Our 4-Hour Workweek

The 4-Hour Workweek blogging lifestyle is working for J.D., Darren, Millionaire Mommy, and Tina. Their readership experienced double digit growth over the past two months, since my initial report.

I read four blogs with a 4-Hour Workweek flair on a regular basis.

1. Get Rich Slowly, authored by J.D. Roth; subscriber base of 56,053 (up 18.8%);
2. Problogger, authored by Darren Rowse; subscriber base of 47,862 (up 15.5%);
3. Think Simple Now, authored by Tina Su; subscriber base of 5,049 (up 14.0%);
4. Millionaire Mommy Next Door, author is anonymous; subscriber base of 3,062 (up 18.5%).

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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J.D. Roth at Get Rich Slowly was asked the question by one of his readers, “What motivated you to take control of your finances?”

Here’s J.D.’s response:

I started to answer but, as conversations will, our discussion lost its focus. I never gave a complete response. I thought about the question for the rest of the day, though, and concluded that for me, money represents freedom. In his book "Debt is Slavery", Michael Mihalik writes:

"Too many people hate their jobs but are afraid to leave, because they wouldn’t be able to pay their mortgage, credit card bills, car loans, or boat loans. Debt can turn a free, happy person into a bitter human being. Debt can turn you into a slave."

For fifteen years, I felt like a slave. Debt was the dominating force in my life. My choices were limited by the fact that I owed tens of thousands of dollars. For a long time, this burden only weakened me — I took on more debt in a futile attempt to ease the pain with more stuff.

Eventually I realized that what I wanted was freedom — freedom to work and live where I wanted, freedom to travel, freedom to retire early — and that the only way I could achieve this freedom was by eliminating debt. My non-mortgage debt is gone now, but this desire for freedom remains my primary motivation. It’s why I’m willing to live frugally. It’s why I want a huge emergency fund. It’s why I want to pay off the mortgage.

Click here for J.D.'s complete post.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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David Gardner, co-founder of The Motley Fool, reveals "The Greatest Secret Of All" to investing -

"Find good companies and hold those positions tenaciously over time to yield multiples upon multiples of your original investment."

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Recommended reading:

Tina Su's guest blog at the website of Darren Rowse, Problogger.net - "From 0 to 2000+ Subscribers In 90 Days"

After reading Tina's blog, I now declare to be her disciple. Her blog, Think Simple Now, has grown from 0 to 4,466 subscribers since September 27, 2007. In addition to her great advice on finding clarity, motivation, productivity, creativity and happiness, her recommended reading list is awesome; and, I just love her website name - Think Simple Now. It plays along with my desired lifestyle changes of "less is more", downsizing and "escape the 9 - 5, live anywhere".

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Two months ago, I reported that J.D. Roth, blogger at Get Rich Slowly, had announced he was quitting his corporate sales job to devote 100% of his working efforts to his blogs Get Rich Slowly and Get Fit Slowly.

In the December 2nd post, it was noted that J.D. had 34,726 subscribers and was generating a monthly income of $5,000 (14 cents per subscriber - my math estimate). A quick check this morning at Get Rich Slowly shows he now has 45,305 subscribers. He grew readership by 30.5% in two months. Prorating his income at 14 cents per subscriber, I estimate his blog is now generating a monthly income of $6,340.

He launched Get Fit Slowly in October and now has 1,083 subscribers (estimated at $150 month income).

I wonder if he could have earned a 30% raise in pay at his corporate sales job the last two months?

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Want to teach your preschool child the value of a dollar and increase the little rug-rat's attitude around the house? Well check out this testimonial by Lynnae at Being Frugal. Click here for the complete article.

It's a keeper for me!

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Markus Frind has never heard of Tim Ferriss. But, he sure follows the principles of Tim's 4-hour workweek. Markus puts in ten hours a week on his website Plenty Of Fish and nets $10 million a year.

Read today's New York Times article by Randall Stross to see how he does it.

Wow! Tim, you sure you didn't train this guy?

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly shared this true story of how a woman earning $7.50 an hour as an office assistant in a veterinary hospital became a millionaire. Read how she did it.

She has escaped the 9 - 5 ratrace and attained the freedom to do whatever she chooses. Her website mantra reads:

"Our family hasn't set an alarm clock in years. We wake with the sun when we're rested, eager to spend the new day doing whatever we chose."

