Hanoi toddler and b-boy, from a trip Ma.tt and I took in 2009. (Photo: Matt Mullenweg)
The next post will be an interview on writing process with the inimitable Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist and Aleph, among many others. His work been translated into 71 languages.
In the meantime, I’d like make a few offers and provide a few updates, as well as a few reading links:
1) Would you like to be in The 4-Hour Chef? I’d love for you to be.
Amazingly, it hit both #1 and #2 (for Kindle version) in cookbooks on Amazon when it was announced, and I think it could be bigger than the last two books. If you’ve had success on The Slow-Carb Diet™, have any before/after pics, and would like to be featured in the book, please click here!
2) Random articles from around the web that readers of this blog might enjoy (or find amusing):
– IBM Worker Email-Free for 4 Years: How to Live without Email
– Interview on travel for the BBC – Tim Ferriss: Forms of Identification
– SF Chronicle interview – Tim Ferriss has strong likes: knives, kettlebells
– Volkswagen turns off Blackberry email after work hours
3) The winner of the free roundtrip anywhere in the world, a prize from the Christmas Countdown experiment (intermittent fasting, plus training), is Daniel Kislyuk! There were some fantastic self-trackers, but Daniel gave constant status updates and then wrapped up with a summary post. Daniel, please keep an eye on your e-mail for a note from Amy.
4) For the trip to SF for all-day training with Chip Conley, I’ll let Chip deliver the message himself:
Surprise + Joy = Elation. That’s my new Emotional Equation of the day. Wow, I’m elated by the response to my guest blog and how many insightful entries were submitted. Thank you so much for diving into the deep end of the emotional swimming hole with me. It seems like this book is made for these times. The more externally chaotic the world, the more we yearn for some kind of internal logic.
There were 7 entries (of the first 100 submitted, although I did read every single one of the almost 500) that deserved extra recognition. I will give an Honorable Mention to Divya (1/19 at 7:03 am), Eric Sigfried (1/19 at 8:52 am), Marcus (1/19 at 9:18 am), Susan Dupre (1/19 at 10:19 am) and Ryan (1/19 at 10:50 am).
We have a runner-up whose dissection and use of the Anxiety Balance Sheet impressed me, and that’s Ryan Riegner (1/19 at 9:22 am). Ryan, I believe you live in the NYC area and I’ll be there from Feb 19-25 for a book launch party and media tour. I would like to invite you out to a meal with me while I’m in town. This wasn’t planned to be an extra prize, but your response deserves it. And, our winner is Diego Velasquez (1/19 at 7:54 am) who will be flying out to SF to stay at our luxurious Hotel Vitale for a couple of nights and spend a day learning what it means to be a Chief Emotions Officer. For those who’d like to continue to learn more about Emotional Equations, check out our DIY contest on the Emotional Equations Facebook page, as it gives you another shot at a trip to SF and dinner with me.
Thanks once again for the phenomenal efforts and I hope you enjoy the book if you read it!
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That’s how we’re gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration.)
I’ve had a lot of success with the slow carb diet. Lost 30 pounds in 35 days. I should submit my story…
Congrats to the winners! Tim is it possible to be featured based on the muscle/mass gain chapters instead of slow-carb?
Hi Rob,
If you had a lot of success either way — muscle up or fat down — I’d love to learn more and see if I can work it in. Please send it in!
All the best,
Tim
Tim, I am down 40+ lbs and 5% body fat in around 2 months with significant before and after pictures and bod pod data. In two more months my results will be even more startling. Are the pictures needed now or can they wait a month or so?
@BPC4
Hi Brian,
Alas, the deadline might not allow the pics in 2 months, but send in what you have now and we can try and update later.
Congrats!
Tim
Tim
Ive had success in getting great results with Kettlebells. Again thanks for telling us about this amazing product.
Leonard
You need to be very careful using kettlebells. I stupidly picked one up in December 2010 just after getting 4HB and swung it for 25 reps without getting any training on form.
