Why does 4 Hour Workweek get no love around here

[AFMKelvin]

I'm new here. I didn't know that RDPD wasn't appreciated here.

I love that book. I'll have to do a search of the old posts to better understand why.

The guy that wrote those books did not get rich from the advice he gives people in the books. He got rich from selling the books.

Also this board was founded by former members of the rich Dad poor Dad board. The man who wrote rich Dad poor Dad told some members here in one of his conferences that they would never make it by selling stuff online back in 2006. Turns out he was wrong about that .

 

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[ChrisV]

I've been here 10+ years. Not sure how you come to the conclusion that 4HWW DOES NOT get love around here, it does. Many Fastlaners have read it, and probably most of them enjoyed it. There are a lot of OLDER threads on it, like SUPER-OLD back when this forum started in 2007.

I know the proper grammar, it’s an expression lol. Just considering the parallels in the philosophies and how popular Tim Ferris is, the fact that I rarely see him/it spoken about is somewhat surprising.

 

[LittleWolfie]

I generally wonder this as well, though I think it has to do more with the title than anything else. It would seem to imply you can build an empire in just 4 hours

They also deal with different types of businesses. T4HWW seems to focus on the lifestyle business, the thousandaire fastlane as some others have said.

My biggest issue of contention with 4HWW is the catchy title which led so many as @lowtek pointed out to ignore the process behind the results and attempt to jump straight to the end.

I nearly didn't buy the millionare fastlane because of the title and the lambo picture/obsession. It made it sound like a get rich quick scheme.

The way I see it 4hww muses are basically MJ's money making businesses.

A business is a business.

“Lifestyle” business is just a label people put on certain types of businesses, typically due to smaller size in operations and revenues.

It's certainly still a real business, but isn't a lifestyle business defining point that it doesn't want to scale beyond a certain point. They give up the S for C.

Fair point. I guess I would rephrase and say I have bigger goals and see TMF as the book that will guide you in that direction better than 4HWW would.

Of course if your able to create a single 1 million product businesses only takes 4 hours to sustain, why not have 10?

I mean, you can argue whatever you want in this world. My personal opinion is that the majority of people who read 4HWW think entrepreneurship is:

1. Buy laptop
2. Open Shopify store
3. Download Oberlo
4. Quit day job as money rolls in

The majority who read MFL think entrepreneurship is:

NOTABLE! - "Tell me the exact steps" (OK, here are all 67 of them.)

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the book or think he’s some kind of “guru”. I like a lot of what he does.

Again, all my opinion, as is every response in this thread...an opinion.

Then again how many people read fastlane and want to know what colour lambo they should get with their $50?

I've seen it mentioned quite often.

To me it's "old hat".
It's like recommending Outliers, or Win Friends and Influence People, or Think and Grow Rich, or 48 Laws of Power.

It's so prolific and so talked about, why recommend it? I assume everybody already has already read it.

Win friends and influence people is the only one of those I have even heard about(that was great when recommend to me) A lot of people might not have heard of "old hat" books. Perhaps their young or from a country where it was never published, or English is their second language and theybdont have a translation or maybe they don't know anyone whom has an experience and interest in that direction.

This is why background reading lists exist, they offer massive value to a lot of people.

 

[Jimmyy]

I wouldn't have read MJ's book if I hadn't been inspired by the 4HWW. It clicked something in my brain and from then on I was hunting down good books in the entrepreneurial category until I got to the Fastlane.

 

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[Tommo]

My opinion of what? The book? Or the OP's thread?

Both MJ,should not take you long lol, you are very succinct.
My apologies didn't see your answer a half hour ago. And you are succinct as hell.
Never any wasted words.

 

[ChrisV]

I mean, you can argue whatever you want in this world. My personal opinion is that the majority of people who read 4HWW think entrepreneurship is:

1. Buy laptop
2. Open Shopify store
3. Download Oberlo
4. Quit day job as money rolls in

The majority who read MFL think entrepreneurship is:

NOTABLE! - "Tell me the exact steps" (OK, here are all 67 of them.)

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the book or think he’s some kind of “guru”. I like a lot of what he does.

Again, all my opinion, as is every response in this thread...an opinion.

