So what do highly efficient people do with all their free time?
The only note I had on my “to do list” during 10 days of vacation last month was to read just one book. No Blackberry, no checking emails or voice mail or reading my RSS marketing feeds. I was looking for chill time: people watching at the beach, perfecting the art of Mojito making (it's really easy!) and to not burn under the hot Florida sun.
Before heading out, I took a trip to Indigo, shopping for a book meaty enough to learn something, but light enough to get through even if I was only half-concentrating. A title jumped out at me on the business section shelf, "The 4-Hour workweek - Escape the 9-5, live anywhere and join the New Rich." The jacket cover went on to tantalize, ‘Warning: Do not read this book unless you want to quit your job.’ I was sold.
Ultra Vagabond.
The book was written by Tim Ferris who, at 30 years old, describes himself as a serial entrepreneur and ultra vagabond. I have to say, being a vagabond isn’t something I aspire to, but after reading his approaches it’s an interesting blueprint on leveraging technology, the 80/20 rules of business and outsourcing to escape the rat race and enjoy life now.
Ferris’ credentials are impressive – fluent in six languages, runs a multinational firm from wireless locations around the world, a world record holder in tango, national champion in Chinese kickboxing, on hit TV shows in China and Hong Kong, and in his spare time, dives for sharks. Just reading his list of accomplishments lounging at the beach makes me tired. But I’m also left wondering how some people get so much done every day.
The New D.E.A.L.
Main ideas in the book are explained using the acronym D.E.A.L., what every aspiring member of the New Rich (NR) should know.
Definition – explaining the overall lifestyle design recipe – the new fundamentals
Elimination – killing obsolete time management tools and learn how to develop a low information diet
Automation – Look for ways to make money on autopilot – ongoing revenue streams that don’t require you directly minding the store
Liberation – the manifesto for the mobility inclined or breaking the bonds that confine you to a single location.
The chapters have anecdotes, personal experiences and lots of web resources to help you dive deeper into subjects being presented – setting up automatic revenue streams, using virtual personal assistants, income retirement calculators and something he calls ‘setting up a dreamline.’
A “dreamline” is a timeline of monthly income required to achieve one’s life goals and ambitions. You list out your life goals and estimate how much they’ll cost, chunk them down to a monthly cost, and then figure out what you’ll need to earn every month to cover them.
If you’re not ready to retire or think you’re already organized, the book is still worth picking up. Tim Ferris offers great pointers to help identify time draining activities and the online resources are very helpful. Bottom line - if one of his approaches helps you leave the office earlier every week (like it’s done for me), it is well worth the $25 cover price.
