The Fat Man in the BMW or the 4-Hour Workweek?


We all know the truth, yet how many of us avoid seeing it?

Our lives go by too fast, and one day we’re left wondering, “what happened?” All those cool things we dreamed of when we were younger got put on the “someday” list while we we were being “responsible” workers or entrepreneurs, attempting to carve out a reputation (hopefully good), keep our heads above water and stash some money away for that “someday” when we were going to get to do what we really wanted to do.

The trouble with that scenario, as many of you know, is that someday usually arrives when we’re far too old and decrepit, or dead, to enjoy it.

I’m not knocking those pursuits. Hey, if you want to be the fat man in the BMW, that’s your prerogative. But Jim and I always wanted so much more than a status symbol with a balance due.

From 2001 to 2006, a series of events led Jim and I to chuck it all and say “screw it” to the conventional life we were leading. Those events, though tragic and hopeless at the time, turned out to be blessings in disguise.

Because although we thought we had carved out a life that was adventurous, when we finally added up how much time we spent at our desks, versus living life with Jerry doing cool stuff in the woods, work always won.

Even as entrepreneurs, we were robbing ourselves of the very freedom that being self-employed was supposed to bring to us!

Once Jerry got sick, we knew time was of the essence. It was our chance to spend the last of our days together, living a life without routines or obligations or bills. With dogged pursuit and prayers to the universe, we made it happen. It was probably the first time we realized that all things truly are possible, if you truly want it bad enough.

Live Your Dreams, Work Less

Which leads me to the whole point of this post; right now we are listening to a life-changing book by Tim Ferris, called “The 4-Hour Workweek.”

  • If you have ever considered shedding your current lifestyle for one that you know will bring you true spiritual happiness, this book is for you.
  • If you’re in dire need of a real income, you can’t afford not to get this book.
  • If you have ever wanted to live an adventurous life instead of toiling away in your cubicle, this book is for you.
  • If you want to know how to keep your life on track without letting things like Facebook, television and the pursuit of money suck the life out of you, you must read this book.

I”m not getting paid to write this, Tim Ferris never even sent me a review copy. I was told about this book by fellow adventure traveler, Sam, who urged Jim and I to check it out. I had always heard about it but the title put me off; it sounded like a cheesy get-rich-quick self-help book. But Sam’s a smart guy, and he’s got a good life with Kim, on the road and at their rancho in New Mexico, so I decided to get the download, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. Thanks Sam!

“Whether you’re an overworked employee or an entrepreneur trapped in your own business, The 4-Hour Workweek is the compass for a new and revolutionary world.

Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan—there is no need to wait and every reason not to.

Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, high-end world travel, monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, this book is the blueprint.”

We are only into the first hour, but already we’re digging it. Everything Ferris says, we can relate to; we’ve already made the move to live a life that brings us real inner happiness, so we nod in agreement with everything he says, laughing and raising our fists going “Yeah!”

Where we are finding The 4-Hour Workweek more applicable to our lives is in how Ferris demonstrates how to be more efficient at making money, while pursuing the adventures that we want. That’s where Jim and I need the help (especially when it comes to making money!).

Stop shouldding all over yourself. Soon you’ll be dead, or close to it. Will you be able to look at your life and feel content, knowing that your dreams were fulfilled to your heart’s desire?

Or will you have spent the best part of your years as the fat man in the BMW, sitting in traffic, wishing you could be somewhere else?

13 thoughts on “The Fat Man in the BMW or the 4-Hour Workweek?”

  1. On behalf of all fat men who drive BMWs, from this day forward we are boycotting not only your blog but all RV travel and RV travelers alike!

    We take umbrage at being pegged as sleazy money grubbers who value lucre over good times borne of natural mud baths and hot-springs frolic over loose and breezy yet disparaging conversations about selling out to the man. We are the “man” and we are proud to be the “man”, the “man” in BMWs with ever expanding waistlines!

    Bottom line, fat guys in BMWs are people too and as a result of your scathing diatribe against our highly organized ilk we’ve formed an activist group to make clear our positions and what we represent to our more tolerant patriots. Look for us a we’re known as P.I.S.S. (Proudly Invested in Social Status), you’ll be seeing a lot more PISS as a result of this insensitive posting.

    Yes, PISS has an agenda but everyone has an agenda and our agenda is not unlike everyone else’s agenda, to be accepted for our beliefs even if they clash with your own. Being stereotyped via the Web might be OK for you, but if you were to meet or to at least spend some quality with PISS members I think you’d see the other side to this dirty little name calling coin.

    PISS is here to say, you’ll see PISS all over the country soon. We don’t plan on holding back but rather to encourage fellow PISS members get it out of their systems. Don’t try and hold PISS back, our time is now and we are a force to be reckoned with.

    Sincerely and respectfully yours,
    Eric Auckerman
    President and founder of PISS.

    Reply
  2. After reading this article I’m so interested in purchasing this book and seeing where I can put it to work for me. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  3. Had I never met my beautiful, adventurous wife, I would have very likely become that fat man in the BMW, buried in debt, awaiting my seconf heart attack and first divorce. Instead I’m that fat man in the Dodge Ram with a smile on my face, but no real income to speak of. That’s where this book hits home.

    It reads like an infomercial about getting rich, if you let it. But if you believe being part of the “New Rich” is much more about having the time to enjoy what you do than all about the money… then you’ll get it.

    Oh, do we get it!

    Reply
  4. I’ve been hearing about this book for a while, but it always sounded like an infomercial so I never bothered. After reading your post, I just went and downloaded the Kindle free sample of the book (I don’t do paper books any more) and read it. It was… like reading an infomercial.

    Does it really stop being like that after the first couple of chapters?

    Reply
    • Hey Jeremy, thanks for checking it out. Although Jim and I are listening to the audio version, I’m guessing that once you get into his story you’ll find it’s not as cheesy as it seems at first. Give it a chance, there’s a lot of useful info in there.

      Our biggest problem with the audio book is that we’re listening while on the road and we aren’t taking notes the way you can if you had an e-book.

      I hope you like it as much as we do. I think you of all people will, but let me know OK?

      Reply
  5. My wife and I read this book and it inspired us to set a date for hitting the road next year with our two kids. Parts of the book come off as a get rich quick scheme but I found it VERY helpful on the whole, especially the parts about adding efficiency to my week and cutting out all the time wasters (still working on this). The great part is, as you said, everything is fairly simple and intuitive. Sometimes it just takes hearing someone say it in an organized and confident manor. Good luck and enjoy the rest of the book.

    Reply
    • Hey Henry, see Jeremy’s post above. Yeah, some parts are kind of get-rich-quick but for those of us who just want to use our time more wisely, it’s a huge help.

      Can’t wait till you start traveling! Keep in touch.

      Reply
  6. Yes, you finally are reading it! Pay close attention when he gets to the marketing aspects of internet (and other) businesses. Remember most folks are not sucessful turning a hobby (or related love) into a business. Do your market research like Ferris says, and move forward only on good, acceptable response. Best of Luck! (send me some stock, or a nice royalty, or consulting fee when you make your first quarter million!)

    Reply
    • Hey Sam, yes, we finally got it. And we are indeed finding ways to be more efficient and more profitable with our current endeavors because of it!

      The check’s in the mail 😉 . . .

      Reply

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