The 4 hour workweek, is based off the idea that Everyone has the SAME amount of time.
But if we use our time efficiently, we could produce a whole week’s results, in only
4 hours.
The REAL message in the book isn’t telling us to work 4 hours a week, that’s just a
trick to getting “side-walkers” to buy the book.
But yeah, the real message isn’t telling us that by using these strategies, we could
be LAZY and work 4 hours a week, no.
It’s telling us that we can accomplish a lot more if we used our time more effectively.
Just a disclaimer, when I said the title is to “trick” sidewalkers, it’s not really
a “trick” per say, because the principles DO work, it’s just that most people would
rather spend 8 hours a day working at their jobs, go home, and sit in front of the TV,
than do work that requires using their brains.
Okay, let’s get started.
The 4 hour workweek philosophy is based on 3 strategies to maximize the efficiency of
your time.
They are: Elimination, Automation, and Outsourcing.
When I was in university, I remember studying with my friend anthony.
I would read the entire textbook, from start to finish, because, well, you know, I like
to read.
And he would only read the topics covered in class.
It was a health class, so let’s say the professor talked about a specific muscle in
the arm.
There would be 5 pages on all the different muscles in the arm, and he would skip all
of it, and only read the 2 paragraphs on that specific muscle.
I don’t think he studied more than me in terms of time, but when the test results came
out, he got an A while I.. got a C+.
Anthony understood the concept of Elimination.
A lot the the things we do actually don’t affect the outcome by that much.
According to the 80/20 principle, 80% of our results, come from 20% of the things we do.
So that means, if we eliminate the things that don’t produce a lot results, we could
use that time to do more of the 20% that produces the most results.
Most people would rather do what they’re used to, like when I read the entire book
to study, because it’s easy and doesn’t require thinking, you just sit down and read
the book from start to finish.
But if you want results, do what anthony did…
Eliminate.
But what if we can’t eliminate it?
As a kid, I remember watching the movie Charlie and the Chocolate factory, and the main character’s
dad, worked at a toothpaste factory.
He would stand there in the assembly line, screwing the caps on toothpaste tubes.
When we think about how silly it seems to have a line of workers screwing the top on
toothpaste, it is something we have to do, we can’t just eliminate it.
Obviously, we don’t have workers manually doing that anymore, and that’s because our
technology allowed us to automate.
We have machines now that caps toothpaste for us.
A lot of the times, things that could be automated SHOULD be automated.
Imagine how inefficient would it be to have a bunch of people screwing caps on toothpaste?
Not only will we have to pay each worker minimum wage, someone in the line could be extra slow,
and everyone else will have to work at the same pace because he’d be stalling the line.
Not only that, if someone picks their nose and continues to screw on the caps, that could
lead to serious lawsuits when people find boogers in their toothpaste.
The general rule, according to the 4 hour workweek, is: If you can’t eliminate, automate!
Just like capping toothpaste tubes, a lot of tasks have to be done, and cannot be eliminated.
And finally, when you have something that has to be done, and cannot be automated, it’s
time to outsource it.
When I say “outsource” I’m not referring to outsourcing to another country, although
that is quite a common thing nowadays, especially in big companies.
I’m saying that, as you grow as a person, and become better at what you doing, you can
focus on tasks ONLY YOU could do, and let others do the easier tasks for you.
When we see multi-millionaires, they have drivers, personal chefs, and maids.
A poor person would see that as them being lazy, but are they really?
Or are they simply using their time effectively by outsourcing?
While they’re being driven around by their driver, they could be in the car making business
deals, or creating content for their next youtube video, tasks that will make them more
money than the fifteen dollars they’re paying their drivers.
It doesn’t even have to be about money either, they could spend more time with their family
and loved ones, while someone else cooks dinner for them.
When you can’t eliminate, or automate, then outsource it.
Only as a last resort.
If you can get a robot to cook for you, go ahead and do that.
So to recap, eliminate, automate, and if you can’t do those two, then outsource.
Whenever you’re in doubt, just remember, both Elon Musk and the bum who lives down
the street from you, have exactly the same number of hours in the day.
That was the three concepts that were invaluable to me, especially during the early phases
of my plant business.
I hope you enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed creating it for you.
If you haven’t subscribed, you can do it by clicking here, I’ll see you again next
week with something special.