What I mean when I say “you can argue the same of TMF ” is in regards to the catchy title.


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[ChrisV]

I nearly didn't buy the millionare fastlane because of the title and the lambo picture/obsession. It made it sound like a get rich quick scheme.

Yea even to this day, I have a hard time recommending it to people.

It’s possible to change the title of a book though. I have author friends who actually had to when she moved from self publishing to corporate publishing.

But yea, I have a hard time recommending the book due to the title.

Even Unscripted . In my opinion, it’s a brilliant masterpiece. One of my top 3 all times books. But for example I wanted to recommend it to my uncle, who is a very serious businessman. I had a hard time doing so due to the crass language and the fact that is sometimes seems like a rant.

I think the books would reach a much wider audience if they were polished a little. Maybe even cowritten with a professional author. Remember how Steve Jobs told the story of his life? He could have sat down and written an autobiography. Instead he hired Walter Isaacson, one of the world’s greatest writers/biographers to do the task for him. Steve knows that while he may be a brilliant businessman, in terms of writing, there are Better. As a result the book sold millions

Unscripted ... the message does have the potential to really deep into popular culture and change the world, but again there are some aspects that I think could use polish in order to reach more people. I honestly think it could outsell Think and Grow Rich and other classics if done right.


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[MTEE1985]

What I mean when I say “you can argue the same of TMF ” is in regards to the catchy title.


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Yes, you can argue that. You can also argue that about pretty much every book written. The idea is to get a message out and the first step is intrigue. So what catches a potential readers eye? “The Millionaire Fastlane ” or “Work your a$$ off for 5-10 years and retire wealthy instead of being mediocre for 50 years and retire poor”?

What my opinion is, is that if somebody actually reads MFL instead of reading just the title they will have a different approach to business and entrepreneurship than somebody who reads 4HWW.

This is my personal belief, doesn’t have to be anybody else’s. Again, I like Tim Ferriss, I don’t dislike 4HWW, I just probably won’t read it again. I also thought Tribe of Mentors and Tools of Titans (aside from being almost the exact same book) were well worth my time to read.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Maybe even cowritten with a professional author.

Yea, because I'm not a professional author, just some bloke in his underwear.

Likewise, your posts would be much, much better if they didn't have an avatar attached to it that looked like a serial killer lurking in an alley.

 

[ChrisV]

Yea, because I'm not a professional author, just some bloke in his underwear.

Likewise, your posts would be much, much better if they didn't have an avatar attached to it that looked like a serial killer lurking in an alley.

Lol, my post wasn’t meant to be an insult. You literally pushed aside the mountains of compliments to focus on that sentence.

It’s meant to be a constructive observation that could help you reach a wider audience. Like you could have a book that sits next to Outliers or 7 Habits of Highly Effective People with a little polish.

Like it’s a book that could be timeless, bound in leather and passed down from generation to generation. There are different levels of authorship. There’s Malcolm Gladwell. There’s William Shakespeare. None of us are going to be as good as that, most likely and it’s not an insult to say so.

You’re a smart enough guy to not take a comment as offensive when it’s not meant that way.

 

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[ChrisV]

Yea, because I'm not a professional author, just some bloke in his underwear.

Likewise, your posts would be much, much better if they didn't have an avatar attached to it that looked like a serial killer lurking in an alley.

But there I changed my avatar

 

[Maxboost]

But for example I wanted to recommend it to my uncle, who is a very serious businessman. I had a hard time doing so due to the crass language and the fact that is sometimes seems like a rant.

Ghostwriters are the worse because at times it does not feel genuine.

Not to kiss MJ's a$$ but I liked the writing because I felt as though it was a mentor talking DIRECTLY to me. It felt personal which a lot of books fail to do.

It's not a book written by PHDs for PHDs but for regular people who pondered if there was more to life than going to work and paying bills waiting for Saturday.

The words "bullshit, F*ck this event, rat race, the matrix" speaks to me more than any professional language out there to start taking action and to start building my dream.

 

[ChrisV]

I think that writing can be difficult. People spend their whole lives perfecting the craft. For instance Malcolm Gladwell. He really doesn’t create the story, he presents it in an interesting way.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0RDJ9tYw6A

 

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[Vigilante]

Yea even to this day, I have a hard time recommending it to people.

