The Four Hour Work Week
Posted on June 28, 2007
Filed Under Internet Marketing
The Four Hour Work Week book is excellent and an intriguing phenomenon.
I’ve listened to the audiobook four times now and skimmed the book twice.
You may not know this, but I got into Internet marketing as a way of selling my life coaching services (not the path to a four hour work week, to be sure).
The first program I ever created was called, first, “The Game” and then later “The Amazing Momentum Generator” - I wasn’t much of a marketer then.
I’m kicking around the idea (and have in the past) of putting this program out again, specifically for Internet marketers - in a nutshell, the idea is to produce massive results (and momentum) in a relatively short period of time.
After mind-mapping “The Four Hour Work Week” there are actually a lot of similarities between Tim Ferriss’s work and my own - of course I have my own twists.
Aside from this blog, I’ve been more thin on giving than I want ideally.
So here’s a very simple approach (and worksheets to follow) that can literally triple your income and double your time off -
Although I didn’t call it “The 80/20 rule” - not sure if I even knew about the 80/20 rule at that time - the end result is the same and I think you’ll find this an easier exercise.
For the next week, track your time RELIGIOUSLY in half hour increments (worksheet provided).
1. Write down the primary task of the half hour, ie, email . . . blog post . . . phone call with X . . . teleseminar . . . etc.
2. Grade the half-hour as objectively as possible using the following criteria:
“A” - these are activities that actively MAKE MONEY.
“B” - these are activities that lead to making money, or have money making potential. IE, creating product, writing a sales letter, etc. DO NOT delude yourself - it’s easy to convince yourself that what you do is necessary to make future income - be hypercritical.
“C” - Maintenance or routine tasks. Stuff that needs done, but doesn’t accomplish anything productive. And by that I mean, doesn’t involve asset creation. Customer service fits here - necessary and important, but not creating a new asset.
“D” - Time waster. You know what I’m talking about.
Here’s the deal:
You want to spend 90% or more of your time engaged in “A”, then “B” activities.
You want to eliminate, automate and delegate “C” activities.
You want to eliminate “D” actitivities altogether. Or, discover a way to make your ‘time wasters’ an ‘A’ - ie, I’m a sport stat junky and what’s a waste of time as leisure activity during work time could become a new business.
Check out the worksheet and a snapshot guideline of “The Amazing Momentum Generator” system here:
You will quickly discover where your time is really going (and don’t be shocked if most of it goes to “C”’s and “D”s right now). “C”s and “D”s tend to be default “habit” activities. Once you become aware of how you’re spending your time, you can do something about it.
You will also notice in the worksheets that I’ve included “Who” and “Hurdles” - I grade time spent with people, even myself in a similar manner - more on that another time.
Hurdles/comments is meant to point out items that need corrected on eliminated; for example “Hurdle: Bob is IMing me eight times per day” - something needs to be done about Bob.
If you find this useful, post your comments and questions here on the blog - feedback valued and appreciated.
.X.
Very helpful. Thanks X. I’ve printed out both worksheets and I’ll be putting them to use tomorrow. I suspect that I have too many C and D activities.
Hey dude - when’s the imxfiles coming out? I’m in Australia and I’m pissing myself waiting!!
Soon.