:18 pm

    Hi Tim,

    Here’s my entry:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIK5DtBJhrA

    I’ve really embraced the 4HWW principles in by “business life” with to two full time Philippine Virtual Assistants and a range of part-time specialists across the world taking care of all the day-to-day stuff; so I can spend more time working on the 3 businesses I own (rather than in them) – This process culminated in being named Global Runner up in JCI’s 2009 Create Young Entrepreneur Awards (ceremony in Tunisia) and a mini-retirement to the Halloween Party at the Playboy Mansion.

    The first three dreamlines (is that the right derivative) I’ve set in place (and booked) for 2010 are 1. Join the circus and learn how to trapeze, tight rope walk, handstand etc (Jan-March) 2. Trek the Himalayas to raise money for charity (April) 3. Train for the NYC marathon

    Thanks again Tim…

    Pete

    p.s. I do think Bohol in the Philippines would be on my list; as I could visit Em and Al Anthony.

  • Brad Edgar
    December 23rd, 2009
    12:51 pm

    Looking forward to hearing some of the stories and using them as inspiration to get my lifestyle completely overhauled.

    Will definitely need to start practicing some of the principles that are tought by the stoics to get things going.

  • Farrell Hudgins
    December 23rd, 2009
    1:38 pm

    It’s not pretty but here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WrAW4sGJMU

    I read The 4HWW while I was an active duty Marine deployed on Navy vessel USS Tarawa. It took me less than a day to read the book and 24 hours later I was testing my muse. I literally did everything through Elance.com except for the incorporation of my company that I hired a friend in San Diego, CA to do. It took me less than a month to create and I documented EVERYTHING I did in a very small notebook. I did $500 in sales the first month, $1050 the next and about $2000 the third. Then someone paid me $10,000 for my domain name and I was on to my next muse!

    I’ve been out of the Marine Corps for almost 9 months now and haven’t had to get a JOB yet thanks to The 4HWW. I’m applying the principles in the 4HWW to a service business, commercial cleaning, and the results are starting to come in. I’ve never felt less stressed and I’m happier than I’ve ever been knowing that I’ll never go back to the ole 9 to 5!!!

    Thanks Tim!

  • Michael Davis
    December 23rd, 2009
    2:27 pm

    Thanks for linking to my video Tim.

    For anyone who has kids….a mobile lifestyle is doable and easier than you think.

  • Chuck Holton
    December 23rd, 2009
    2:48 pm

    Thanks for the opportunity to share our case study.

    http://is.gd/5za4o

    My attempts at leaving the corporate world met with very limited success until I read the Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. In the last few years, we’ve successfully done the following:

    1. Left the corporate world for good.
    2. Taken a 1-year mini-retirement (with 5 kids!) to Panama
    3. Paid off our house through the application of geoarbitrage.
    4. Diversified our cash flow into more than ten different streams
    5. Automated over 50% of our cash flow (passive or semi-passive) through the use of e-lance.
    6. Cut my work hours from 70+ per week to however many I feel like (closer to 20/wk)
    7. Implemented 4hww strategies into my children’s home schooling, teaching them to structure their own lives to attain freedom.
    8. Freed up 4 hours/day of my wife’s time by applying the eliminate/automate/delegate principles to her work teaching our children.

    Thanks, Tim for a great product!

  • Austin E
    December 23rd, 2009
    3:11 pm

    4HWW Success Video Submission:

    “How I built 2 Startups while Traveling Abroad” – http://bit.ly/6eKtSu

    The 3 biggest things I took from the 4HWW that helped me build 2 Startups while traveling abroad were:

    1) Hiring a Virtual Assistant to perform tasks such as data entry, and marketing campaign management.

    2) Purchasing a Skype Phone Number that forwarded to my cell phone abroad. This helped me communicate with my team directly when needed.

    3) Empowering people to make decisions on their own.

    You can read my full story here: http://bit.ly/6n84uT, or watch just the video here: http://bit.ly/6eKtSu

  • Peter
    December 23rd, 2009
    5:57 pm

    Hi Tim. I really enjoy your blog and have read your book several times. I have a thing I would like to know more about and that is how do you handle money while traveling?
    Do you use cash? , credit cards?, checks? and how do you think in the way of security and backup while traveling? what kind of “system” do you have?
    If you could share some of your thoughts in your blog that would be great!

    Thanks//Peter

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 23rd, 2009
      5:59 pm

      Hi Peter,

      I almost always use credit cards when possible or take cash out of local ATMs in int’l banks using a debit card. Citibank has a fair spread. I usually arrive with $100 USD in local currency, but I never use traveler’s checks.

      Tim

  • Adam Davis
    December 23rd, 2009
    6:11 pm

    Tim, thanks for this post and especially the videos. I’m about to become a first time parent and, after hearing the ‘horror stories’ from current parents about how they have no time to do anything, let alone raise their kids right, I was very inspired by the videos.

    Harris’ video was great. Being an information marketer myself, his story hit me square between they eyes about what is possible.

    Thanks again.

  • Nathan Jurewicz
    December 23rd, 2009
    7:33 pm

    You guys have no idea whats about to go down! I have this contest in the bag!…. Stay tuned. – Nathan Jurewicz

  • Cody McKibben
    December 23rd, 2009
    9:12 pm

    @Peter: Charles Schwab has a great, free checking account with no minimums that will reimburse you for ALL ATM fees and has no international transaction fees! I’m still trying to set mine up (since I’m currently abroad), but it was recommended to me by a mentor who travels about 50 countries a year and also have a few friends who use it happily! Good luck

  • Bobby Huang
    December 23rd, 2009
    9:54 pm

    Hi Tim, here is a link to my video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JteZicvMUiY. So many conversions and edits, here it is 24 hours late!

    Leave a comment on this post with a link to your video and a brief description of what worked for you (no need for more than 1-2 short paragraphs).

    In my video about how I applied Four Hour Work Week I talk about how I went from 50-60 hours a week to 4-8 hours a week. Topics covered are about batching, automation, disappearing and so much more.

    I also discuss a little about my recent resignation from my job. I went on a vacation recently for 5 days and didn’t tell my supervisors, discovered something special and will be moving there in January!

    Thanks for your blog and book Tim, I appreciate the Q&A as well, chat was flooded with “Tim Old Man Pants” or something similar when you went to look for the business card. It was fun and informative, well, time to go watch Spirited Away (always had it but have not watched it, till today).

  • Mark Cafiero
    December 23rd, 2009
    10:41 pm

    Hey Tim,

    Thanks for adding me in your extended version of 4HWW!

    I have videos from my first $1000 Swiss Alps mini vacation if you want, I’ll send em over. Include my pimp apartment in Luzerne, eating street vendor food, taking the train to ski the alps.

    I have always thought i sound ghey in video, but maybe you’ll like em…

    Mark

  • Emmanuelle Gomez
    December 23rd, 2009
    11:57 pm

    My name is Em and I am one of the virtual assistants based here in the Philippines that work full time for Mr Peter Williams.

    Mr Pete, thought another fun entry into Mr Tim Ferriss’ 4 Hour Work Week Video Contest would be for me to put together a video while he enjoys the Australian summer and Christmas festivities with his family and friends.

    Here is our fun entry – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv2Co4kl2kk

    Thank you kindly,

    Em.

  • Chris F.
    December 24th, 2009
    7:38 am

    I’m excited to watch some of these videos. Too bad I read this post so late, there’s no way for me to make a video over Christmas day. I have been employing 4HWW ideas for about eight years now, including traveling to almost 40 countries and over half of them for free (without using miles). My son is 4 and has been to 20 countries. I got a “1″ on the Lifestyle Quotient assessment, which was cool to see. Thanks Tim for taking the ideas of a mobile and intentional lifestyle so much further than anyone else. If you ever come through Xi’an, China, hit me up!

    Chris

  • Nathan Jurewicz
    December 24th, 2009
    10:11 am

    Ok here it is… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEkuJ_y7hWI

    Book changed my life!!

    This really is my lifestyle no joke!

    I do whatever I want, whenever I want and I am semi famous!!

    Thanks Tim!!

    - Nathan Jurewicz

  • J.D. Andre
    December 24th, 2009
    12:21 pm

    My submission for success with “The 4-Hour Workweek”:

    A big thank-you to Tim for introducing me to his principles. Everything I learned has allowed me to pursue my passion, help other people, and travel.

    I took what I learned in the book and used it to expand my business (teaching people how to meditate) and added a new product (an online, self-study course). By outsourcing, automating, delegating, and streamlining I was able to:

    1.) Add a product that substantially increased my reach and exposure, not to mention income.
    2.) Design, implement, and market my products and services without adding extra time and burden to myself.
    3.) Streamline my operations so I can focus on other activities (personal teaching and traveling), with only the most important issues filtering to me for attention.

    I tell people that after reading and implementing “The 4-Hour Workweek”, I can get 10 times as much accomplished in half the time.

    Thank you again for helping me, but more importantly for giving me the tools so I can help others by introducing them to meditation.

    Jon
    MEDITATIONSHIFT.com

    P.S. – here is the video (sorry I went over by 5 seconds):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-v6q2fQL8M

    P.P.S. – best wishes to everyone in 2010 – I hope it is happy, prosperous, and full of adventure!