That tore my deltoid muscle – not completely – but my recent MRI scan shows a small but significant tear on the edge of the muscle. I haven’t been able to train since and am deciding whether to have an op or rely on physio
Good luck with physio! I myself have a damaged muscle, but fortunately slowly working with it, increasing the load in little steps, made it heal functionally if not anatomically.
Is anyone else having a problem opening up the home page? I get a “skype toolbar crashed” and a “Shockwave flash crashed” before it lets me load the page- and then the (I think) video in upper right just gives a sad face. This is with google chrome as the browser- it opens fine in IE. I just use Chrome on this windows 7 laptop usually, and hate switching browsers just to get the home page.
Tim, I’ve been an avid reader of this blog ever since The Four Hour Work Week, and I love to read and listen to everything you have to say. But I have a question that’s been plaguing me for a couple years now. What if you have absolutely no business ideas? I know I can run a business, market a business, and I have the self discipline to learn from mistakes. But, I don’t have any viable ideas. I want to sell something online, I know that much, but everything I come up with seems over-saturated, especially when there are do everything sites like Amazon and such. How does one get around an obstacle like this?
I read stories of people with great ideas and I guess I just haven’t had my light bulb turn on yet, is it possible I’m over thinking it which is killing my creativity?
Ideas are only 1% of the success process. If you can run a business, market a business and have the disciplined to sustain the ups and downs then don’t worry about the idea. Find a problem you are passionate about and solve it.
Hi Anthony,
I am not Tim, still I would love to share an idea with you, do you have a minute? Ok so let’s start:
1) Think about it (once or twice), which is your project (basically any is good)
2) And then just get started.
The problem seems to be with a smart guy like you that you have the potential but you are flinching!
Check this out, “If you are not embarrassed by your first launch, you are flinching” (Derek Sievers) Just try it out and become better and more successful on the way.
Start now! Sincerely, Nikolaus
@Anthony
Very few businesses are started based on ideas. Who had the idea for the first pizza shop? bakery? car manufacturer? email provider? ecommerce store selling ergonomic chairs? etc etc.
The idea matters very little… the magical idea is one of the big falsehoods that people buy into.
Just pick anything and go for it. Your path will illuminate itself as you progress
Hi Anthony,
In that case, it might well be worth your while to work for a start-up (assuming your finances allow) as an entrepreneurial small-team member, instead of being the founder who generates the idea.
There is no shame in that at all, and the person who executes well is often more valuable than the founder him or herself.
Otherwise, I recommend re-reading the Dan Kennedy book I suggest at the end of 4HWW!
Best,
Tim
Seriously I many do this.
I have had several ideas myself which had already been executed by others but there are a few UK start up’s that are mimicking the US counter-parts that should do well and I think I should invest in these and lend my skill-set to them. thanks for the tip
Thank you Tim, I had no idea start-ups even allow small team members, you wouldn’t happen to know any start-ups looking for cheap help lol? I’ve decided to get my series 65 and 3 licensing and become an investment adviser. It’s the one thing I love and never lose interest in. I’m going to help the small guys, that’s my goal.
Anyway, cheers from Vegas and if you need anything at all please don’t hesitate to ask Mr. Ferriss
Hey Tim,
First things first, I just picked up 4HWW and it’s a really exciting read, thanks for all the cool ideas.
The question: If you had your hands on an artist that was set to blow up (doors flying open, industry people working with them for free, groups fighting over them) but they were brand new, what is the first thing you would do to make sure you were maximizing their ability to make money and protecting the interests of the artist?
I’ve researched performer contracts and looked up talent management associations. I work in entertainment production. I’m going to talk to my boss, a long time music promoter (think big, Jerry Seinfeld, U2, Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire), and my production manager (personal handler/accountant for Mr. Jon Bon Jovi) and ask them the exact same question.
If you’re interested in the specifics of the talent I can share that (it’s sexy)
Thanks a million,
Aaron
Hi Aaron,
A few things come to mind, as it sounds like they have some leverage with popularity among suitors:
– They should own IP like trademarks, etc., including copyright of their songs (if songs), if possible.
