Reading the 4HWW changed my life

[Jonathan Tucker]

I'm 21 years old and read Tim Ferris' the 4-Hour Work Week back in October. I've been running a web design business working with designers throughout the world, including India and the Philippines. However, my business was really not a 4HWW business model: I simply owned my own full time job (I was ALWAYS working).

Since reading the 4HWW, I've revamped the entire business (and gone into other businesses along the same philosophy as well). I hired a virtual assistant in the Phillipines to handle the daily operations of running my business: he talks to my clients via phone/email, manages projects with clients and designers, and basically runs 99% of my business. In order to give me that push to really live the 4HWW lifestyle, I actually booked a 20 day plane ticket to Hawaii set to depart the day after christmas during the upcoming winter break from college. I used this "lighting a fire under my ass" motivation to force myself to either (1) remodel the entire business before leaving for hawaii or (2) be forced to have the business fall apart while I surfed my brains away for 20 days. I'm happy to say that in the time between October (when I read the 4HWW) and when I left for the trip to the North Shore of Oahu I was able to have the business about 75-80% self sustaining.

Since reading the 4HWW, my life has changed tremendously. I've learned the value of building a 'business' and not a 'job that I own' and look at the world in a different way. I started this Ning social network group to meet other like minded individuals from around the world.

Let's all inspire each other to keep pursuing the 4HWW lifestyle! Like Tim Ferris said in his book, it's important to have a friend or two that can keep motivating you to not become the "fat old guy in the Porsche". Instead, let's all motivate each other to be that young OR old entrepreneur that is sitting on the beach in Fiji or skiing in Europe while he/she knows his business is making him tons of cash.

I look forward to "meeting" (online I guess haha) all of you.

Jon

[Matt]

The 4HWW changed my life as well. I have been focusing my ideas and resources toward living mini retirements now instead of later. I would prefer to be the "fit young guy in the Porsche". Ha! I look forward to meeting, motivating, and interacting with more like minded individuals of the New Rich.

Matt

[JPhillips]

I liked your post because I am a graphic designer who has started another business since reading the 4HWW. I used the business model in the 4HWW when I created my other company but I'm having trouble applying it to my design company. Converting a service business to an automated architecture seems to be more difficult for me. I was hoping you could give me some advice or structure to acheive the same. Thank You in advance for your help!