  • Davide
    December 24th, 2009
    4:04 pm

    Hi Tim,

    god jul (merry xmas in dansk :p) from Aarhus ^^ I read your 4HWW about 4 months ago, finding it very inspiring… I’m trying to find my Muse, reading again and again your blog/book/following your tips and tricks but… something wrong :( before now, I lived in Italy (Roma) where every initiative was suppressed by politicians/institutions/missing of infrastructures/founds and so on… now I live in Denmark, learning English as best as I can and trying to “summon” my Muse…
    If someone got any tips, tricks, help, I’m the man! XD (@serapheim on twitter:p)
    And of course, Merry Christmas Again!!!!

    Davide

  • Clint Masser
    December 24th, 2009
    4:18 pm

    More great promotion ideas! This is why I love 4HWW so much, it’s a great example of not only building a community, but also giving back(with the contests). Right now my fiance and I are trying to get set for the beginning of the Shopify contest, however, there is so much information to catch up on and apply that we really need to take a step by step approach from the dreamlining to the low-information diet, etc.

    Also, I found it ironic that Jed and his wife moved TO Chicago to start their NR lifestyle as my fiance and I are trying to get OUT of Chicago and somewhere that doesn’t have cold/dark depressing winters and an insane cost of living, most likely Phoenix and then who knows where?

    Well Merry Xmas to all, I’m gonna get a video together by Sun, although I haven’t directly applied much of the 4HWW since I first read it this time last yr, it has done a lot to change my mindset and this Shopify contest is just what we need to finally achieve the lifestyle design we’ve always wanted!

    And oh yea, my Vibram KSO’s came today, here’s to hoping that I can achieve another milestone in making Chicago Marathon #3 a sub 4hr(#1 was 6:01 and #2 was 4:33)!

  • The Ren Men (Grant & Alan)
    December 24th, 2009
    9:32 pm

    The Ren Men on 4HWW

    Here is The Ren Men video submission for the Cold Remedy video contest.

    http://su.pr/1O97Hu

    Since reading The Four Hour Work Week we have quit our jobs, created a passive income real estate rental empire, started a vending company, purchased a store-n-lock and host a webshow on lifestyle design; all in a three day work week.

    We explore the top three techniques we use to accomplish this:
    1 – No W4W (Work for Work Sake)
    2 – Many Mini-retirements
    3 – Automation

    In two and a half years we have developed a system of passive monthly income, created net wealth of over $2,000,000, have taken complete control over our own schedules, and go on over 20 vacations a year.

    The Ren Men
    Grant & Alan

  • Grant Peelle
    December 24th, 2009
    9:38 pm

    The Ren Men on 4HWW

    Here is The Ren Men video submission for the Cold Remedy video contest.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdGD9OfLBdc

    Since reading The Four Hour Work Week we have quit our jobs, created a passive income real estate rental empire, started a vending company, purchased a store-n-lock and host a webshow on lifestyle design; all in a three day work week.

    We explore the top three techniques we use to accomplish this:
    1 – No W4W (Work for Work Sake)
    2 – Many Mini-retirements
    3 – Automation

    In two and a half years we have developed a system of passive monthly income, created net wealth of over $2,000,000, have taken complete control over our own schedules, and go on over 20 vacations a year.

    The Ren Men
    Grant & Alan

  • Grant Peelle
    December 24th, 2009
    9:42 pm

    The Ren Men on 4HWW

    Here is The Ren Men video submission for the Cold Remedy video contest.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdGD9OfLBdc

    Since reading The Four Hour Work Week we have quit our jobs, created a passive income real estate rental empire, started a vending company, purchased a store-n-lock and host a webshow on lifestyle design; all in a three day work week.

    We explore the top three techniques we use to accomplish this:
    1 – No W4W (Work for Work Sake)
    2 – Many Mini-retirements
    3 – Automation

    In two and a half years we have developed a system of passive monthly income, created net wealth of over $2,000,000, have taken complete control over our own schedules, and go on over 20 vacations a year.

    The Ren Men
    Grant & Alan

  • Ben Weston
    December 25th, 2009
    12:39 am

    Hey Tim,

    Below is my entry video. I apologize for the audio and video not being in sync. I tried recording 8 different times but this was the closest I got!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5rLdh3Pb6Q

    The biggest change that occurred from reading the book was my decision to join the circus after graduating from college! I have always dreamed of putting together a performance troupe that synthesizes capoeira, martial arts, tango, breakdancing, and acrobatics, with the circus style of storytelling. I never thought it was realistic, however, especially if I wanted to be financially abundant too. After reading the 4HWW, I decided that this unrealistic life may actually be doable.

    I also eliminated my biggest block in taking action- my laptop. I normally spend days “researching” when in fact, all I am doing is delaying and just subjecting myself to an overload of information. I decided to send my laptop away and focus on my output. I then began to find mentors, other NR, practice dancing, train more, got a gorgeous girl’s phone number, bringing people together for my performance group, and started creating my muse with my mentor.

    I am now actually making my apparently unrealistic dream of following my passions and being financially abundant a reality! This is something I never thought possible and have Tim’s book to thank for that.

  • Lee Burrell
    December 25th, 2009
    12:54 am

    Ren Men, that video was pretty impressive! Very interesting and entertaining.

    For my video, I went with the theme “simple” :) Just lil ole me in front of my flip camera, letting everyday Joe’s (and Sally’s) that they really can do this whole “muse” and “4hww” thing.

    Here’s my video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YX9u4Pm8TM

    Since The Four Hour Work Week was given to me, I have been able to start a successful muse (while in school full time and traveling around the world) and even though the whole book was enlightening, a few specific principles have really helped me along the way.

    The principles that really have enabled me to succeed are:

    - Begin with the end in mind. Don’t let your business run you. Develop a product that lets you step away from the business and it still run like clock-work (this is essential)

    - Figure out what customers want – and give it to them. By first performing seminars and getting detailed student feedback, I was able to determine where other companies product’s were falling short. Keeping their feedback in mind and building a list of FAQs based on the most commonly asked questions/concerns, I developed a product that people want and are willing to pay more than 8-10x mark-up for.

    - Outsource. Outsource. Outsource. I outsourced the website creation, content creation, have a VA, professional proofreader, powerpoint expert for building presentations, and customer service “center.” All of was done using the books principles and recommendations. (Elance rocks)

    If sales continue to grow as expected, I will have a million dollar muse in 15 months (at the ripe old age of 24) and will be helping people reach their dreams along the way.

    Can’t thank you enough Tim.

    Cheers!

    Lee

    (Btw I came in 2nd in your “Trail By Fire” contest. The Planet Earth DVD’s you sent were awesome! I’m definitely excited about the possibility to win a plane ticket to see some of those places in person :p)

  • M Karpinski
    December 25th, 2009
    4:35 am

    The guy having his video response put by his outsourcing partner…
    F*cking awesome. :D That idea alone deserves this trip. :)

  • gary junior
    December 25th, 2009
    9:50 am

    “4hww success”
    http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=geemisner

    When i left high school i was sure i was going to work in the family business and i did for 7 years. the latter proved different. When i was 18 they falsely diagnosed me with lymphoma . 4 months of testing proved them wrong and was only a parasite called toxoplasmosis. while waiting for results i found myself sitting around thinking of what i still wanted to do with my life and from that day on i’ve lived everyday like my last. about a year i ago i picked up the 4 hour work week and finally realized i’m not the only one that lives this way . i couldn’t put the book down. i started my first muse was primitive but effective , using corporate america to put money in my pockets i proceeded
    to hire my friends buy a beat truck and go around to the dumpsters of all the chain stores in my area with no gate or lock ..take out the returns and sold them on craigslist and ebay. it was simple i showed them my route that i made after two weeks and seems like for life i get half the profits without doing a thing. great but unstable!
    So i quit my job to become a full time thinker .
    I became intrigues by gold and silver. i wanted to find a way to get the younger population into investing and saving and making money. so i got the idea to incorporate the bullion in my mens clothing accessories. locally it took off gorilla style advertising paid off. i now make the accessories work hard for a month and take three off selling the products locally and abroad. i have worked on many muses since , and if i keep following the four hour work week strategies im sure i will be successful . then again im already successful. traveling the world with money in my pocket on my way to being a polyglot. working and wandering around the world sometimes solo sometimes with company making new friends everywhere i go winning beach soccer tournaments in pescopagana italy surfing in hawaii partying in vegas. working in puerto rico helping develop a world changing movement in amsterdam casarobino.org and weekend trips to my women that i am accumulating all over the world
    Thanks Tim looking forward to reading more of your work!

  • Diego Cardenas
    December 25th, 2009
    11:56 am

    How i have used outsourcing to grow my web development business, freed up time in my job by using batching and the 80/20 principle.

    How i have sealed some drop shipping deals that i will implement into my “muse” online stores to be able to move away from the services industry, travel the world and focus on my blogging and music writing.

    Thanks so much for putting out such a cohesive and applicable package of tools. Happy holidays to Tim and all the people that are empowering themselves through the 4-Hour Workweek movement.

    Here is my video:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YArOb-a5tSw

  • Brad Kirr
    December 25th, 2009
    11:56 am

    Werd up Tim!

    Here’s my video on how I’m using the 4HWW to Skate/Surf/Snowboard the world over!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad9kJPoRV-I

    I talk about three principles from the book as it applies to my life including outsourcing your life as it applies to technical aspects of product addition and seo of my web business, dreamlining and the use of “My Fantastical Autobiography” to initiate my dreamline of starting a skateboard company in Dubai, and finally the 80/20 principle as it applies to my current dreamline of becoming a big wave surfer.