– They should not sign constraining 6-7-year contracts that lock them into a single relationship (with a label, for instance)
– If they don’t have good business sense, they will need a manager, but — if finances allow — they should have an accountant watching the manager and limit the manager’s ability to access the artist’s accounts.
Might sound naive, but those are my initial thoughts at 3:13am 🙂
Tim
Que noticias mas buenas – great news that TFC went #1. I’m sure it’ll do very well and can’t wait to get my copy in September.
The CEO article deserves the positive recognition indeed – very thought provoking.
I just finished the happy endings and doubling your sperm count chapter in 4 Hour Body. I found it especially interesting because I’m a cell tower climber and work with RF radiation the majority of the time. Out of my own weird fascination, I’ve discovered that every male I’ve ever worked with has no sons. This is only around 25 guys but maybe RF radiation could lower the sperm count, but also determine gender.
Christina, that’s really fascinating. Thanks for the comment!
Congratulations to the CEO winners! I entered the competition myself, and the cool thing I found out was that writing down the answers and thinking about them was actually very useful and educative in itself. Thanks for that chance, guys!
=) Yo-hoo!
Tim, I can’t really say enough “thanks”.
The track that you have suggested is variable enough to be very entertaining, it doesn’t take much time and it’s super-effective meaning that it changes the way I feel. All these things combined led to that now, a month after the end of the competition, I’m still following the protocol. I’ve made a week-long break from fasting, but exercises I just can’t get out of my life anymore =) the kettlebell is indeed my favorite toy =)
TF – lookin 4ward to 4hr chef, bummin that we gotta wait till September 🙁 ha ha
Will it release earlier on Kindle? If yes, I’ll pick up a Kindle!
Psyched, my man!
Peace, brutha!
Thanks, Zach! Great to hear from you. Oh, yes, it will absolutely be on Kindle.
Coming soon!
Tim
I need help fellow 4 hour users.
I have been looking everywhere for something I saw Tim doing and talking about. I saw a picture of him on a recumbent bike with constricting bands around his arms and legs and he was riding the bike. He was saying something about some experimental stuff being done that he tried with using the bands and I think they had cold water running through them. I am interested in reading more about this. I have seen the picture a ton of times but can’t remember where.
Can anyone please help me find this?
Much thanks.
Here you go 🙂
http://www.vasper.com/
Hey there
Can’t wait for the ebook!
My amazing progress was internal therefore not photographable. Let me know if you have a section on success stories like that and I will give you more detail.
I did have physical changes but I was not after a weight-loss target. I actually gained a bit of weight later but that was muscle weight as my clothes remained loose fitting.
Have a great day!
I just started the slow carb diet like 2 weeks ago, in 11 days I lost 7 pounds and 9cms, it’s huge for me to achieve those numbers in so little time, and it’s helping me to achieve my 365 day challenge, but at the same time I know it’s too little to be a complete change D:
The slow-carb diet helped me go from 14% body fat to 9% body fat, and now I’m doing the From Geek To Freak experiment for myself to see the crazy results I can get from that! 🙂
Tim, awesome material, keep it up!
Ditto on what Jonny Gibaud said. @Christina, that’s a pretty large pool of male workers with 0 male offspring. Ouch. I’ll have to go back and read that chapter on sperm count.
I’m just starting the long term testosterone regimen and I was wondering how long it roughly takes to start seeing benchmark increases.
I’m curious because I want to be able to plan my testosterone testing more efficiently.
Anybody know?
Hey Tim, I’m a college student from FL with an almost $0 budget who started a company that sells an innovative, high performance Ultimate Disc using your framework… and I’m helping others around my community to create a startup just the same!
My buddies and I spent a couple of hours a week on it, and now we’re starting to get attention around town and at fields all over Florida.
You can use me as a case study in your new book, but since I didn’t fall into the “S.C.D.” category I didn’t use the form above.
