Pretty soon, many of you will get an email from me. It’ll probably surprise you.
See, when I sketched out the original 4-Hour Workweek site in 2006 (sorely in need of a redesign), I included an email capture field, as that’s what friends said I should do:
Then I promptly forgot all about it. I hated email, so I didn’t want to send you email. Simple as that. Do unto others, right?
But things have changed.
Now, with Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and hundreds of clones, the Internet and mobile are a battlefield of noise. Even if you “like” my Facebook fan page, my updates will rarely reach more than 10% of you.
For years now, thousands of you have complained that Feedburner delivers time-sensitive blog posts days or WEEKS too late. This means missed giveaways, meetups, competitions, Q&As, parties, and all sorts of fun stuff.
Needless to say, this sucks.
So I reluctantly decided to re-examine email. In a world where people change email addresses less often than physical addresses, it just made sense.
My first step was to dust off the keyboard and log into AWeber, which I’d decided was best for me eight years prior. What I found shocked me. I had nearly 300,000 email addresses from sign-ups! Holy negligence, Batman!
Ah, well. Yet another reason for my friends to make fun of me. Enjoy, Kevin Rose.
But better late than never. Within the next 10 days, I will start emailing new blog posts to anyone who’s signed up (on the homepage or the newer blog form), generally around one post per week. Plus, you’ll get VIP treatment, like private Q&As, exclusive content, giveaways, and other things that don’t appear on the blog.
Here’s the deal:
– If you haven’t signed up yet (or you’re not sure), please do so now. Here’s the link. No spam, ever. Just good stuff.
If you sign up now, your first email will also include a link to a free download of the entire 4-Hour Chef audiobook, which includes narration by yours truly and Neil Gaiman (!). And to kick things off, I’ll be doing a 2-3-hour Q&A — for email subscribers only — next Monday night, 8/11. Ask me anything: business, personal, “inappropriate,” whatever. Nothing is off limits. Sign up here to get the details via email. A recording will be made available to email subscribers who can’t make the live session.
I’ll also be giving away a round-trip ticket to anywhere in the world. For details, you guessed it, you need to click here.
– If you’ve already signed up, you’re all set! Please keep an eye out for a welcome email from “Tim Ferriss” within the next 10 days.
It’s not spam. It’s from me. Following that, blog posts and VIP goodies will show up, roughly once per week.
If you’re using Gmail and my email ends up in your “Promotions” folder, please do me a favor and drag it to your “Primary” so it doesn’t get lost in all the OKCupid notifications and whatnot.
###
And please realize — I and my assistant get about 1,000 email a day. It’s funking unreal, and it’s brutal. No one is more sensitive to email abuse than I am, so I will NOT abuse your inbox.
If you get annoyed, you can one-click unsubscribe. Easy peasy and no BS.
Things will be intermittent (usually once a week, sometimes twice), and posts will be high-quality (like this or this).
As mentioned, I’ll be doing a 2-3-hour Q&A next week to kick things off, and also giving away a roundtrip ticket anywhere in the world. For details on both, just add your email here.
If you have any questions about all this, please ask in the comments! I’ll be paying close attention and answering as many as I can. I’ve literally put off email for years, but enough is enough. It’s the right thing to do.
And thank you for reading. Whatever this blog has become, I owe it all to you.
Pura vida,
Tim
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with over 500 million 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.
I signed up via each link…but didnt get a link to the audiobook.
It’s coming in the first email you’ll receive!
I hate to be a jerk or a cynic, but for as much as I enjoy the TF podcast, Im finding it less and less relatable. Maybe i’m just not an over achiever like some folks, but Im never gonna be a best selling author or musician, or even get 100,000 emails in a week.
Just listening to ultra successful famous people on a podcast hasn’t changed my life at all compared to the content of your actual books. I’d rather hear a podcast with some Joe who lost 100 Lb’s on the slow carb than listen to some guy talk about selling 60 million records.
I hear you.
I think I should interview both types of people. It’s important to keep in mind that when you see “super successful” people, most of them started off as “normal” people. The podcast is intended to showcase the habits, beliefs, and techniques that helped them make the huge jump, which is often an incremental evolution.
Hope that helps…
Tim
I don’t. I enjoy learning about people who I can aspire to be like and how they grew their success, most of the time starting from nothing. If you prefer case studies, Tim has plenty on his site and in his books.
