The 4-Hour Workweek
I’d like to work four hours a week. Heck, I’d like to work a 4-hour day on Sunday, the day when most people are supposed to be off.
It’s why The 4-Hour Workweek has intrigued me. The funny thing is that I haven’t’ even read it yet (it arrives in my bookstore on April 24) but I’ve been talking about it all week. I’d like a breather every once in a while…and I’d guess your employees would too.
When I think about why people work, it reminds me of that old consulting joke that goes like this:
American consultant was at a pier in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied only a little while.
The consultant then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked the Mexican how he spent the rest of his time.
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”
The American consultant scoffed, “I am business consultant and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and, with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution.
“You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?”
To which the American consultant replied, “15-20 years.”
“But what then, senor?” asked the fisherman.
The consultant laughed, and said, “That’s the best part! When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public. You’ll become very rich, you would make millions!”
“Millions, senor?” replied the Mexican. “Then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
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7 Responses to “The 4-Hour Workweek”
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That is just so true! Although these days I enjoy what I do so much (and yes I am a consultant) that I love every second of it!
Scott, that joke does crack me up. I’ve seen variations on it from time to time. I like consulting, too…a lot actually. I’m just so intrigued, though, about working four hours a week. Being in the business, you know: There’s no such thing as a day off. Go on vacation and work just accumulates. Fun work, but work all the same!
Great post, i love that consulting joke! Anyways, talking about the Four Hour Work Week, is an interesting thing for me, though I haven’t tried this yet. In the world of business, every seconds really counts. Businessmen don’t want to waste time on fun and meaningless things. But, I admit that we sometimes feel like wanting to have a break from our work overload. Now, this is the time to achieve that dream, go on vacation but still business is working. This is possible by the idea of OUTSOURCING. Tim’s book will help us achieve these things.
This is one great idea! Let’s give it a shot!
Check it out here: Barnes&Nobles.com.
Hey Trisha, I read about half this book this morning on the train (fast read, slow train). It’s really excellent, and I’m going to wrote more about this. Your summary is excellent! Outsourcing is right. I like that.
Hi Frank,
Thanks for your response and your kind compliment. I’ll be looking forward for more entries or writings about this book.:-)
More power to you!
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