Here’s the site:
…
Thanks!
Chase
PS:I know you EXPLICITLY say not to put a url in the text, and I apologize if it looks spammy, but I figured this would give me the best chance of you seeing it.
Hi Chase,
No worries. I removed the URL, as that’s the rule, but this is the link you want:
https://4hb.wufoo.com/forms/muse-submission-form/
Would love to feature what you’re up to.
Congrats!
Tim
Done! Thanks for taking the time, you rock!
Chase
Chase, your blog is a complete clone of Tim’s!
Dan
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
I reference that fact multiple times in the blog and have links all over the place back to this site. Just another follower of Tim’s Lifestyle Design movement writing about my journey!
Hi Tim,
I’d like to use my win in Xmas challenge to fly over to the US, meet you and present the startup I’m working on. We have not shipped yet, so I don’t want to disclose the idea in public, I’ve sent our one-liner to Amy.
Possible?
And one more thing =)
Whenever you need someone to test/organize testing of some crazy paradigm, be it body or brain-oriented, I’d be happy to help. As you’ve seen, I’m pretty good in self-tracking and also I have run quite many experiments as a cognitive neuroscientist.
Will be glad to join your “research team” =)
I just have to say that “Eat like Santa, look like Jesus” is the best ad copy I have seen since September. Awesome. I would whine about it not being the holiday season any more, but that would deprive the world of a funny and border-line non-PC joke.
Also, wanted to ask if you need any recipe-testers or other guinea pigs? Am a Brit so happy to give them a try and adjust your kooky-ass cup measurements into the global standard of grams and kilograms! (Joke. Mostly)
@Tim, Mathew & Nikolaus
Thank you guys so much for your input, and Tim, I would absolutely love to work for a start-up; even if it barely pays anything. The learning experience itself would be priceless. If any of you guys need anything at all or if I can help you guys in any way please let me know. I live in Vegas but it’s a small world so if there’s something I can help with remotely I would be more than happy to.
And as far as pulling the trigger goes, you guys are right, but I would like at least one partner to start a project with. Something we could both be passionate about and enjoy. Maybe we can get in touch by email???
Hey Tim,
I am a big fan of you and Paulo Coelho, so I’m looking forward to this interview.
I know you are interviewing him about the writing process, but if you can, please ask him if he uses some of the teachings of the Alchemist. For example, be aware of the signs. And if he does use, how does he use?
Thanks.
I just started the diet 2 days ago. I’m not doing it to lose weight, but rather to feel better. The post on here about feces going into my bloodstream thanks to grains in my GI tract freaked me out.
Thanks Tim!
This comment is not related to the posting but I just feel that I need to thank you Tim. Specifically for the awesome ride you’ve taken me over the past few years. I feel that you GIVE us so much valuable information without asking much in return. You’re one of the best.
Hi Tim,
I ´m in the middle of reading your book The 4 Hour Body. The slow carb diet makes a lot of sense to me.
I´m starting, as of today, to modify some parts you mentioned in the book..hoping to loose those extra procents.
A side note-
I ordered the book here in Sweden, I was thrilled to see that they had it in stock. Usually the books slide easily through the mail crack of the apartment door, but this book I had to pick up at the post office due to its size! Alot of pages for the money:)awesome!
//Regards from Sweden
Tim,
I have been an avid reader of your books and blog for some time now, and my life has improved immeasurably since I have incorporated your ideas and philosophies. The 80/20 rule, lifestyle design, limiting of digital distractions, and sleep hacking concepts you have written about have given me the most value overall. And for that, I can’t thank you enough.
I have a question that I feel you would be well equipped to answer. I am a mechanical engineer, currently in law school studying intellectual property law (patent law specifically).
I know the law profession does not necessarily fit the mold of the four hour work week lifestyle, but I have a great passion for patent law, and I am extremely excited about my career protecting the inventions and ideas of smart inventors. I hope to be involved in the next great innovation that will keeps the US on top of the world in technology.