I am torn on this point about the podcast. I’ve enjoyed it so far (including the short for podcasts). On the one hand I really get inspired by hearing about the “super successful”. But I would like to hear about the “everyday” person who’s successfully (or not!) implemented strategies from 4HWW, 4HC or 4HB, what feedback Tim might have, etc.
I did. Changed my life. I am a free woman I now tell people I have a lifestyle that makes money rather than a job. I was self employed tied to my desk and not at all understanding what the big deal about being self employed was. My husband and I listened to the audio books on several trips to Flagstaff and back three years ago. We got into action. Last Year we spent 2 months in Europe, This year so far I have had 6 weeks vacation and no impact on my business. I followed Tim’s guidelines and at 54 the mini retirements are the most fun. I have an internet business so it was easier for me to implement but this book really did change my life. Thanks Tim. I am not a millionaire but run a successful business which provides a very good living.
I agree with you u/ronqman. I guess I can’t complain too much, since so far I have loved it, but an average person here and there would be nice, Just a little variety.
Awesome, Going to sign up now!
I must check my aweber which I started 6 years ago when I started The Epic Blog (no longer exists). I however don’t think that I have that many subscribers but you never know!
Whats your thoughts on Feedblitz? Been using that but trying to decide if I should keep with aweber or try out the Aweber email newsletter thingy. Or even both! But then again non at all!
Good to see the blog back in action btw! What happened there as it was down a few days Tim, good to see it back!
Cheers
– PD
Thanks, PD. I am choosing AWeber over Feedblitz, etc. because I want something that isn’t 100% tied to a platform. In this case, email addresses are email addresses. It’s a pain to move from one service to the next, but email addresses are more persistent and dependable than most everything else at the moment. For my current needs, AWeber is a good fit.
I would have to agree with you there, email addy’s are a lot more dependable.
I remember writing a tutorial series on marrying together mandrill and mailpoet together with WordPress so the user could send out 12,000 html designed newsletter emails each month for free.
Was a little dated so took down; I may do another one. was a very good system being free. But it did require a little techy type of work with cpanel and advanced dns.
May be worth testing it out alongside aweber TF. Will let you know once I do another tut series buddy!
Pura vida,
– PD
p.s. apologies for the name on my original comment, I assumed that WP.com would have used my normal name, should all be good now having changed it.
I’ve been noticing the changes you’ve been doing on your site as far as collecting opt ins goes. I really hope you do a case study about what you’ve found from testing!
Oh, yes. That will be a big one 🙂
Read the 4 Hour Work Week last year and have started following you more closely in the last few months. I love learning from you and the people you know. You’re setting a new bar bro, keep it up.
Thanks for the kind words, Aaron!
300 000 email adresses is pretty impressive for someone who hates email. Didn’t you even used them to promote you last book ?
I have the same problem. My Aweber account costs me $30/month to save my 1300 readers’ email adresses and I never send any email because I’m lazy.
Every Marketers say it’s the best way to sell stuff but I don’t have anything to sell in the moment. Anyway, Facebook kill my free time and emailing takes my money. Great.
Sorry for my english, I’m french. La preuve, j’aime manger du pain avec du fromage. Bonne soirée 🙂
Antoine, I thought the same thing. I had over 1000 subscribers with nothing to sell. Then someone in my mastermind told me DON’T. Why not just GIVE them amazing content for the next 12 months. DON’T sell them, just befriend them. ENGAGE your audience. Make them excited to be on your list. If in the next few month’s you develop a offer that speaks to this audience, then, sure, send it out. By then, they’re far more likely to buy because they like you and feel like they know you.
Now, like Tim says, respect their inbox. Don’t bombard them every day. Even one or two great, quality pieces of content per month can be great. Sure there’s other formulas and strategies(ie- 3 pieces of content to every 1 offer) but building a list CAN be an asset, captivating an AUDIENCE is a true value to both.
Kevin, GREAT advice. I should have been sending out blog posts via email much earlier. That said, I associated email with “selling” for some reason. Antoine, keep in mind that I have published 500+ posts on this blog for FREE. I intend to still focus on the content. Good content is king. Then, as Kevin said, if I have an interesting book/product/offer and I think long and hard about it, there will be an audience willing to listen.
Thanks for that, yesterday I downloaded the book onto my ipad so I can now have you read it out to me as I follow along. Loving your work and thoughts, and the DISSS model its extremely useful and refreshing. Thanks for your honesty and humour its really appreciated… All the best Steve Kelly
Just signed up! FYI, after I hit “submit” the redirect took me back to your blog. I was not sure if it worked or not, so I tried again. Might be worth having a different custom “confirmation” page that either says “check your email to confirm” if they have not subscribed, or “you are already subscribed” if that is the case. Happy to help you get those set up in AWeber if you like.