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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The Thrill of Paying Off A Mortgage, a Get Rich Slowly article, has a lot of lessons that can be applied to achieving a 4-Hour Workweek.

No mortgage = freedom to chase your dreams. No mortgage = fewer income requirements.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Congratulations to J.D. Roth at Get Rich Slowly. J.D. announced this month that he his quitting his corporate day job and will be working exclusively on his blogging efforts. His Get Rich Slowly blog has 34,726 subscribers and generates $5,000 monthly income (14 cents per subscriber). Look for more good things from J.D. I hear he is working on a project called Get Fit Slowly.

Do I see a pattern here? What about Get Healthy Slowly? And then Get Educated Slowly?

J.D. you are now living your dream! The Tim Ferriss way!

Click here to see J.D.'s plans.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Yaro Starak, blogger from down under, offers 4 tips for becoming a more productive entrepreneur.

Read the entire post.

And I agree with Yaro.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Brian Lash on Tim Ferriss:

"I became a fan of Tim Ferriss' philosophy a few months ago when I read his controversial bestseller, “The 4-Hour Workweek”. It's full of tips and tools for those among us looking to dive headlong into an automated lifestyle.

Here's what I believe to be his most important discovery: The fishing is best where the fewest go, and the collective insecurity of the world makes it easy for people to hit home runs while everyone else is aiming for base hits. There is just less competition for bigger goals. [emphasis added]

That's an important message for any entrepreneur."

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Today''s cover story in the Sunday Styles section of the New York Times features Tim Ferriss.

After reading Mr. Ferriss's recent best seller, "The 4-Hour Workweek" (Crown), Jason Hoffman, a founder of Joyent, which designs Web-based software for small businesses, urged his employees to cut out the instant-messaging and swear off multitasking. From now on, he told them, severely restrict e-mail use and conduct business the old-fashioned way, by telephone.

"All of a sudden," Mr. Hoffman said of the results, "their evenings are free. All of a sudden Monday doesn't feel so overwhelming."

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

Illustration by Joe Zeff Design Inc.
Photo by Jodi Hilton

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While browsing on Get Rich Slowly today, I found a link to The Simple Dollar where Trent Hamm wrote a great post "The Ten Most Important Things I’ve Learned About Money and Life In The Last Year". Here are Trent's highlights:

1. Time is the one thing you can’t ever get more of.
2. Every time you spend a dollar, you sacrifice a bit of your future.
3. The simpler you make your investments, the better.
4. Finding ways to better manage your time is always worthwhile, but don’t make it an obsession.
5. Automate as much as you possibly can.
6. Find time to recharge.
7. The best way I’ve found to save money is to prepare all my food at home.
8. Keep track of things.
9. Connect with as many people as you can.
10. Forget the paycheck - do what you’re passionate about.

Simple, but useful advice, and a lot of Tim Ferriss leanings. Click here for the entire post.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Yes folks, the Putz media player, a DuroSport Electronics Corporation product, will not be in Christmas stockings this year and it's because of Tim Ferriss.

This is a humorous testimonial.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Tim Ferriss and his tips on

• Managing e-mail;
• Adopting the 80/20 rule;
• Outsouring your life - the personal virtual assistant;
• Creating work - life separation.

Tim's tips are just the beginning of Our 4-Hour Workweek journey.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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I subscribe to Google Alerts and came across Jed and Chelsey's website, The Newly Rich, 4HWW, Family Style.

Check out their journey towards a 4-Hour WorkWeek. I particulary like Jed's latest blog - Work for Hire: In defense of an hourly wage, a practical approach for getting started on the 4-Hour WorkWeek. Jeb quit his corporate salaried job, works only 20 hours a week as a consultant, and earns more now in 20 hours than he did in his salaried position.

Smart move!

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour WorkWeek

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A post from Ty and Mari's blog that documents their 4-hour workweek personal journey:

Last month we sold our beach house in San Diego, CA along with ALL our furniture (within 48 hours flat thanks to Craigslist.com!)… went out and bought a beautiful 34′ motorhome (shopped like crazy for two weeks solid and found an amazing deal on a pre-owned Class A for under $30k total). We now live full time in the RV and are gearing up to start traveling the US/Canada.

It’s an incredible feeling to own our own home free and clear, to have practically NO bills - just campground fees, internet connection & cell phones. Oh yeh, and fuel!

What do we do for income? I already have several e-products that sell online, plus I do consulting and coaching via email and phone. My hubby is a real estate investor and we have a couple properties, more on the way.

