I’m reading “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss and it’s so good I have to post about it before I’m done. Why are my free offers (see below) always around book reviews? I have no idea.
Bad News First (In deference to The Toyota Way )

• Yes there is an element of luck. Just like Ferriss, I’m also a Remote-Control-CEO and I know it can’t work to this extreme with every business – although it does for me. I truly believe every business can benefit tremendously from the things he shares.
• And of course there is a bit of hype, but it’s well written just the same. And the concept of a 4 hour work week is actual reality for him. Not just fluff.
• No it won’t work for everyone, but the main reason for that is most people won’t believe it (so they won’t even try) or won’t be as honest with themselves as you need to be to make it work.

Now the Good News

• There are a lot of great concepts in the book that can be useful to all entrepreneurs.
• It’s well written and enjoyable (if a bit too long)
• It requires a massive attitude change for most people. But Ferriss is grounded enough to know you have to change your actions as well. He gives a lot of detailed, step-by-step actions you can take.
• He’s a bend the rules type of guy which should resonate with most entrepreneurs. He says the concepts will work for employees too and gives some adaptations to use if you’re one of them. Never having been a employee, I can only guess how well they’d work. As a boss, I can tell you I’d love it if an employee wanted to do this.

Best Practical Concept: (so far – I’m only half way done) Mini-retirement
Why work for 40 years at something you hate trying to amass enough money and retain enough health in order to finally have a life you hope to enjoy? Instead, Ferriss aims to distribute “mini-retirements” throughout life instead of hoarding the recovery and enjoyment for the fool’s gold of retirement. By working only when you are most effective, life is both more productive and more enjoyable, It’s the perfect example of having your cake and eating it too.

He does give a lot of practical advice on how to actually do this.

Best Philosophical Concept: Happiness = Excitement
Obviously if you’re going to make such a drastic change as to only work 4 hours a week, you’ll have a lot of time to fill with other things. You’d better know what you want from the other 36, 56, or is it 96 hours you’ll free up. Ferriss gives a lot of practical tips on how to do it, but if you don’t know why you’re doing it you probably won’t even try.

But asking people what they really want or what their ultimate goals are is often too vague in a context like this. Most people will say their ultimate goal is to be happy. That’s where Ferriss’ insight about happiness is so powerful. I’ll use his words and his italics.

Bear with me. What is the opposite of happiness? Sadness? No. Just as love and hate are two sides of the same coin, so are happiness and sadness. Crying out of happiness is a perfect example of this. The opposite of love is indifference, and the opposite of happiness is – here’s the clincher – boredom.

Excitement is the more practical synonym for happiness, and it is precisely what you should strive to chase. It is the cure-all. When people suggest you follow your ‘passion’ or your ‘bliss’, I propose that they, in fact, referring to the same singular concept: excitement.

This brings us full circle. The question you should be asking is not, “What do I want?” or “What are my goals?” but “What would excite me?”

Takeaway – Free Offer

• If you’d like to get your work week down to 4 hours, and need a boost, I’ll give you a free hour of phone coaching to help. Here’s what to do.
• Email me: john [at] sbcoach [dot] com and tell me your situation and how I might help. Tell me you’re writing about this free offer since I do get other requests as well. Please give me enough details to go on – what do you do, what excites you, have you read the book etc.
• If I don’t’ think I can help I’ll let you know by email. If I do think I can help we’ll schedule a call. If I can’t tell, I’ll email you back with more questions.
• When I’m ready to rescind this offer, I’ll post a note here to that effect.

[tags] CEO, small business, Entrepreneur, time management, work week, happiness [/tags]

Here’s a great story by a guy whose company was off-shored out of business. In the process of going out of business he laid off his customer service department before dumping his production department, He found out that customers were happier without the customer service department. [The bigger story is here you may have to pay money or time (watch an ad) to read it - well worth either investment.]

Why?
It made me realize customer service is like middle management. It might have served a purpose at one time, but with free and simple communications, and ubiquitous information it’s probably time to re-think if the old structure is the best way to accomplish the goal. The real benefit of technology is to flatten organizations. But that requires using technology not just to do things in the same way (only faster). Rather you must use technology to do things that were not possible before. That’s what cutting edge organizations do.

Takeaway:

• Who is your customer service system designed to serve – your people or the customers?

[tags]entrepreneur, management, customer service, technology, small business[/tags]

You’ve got something you think I’d like. You want to get paid for it. I’ve got the right to say no, of course, but why do you have to be ashamed to come out and ask? I’m upset right now because I just got a call from a public radio station I’ve supported in the past.

[Digression - I live where I can listen to 3 public radio stations and I do. Frequently. And I support them. Donations have ranged from $100 to $1000. So I like these guys. Until today. End of digression]

The call started like this: “Hi Mr. Seiffer [Dead give away right there when they use my name. At least he pronounced it right] I’m calling from WNYC radio. You appreciate the coverage we provide and blah blah blah ….”

The call ended like this: “Sorry I’m not in a position to give right now” and I hung up. But that’s a lie. Who’s not in a position to give $35 or $50 bucks? You blow that going to a movie if you’ve got kids. So why am I upset? I guess it was the hypocrisy of the whole thing. Not showing any idea that his call might be an intrusion and then having a stranger try to tell me what I like and why.

The best way to respect my time is not to ask if I have time to talk, or how am I doing. Just to get to the point. You know I like the station – you’re getting my name from a list of donors! Don’t act like you have to remind me. You’ve got 10 seconds; come right out and ask for money. Like this:

“Hi. I’m calling WNYC contributors because we need more money. Can you make another donation at this time?” Short, honest and respectful. Of course they should be prepared to talk if I say “But I just gave – why do you need money again?” They should even be prepared to bribe – and I don’t mean with another damn tote bag – how about with my privacy. “Well, sir if you can’t give now, is it because we did something to piss you off? Or can I put you down for a gift in 6 months? If you say yes to that I can promise you won’t get another call or letter from us till then. “[but then they better make good on that promise].

They could even be funny. “Hi. I’m calling WNYC contributors to beg grovel or plead because we need more money. Would you prefer begging, groveling or pleading?” That would be a lot more respectful that fake conversation.

Takeaways:

• Nothing wrong with selling. Don’t try to hide what you’re doing. But make it easy for me to end the conversation. Not only will I be happier, you’ll get more sales calls in each day.
• UPDATE: I’m an introvert so I don’t like chatty friendly sales people – I want to do the business and move on. But what about people who like that “small town” friendliness? The takeaway is honesty. If you really care or really like to chat, by all means do so. But don’t act like the sale is an after though or not the main driver of the interaction.