    You can make my next dreamline happen by sending me to the Mentawis buddy!!!

    Yeeeeeeeeeeeewww

    Brad

  • Boris
    December 25th, 2009
    12:32 pm

    Here’s my video entry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf5VWi7-BfM

    The biggest thing 4hww made me realize is that I shouldn’t wait until retirement to live life exactly the way I want to. So at 23, I quit my job to work on Educate!, a startup non-profit I’ve ran with a buddy of mine since I was 19, and now work full time on it. I don’t know if I’ll do it forever, but if I had $10 million, I’d be doing it now, so I might as well still work on it even if only have like $1,000 :). I’ve never regretted the decision to do this.

    Some other things I’ve done:
    - Start an online store to sell high margin reproduction oil paintings. It is already throwing off some income, and I hope to grow it a lot in future via SEO. I work on this by paying my friends who don’t have jobs to do small projects on the site. I also now have 3 college students to blog for me.
    - Focus on empowering people as a management practice – I try to push as much work away from me as possible and outsource everything so I can focus on going after higher and higher value activities
    - Results focused work – focusing on effectiveness vs. efficiency.
    - Prioritizing whats really important – whenever I have too much to do, I know it’s not because I have too much to do, but because I’ve prioritized what’s most important poorly
    - All the little productivity things – stopped reading newspaper everyday, try to batch email, don’t pick up phone, try not to multi-task and have my mind thrown in all different directions.

    Thanks for all the awesome advice Tim. It definitely has changed the course of my life, and I’m very happy for it.

    Boris

  • Sarfraz Mohammed
    December 25th, 2009
    2:27 pm

    Hi Tim,

    I am from Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean, I have had your book since March 2008 and it has definitely changed my life. This is my first comment on your blog but I have been reading it for ages. Here is my video…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=808jkDUVuEU

    …only just started using my webcam and Windows Moviemaker today.

    The 4HWW book and blog has helped me to:
    - focus on the important things at work and complete them on time
    - free up time to spend with the family
    - focus on and achieve my dreams, leading to a more fulfilling life

    I have micro-tested a muse and I am launching a consultancy.

    In the new year I am planning a family vacation in Curacao, looking for an archaeological field school to volunteer with in Latin America and plan to start regular aerobic exercise.

    Thanks Tim,
    Sarfraz.

  • Alex CC
    December 25th, 2009
    4:07 pm

    Hi Tim.

    Your book change my life in the way I make one of my dreams come true: I always want to be a filmmaker.

    Applying PARKINSON and PARETO´s laws I shoot my first independent, low budget movie in 8 differents locations in only 4 days and a half.

    AMAZING BUT TRUE.

    HERE IS MY VIDEO:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkkSqGnK6xI

    GREETINGS AND ALL MY BEST.

    MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY!!!

  • Sam Holomua Chillingworth
    December 25th, 2009
    5:36 pm

    Aloha Tim,

    Mele Kalikimaka.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IUfwRpo31I

    All the best.

  • George
    December 25th, 2009
    7:41 pm

    OK, video is up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKAwsleDAao

    We used 4HWW tools and techniques to create a book about how to use accelerating technology to make money. It’s called “The Wealth Singularity”. We have already released the eBook version and have signed up with e-junkie so that other people can sell it and get income on automatic pilot.

  • Greg Phillips
    December 25th, 2009
    10:16 pm

    Dear Tim,

    You never cease to amaze me. Thank you kindly for being such a great source of information and inspiration.

    My path to the actual 4HWW is ongoing and quite different than what I expected or what I’ve seen from others so far. It has taken me through a deep spiritual journey of losing or surrendering nearly everything, powerfully reframing outdated beliefs and finding a new found freedom, aliveness, sense of abundance and limitless possibilities I’ve never know before.

    I’m not quite where I want to be yet, nor is it exactly what your wrote in the book, but I will try to put the story into video and post it here again later. Perhaps from this place I can now implement more of the ideas you’ve offered. I’m definitely going to re-read the book now!

    Thanks again and many blessings this holiday season,
    Greg

  • Lynda
    December 26th, 2009
    2:36 am

    I can talk – a lot! This video has been edited hard (and badly) to cut down to 5 mins from 12!
    Even had to leave out my piece on ‘low info diet’.
    However, bullet points are:
    Have successful life with ‘mini retirements’.
    However, problem maintaining this lifestyle long-term
    Enter – 4HWW
    Start I.T Business
    Develop multiple streams of automated income
    Today: Business profitable with $$ in bank, overhead being covered by automated income with leftovers
    All labour outsourced
    Future: Further automated income streams in development. Continue lovely lifestyle.
    Video here:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKSDwwNNKZQ

  • Maneesh Sethi
    December 26th, 2009
    9:39 am

    Hey Tim!

    I’ve gone ahead and made a video, live from India, which shows how I’ve used the 4HWW. Here is the link:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1merER1zVFg

    I currently work exactly 3h59m per week (11am-2:59pm on Monday), and in the video I show EVERYTHING—my entire job, the software I’ve written to automate myself out of existence, and how my VAs literally do everything without me. I’m about 4 weeks away from outsourcing the final 3h59m, as well. My business is an SEO SEM biz, writing articles based on keywords that people are searching for on google. My business is monetized by adsense and ad revenue—i literally go to sleep, wake up, and check how much money I’ve earned. I’m serious–no matter where I am in the world, my work is getting done, and I am getting paid, no matter what the hell I do.

    So what do I do with all this time? I travel—for 2 years straight, I’ve been living in a new country every four months, studying the language, and just enjoying life. (I have lived in Italy, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, India—and I speak Italian, Spanish and Portuguese). I do pushups in every city (my life goal is a pushup in every country).

    Now, with all of this free time, I’m trying to change the lives of others and give them an opportunity to do the same. I founded an NGO, SaveThem.net, and I am building a classroom in Upli Badi village near Udaipur, India—an extremely poor shanty town. I’ve raised over $1500 to buy these children laptops, and I’m going to begin giving them personalized classes starting January 16. I was lucky enough to be introduced to computers at a young age—hopefully, these poor kids will be able to learn to use the computer, break out of their horrible cycle of poverty by working a good technical job, be able to raise money, and bring back this money to their parents and friends in Upli Badi. Until they do, my NGO will be around helping more and more children.

    So I hope you enjoy the video!

  • Gavin
    December 26th, 2009
    12:31 pm

    Hi Tim, great job on the ‘expanded and updated’ version of the 4HWW book (especially page 223). My video is at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT8QwmW0leg

    The tips I’ve following are numerous, so here are just a few:
    • Researched a market you’re familiar with (I chose drumming after living with 3 drummers)
    • Strive to be the first in a niche category (I was the first to make pink drumsticks).
    • Test before you invest (I created a 3-page website and used google Adwords to test for 2 weeks before investing)
    • Outsource what makes sense (I used ThomasNet to find a manufacturer and drop shipper to fulfill my orders)

    Respectfully,

    Gavin

  • Kevin
    December 26th, 2009
    1:38 pm

    Tim,

    Just spent an hour scouring the blog; in the updated book you state:

    “the process [of selling BrainQUICKEN] is described on fourhourblog.com”

    Could you please refresh my memory where?…. I cannot find anything that touches on the ‘process’ of your sale in Jan ‘09.

    Thanks for sharing so many of your experiences as you continually do!!

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 27th, 2009
      12:12 pm

      Hi Kevin,

      Doh! I knew I’d missed something! I’ll get it up soon :)

      All the best,

      Tim

  • Aaron Guthrie
    December 26th, 2009
    3:23 pm

    Hi Tim,

    Here is my submission: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjlbXHIbDgk

    Let me also apologize for the quality since I am currently in London, England living one of my first dreamlines and don’t have a good video source.
    I found a lot of The 4HWW extremely helpful. It was hard to come up with just a few items to talk about but I ended up with 2 main points. The first is about batching work. Just batching email has given me more time. As a Project Manager most of my time is spent on communication, so being able to reduce the amount of time I spend on something as major as email dramatically increased my time. I’ve also applied batching to my other work tasks reducing my time spent on “normal” work to half of my day or about 20 hours a week.

    The second point I made was about starting a business. My Dad has always been self employed. Most of the time it seemed like working for yourself was WAY to hard and not worth it in the long run, so I made a choice when I was young that I would never have my own company. After reading The 4HWW I realized that with a correctly built company I didn’t have to experience the bad side of having a company. I now have a concept for a company and starting in 2010 I will be launching it.

    Thanks Tim for being a great inspiration and for writing a great book!

    Aaron Guthrie

  • Jed Wood
    December 26th, 2009
    3:54 pm

    I’m sure Tim is looking for new stories, but I thought I’d use this as a chance to make a quick update. Hard to believe it’s been 2.5 years since that first video! Here are some highlights:

    - Spent 3 months in Mexico
    - Found the ultimate geo-arbitrage right here in the U.S; have been living rent-free since 2008!
    - Added another daughter to our family
    - Thankfully, 2009 was record year for my business.
    - Spoke at the Entrepreneurial Lecture Series – my favorite class in college and something I vowed to do someday.