We could quite comfortably live on less than $1000/mo if we wanted to. There are tons of campground deals to be had and of course dry-docking is free.

Truth is, we really do not *need* much at all to be happy and enjoy life. Making ourselves downsize from a 2600 square feet, 3bed/4bath home to approx a 275 square feet mobile living space was the best thing we’ve done together… ever! Our marriage is the strongest it’s been, we have tons of energy, and have way more fun every day.

Can't wait to catch up with them in a couple of months and see how they are doing. One more role model that says we can do it too. After all, we have a 1200 square foot house on an acre on a lake calling us. Already bought and paid for. What are we waiting for?

Gillian Parrillo
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Another disciple of Tim Ferriss? I think so. Check out his story - The 4-Hour Sleepnight at Monday Morning Revolution.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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"The number one reason I love my business is time...having time." - Patsi Krakoff, co-partner of The Blog Squad

Read more about why Patsi loves her job.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Another Tim Ferriss inspired couple!

Tim you have started a national craze. At this rate, soon there will be nobody working for corporate America. And there will be a run on old VW vans!

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Tim Ferriss, meet Ashely Qualls - internet phenom and millionaire at age 17:

• Self-starter,
• Product of divorced parents,
• High school drop-out,
• Attracts 7 million visitors a month,
• Delivers 60 million pages a month,
• Built and owns the 349th most popular website in the world,
• Earns $70,000 per month.

Read how she's doing it in an interview with FastCompany.com... click here.

Visit her website www.WhateverLife.com.

And look who Ashley supports for president:

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Maria Gajewski took Tim Ferriss to task and tried Tim's recommended virtual assistant outsourcing technique. Read the results on her blog Never The Same River Twice. Be sure to start with part one first.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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Bob Calise, at Everything Except Ordinary, offers his thoughts on Tim Ferriss:

"Those of you who know me well know I’m a big fan of Tim Ferriss, his book "The 4-Hour Work Week" and its companion blog. Since reading the book, I’ve been hooked on Tim’s concept of a low-information diet and I actively implemented it over the summer."

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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The comment function in the blogoshere is a great tool to prompt dialog. Sometimes comments become lost in the minutia of a website and need to be elevated to get their proper due. This past week Christine found our website and left us the following message and we are convinced it needs elevating:

Hello,

I've bookmarked your site, but I can't remember where I found it from...perhaps the 4-hourWW site?

Anyway, looking forward to being able to track your progress. It does seem SO easy when you read the book, but obviously, if it was, everyone would be doing it.

You have gone so much farther than the majority so far, so you're to be commended for that. Most people just "think" about it but never "act" on it.

I was a very successful marketing/pr executive for a large restaurant group, but quit my job in February when I realized that I was extremely miserable, bitter, and deadly-overworked. Shocked everyone around me (including maybe myself!!!).

I traveled to Florida for several months, rented a condo on the beach and enjoyed the vacation that I hadn't had in 4 years.

I've been back since July and have picked up a few freelance jobs, but nothing has really excited me so far.

I don't mean to philosophize too deeply here, but I think books like 4hr WW, The Secret, and such are so popular right now because we are all searching for some greater meaning to our lives. Our world is a mess, no matter where you live and it's books like this that gives us hope in living the enjoyable life that we should be living since we all know how short it truly is. I read the other day, the often stated phrase...'this is not a dress rehearsal', and yet we all wait so long to put our dreams into action. Why do we do that?

I myself sometimes feel paralyzed. I've got some great ideas, but I just can't move on them. What's my problem? I have no idea. Perhaps fear of success, perhaps fear of failure.

I think the key is to have a good support system of like-minded people. Alot of my friends/colleagues can't fathom the 4hr WW, or don't understand it. They think it's just a cool pipe dream. Perhaps it is. Or, perhaps

I'm just a great optimist and can see the potential down the road.

Again, maybe the power in The Secret and Tim's book, is that millions will read them, but only a few will implement. It takes discipline, belief, and courage.

Sorry for being so long-winded, but your site has struck a cord with me. It all seems very real.

I will keep coming back to get the motivation, insight and inspiration into this new way of living, and perhaps it will be a little easier knowing that someone IS rooting for your success!

cheers.

And so we are.

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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My 4-Hour Workweek Mobile Family ...

Pierre Cutler
Our 4-Hour Workweek

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