Thanks for the heads up, Blake! I’ll jump on it. There should certainly be a confirmation page, at the very least.
Should be fixed now.
FYI – I just tried to sign up using the link on this blog page and there was no confirmation, just a redirection back to the main website. So I signed up from the box on the main website and I was forwarded to the confirmation page.
Thanks, John. I looked into this and it should be fixed now. Guys, please let me know if you still run into this! It’s working for me.
It’s rare to spot a fellow Jamieson out in the wild.
Bloody hell Tim. It’s a testament to how damn awesome your blog is, that you’ve been able to keep a steady subscriber base without email this time.
Keep. It. Up.
🙂
Hey Tim, curious what you plan on doing with the 300,000? Are you going to resend them a confirmation email to opt-in? Just hit them with the first email?
I know bounce and spam would be really high and that can definitely effect your quality score with the big players (which I’m sure you know). Did you get to consult Aweber on this?
Hi Zac,
I have the AWeber guys helping me with all of this, as I’m a first timer. We already ran the whole list through the Do-Not-Call (DNC) registry and have taken a bunch of precautions. Definitely trying to do this properly and haven’t been rushing (clearly – ha!).
Best,
Tim
Nice Tim, sounds like you got it on lock down! I email around 100k/month and really try to engage and make it useful. I know what a challenge that is.
I was PUMPED to see that you implemented this on your blog because I think it is huge for you.
If you ever need someone to listen and give feedback I’m happy to do it (as if you don’t have enough people to help).
Thanks for the offer, Zac! I’ll keep you posted. It’s a whole new world.
I have been wondering what the issue has been. I have probably added my email a few times over the years thinking that it must have not gone through. I am looking forward to getting them.
Sorry for any confusion. Any multiple email submissions will be de-duplicated (“de-duped”), so you should only get one email.
Great! I look forward to getting them. Also, on another note, I have greatly enjoyed your podcast and have learned a lot. Thanks.
Tim,
I’ve been receiving duplicate emails. For example, on 10/21 @ 7:14PM I received the Maria Popova email powered by Google. On 10/22 @ 4:37AM I received the same email, with a bit different formatting, from Aweber.
Represent New York Tim! Always wanted to ask you, what happened to
Your Long Island accent? Do you make a concious effort to annunciate during your podcast and other public events? As a New Yorker living in SF I am not taken seriously if I speak in my native accent. Similar experience? Very curious
I have a tendency to mumble and low talk, so the enunciation has been a very conscious practice. Gotta listen to recordings of yourself and simply tweak and practice. Toastmasters is great for this.
I just joined Toastmasters! I’m excited to learn how to not shake uncontrollably in front of people.
The emailers who have earned their way into my Must Read inbox are:
– Ramit Sethi IWT (and he emails a LOT)
– Noah Kagan/App Sumo
– Neville Medhora (Kopywriting)
– Laura Roeder (LKR Marketing)
– Bryan Harris (Videofruit) – who recently wrote an EXCELLENT blog post about the Easiest Way to Turn Readers Into Email Subscribers – in under 30 minutes. This post is all about content upgrades to entice subscribers, if you’re interested in increasing beyond your 300,000. Since you already have your blog post topics tagged, you could include content upgrades like:
– the 4 Hour Chef audiobook (which you’re doing! but linked to 4HC posts
– PDF reading list of audiobooks on audible
– 4HB and Lift challenges
– compiled notes from the Random Shows or podcast
I’d noticed Feedburner was unreliable in getting your posts to me right away, so I’m pleased to hear about this change!
Thanks for the mention Andre! Content upgrades are the single best email strategy out there. My buddy Brian Dean (backlinko.com) recently installed them on his site and saw a 758% increase in conversions [pretty nuts].
Here is a case study he wrote: http://backlinko.com/increase-conversions
They accounted for 65% of the email subscribers on my site.
If you need a hand setting it up, I’d be glad to help.