    Certainly less dramatic and exotic compared to many of the success stories, but that’s my main point in the vid; extreme 4hww successes can be inspiring, don’t get stuck thinking it has to be all or nothing!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0-2BTI6414

  • Alexandre Guertin
    December 26th, 2009
    4:18 pm

    Hi guys! So here is the link to my video. I started it using Adobe Premiere for the first time and after learning how to use the program, realised that it kept freezing and I had to start from sratch using another software. Although the voice isn’t great, I hope you enjoy it! :

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAigoK4hVEU

    To make things more interesting, I decided to start this video after Christmas on the day of the deadline, and make it in under 4 hours, we need to show that we learned something right ;). Even though I won’t get any early submission bonus points, this is my own little challenge.

    Earlier in April, I sent an e-mail to Tim thanking him for the changes I made in my life upon reading the 4HWW. At the time, I was a sales rep at a Fortune 500 company and I was able to use the book’s principles, especially Pareto’s law, in order to maximize my time and increase my sales results. In the e-mail I sent Tim, I mentionned some of the plans I had in the future. This video will show you concretely what I did following that e-mail, what principles from the books I used and how I learned to travel and be treated like a millionaire and a rock-star.

    Enjoy!

  • C.M.
    December 26th, 2009
    4:34 pm

    Hi Tim,

    Just watched the 12.22 Q&A video and noticed that you mentioned Trial by Fire a few times. As a cable TV producer/developer, what this company did is not uncommon, but in my opinion all of the possible changes/outcomes should have been discussed with you before production started and as it progressed (did you have script approval? Final cut approval?).

    For complete control of a project, a web series is a very, very good idea (or a feature documentary, depending on the subject).

    As a known quantity, you have the ability to deal directly with a network, but know that they will attach a production company to the project or produce it in-house, and a similar outcome is possible. MOST cable networks and producers will hype the drama or insinuate drama that’s just not there, that’s the nature of the beast.

    For those readers who are unknowns but have a great cable TV idea, understand that an idea is not enough, even if it’s the best idea ever. Show ideas must be developed to fit into a repeatable format week after week, and networks only buy shows from those who have experience producing and delivering similar content. Your best bet would be to research (yes, watch more TV) and find a production company making shows you like that are similar to your idea and then pitch your idea to them.

    Don’t pitch general survey/info shows, or other people as talent. Not worth your time. Only worth it if you are the unique talent.

    Know that most pitches, even good ones, do not get greenlit. If you’re really passionate about it, make a web series.

    Forgive the long off-topic post. One more tip for those unknowns who want to pitch a show idea: Do Not work in a vacuum. Always study the market and anything similar to your idea — past and present — and learn from it. Networks want new but familiar ideas they know will at least do okay. Very rarely is TV a place for groundbreaking content.

    Good luck to all and Happy New Year!

    C.M.

  • Jeff
    December 26th, 2009
    4:43 pm

    Someone may have covered this already, but the new book is now available on iTunes in audio.

  • Christian
    December 26th, 2009
    5:09 pm

    Hey there!

    Here is my contribution…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdFPbDfHbt8

    Hope you guys understand my Danish accent :0)

    The 4HWW inspired me to automate my company and spend my Danish currency and use them as pesos in Latin America. I have done this for two years now, living and traveling mostly in Colombia and Guatemala. But the biggest inspiration from the 4HWW was Tims writing about not ending as the big fat guy in the big fat BMW. Lifelong learning, grow as a person and start changing the world, thats the real 4HWW.

    Thanks Tim.

    Christian

  • Erik Felsted
    December 26th, 2009
    5:09 pm

    Hey Tim, here’s my video:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuf7FFzWkis

    I had to record this on my way to a family Christmas party but I wanted to do this because you are awesome and your book changed my life. So in a nut shell, here is what I accomplished in 2009 due in part to the principles in The 4-Hour Work Week.

    In March 2009 I went part-time (leaving a six-figure corporate job). I learned everything I missed out (re: social media and Internet Marketing) during the 2-3 years previous due the experience around my son’s brain cancer. I started a new business that teaches newbies how to get into Internet Marketing (so they can live the 4HW) called http://paidin14days.com. I started Tae Kwon Do training with my wife and 3 kids. I’ve planned my trip to live in Panama starting next summer. I’ve sold my Lexus IS-F, Motorcycle, Cabin in Southern Utah, ton’s of crap I didn’t need, and have spent more time with my family than ever before.

  • Giovanni Gonzalez
    December 26th, 2009
    5:49 pm

    Tim,

    Here is my video submission about working on a PhD while managing a social networking business using the 4HWW techniques.

    A PhD and a Latin Party
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wo4Rh5bFxw

    Thanks to your book I have been able to double my profits, travel the world, pursue personal projects, and spend time with people I love.

    Ciao!

    Giovanni
    (http://latinosamorir.com — my muse)

  • TheWorldsBestFruit
    December 26th, 2009
    5:51 pm

    I did it Tim! Until 14 months ago, I was destined to retire in 30+ years. Twenty days from now I’m giving notice of my intention to leave in May. Thank you!!

    I want to be an example of possibility for others that are just getting started. Your methods work and people need to know it. In this video I’ve shared how I applied the following techniques:
    -picking a muse
    -becoming and expert
    -adding a VA (or an intern in this case)

    I have also highlighted the first techniques I used to improve my life.
    -Dreamlining
    -Speed Reading
    -Elimination
    -Surrounding myself with like-minded people

    These helped me in the early stages when I was stuck trying to figure out a product, but knew I wanted to become part of the New Rich.

    Here’s my video. Enjoy!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXLFzEopSuE

  • Geralyn Gendreau
    December 26th, 2009
    5:53 pm

    Whew! Between Christmas, a big birthday party at my house tonight, and installing an erotic art show here for said party, I almost didn’t make it… but I so appreciate all I have learned from your book and tracking this blog, that I had to jump in.

    This video sums up just two of my favorite Tim Ferris thought gems: the freedom multiplier and the system reset… being outrageous and unreasonable.
    For a forest-dwelling yogi who decided years ago that work was for muggles and that what really mattera in life is the play, TFs insights brought something totally unforeseen to the table. In the past couple years I’ve gone from seeing myself a starving artist with no head for business to a dynamo from the board room to the bedroom who can handle whatever learning curve this wildly diverse career of mine throws my way. Thank you, thank you, Tim… and I’ll see you in Brazil!

    Here’s that link promised link to my “4hww success” story in 5 minutes or less:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1atZpEZMLg

  • Lee Suh
    December 26th, 2009
    5:57 pm

    I did it Tim! Until 14 months ago, I was destined to retire in 30+ years. Twenty days from now I’m giving notice of my intention to leave in May. Thank you!!

    I want to be an example of possibility for others that are just getting started. In this video I’ve shared how I applied the following techniques:
    -picking a muse
    -becoming and expert
    -adding a VA (or an intern in this case)

    I have also highlighted the first techniques I used to improve my life.
    -Dreamlining
    -Speed Reading
    -Elimination
    -Surrounding myself with like-minded people

    These helped me in the early stages when I was stuck trying to figure out a product, but knew I wanted to become part of the New Rich.

    Here’s my video. Enjoy!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXLFzEopSuE

  • David Walsh
    December 26th, 2009
    6:00 pm

    Tim, excuse the raw approach but just stumbled on this within the past half hour. Nothing like the last minute to get focused.

    (Video is still uploading to YouTube. Feel free to replace this the link I’ll send in a few moments.)

    How I’ve made 4HWW real…

    - Filmed the first Trial By Fire contest for buddy Roger, who you sent off to Japan. I was jealous to see him jet away but glad to see his story resonated.
    - Quit a killer job and never looked back
    - Early partner in venture-backed startup (coldlightsolutions.com); grew it to success while traveling Australia, Bangkok and all throughout Europe and Central America and the USA; this was my personal lifestyle design trial by fire
    - Wrote and released a book, Source Control (getsourcecontrol.com), on outsourcing and simplifying your life through intelligent business design; documents experiments with VAs and managing them effectively; I’ll send you a copy
    - Started a consultancy for people that need more process-driven business structures; arsenalpower.com
    - Developing M6 Creator app (Flex/Air), to be released in the next month, for market-testing product ideas and building sales systems (I’ll have to show you a beta. I’m amped for this one.)
    - Preparing to release robust, subscription-model course (M6 Method) that breaks down entire process of product creation and launch into 6-step process
    - Created information products; Audio Mixology (audiomixology.com) & LanguageCheat (currently completed Thai; extending to all Asian languages)
    - Started Muselife.com for the community; interviewing and sharing stories and ideas from people that are crushing it
    - Started a venture firm (Dangerous Ambition) and hired numerous interns, all focused solely on muse-releated projects (creating products, etc)
    - Got rid of my mobile phone entirely 4 months ago and loving life without it

    - In 1 week, I’m leaving again. Itinerary undefined, but I know I’m going to Manila to meet and hand-pick some new VAs and document the whole thing. The more flights I can lock down, the more content we’re producing for Muselife. Life is good.

    Cheers Tim.

    David

  • Dane Low
    December 26th, 2009
    6:05 pm

    Hey Tim!

    I have submitted my 4hww success story at this link: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=B0dien

    Here is the description I added to the youtube video:

    “Dane Low’s 4 Hour Work Week success story. Dane used concepts from the “L” for Liberation chapter specifically concerned with “filling the void” With these he emulated Tim Ferriss’ Literacy Liberation Project with emphasis on collaboration using social media.”

    Thank you, Tim!

