Comments on: What I hate about the 4-hour work week …

By: thomas dekker

thomas dekker — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:48:12 +0000

I have to agree with you, usually people in business do what they love and it shows in their product or service. Although a 4hr work week sounds amazing to most, how much of yourself have you put into your work? There is a misconception that business owners do not work as much as their employees when in reality their whole lives revolve around it, they breath the work they do, they love it and it becomes more of a way of life, then a 9-5.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:54:37 +0000

good for you just keep working. I was designed by god to be lazy and do nothing. Suits me well.

By: Evan Kaufman

Evan Kaufman — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:35:30 +0000

I appreciate your message, but the truth is that different people have different things that drive them and not everyone’s passion in life is their work.

I’m a software developer, I work in what basically equates to a startup, and I *love* my job. I do great work with amazing people in an incredibly positive environment. But it is still just a means to an end, a living rather than something to live for.

If you *can* do the same amount of work and still have an extra day of the week to put toward your real driving passions — a business day, no less — I see that as nothing but a win.

What else would you “live” for, you may ask. I’d say family, but there are so many different answers to that question, and for as many different people as are in the world.

By: Justice

Justice — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:40:29 +0000

Mankind was designed by God to work. It’s a natural expression of what we are. Great post.

By: Sharn

Sharn — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 19:53:37 +0000

I have my “dream job” and it sucks. I worked hard and passionately to get it. It’s just work in the end. The less time I have to spend doing the better.

By: Realistic Thinker

Realistic Thinker — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:24:38 +0000

Why would someone ever want to work harder not smarter? Thats just plain nonsense! You work to make money, so you can enjoy your life at whatever level you want. If you are preaching about loving what you do, then realize that you are talking about a hobby. Most people dont have their sites set on spending 70 hours at work a week and having no social life for family as a result. Loving what you do does not mean that you should not take every advantage available to you. You have expressed a very barbaric viewpoint. Lets be realistic, we have to grow up a little and realize whats going on around us instead of thinking that the times are going to go back to the way they used to be. Even still if it did, I am willing to bet that those guys from the industrial age would tell you to screw off with your work ethic plan. Things changed for a reason my friend. Stop trying to keep the little man down.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:32:07 +0000

What a fantastic commentary. Loved your article. I’d never heard of the four houw working week concept until recently.

Ironically, even without knowing about this book, I have developed my own business to the point where I can work as little as 4 hours a week, week after week. But I love what I do so I usually invest a lot more of my time in my work than that.

So I’d have to agree – doing something that you hate, but less of it, is not a life-affirming thing to do. The real trick is to DO WHAT YOU LOVE and then it will only FEEL like you work 4 hours a week, even if you work 40.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 08 May 2011 23:35:10 +0000

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the book.

BUT with that said I hope I never work only 4 hours a week.

I enjoy my work(own a couple businesses) and really don’t live travel very much. Have traveled the US, South America, Europe etc.

I much prefer to work at home on the computer and do the things I like which is WORK! lol A 50 hour work week is the minimum I like to do.

I could work 4 hours and have more money than I would know what to do with but I am passionate about what I do and don’t want to ever stop or do anything else.

I STRONGLY encourage people to find a business you REALLY like doing. It IS out there and once you find it you wont worry if you never take a vacation because every day is a vacation, filled with joy and rewards.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 18:59:25 +0000

I agree in part with the article. You should be passionate about what you do and hence bring purpose to it. But I never felt that Tim Ferriss was trying to sell me something else then that. Too many people are stuck in jobs that 1) don’t interest them 2) suck time away from things they are passionate about. The problem is that passionate money making isn’t always possible. I saw 4HWW as a way to give yourself more time and to value time over making money. If I would rather focus on making great music then be a stock broker, 4HWW makes sense. The issue isn’t 4HWW concept but the definition of work. Tim Ferriss does PLENTY of hours, the man has 2 books!! But when passion is involved, hours aren’t counted anymore. In his case, “work” consists of all administrative stuff he doesn’t care about, and not the vitamins he selling since he believes in those. I think we all want to have shorter workweeks, to focus on passion.

By: Mr. Tees

Mr. Tees — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:41:24 +0000

I am aiming at a life of the four hour work week but for now I am starting a business. I work 4 hours just to warm up for the 12 hour day. Nice post.