I am trying to determine what career and location could best enable me to become involved in something meaningful, and still allow me to travel, and live in a enjoyable. I have a love for physical training, particularly strength training and gymnatics, in addition to my academic interest. love to travel and check things off my bucket list, much like you.
I have am looking for innovative start ups in places like Boulder and San Francisco that will offer me a chance to invest my skills in a company that is doing something new and cool, and live somewhere fun. I also want to maintain some flexibility and self control so I could travel and potentially take “mini retirements” as you suggest.
Do you have any ideas for unique career applications of these skills and interests, or places I could look for the most valuable balance of these things?
I appreciate any response you have to offer, and look forward to reading your new book, AND convincing all of my friends to get it (once again).
Thanks and take care,
-Chris
Hey, dunno if it’s just me but Chrome is giving me massive ‘this site has malware’ warnings every time i navigate anywhere through your site
It’s not just chrome.
It seems Goggle flagged this blog with “This site may harm your computer.” sticker in the search results. It’s not only the blog. All the pages under “fourhourworkweek.com” has been flagged. Something the site admin should look into.
1) Looking forward to Coehlo content—loved the Alchemist.
2) I’m a Chrome user, and they (as already mentioned by others) are telling the whole internet your site isn’t safe to visit.
Dear Tim, I’m in my 60’s, I graduated from Cal, and I live in Hawaii. For years, I’ve studied things related to health, fitness, spirituality, history, philosophy, religion, unconditional love, the nature of consciousness, utopian communities, etc. I’ve also done considerable research on all things that relate to anything involved with New Age/self-help/human potential/fix yourself/improve your sex life/have better relationships, etc. I don’t claim to be an expert on any of these things; I consider myself to be an enthusiastic student of life.
I must admit that I was a bit skeptical about you at first, but I’m now a fan. I am curious what you have found out about love. I am also curious if you ever think that you might be a bit self-absorbed, and, in so doing, miss out on other opportunities and possibilities in your life.
I wish you continued successes in all that you are doing! Aloha, LaMont
I enjoyed the BBC piece… I really hope the Indo trip works out eventually. I grew up in the Philippines but never made it over to the neighbor islands! Their food is fantastic… Gado-gado is to die for..
BTW.. I was intrigued by the conversation you had with the old Korean man about hangeul. Length of the conversation aside, is Korean a language that you are working on learning? I would love to learn it and am looking for tips… my foreign languages so far are Swedish, French and Spanish so I don’t really have any closely-related languages to jumpstart the learning process..
Korean is a beautifully simple language to read. This is because the characters are geometrically very simple. Obviously, you’ll have to study grammar, vocabulary and customs like any other language. However, many English words have made it into daily Korean life. So that’s a real plus.
What is funny is that people in the west tattoo themselves with Chinese characters (the original bases for Korean), but in the east people a bent on using English words even if they don’t make any sense. I guess the people look coolers on the other side of the planet. 🙂
The downside to learning Korean is its limited uses. Learning Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Italian or even French is far more useful per the time you put it.
Good Luck.
Thanks for the info Dave. I hear you on the limited use for Korean right now. I love Seoul and would like to live there some day. Hence the interest. Also, South Korea is on the rise as far as being a world player so it makes sense to build a presence there…
excited for coelho interview!
Hi Tim,
the more I exercise the techniques that you advocate on the blog, the more I want to share the stuff with my friends & relatives. But there’s quite high a language barrier, not everybody reads English.
Real-time translation of your blog and twitter streams in major languages could facilitate the flow of ideas. Many more people could find & implement them. The same time you’d be able to find new ideas from non-English audience without additional efforts. What are Chinese #48hourskills? Could be really interesting.
The blog translation could also facilitate the flow of money, increasing the sales of translations of your books.
There’s a nice start-up that is devoted to exactly this – translation of twitter, blog, and comment streams. Seems they and your online presence are a perfect match. =) Not to be accused in advertising, I’ve sent the link directly to Amy.
