Sip fruity drinks out of a coconut shell on a tropical island?
Take singing lessons?
Reorganize your sock drawer?
Unless you haven’t been paying attention (and with the deluge of information out there, it wouldn’t be that surprising), you’ve probably at least heard of Tim Ferriss’ landmark book, The Four Hour Workweek. I’ve touted it here before, and the book has made it to #1 on the NY Times bestseller list.
As impressive as the book’s success has been, it’s what within the pages that has interested me the most. In short, it’s a complete recipe for creating the life you’ve always dreamed possible — and I don’t say that lightly. It’s damn impressive, to say the least. And that brings me to the reason for this post.
Say you do liberate yourself to work only four hours a week. For most of you, that frees up at least 36 hours of time that you have to fill… and my buddy Ed Mills of Evolving Times seems to think that most people haven’t a clue what they’d do with all that extra time (Tim even says — and I believe rightly so — that “after a few days of sitting on a beach rubbing lotion on your belly, you’re going to get bored out of your mind”). And since it’s hard to get anywhere without compelling motivation to get there, thinking about the ‘Why’ behind having a four-hour workweek is time well spent.
(Ed says he’s going to compile a list of all the folks who contribute to the idea, by the way… it’ll be interesting to see what other folks come up with.)
Here are the activities I’ll be starting with on my 36-hour bonanza:
- Play with my girls more: perhaps the greatest benefit of them all… more Daddy time. My girls are seven and two as I write this, and I can feel the clock ticking already.
- Hawaiian vacation: drink POG, smell the plumeria, feel the trade winds blow, swim with dolphins, and soak up some tropical goodness. I visited Hawai’i once, over twenty years ago, and not a week goes by I don’t think about going again.
- Live abroad (Argentina, Europe): I’ve always had dreams of living abroad, and so starting with a month or two here and there would be a great way to test the waters.
- Learn spanish: I love languages (I’ve studied German, Italian, and a touch of Arabic), but I’m sorely out of practice. Spanish makes so much sense to learn, seeing as how it’s the second-most widespread language in the world (Mandarin Chinese is first, and that one’s on my list to learn, too…).
- Learn to play the violin first, then the piano: As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to learn the violin (why I’ve studied the clarinet, trumpet, bassoon, English handbells, pennywhistle, guitar, and piano and not the violin, I have no idea). My foray into the world of piano was short-lived, though, so I’d get back into piano once my violin studies matured.
- Study aikido: another life-long dream… I studied a few Chinese internal martial arts in my college days, but aikido still holds a wondrous fascination for me.
Just play more: a good idea in general, y’know? I might get back into rock climbing, disc golf, or invite some friends over and play Quelf.
There are a bunch of other things I’d love to do, such as build a natural home, get back into juggling, work in our garden more, spend more time with friends, learn woodworking, etc. But for now, this list will do just fine to serve as my Why.
What would you do with 36 hours of free time each week?
Image by Nav A. on Flickr, via Creative Commons license.
And thanks to all those who commented on the two previous posts so far: Communicatrix, Priscilla Palmer, Jeanie Marshall, Alexys Fairfield, Bob, Lucid, Edward Mills, Dean, Jean Browman, Joanna Young, Matthew Roberts, Judy Martin
September 12, 2007, 1:02 pm
Great post Adam! I’m bummed that I didn’t try POG when we were in Hawaii in May. ;( And after cracking up at the tagline for Quelf, I may just have to go ahead and add that to my list! :0
Thanks for playing. And I hope this catalyzes a bit more play time, even before you’re down to a 4-hour work week!
September 12, 2007, 1:42 pm
So, what do I do with my time? I do what I love and find a way to share it with others. The details aren’t important.
Thanks for asking.
September 12, 2007, 4:12 pm
36 hours is a lot of time isn’t it. Hmm…invest more time into making money so I can retire and not even work 4 hours…lol.
I would love to start bike riding again.
Traveling is always at the top of the list.
So you highly recommend the book do you?
September 12, 2007, 5:13 pm
What I seem to be hearing is you’re not passionate about the life you’re leading now. You’re trying to get to somewhere else. Steve Jobs would say ( text version), (video version) don’t settle, find work that you love. But he can’t imagine not being passionate about doing creative work, and that’s probably not true of most people.
Ferriss says don’t put your life on hold, find a more lucrative way of making money using only part of your time. Live now! He’s assuming most people aren’t passionate about their work.
So, how can you put more joy into your life right now? How can you make more money doing less work or else find some work you’re more passionate about? That you would do even if you had all the money in the world?
September 12, 2007, 6:00 pm
Ed, thanks — this was a fun one. And, the importance of thinking about what we want is huge; otherwise, how can we visualize it? As they say, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”
If you can get a hold of some POG, it’s so worth it. There’s a little Hawaiian restaurant in Portland, OR, for anyone who lives there, and they have POG. Yum.
Oh, and Quelf is made by two guys I went to college with, one of whom used to be my roommate. They are the funniest guys on the planet, and Quelf is their brainchild. Have fun with it!
Jean, thanks for sharing your experience. Since you’re retired already, and most of us are still working, it’s good to hear your perspective.
Adam, I’d definitely recommend the book, and for many, many reasons. The more I read, the more I’m impressed.
September 12, 2007, 7:26 pm
An interesting question. At first, I think I’d do more of what I’m doing now, I just wouldn’t do it for money (or that wouldn’t be an intentional part of the equation).
But if I’m honest, I’d be doing less design and more writing — the balance has been feeling really out of whack lately, and it bums me out.
I also would love to write a musical (or at least an album), take piano (slotted for late this year, once another commitment drops out), read more, take more time to sleep/relax/play.