  • Ralf Mandt-Rauch
    December 26th, 2009
    6:10 pm

    Wow, with literally seconds to go I just managed to post the video to you tube. I thought my story might be of interest to others in that implementing some of Tim’s recommendations certainly changed my life for the better. In a nutshell I sold my watch businesses (www.europawatch.com) and instead chose to follow my passion which is software and social entrepreneurism. The result is a geography game that we just released on iPhone called iTime GeoQuiz which however will soon also be available on Mac and Windows and will serve as a conduit to raise funding for education. Without the help of my private virtual assistant and indeed the whole outsourcing made possible by an organization like GetFriday, none of this would have been possible. Thanks Tim – your insights were indeed life-changing, at least for me.

  • Dane Low
    December 26th, 2009
    6:18 pm

    Hey Tim!

    Here is the actual link to my video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmi_d_5lx94

    In my haste to meet the deadline, I copied the wrong one :(

    Thanks again, Happy Holidays!

    Dane

  • Courtney McM
    December 26th, 2009
    6:21 pm

    Oh crap. YouTube auto-signed me into the wrong account, the whole hour I spend uploading it wasted. Now it’s gonna take another hour to re-upload. Guess I missed the deadline. :…(

  • Nancy Metzle
    December 26th, 2009
    6:22 pm

    I posted an entry–a few minutes late. My first ever video. I saw the contest last night.

    Thought I had no successes but really do
    learned GoogleAdWords through managing ad campaign for non-profit I worked for
    decluttered personal life and living area
    good beginning on businesses
    have some products to test
    learned about website design
    learning through trying & oveercoming obstacles has given me confidence

  • KEG
    December 26th, 2009
    6:27 pm

    How KEG used Tim’s teachings to get on national TV THREE Times, get thousands of new fans and sell records:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjtGGi_MCGA

  • David Walsh
    December 26th, 2009
    6:37 pm

    Follow-up link to quick video:

    4-Hour Workweek Cold Remedy: David Walsh
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPZkXxaoQuY

    Tim, links in my previous comment are obviously for context not promotion, but feel free to strip out if you prefer.

    D

  • Nancy Metzler
    December 26th, 2009
    6:58 pm

    Hi,
    I just realized that I had connected the incorrect link to the wrong place on my earlier post.

    Here is the link to my video.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmZdR07CTow

    Nancy

  • Nancy Metzler
    December 26th, 2009
    7:00 pm

    Hello,

    Here is a link to my video. I did not include it in the right place when I submitted my comment.

    Nancy Metzler

  • Nancy Metzle
    December 26th, 2009
    7:02 pm

    Sorry,

    I do not seem able to add a comment.

    Here is the correct link to my video, submitted for the contest–whose
    end time was 5pm.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmZdR07CTow

    Nancy
    Metzler

  • Megan Snedden
    December 26th, 2009
    8:53 pm

    Hi Tim,

    Just wondering if you have any examples of people in their early twenties who applied the 4hww principles to their lives? Just looking for inspiration from people of my same age …. So far, I have successfully taken step one. I got over my “post-college-graduation boo hoos,” quit a job I hated, ended an unhealthy relationship, dumped a failed business idea, and moved to Buenos Aires (which was a long-time dream). Now it’s time to get down to business, literally. Thanks!

    Megan

  • Giovanni
    December 26th, 2009
    10:25 pm

    ** Pardon duplicate comment if it goes through … my connection has too much lag and I don’t know if it went through the first time..

    Tim,

    Here is my video submission about working on a PhD while managing a social networking business using the 4HWW techniques.

    A PhD and a Latin Party
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wo4Rh5bFxw

    Thanks to your book I have been able to double my profits, travel the world, pursue personal projects, and spend time with people I love.

    Ciao!

    Giovanni
    (http://latinosamorir.com — my muse)

  • Sarah Speiser
    December 26th, 2009
    10:44 pm

    I guess I’ll try to post this again since this time I got a message about my comment awaiting moderation – something I didnt receive the first 2 times I tried.

    Tim – thanks for the opportunity to share my success story. I want to be an example of possibility to others.

    The first part of my video focuses on your techniques I used to start and grow my first muse including:
    - product selection
    - becoming and expert
    - automation

    The second part of my video describes the techniques I applied to my life to get the ball rolling. These are invaluable to me because the set the stage to become part of the New Rich.
    - Dreamlining
    - Speed Reading
    - Elimination
    - Surrounded with like minded people

    Heres a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXLFzEopSuE

    Again – as you can see from the timestamp – I was close to the cut off….but I definitely made it. I’m still puzzled as to why my original post and second attempt never appeared in the comments.

  • Sarah Speiser
    December 26th, 2009
    10:49 pm

    Well – here’s my 4th attempt…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXLFzEopSuE
    Here’s the link

    Tim, thanks for this opportunity. 14 months ago I was destined to retire from my job in 30+ years. Because of your book, I’ve been saved from that path. Here’s the techiques I applied to get my first muse started. I also talk about my favorite techniques that I credit for getting me where I’m at today. These include dreamlining, speed reading, elimination, and surrounding myself with like-minded people.

    BTW – if you’re the moderator – there’s no need to post all half doze of my postings. The first one I wrote around 7:45pm EST is fine. However, I’m reposting again to make sure this gets on the comments section. I’m still puzzled as to why none of my remarks are making it online. PLEASE HELP!

  • author wanglili
    December 27th, 2009
    1:09 am

    Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff.

    Dear, Can you give an example to let know what is rude critical and what is not rude critical?

    regards,
    author wanglili

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 27th, 2009
      12:21 pm

      It’s hard to define, like pornography, but when you see “rude”, you know it. Attacking others or using abusive language is rude. Criticizing politely or with tact is not. The intention behind it all counts a lot.

      Best,

      Tim

  • becky
    December 27th, 2009
    1:29 am

    Hey Tim,

    Just wanted to give you some feedback from China. I’m here doing a little “mini-retirement” getting to know the language and culture.

    Only problem is your videos used to work but recently they don’t? Don’t know if you switched players or whatever site you put videos on was recently “unapproved” by the Great Firewall of China.

    Also, you know that us folk in China can’t use Youtube as that has been blocked for months and months. Can we still take part in your contest/case study? After all, 2 years ago I was piled deep in debt, owned a house, had a crappy job and now I am living in China. I’d like to share what I went through (still own the house by the way, but everything else is over with thank god)!

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 27th, 2009
      11:40 am

      Hi Becky,

      Sorry to get this so late, as I was with family and offline, but try using http://www.hotspotshield.com to watch my videos (and get the rest online) from China.

      I’d love to hear your story!

      All the best,

      Tim

  • Cody McKibben
    December 27th, 2009
    2:23 am

    Tim, I know I’m past the deadline, I just returned home from a Christmas sailing trip in Krabi, Thailand! But I spent a few hours to put this together and show my success story since I read your book in 2007, and really wanted to share it with you, so hope you give it a watch. I owe almost all of my success to the 4HWW!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a9WpzX7Nu0

    I’ve leveraged geoarbitrage and been able to put a lot of freed-up time into volunteering, fundraising, writing, traveling, and developing great relationships with my friends. You can see a quick post on everything I’ve been able to do in 1 year living abroad since applying the principles of lifestyle design.

    Really enjoyed your recent call with Eben, your 2-hour Q&A, and looking forward to when I can get back to the States later this year and grab a copy of the updated book! Thank you so much Tim!

  • Cody McKibben
    December 27th, 2009
    2:30 am

    Okay weird, that didn’t post the first time, and no “your post is awaiting moderation” message. I’ll try again, sorry:

    Tim, I know I’m past the deadline, I just returned home from a Christmas sailing trip in Krabi, Thailand! But I spent a few hours to put this together and show my success story since I read your book in 2007, and really wanted to share it with you, so hope you give it a watch. I owe almost all of my success to the 4HWW!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a9WpzX7Nu0

    I’ve leveraged geoarbitrage and been able to put a lot of freed-up time into volunteering, fundraising, writing, traveling, and developing great relationships with my friends. You can see a quick post on everything I’ve been able to do in 1 year living abroad since applying the principles of lifestyle design.

    Really enjoyed your recent call with Eben, your 2-hour Q&A, and looking forward to when I can get back to the States later this year and grab a copy of the updated book! Thank you so much Tim! Happy holidays buddy!

  • Nikola Denic
    December 27th, 2009
    5:20 am

    I was re:reading book last night and i just got an idea which sounded to be cool in my head, about getting some mini social network ( like NING ) in which all NewRich could connect and maybe cross-over life style.

    New Rich is matter of mind set, so one group or SN in which we all could connect could be more that cool and i would gladly be part of it.

    Imagine that more than few of NR, living in same city/area but they could not connect.

    Thanks Tim for being rebellion as hopefully we all are.

  • Jay
    December 27th, 2009
    6:40 am

    Just read the new book. Two months to Thailand using the steps. Thanks Tim.

  • Abbie
    December 27th, 2009
    10:09 am

    Hi Tim,

    Discovered and followed your blog since August of this year. I wanted to have productive use of my FREE time as I could finish my 9-5 job in 3hours. Wanted to quit my job but it seems where I come from, VA way is the “remote” way. Decided to buy your book on Dec 1st (couldn’t wait for the new one as time is of the essence) to see what’s the fuss all about.

    Finally! I got validated for my “4HWW personality”. I just needed the structure– which I also got there. The heavens parted and the angels sang– I had the “muse” all along too! My dad, a former 2nd mate ship officer, now writes (technical!) maritime books. It’s a family business. All I have to do is to make it go on autopilot.