It’s possible to change the title of a book though. I have author friends who actually had to when she moved from self publishing to corporate publishing.

But yea, I have a hard time recommending the book due to the title.

Even Unscripted . In my opinion, it’s a brilliant masterpiece. One of my top 3 all times books. But for example I wanted to recommend it to my uncle, who is a very serious businessman. I had a hard time doing so due to the crass language and the fact that is sometimes seems like a rant.

I think the books would reach a much wider audience if they were polished a little. Maybe even cowritten with a professional author. Remember how Steve Jobs told the story of his life? He could have sat down and written an autobiography. Instead he hired Walter Isaacson, one of the world’s greatest writers/biographers to do the task for him. Steve knows that while he may be a brilliant businessman, in terms of writing, there are Better. As a result the book sold millions

Unscripted ... the message does have the potential to really deep into popular culture and change the world, but again there are some aspects that I think could use polish in order to reach more people. I honestly think it could outsell Think and Grow Rich and other classics if done right.


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You'd have to be a moron to change the title of a NYT best seller

 

[Vigilante]

I think that writing can be difficult. People spend their whole lives perfecting the craft. For instance Malcolm Gladwell. He really doesn’t create the story, he presents it in an interesting way.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0RDJ9tYw6A

Malcolm Gladwell wrote David and Goliath. I threw it in the garbage after two chapters. Perhaps he could have used your recommendation for a title change to "Landfill."

Which books do you have that are NYT best sellers? Humble me as to your credentials to tell a best selling author how to sell more, but make sure it includes your own personal experience.

Go.

 

[ChrisV]

Malcolm Gladwell wrote David and Goliath. I threw it in the garbage after two chapters. Perhaps he could have used your recommendation for a title change to "Landfill."

Which books do you have that are NYT best sellers? Humble me as to your credentials to tell a best selling author how to sell more, but make sure it includes your own personal experience.

Go.

Ugh.

 

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[Vigilante]

Ugh.

Thats what I thought.

 

[ChrisV]

Thats what I thought.

We both know that’s not what the Ugh meant.

I didn’t recommend going back and changing the title. When you have an established book with a reputation, why the hell would you change it lol.

I’m sorry... like when I’m having a serious conversation with someone and I’m like ‘you gotta check out this book ‘the Millionaire Fastlane ’' ... i mean it makes it hard to convince them it’s not a get rich quick book

Do you disagree? Am I wrong here?

I think it sold copies despite the title, not because of.

When I do recommend it, i usually have to add a long disclaimer on the end. “You gotta check out this book The Millionaire Fastlane ... now i know that sounds like some get rich quick book, but i swear it’s not.. it’s totally legit”

I’m confused as to why this is so feather-ruffling

I literally gonna stop posting on this board because there’s always some dumb shit or people trying to start arguments with me.

 

[Vigilante]

We both know that’s not what the Ugh meant.

I didn’t recommend going back and changing the title. When you have an established book with a reputation, why the hell would you change it lol.

I’m sorry... like when I’m having a serious conversation with someone and I’m like ‘you gotta check out this book ‘the Millionaire Fastlane ’' ... i mean it makes it hard to convince them it’s not a get rich quick book

Do you disagree? Am I wrong here?

I think it sold copies despite the title, not because of.

When I do recommend it, i usually have to add a long disclaimer on the end. “You gotta check out this book The Millionaire Fastlane ... now i know that sounds like some get rich quick book, but i swear it’s not.. it’s totally legit”

I’m confused as to why this is so feather-ruffling

I gave it to a friend in finance the other day. He read it and among the presumably dozens of books on business and finance he's read, he said it was the best one he had read. I didn't feel like I had to apologize. When I teach someone to fish I don't start by apologizing for the length of the pole. To each his own. I've learned as the years have passed to reserve criticism mostly for my own shortcomings. I'd rather not criticize the efforts of those infinitely more successful for me lest I reveal my own ignorance. However, the internet is full of pizza drivers turned armchair experts. That's what filters are for, I guess.

 

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[Vigilante]

I literally gonna stop posting on this board because there’s always some dumb sh*t or people trying to start arguments with me.

Bye. Do you want us to delete your user name?

