I’m pretty confident all of you reading this right now have come across the infamous Tim Ferris at some point across your search on the internet.
You know, the guy that wrote:
“The 4-Hour Work Week”
The term has been supported and discouraged by many all over the world. The old concept of retirement has been thrown out the door. Let’s escape the corporate environment, and design the ultimate lifestyle we see as desirable. Now, I’ve read the Four Hour Work Week years ago. I agree and disagree with many concepts in the book. Do I think you can design a business, and only put in four hours of work? No, I really don’t. But, I know there are people out there doing it. The majority of us reading Tim’s book look at a four hour work week as something totally unattainable and completely unrealistic. But, what do I know. I’m not here to talk about the book though..
Tim’s 4-Hour Work Week book was on the best seller list for seven years straight. It’s impacted many people around the world, or at least has made them think about their work and life from a different perspective. Tim has 10 Rules For Success that will help you in life and in business.
1.) HAVE OTHER INTERESTS
It’s important in life to have other interests outside what you’re doing to make a living or the business you’re running. Don’t attach your self worth to your job or business. Get outside. Be active. Do the things you love. Spend time with the people that make you happy.
2.) SCRATCH YOUR OWN ITCH
The “scratch your own itch” is a phrase that has been around in the world of entrepreneurship for quite some time. How is my product or service currently solving the problem at stake? Investing in things that you currently use, or at least understand.
3.) LEARN THE ART OF THE PITCH
Learn how to tell your story. Pitching your product, and pitching yourself. Know what your message is and what problem you’re solving. Investors know when your not passionate about the product at hand. Speak truth through your message and potential customer.
4.) KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS
Know what your skills are and what you enjoy doing. All of us can probably learn a new skill, but is that really going to make us effective? Most likely not. Understand yourself and know what you’re good at, and then delegate the rest.
5.) BE ABLE TO SELL
Sales is everything. As human beings we’re constantly selling ourselves. Selling in our personal life, and selling in business. Why should I buy your product? Why should I invest in your business? Communication, communication, communication..
6.) IDEAS ARE WORTH NOTHING
Every single person on this planet can come up with an extraordinary idea. But how many can actually execute? Ideas come with execution and implementation. It’s just like adopting a new habit. Look at your life and notice what you spend most of your time on.
7.) PICK THE RIGHT THINGS TO DO
Become an effective worker/business owner. There’s a difference between being effective and efficient. Know and understand that. We all get distracted, and end up accomplishing nothing sometimes. Understand what your priorities are in business and in life.
8.) BE PRAGMATICALLY PESSIMISTIC
Understand your worst case scenarios. This goes for everything. There’s nothing wrong with looking at it that way. Time loss, financial loss, etc. Hiccups will happen in life and in business. Know how to pivot, and in what way you will react.
9.) HAVE A FOCUSED METRIC
Focus on a few things you want to improve every week/month/year. Doesn’t matter what it is, but focus on something. Whether it’s a conversion to a sale or sign up on a website. What are we focusing on us a team or as a individual in a company.
10.) USE FAILURE TO HELP YOU
Everyone is going to face failure at some point. Failure is encourage. It’s one step closer to where you want to be. There’s nothing wrong with failure. You’re going to get denied, you’re going to get laughed. But, you just have to keep going.