    And to make things more interesting, I’m from the Philippines. My website programmer/collaborator is a great friend who comes from a top university and it’s easy for me to hire topnotch VA’s as I came from the call center industry.

    So what can I say but a BIG THANK YOU for the inspiration. I look forward to the coming year as I have a challenging-exciting work on my plate.

    For your question: I’ll go to Europe to see what’s the fuss all about :D

  • Giovanni Gonzalez
    December 27th, 2009
    11:20 am

    Tim,

    Here is my video submission about working on a PhD while managing a social networking business using the 4HWW techniques.

    A PhD and a Latin Party
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wo4Rh5bFxw

    Thanks to your book I have been able to double my profits, travel the world, pursue personal projects, and spend time with people I love.

    Ciao!

    Giovanni

  • Maneesh Singh Sethi
    December 27th, 2009
    11:44 am

    Hey Tim,

    I’ve tried to post this several times but my comment doesn’t seem to be approved. I submitted the video on time on Saturday so I hope you get a chance to see it. Live from India, I talk about how a 22 year old American student has managed to live abroad and work 3h59m per week, earning purely passive income and starting awesome companies/doing pushups all over the world.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1merER1zVFg

    Thanks,

    -Maneesh Sethi

  • Ray
    December 27th, 2009
    11:45 am

    I was at the webinar last night where were you. I was looking forward to your webinar and I got there at 9pm and stayed to 10Pm with no show.

    So I was wondering what was up?

    Let me know when your next webinar is, Hopefully you will be there.

    take care,
    Ray

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 27th, 2009
      11:58 am

      Hi Ray,

      I’m sorry to hear that. 1200+ people were there at 9pm ET (6pm PST). Please see my other comment on this post for the recording!

      All the best,

      Tim

  • Gustavo
    December 27th, 2009
    12:14 pm

    Hi Tim. When is the launch of your new book on portuguese-brazilian version?

    Do you plan to come to Brazil to promote your book? If not, It’s ok. At least you should know our beaches, if you did not already. :)

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 27th, 2009
      2:34 pm

      Hi Gustavo,

      The older edition is in Brazilian-Portuguese, but I do know and love Brazil’s beaches. Lovely :)

      Um abraco,

      Tim

  • Cody McKibben
    December 27th, 2009
    1:57 pm

    Tim, same same me. I’ve tried posting 2x (sent you a tweet too) so i hope you see my short vid. I know it’s too late for the contest, but i spent a couple hours on this and tried to get it us asap after returning from xmas vacation. Thanks so much for everything you’ve done Tim.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a9WpzX7Nu0

  • Nathan Jurewicz
    December 27th, 2009
    7:18 pm

    Tim,
    When will the judging be done and the voting start?

    - Nathan Jurewicz

  • Bruce Fenton
    December 27th, 2009
    7:22 pm

    Heya Tim!

    I made this before the contest so its more of a book review than covering my personal story – but people will like it anyway!

    A Better Life – Review- Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydzEiWa7K8I

    -Bruce Fenton

  • amy
    December 27th, 2009
    9:23 pm

    It seems like most of these videos were picked for their “feel good” qualities rather than their measure of 4HWW success.

    Let’s see some real data.

    What percentage of people who have attempted a muse have made a profit of 30k or more?

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 28th, 2009
      12:48 am

      The 4HWW isn’t all about the muse. There are many approaches to different ends, and each video presents a successful implementation for different circumstances. If you don’t want to use what I or others suggest, there is no reason to use them. Just suggestions, not obligations.

      Tim

  • Gustavo
    December 28th, 2009
    2:46 am

    Thanks for the fast reply.

    Tim, Is it possible to share the “Tim Ferriss & Eben Pagan Teleclass Interview with Eben Pagan”, since most of the people – inside or outside USA – couldn’t make the call?

  • Farrell Hudgins
    December 28th, 2009
    9:17 am

    @Amy:

    The muse isn’t necessarily about reaching a certain annual income that is socially acceptable. It’s about escaping the societal prison of 9 to 5 bull sh*t. I was making about 60k a year in the Marine Corps and I was absolutely miserable. Now I’m making a third of that from my muse and I’m happier than I’ve ever been before. That doesn’t mean that I don’t intend on making more than 20k a year but right now I’m living the dream on what most would consider a “low class” income.

    That’s REAL data. Feeling good IS real data. Then again I’ve learned that there’s a lot more to life than making a ton of money.

    Cheers,

    Farrell Hudgins

  • TheAndySan
    December 28th, 2009
    11:13 am

    That’s weird, I thought my entry showed up in the comments days ago. Crap!

    Well, here’s the link to my video anyway: http://su.pr/A0mhuu

  • Chris De La Rosa
    December 28th, 2009
    1:54 pm

    Great post, love the videos. Nice to connect with others doing what I’ve been doing for the past 10 years.

    Chris..

  • jon
    December 28th, 2009
    2:50 pm

    wow great competition. enjoyed the videos and its good to see what people have gleaned from tim.

  • Lynda
    December 28th, 2009
    2:59 pm

    @Amy.
    my muse has made significantly more than $30K. We made over $10K this month. However, there are many more measures of a successful life than $$ alone. I’m for keeping the big picture in mind.

  • Chuck Holton
    December 28th, 2009
    3:14 pm

    I’d rather have 10 automated streams making 10K/year than one making 100K. Many of my “muses” dovetail with each other, so, for example, a trip to Ukraine for book research also yields stock footage for sale and a new VA channel…Or a trip to Afghanistan makes good TV that expands my platform and helps sell books…

    The principles of diversification and leverage learned by investors work just as well when the investment is your life.

  • Erika Awakening
    December 28th, 2009
    5:57 pm

    Love the inspiration, thank you.

    It was from Wayne Dyer that I first heard, “The more you advance toward God, the less he will give you worldly duties to perform.”

    I’ve definitely found that to be true.

  • Jeff
    December 28th, 2009
    7:19 pm

    Tim,

    I need to say thanks to you Tim.

    In 4HWW you have put into words what I have been feeling for the past, oh, 10 years now. – That there is more out there than just the work-weekend-work, then retire routine. I’ve felt kinda like Neo. That there is a splinter in my mind and that something is just not right…

    I’ve known it instinctively but haven’t known how or where to start. Funny thing is, I don’t’ lack ideas. I have too many of them! Each one seems better than the previous. So I loose focus and go nowhere.

    Now, with 4HWW as my guidebook, I can test before I get too far along to see what worth pursuing. Find the market, then the product, right? Of course my ego says every idea is good so I’m in for a reality check. But that’s cool. My main focus needs to be progress-progress-progress. Moving forward to see what happens and adjust.

    I do have a question for you though.

    My tech skills and savee are frozen in time, circa 1998 (ie I can breeze through Office, email, and the web but just found out what the hell Digg was 2 days ago…) Web 2.0 has passed me by.

    So when you’ve stopped laughing, I’d like to know what your 5 must read/understand blogs, sites, or technologies are. I know enough to realize that these will be essential to outsourcing the B.S., automating my income, and living the NR lifestyle.

    Keep up the good work.

  • Greg Lins
    December 29th, 2009
    12:49 am

    Great idea!

    I’m actually writing this while sitting on the veranda at my wife’s family home near Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines. I love the culture around family and friends getting together to eat and laugh. Americans can learn a lot from Filipinos, let me tell you!

    In fact, my 4-hour work week journey started several years ago when I first visited the Philippines. My travels to Manila, Dumaguete, Cebu, Bohol, Bacolod, IloIlo, and Roxas City (in approximately that order) helped me see the value of delegation – jobs and income for people that desperately need jobs and income. At some level, it struck me that it is simply wrong to withhold the opportunity to work from someone that has the skills and ability to help me.

    So began a new mission for me to help businesses to hire sooner and grow faster with exceptional global talent. As well, for me the vision is one of fighting global poverty.

    Back to this issue of travel though – when in Bohol make sure to take a boat out to watch the dolphins. They may tell you that you’ll leave at 6AM and return by 10AM – but this is where I learned that Filipino time is a tad slower than US time. We departed an hour late, and arrived just 3 hours late. The driver we had arranged to meet us at 10 arrived at noon, and didn’t seem to be at all concerned that we showed up at 1. We found him at the restaurant, catching a late breakfast of tapsilog.

    Later this week, we’re headed over to Boracay for a few days. I’ve never been there before, but I understand the beaches are some of the best in the world – better than Bohol.

    Well, enough said. Time to have some mango and palutan for my afternoon merienda.

    Happy travels!

    Greg Lins

  • Jay
    December 29th, 2009
    3:16 am

    Tim – impressive turn out for the video contest. Any thoughts on doing a “geek to freak” type contest when the new book comes out? – applying concepts from the book and documenting the results for all to see. It might be a great way to promote the new release. + I need some serious motivation to get back to the gym.

    Jay

  • Jeff Herdemian
    December 29th, 2009
    7:50 am

    Yo Tim!

    Awesome post…….absolutely Awesome,,

    I have a good friend of mine that is going to Tokyo Japan with his wife–leaving in 2 weeks. I noticed you mentioned several tips in one of your posts with Kevin(on the roof top sipping drinks) about your trips to Japan–anyway I was wondering if you could spend 30sec. and paraphrase some more tips/info for my friend.