Hey Tim,
This is the first time I got across with your blog, and reading the articles and comments, it really fascinates me. Wow! I can’t wait to trip off my fluffs 😉 .
Please let me know if how and where can I access all your articles. I really love to learn these amazing ways of losing weight.
keep me posted!
Jen
Hi Tim,
I’d really like the way you disciplined yourself by maintaining your weight, am aiming to lose weight soon and am already working on it.
Thanks,
Jill
It’s too bad I won’t make the deadline, I have only just started a mega challenge with myself and 4 acolytes.
Me get back into contest shape, them get to single digit body fat
Hi Tim,
I just want to thank you! You gave me the right input at the right time!
I’m reading your book 4HWW now since less than 10 days step by step and tried out just some little things first. The efforts are amazing: more time and more efficiency I reached already as instant effect – I’m very curious where it will end …
These days my very succesful online business starts making more fun than ever before – also I loved it already the past 12 years 😉
Best wishes and many thanks from Berlin/Germany!
Frank
Hi, I aware this is probably not the best place to ask this, but I would like some information regarding one of the ideas in your book. I would like to start to outsource our t-shirt e-commerce store, by getting someone to handle all manufacturing and distribution. Are you aware of any forums or sites where I could ask such a question and receive some quality feedback.
thank you
Hey Tim I bought The Four Hour body, loved it. I am most interested in your chapter on “Adventures in Tripling Testosterone” My questions are
1) Are there any Strategies for increasing your testosterone naturally minus what was shared in the book? Excluding, Testosterone Gel/Cream/injections etc.
2) Is there an expert that you can recommend on the topic of Testosterone who has written a book, blog or works with individuals increasing Testosterone with out using Testosterone gel? I am really interested in learning more! Any help would be appreciated, thank you.
Hi Tim,
I wrote an ebook before reading 4HWW. After reading 4HWW, putting your principles into practice, my sales on amazon went from 30/month to over 300/month!
However, since then I cannot seem to break through the proverbial glass ceiling. I’ve tried Google, Bing, and Facebook ads, built a website to drive traffic, etc. yet I cannot get past the 300/month plateau even though all the indicators seem to show the potential for much greater growth. How do I take an already decent selling product and kick it up a notch?
Any ideas/resources you could point me to would be great!
All my best,
Scott Matkovich
Regardless, great job Scott!
Tim, I’m a big fan, but when are we going to have the 4 hour baby? that would be really helpful right now.
Hi tim
Now iam in koh samui , thailand.
iam taking a scuba diving course, thai cook, and muay thai classes
yeah an employee who worked from 7 am to 11pm is now living the crazy life.
thanks a lot man!!!
nos vemos en buenos aires!!!!!!
I love reading your stuff, but having read your books, I always wonder if you are even involved in the writing or off somewhere in the world and your VA are writing all this stuff.
Either way it is good stuff.
Hello,
Recently watched a speech you gave. You commented on Gladwell’s book Outliers and the 10 000 hour rule.
I am exceptionally curious (I’ve read extensively on the subject) how one could ‘hack’ this rule, especially with regards to sporting expertise.
If you could please comment or engage in a dialogue, at your convenience, I would sincerely appreciate it.
Thank you,
Tyson Newell
So at first glance, I see the kid with the animal knit hat on in the main pic. I started a company wherein we make knit animal scarves. I wonder why that hasn’t taken off yet…
does any1 no anything about isochronic tone and if they r safe?
Tim,
How soon will your blog be updated?
What does your “soon” means? How soon is your soon?
Dear Tim,
your books and your blog are full of mind hacks, about some of them you were writing already quite a while ago. Which mind taming & training techniques are your top 3 today, when you look at them from a certain distance?
You meet people, who are supersuccessful in business and the same time, I guess, you met the enlightened ones. Do you see a common denominator between these two breeds?
Looking forward to hearing your answers!
Really looking forward to your book coming out this year!