Don’t get me wrong: I love what I do. I just seem to have this problem with the “medium” setting. For me, it’s all or nothing, which usually means “all” until I burn out and there’s a week or two of “nothing.”
Do you think I’d benefit by reading this book?
September 12, 2007, 7:30 pm
C-trix, I think you’d love it.
And I hear you on the shifting of your design/writing balance… I’m working on refining the balance of my own activities, towards what brings me the most joy and fulfillment.
September 12, 2007, 7:49 pm
The last few years I’ve willing traded income for time - preferring to have that extra 20 hours a week or so at home to just… well… live.
And for me that means doing yoga, meditating, doing housework (which, because I have time, I enjoy doing), coffee with friends, walks…
My challenge is turning my life into an income stream AS WELL. So I never “work” as such, it’s just that which I LOVE to do also makes me money.
So I don’t feel like I can answer this question. That much extra time almost seems like too much. I’ve already got ALL the time I need…
Much joy, KL
September 12, 2007, 10:39 pm
“Hmm…invest more time into making money so I can retire and not even work 4 hours…lol.”
The important thing is to enjoy the process. Warren Buffett puts it well. He says working hard at a profession you hate so you can have fun later is like saving sex for your old age. He doesn’t recommend it.
September 12, 2007, 10:47 pm
Good stuff, Adam. And thanks for the hat tip.
I loved that first thing that you mentioned was time with your girls. You are right… the clock is ticking. I’m starting to think that maybe I need to get to doing my part in making a little one myself.
September 13, 2007, 6:52 am
K-L, I think you have answered it.
Lyman, thanks — and hey, everything has its timing. I know folks who waited to have kids, and others who dove right in, and there’s no one right answer. When it’s right for you, it’s right, y’know?
I know that my family is my foundation… a source of strength, inspiration, and huge amounts of joy. Maximizing the time I spend with them is a no-brainer — and I’m someone who has always been (and still is) content with large amounts of alone time. It’s all about the balance, right?
September 13, 2007, 5:14 pm
Hi Adam! I read the book at your high recommendation …was it, last month? I was on my way to the Kona airport (I already live in Hawaii and get my POG, plumeria, and THANKFULLY trade winds pretty often!) and stopped by Costco where 4HWW was on sale.
Since then, I’ve really done my best to put to practice what Tim suggests and lemme tell you, it has been life changing. At the very very least, I look at my work and my day differently, EVERYDAY. But I’ve also cut out a good 5-10 hours/week of meaningless, ineffiency too…
AND, I’m starting a business with my sister-in-law whose bored out of her mind, living in SW Texas. Its brought us much closer and has shown her (and me) that she has so much more knowledge and wisdom than she ever thought she had.
Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve been telling all my friends about the book as well, and their response has been interesting, to say the least!
September 14, 2007, 12:21 pm
Julie, that’s awesome — congratulations on taking action! Be sure to let us know when your new business is up and running, or if you need help or support along the way.
September 14, 2007, 4:57 pm
Adam, I did a short review of the 4 hour workweek as well. I love his writing style. I’ve been living the life I’ve wanted for years, and I’m also always looking to become ‘more me’ and able to express my creativity more fully. The part I love the best is outsourcing. As a business owner I’ve always been able to delegate, but outsource? I thought that was only for big companies. Little did I know! Now I’m able to give some of the tasks I’m not good at to others - stress and guilt free!
September 15, 2007, 6:21 am
Michelle, who do you use for your outsourcing? I’ve heard mixed reviews of some companies, so I’d love to get your opinion of who you use…
September 15, 2007, 9:05 am
Adam,
I contacted two Indian companies without luck. Then I called two virtual assistant bloggers in the USA. No luck. Then I posted a transcript job in guru.com. An Australian woman contacted me and she’s been helping me with audio, podcasts, music, transcriptions and research every since. (we’ve only just got started working together). I dont’ go through guru anymore, but it was a great way to find her.
Her website is geocities.com/acallia14 but that isn’t how I initially found her.
If here anyone uses her, please make sure she keeps time for my projects! I don’t want her to get ‘too’ busy..:)
September 16, 2007, 6:54 am
Most definitely top of my list would also be spending more time with my kids. Though I work only 3,5 days a week, I would like it to be more.. As they get older (even though not even in their teens yet..), time spent together is getting less and less..
My work is being a professional fundraiser for a charity, I would like to spend more time there.. I would definitely enjoy to spend more time blogging and reading, skating, etc etc..
So, come to think of it, I’m really already doing the things I wanna be doing right now. No things I ‘would want to do’ when I get the time, cause that time might never come.
It would however be very welcome if there were more hours in the week though ;-))
September 17, 2007, 7:35 pm
This is an over all interesting site, i think if i had a job that required 4 hours a week and found myself with 36 more hours per week, with all the income i need i would be in heaven !! But I know that would require still making enough money to give my family the life they deserve. I was on disability for awhile and lot’s of time (without money), starts to smell like three day old fish, after about three days!!!! Todd
September 17, 2007, 9:09 pm
If I had 36 hours I would dedicate the majority of it to fighting the privitization of water, educating people that the earth isn’t their trash barrel and saving small family farms.
Imagine if we all spent those 36 hours protecting our planet.
September 19, 2007, 5:10 pm
Michelle, thanks for letting us know!
Ellen, how great that you’re doing the things you want to be doing. And, having more time with our kids is a great thing to want.
Todd, true… stale fish stinks.
So, assuming the money is there, what would you do?
Charlene, so true… time spent in pursuit of our passions, championing the causes we care about… so much change is possible. Thanks for sharing!
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Monk at Work is Adam Kayce's website about webdesign, personal peace, and bringing your best work out to the world.
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