    Thanks in advance,

    Jeff

  • Inside the Webb
    December 29th, 2009
    3:35 pm

    4 Hour Work Week has literally inspired me to quit college, stop focusing on working for “the man” and start working for myself. I’ve got a great internet marketing setup going and I will be making $100k/yearly in no time

  • Jerry Hatter
    December 29th, 2009
    6:40 pm

    Hi,

    I live in Brisbane Australia.

    I have just produced a tuitional stretching DVD on how to achieve a full front & side split in the shortest possible time (at 49 years old & 6′ 5″ & 230 pounds I know I have something to offer) what I need help in is how to market and sell them. Any comments and or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

    Yours sincerely Jerry Hatter

  • Brad B
    December 29th, 2009
    10:18 pm

    Tim, thanks for your inspiration. I read the book in the fall of 2007. It took me about a year to find my muse and I have been implementing it for the last year. I have been able to utilize some of the concepts: low information diet, outsource, batch, guarantee recurring income, and dreamlining (took my mom the artist to Italy in 2008 and my dad the pastor to Israel in 2009), I am still working on “global and unristricted”. I am looking forward to developing the Ideal Lifestyle.

  • Jacob
    December 30th, 2009
    12:33 pm

    Hi Tim!

    Happy new year!

    Though I missed out on the contest, I thought I’d share my success story with you anyways…

    In a nutshell your book has freed me from work. That’s right: I don’t have to work. Often, when I tell that to people they look confused. Then I tell them I have a ‘web business’ and they look even more confused.

    After reading your book, I realized I could take my existing business and structure it so that I didn’t have to work at all. I hired a freelancer to do most of the content generation for my websites, wrote some software to automate some of the other processes, and sat back, and watched the money pour in.

    So, do I actually work? Sure, I do spend maybe four hours a week working. That’s right: Four Hours! (Just like your book’s title!)

    What kind of work is that? Well, the accounting takes about a half hour a week. I also manage the advertisements that bring visitors to my websites. That’s another hour a week. Managing the freelancer is about a half hour a week. Maybe another hour on generating ideas, brainstorming, planning. And another hour on doing some of the critical marketing/copywriting tasks that I just haven’t figured out how to outsource yet.

    Sometimes I do work more, when I get an exciting idea that I want to implement.

    What do I do with the rest of my time?

    Well, I write poetry, four or five hours a day. I read several books a week. I go on long vacations. I spend time with friends. This year I moved to NYC, didn’t even work for a solid month. Next year I’m planning a several month trip to Europe.

    I LOVE LIFE.

    Your book made me realize that I can structure my life however I want. I can design my life…I can build a lifestyle perfectly suited to me…

    And I have done exactly that.

    Thank you Tim!

    • Tim Ferriss
      December 30th, 2009
      6:56 pm

      Congratulations, Jacob! I just put words on a page, but you made it happen.

      Happy new year, all!

      Tim

  • John Konrad
    December 30th, 2009
    6:43 pm

    You should ask Kevin to use the code from digg to start a website for napkin ideas… where people can rate great ideas that pop into my head but i have no intention of ever doing.

  • Karl Ranson
    December 31st, 2009
    1:40 am

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz1Vnra_88I

    Hi Tim,
    I’m a long time reader but this is my first contribution.
    After reading your book, my wife and I decided around 12 months ago to have an overseas adventure – I prefer adventure to maxi-retirement. As we have two kids (9yrs and 3yrs), this involved a fair bit more organisation than just for a single or couple. More than any one tool or technique, your book gave us the encouragement (as Jed put it) to believe in our dreams when most of society is a lot more constrained.
    After a lot of online investigation and consideration of destinations around the globe, we decided to go to Costa Rica. While it’s clear to us now that this may not seem like a particularly adventurous destination for Americans, it’s a place that very few Aussies know anything about, or even which continent it is located. Having kids obviously impacts the criteria, however as per Michael we’ve viewed this adventure as something that will benefit them rather than use them as an excuse.
    I’m a 34yr old oil and gas project engineer. In 2010 I’ll take a break from my conventional career to investigate a number of on- and off-line business opportunities. We have enough savings to last 6 to 24months, depending on our decadence or frugality – so the length and details of our adventure is yet to be determined.
    Overall, our 2010 goals are:
    1. To have an adventure, both for ourselves and our kids, and
    2. To get closer to our long term massive contribution goals.
    So far all we’ve done is made our plans and purged our possessions. We’ve now been homeless for 3 weeks and leave Australia (for 1 year? 10 years?) on 17th Jan. That’s when our adventure will really begin.
    The main thing that the 4HWW book has done has enabled us to focus relentlessly on our dreams, rather than be constrained by what the mainstream believes is possible. I’ve also very much benefited from the information diet principle, which has prevented my work from encroaching on other important areas of life.
    Please excuse my rather un-smooth delivery; however I’m hoping the kids’ contributions make up for it. New Years Eve family obligations have limited my polish time, but hopefully you get the gist.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz1Vnra_88I

  • Cody McKibben
    December 31st, 2009
    2:47 am

    Tim, thanks so much for the personal comment on my video. Apologies for the double-posting (there must be a moderation queue?), but I’m thankful you got the chance to watch. I’ve been a big fan since ‘07 and really appreciate all the stuff you put out there for your readers to help us learn & grow!

    You GOTTA come back out here to Thailand, life is incredible! Will be meeting lots of cool people in the next couple weeks: my little sister’s here, lifestyle bloggers Dan Haneveer, Sean Ogle, and Adam Baker, then David Walsh from MuseLife (in the comments above).

    Cheers Tim! Good luck all in the contest.

  • Cold Remedy: 15 Real-World Lifestyle Design Case Studies (Now It’s Your Turn)
    December 31st, 2009
    3:18 am

    [...] video case studies that I asked for in the last post really caught me [...]

  • Neeva D.L.
    January 1st, 2010
    5:08 pm

    Hi Tim,

    I found this comment about your book online and wondered what your response to this person would be:

    “1. If you are as smart and well-prepared as Mr. Ferris, there is money to be made using his strategy. But the same could be said for the stock market, real estate, or various other methods by which many people lose their shirts.

    2. If everyone outsources their work, who is left to do the work? If all the farmers, doctors, and garbage collectors followed the advice in this book, eventually, we would all be starving, sick, and sitting in our own waste. The jet-set lifestyle enjoyed by the author only works because others are actually willing to work. Until robots can run the world, the ethical implication is that it is OK for some people to work, just not Mr. Ferriss or his readers.

    Finally, throughout the book Mr. Ferris keeps referring to the New Rich. Despite all his attempts at creating a new paradigm, it appears that the only difference between the New Rich and the Old Rich is that the old rich are capitalists that actually produce things that society needs, such as railroads and software, while the new rich sell things like unregulated nutritional supplements. ”

    Thanks and happy new year!

    • Tim Ferriss
      January 1st, 2010
      6:36 pm

      Hi Neeva,

      My responses would be:

      1. Watch the 15 video case studies on the latest “Cold Remedy” blog post, or read the comments and case studies on this post. The idea that you need to be like me to use the principles is unfounded and ridiculous.

      2. This won’t happen. That’s like arguing we shouldn’t have books on entrepreneurship. What would happen if everyone started their own company and no one worked for other people? It doesn’t really matter, as it will never happen. I am also willing to work on the few important, right things. This is the point the commenter misses. He or she has obviously not read the book and is pulling from the usual low-hanging fruit counters to arguments that I don’t make.

      3. The new rich value time more than income and have different values. They don’t produce value? Again, look at the many case studies. There are also reasons like Microsoft and Google have me work with their execs.

      I could spend all day, every day responding to critics. The nutshell: 99% of them haven’t read the book and are happy to criticize because it absolves them of doing anything proactive. “No one can do what Tim Ferriss does” is a great excuse to never fix things I demonstrate can be fixed.

      Hope that helps — happy new year :)

      Tim

  • Valerie
    January 2nd, 2010
    11:23 am

    I stumbled upon the original 4HWW in the fall (book on CD at the library) and just got my own copy of the new and improved version. Upon listening to the first one, I immediately put myself on an information diet and read email only twice a day. I’ve also nixed most of my facebook activity. What a huge time-saver! Plus, I’ve cut out most in-person meetings with clients saving me a huge amount of time. Just those tips alone have netted me several hours a day of free time. I hired a housekeeper; a gardener is next. Now I’m working on creating my muse. By the time my youngest son goes off to college next August I plan to be free to travel and experience life like never before!

    I have also become really selective as to e-newsletters and following blogs (part of my email diet was unsubscribing to at least 2 dozen ezines). Had to chuckle when i saw the option to sign up for email at the top of this blog!

  • Moury Roberts
    January 2nd, 2010
    3:15 pm

    These videos are really awesome and I am excited and looking forward to it! Thanks Tim for everything!

    ————————————

    Moury Roberts

  • Vince Golangco
    January 2nd, 2010
    11:46 pm

    Wow Tim! Where did you hear about the island of Bohol in the Philippines? I actually quit everything in San Diego, CA and moved to the Philippines after reading your book.

    I didn’t hear about this video contest soon enough. The deadline has passed. Would love to turn in a video of how I’ve applied your book. Will you be having another one? Or can I just turn in a video?

    • Tim Ferriss
      January 3rd, 2010
      12:44 am

      HI Vince,

      Thanks so much for the comment. Ah, I’ve still never been to the Philippines! Please post a link to your video here in the comments, preferably on the post where I have the new 15 case studies. I’d love to see it, and I’ll showcase it in another post I’ll put up.