 

[ChrisV]

Bye. Do you want us to delete your user name?

No thank you.

Malcolm Gladwell wrote David and Goliath. I threw it in the garbage after two chapters. Perhaps he could have used your recommendation for a title change to "Landfill."

Which books do you have that are NYT best sellers? Humble me as to your credentials to tell a best selling author how to sell more, but make sure it includes your own personal experience.

Go.

This is one single opinion. My opinion may be an outlier, or there it may reflect a hole in the market. Either way, wouldn’t you want to know? As entrepreneurs we should always want unbiased opinions of our work, whether good or bad. Whether that person has ‘sold a NYT best seller or not.”

Let’s say you ran a restaurant. Someone didnt like the noodles. Are you donna say “HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU SPEND IN CULINARY SCHOOL?”.. or are you gonna say ‘okay that’s feedback… maybe that’s one blip on the radar, or maybe it’s a pattern’

 

[Deleted58904]

Rule of thumb: In general, if it's easy, don't you think everyone would do it? TL;DR Event vs. Process
Applied to Business: If person X works only 4 hours a week, why can't I work way more and beat him in competition? He has entry (let's say); if he works 4 hours a week it's gonna take a lot of time for him to develop an entry wall. I don't know how one's going to live on working 4 hours a week until they build an entry wall.

 

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[Vigilante]

This is one single opinion. My opinion may be an outlier, or there it may reflect a hole in the market. Either way, wouldn’t you want to know? As entrepreneurs we should always want unbiased opinions of our work, whether good or bad. Whether that person has ‘sold a NYT best seller or not.”

Let’s say you ran a restaurant. Someone didnt like the noodles. Are you donna say “HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU SPEND IN CULINARY SCHOOL?”.. or are you gonna say ‘okay that’s feedback… maybe that’s one blip on the radar, or maybe it’s a pattern’

If I was the king of noodles, and some "dumbshit" didn't like the noodles, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it... especially when the guy came back to my restaurant for seconds. I'd smile and take his money and change nothing.

 

[ChrisV]

I gave it to a friend in finance the other day. He read it and among the presumably dozens of books on business and finance he's read, he said it was the best one he had read.

I just got done saying it was a very good book. Actually, I recently left a very very nice Amazon review just to help him spread the word. Let’s see if I can find it...

 

[Vigilante]

I just got done saying it was a very good book. Actually, I recently left a very very nice Amazon review just to help him spread the word. Let’s see if I can find it...

Your stopping posting here only lasted 10 minutes.

 

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[ChrisV]

Your stopping posting here only lasted 10 minutes.

I never stopped.

I think you’re misunderstanding my statement. Let me correct it. If people are going to just start arguments over dumb crap that wasn’t even meant as an insult, I’m just going to stop posting here.*

And no, that’s okay. You don’t have to delete anything.

 

[ChrisV]

If I was the king of noodles, and some "dumbshit" didn't like the noodles, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it... especially when the guy came back to my restaurant for seconds. I'd smile and take his money and change nothing.

Cool. Me personally? I think the more feedback, the better.

 

[Vigilante]

Cool. Me personally? I think the more feedback, the better.

My hope for you is to some day create a business that reaches critical mass.

Two things will then happen.

#1 you will understand people's reaction here if you still remember this and

#2 it won't matter to you

 

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[ChrisV]

My hope for you is to some day create a business that reaches critical mass.

Two things will then happen.

#1 you will understand people's reaction here if you still remember this and

#2 it won't matter to you

I understand the reaction. It’s somebody’s work. They’re proud of it. But you have to look at the intention of the post before you get your feathers ruffled. If I was coming in here like ‘the book is shit MJ DeMarco stole my wife and kicked my dog! and I hate everything he stands for” vs what I said i think it would be different.

When I put out my book i had sooooo many people proofread it. I didn’t give a shit if you were a professional writer, NYT bestseller... i just looked at what they said. Maybe i agreed, maybe i didn’t. But again, feedback is always your best friend.

 

[ChrisV]

@Vigilante @MJ DeMarco

Actually going back now and reading my post, I do see how it can be interpreted as a little crass. But it wasn’t meant that way, especially considering this was the review I just left on the Amazon page two days ago.




But anyway, back on topic