      Happy new year :)

      Tim

  • jonathan grand
    January 3rd, 2010
    2:07 pm

    i vote for gary \.

  • Judith
    January 4th, 2010
    12:22 am

    Hi,
    Thanks for your inspirational videos ! Here in Barcelona we have applied your book. Now I am working 32 hours a week in the way to be a freelance, and my husband is already having miniretirements with about 60 days of holiday every year. Outsourcing some of the housecare stuff has been key too.

    Thanks to your ideas I have started to write a book and updating every week a personal blog.

    Hope you will me inspiring more women in the future.

    I vote for Chuck!
    Judith

  • Chatty
    January 4th, 2010
    9:28 am

    Hi Tim,

    It took me almost 2 yrs. to have the courage to buy the book, but it’s never too late right? ;-) Im one of your thousands followers.. and i really want to thank you,for being an inspiration.. ;-)

    P.S.
    Hope you can visit Philippines soon!

  • Jade Leonard
    January 5th, 2010
    12:49 am

    I’m going to Bohol tonight!!! Haha!
    Jx

  • DocTara
    January 5th, 2010
    6:03 am

    Hi Adnan-
    I’m a physician who applied the 4HWW principles to my practice BEFORE the book came out in 2006. 70 hour work weeks (on a good week), being strapped for cash flow, 3,000 minutes on the phone, & struggling to stay afloat to 25-28 hour work weeks, double the income, 5 times the cash flow, no marketing, and a thriving practice in less than 2 months. I suddenly had a social life for the 1st time since undergrad, started singing, dancing and learning a new language, and took 7-10 day trips for study and perform every 3 months. Send me a mail if you want to know what I did…I sold the practice in 08, and I am testing my 2nd muse in India while studying Carnatic music and Indian dance.
    Namaste,
    Tara

  • John Olds
    January 7th, 2010
    6:15 am

    Tim, I was so excited to see you are visiting Sunny SOUTH AFRICA!! I was upset when you said it was not a recommended destination, but you will see for yourself for the truth.

    I recon you will love the people out here, and the thirst for business, success and “Ubuntu” as we call it here. I have only just finished your book (on audio) and can not contain myself with the excitement you have created.

    We have a small tour operating business in Durban and would love the opportunity to meet you. Perhaps we could give you a few pointers if you get to Kwa Zulu Natal on what to see and do? The invitation is there, use it, lose it, but please let the world know about our special country?

    Regards, and thanks for your book it is a life-saver!!

    John’o

  • BeachBoy
    January 11th, 2010
    4:16 pm

    Maneesh Sethi has my vote.

  • Gilda Smith
    January 20th, 2010
    11:37 am

    Hi Tim,
    I just started reading your book, the expanded and updated version which I borrowed from the library and I am so impressed that I think I am going to buy my own copy this week. I am from the southern part of the Philippines but I am now living in Florida and I want to thank you for mentioning one of the islands in my country! In fact what is very interesting is that my husband and I are planning to retire in Bohol!! I have visited Bohol during one of the Singles for Christ Convention ( before I met my husband:) ) that was held in one of the beautiful beaches of Bohol!! It is a beautiful island and the people are so nice and hospitable. I miss my country and I am glad that you featured it here! Thank you so much! Have you been to my country? I totally agree with the principles of your book since I am at a point in my life where I am exhausted with the 9 to 5 grind. I am a teacher by profession and has been teaching since I graduated from College in 1975! I just started teaching on line which I find very liberating and not have to worry what to wear or how you look at work . You also avoid stress with traffic and you can set your own time. I am working part time only so the pay is less but I don’t want to work full time any more. My concern now is to use what you mentioned in your book so we can make our dream of retiring in Bohol come true. Thank you very much again!!

  • Maria
    January 26th, 2010
    5:49 pm

    Just a note…Something I noticed….

    Tim Ferriss’s picture on his twitter has an uncanny resemblance to the other genius zefrank even on twitter.

    Related?

    Tim, I think I found your twin ; P

  • ????
    February 13th, 2010
    1:04 am

    I am excited and looking forward to it! Thanks Tim for everything!

  • James
    February 21st, 2010
    7:57 am

    Wow–the fourhourworkweek–what can I say?

    This book played a huge role in my life. I was doing good when I first read it, but working too much. Soon after, I had a run of bad luck and lost everything. Was just about to close a deal on my first property and make $100K on purchase (based on appraisal). This from a kid whose father overdosed on heroin and whose mother raised 3 boys on her own by bartending and cleaning houses.

    I moved away to Santa Cruz and tried to set up a business for 9 months but couldn’t get the proper permits. Finally, I gave up and moved back home to start it there. Plan was to be seasonal and travle the rest of the year. I was buying it from my girlfriend at the time’s parents. took it to the next level and recieved entrance into the biggest reggae concert in America. But a misinterpration of the market and the start of a dwindling economy left little profit by year’s end, and I threw in the towel. RElationsihp was over at this point.

    So, I rekindled an old landscaping biz I ran before while going to college and returned to university. Got into an owner-will-carry on a house and went back to school at 28. I’ve never planned on working for someone else, so finishing university has never been an issue–just love to learn, and now I was studying international business. I wanted to take my entreneurial spirit to the next level.

    I got straight A’s that first semester and then headed off to int. business and intercultural communication program in Europe for a month. Spent another month traveling and went hang-gliding in the alps. Came home with a severe case of wanderlust.

    At this point, things got really wierd. I came home to find out that members of America’s most dangerous criminal organization (by many expert accounts) had a bounty on my head. Case of mistaken identity, but they thought I stole from them and wanted to kill me. Didn’t know these kind of people–didn’t WANT to know these kind of people! They caught up with me in a bar, and I had no clue what was going on. I fought back hard when 3 attacked me and split open the leader’s eyebrow pretty bad–broke a poolstick one someone’s face.

    After that, laid in a hotel room fro 4 days with a loaded pistol–I didn’t think the cops could help me with these guys. Recieved multipled death threats on my cell, and I finally called the guy to sort it out, and I think he realized he had the wrong guy. But his friends were mad about the bar–guess I wasn’t supposed to fight back–and they demanded 30K or I was dead. I don’t have that kind of money and wouldn’t give it either way for something I didn’t do.

    Weren’t you run out of Thailand by the Triads, Tim? Not sure of the whole story, but maybe you can relate…

    I was buying another house at the time–owner will carry but not as lucrative as the last. Was supposed to start my new semester in a week. Instead, I had my brother drive me 6 hours away and drop me int eh city with my backpack. Threw it over my shoulder and set off to go fulfill my dream of traveling.

    I haven’t looked back. Been in southeast asia for a year and a half, and what a time it has been. Lived on tropical islands. Learned a new language. Went from never diving at all to logging 30 plunges and enrolling in a divemaster internship. Bungee jumping. Drove a longtail boat and a tuk-tuk. Survived two collisions with vehicles on my motorbike. Finished my first novel–a lot of firsts, really.

    It hasn’t been easy–I didn’t have the support system for this. I got so stressed about money I started losing hair. Nowhere to fly. No money to go. But I learned how to start an outsourcing biz over my computer and now make a decent living online. I’m glued to my computer at the moment, but I’ve got freedom of location at least.

    Next step is freedom of time. I can get there.

    I just want you to know one of the three books I packed when I left wiht my little backpack was yours. Vagabonding, How to Be Invisible, and The Fourhour Workweek.

    Out of all the things you’ve done, I imagine having inspired so many people is the most rewarding. And you truly are an inspiration. Your book was simple but necessary. Couldn’t have come at a better time–for me or the world.

    One of my outsourcing clients says he met you in a subway in New York. i thougth I saw you in Koh Samui about a year and a half ago–right when I got here. After about 15 minutes I decided it wasn’t you.

    Still, it was a momentous day for me. I’d just arrived and was driving my motorcycle down the road with friends from 5 different countries when the rain hit. A hard rain. We stopped and stood under the veranda of a resort, looking out over the most beautiful storm I’d ever seen dumping into a blue-green cove. I stripped off my shirt and dove in the water, and my friends followed. I stood in the sand half a football-field’s length from shore and looked up as the rain spilled into my face. The beginning of a new life.

    The man who started trouble for me is dead. He was killed in his home and the other men who attacked me were sent to prison for killing a Hell’s Angel in front of popular bar. I’m not angry with them; I pity them. It was the best thing that ever happend to me, and they set me free. Gave me life. In the end, they were suffocated by their own chains.

    My next Big Goals:
    PASSIVE INCOME!!!!
    Trekking in Nepal
    Rock-climbing
    Cave-diving and Ship-diving
    Wingsuit Training in Spain
    Hitch a yacht to Argentina
    Motorcylce across China
    finish my memoir
    Build a home in the tropics
    Learn to fly an airplane

    Hope to bump into you somwhere someday and buy you a belgian ale or your choice of wine, Tim. Because of you, I had that much less fear through this all (though I was still scared as hell lol). I hope to see a lot more from you in the future, and I’m sure I will.

    Cheers, and best of luck

    • Tim Ferriss
      February 26th, 2010
      2:07 am

      Thank you so much for the comment and incredible story, James! Life is an adventure, to be sure. Be safe, work smart, and I’ll take you up on that Belgian ale when we bump into each other.

      Best,

      Tim

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