1. Signed up
2. Really enjoying your podcasts
3. Read 4HWW back when it came out, failed at all of it. Re-reading now and getting much better traction. Guess I got wiser
4. Read 4HB and executed it for a year with success, great read.
5. Mutual friend Garrett Gunderson (funny joke about when you were crafting 4HB)
6. Recently began using an auto responder via mac mail. hit the wrong button and sent every email in my inbox an auto responder message #epicfail
7. Crushing your book recommendations, thank you.
8. On a timer for everything, even this bit of time to craft a reply (thank you again)
9. If you ever come to Sydney, I’m available to assist in the social media world, community building, event help (gratis)
10. Malbec
Awesome! We’ve found a lot of your newer content really actionable (i.e. How to Gather 100,000 Emails in One Week), so this will definitely be useful. I find that good, quality content makes up for the overabundance of email in general. I personally spend 1 day per month deleting and unsubscribing from 100’s of emails, but will still subscribe (and sometimes archive) good actionable content. The “Hack of All Trades”, Tim Ferris will definitely be on good list!
An alternative to Feedburner is feedblitz.com. I’ve set several clients up with them and it works, is fast, and no long delay between posting and emailing to your list.
You know- I’m quite glad you’re doing this. We already have an idea of the quality you offer, and we know you don’t try to sell us unnecessary stuff.
This week I unsubscribed from Ramit Sethi, Noah Kagan, and Neil Patel. I love those guys. I think they honestly try to add value as much as possible, and they hustle like crazy. But I’d get 10-15 emails a week from them (combined), and often the value just wasn’t there, or I felt like I was being funneled.
As long as you keep up the quality that you’ve always delivered, and focus on depth in your content instead of volume, I think we’re gonna love your emails.
best of luck with this!
Thank you, King. That’s exactly the plan. The blog quality will continue, and people just won’t miss stuff.
Tim
Speaking of unsubscribing, did you find out why people were unsubscribing from the podcast at the weekends?
Analytics problem?
I listen to the 4 Hour Work Week audiobook probably three times a year. The fact that you got Neil Gaiman to join you on 4 Hour Chef is a total collision of my professional development and recreational reading worlds! I’m in, Tim. Well played.
I tweeted this at you, but thought I’d comment here too – be a bit careful with your older emails. I know that both MailChimp and MailGun lock you out of your account if you exceed 5% bounce rate, and if you’ve been accumulating (but not cleaning) emails for the past 3 years, it’s likely gonna be quite easy to hit that 5% bounce rate.
You may want to re-verify them, segment separately, and/or use a email-cleaning solution
Thanks, Sol. Totally agreed. I’ve been working with AWeber and a bunch of teams for months to reverify, remove inactive/old emails, delete honey pots, etc. This email stuff is an entirely new world!
This is great news…
Like most things, a database of email addresses can be abused but content led emails as apposed to sales led always het better open and click through rate so it is actually a great medium for you because of the quality of your posts.
Facebook has become a slightly different beast and is doing lots to get people to spend money on extending the reach of posts, even to your own fans which is fine because the shareholders need to get paid but it does make it difficult to get time sensitive stuff to people and Twitter only takes scrolling through the feed a little too fast to miss something…
Look forward to receiving your emails.
Great work as always!
Thanks, Louis!
All signed up. Keep up the great work Tim. I always enjoy your mix of educational and entertaining content.
Hoping it doesn’t end up like Neil’s “Inner Circle”…
You’re amazing, I’d love to see a post on the data collected over time and how you specifically integrate this into your life without going crazy! 🙂
Email marketing is still the most effective form of online marketing. We started using it for our business a few years ago and so great results… provided it is used for delivering good content. We find that our blog posts get the most hits the day after we send our newsletter out.
I also really like your “ethical bribe” to invite more members to your list.
Looking forward to receiving great content.
Regards
Sanjay
4 Hour work-week is one of my all time favourite books (I re-read parts of it at least once every 6 months).
For RSS users (and Tim), don’t use Feedburner. Use the WordPress default system at fourhourworkweek.com/feed. It won’t be late.
Tim, your site is one of very few that I’d welcome an email from. Can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us!
Btw, loving the podcast. May I humbly suggest Mattan Griffel as a guest?
Keep up the good work!
Just looked up Mattan. Super interesting…
I’m “non-technical” and have wanted to “learn how to code” for a while. One Month Rails and Mattan have been a revelation.
Would love to listen to you dive into his style and knowledge with him.
You’ve enrolled in Ramit’s Zero to Lunch program haven’t you?
Haha… I haven’t, but I like the sound of it.
Tim, You are the bomb and I have contacted you about this before but have not heard back. WOULD YOU CONSIDER DESIGNING CURRUCULUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS? As a teacher, I can not lend them copies of your books or play the podcaasts. Some of your awesome edgy info is peppered with spicy f-bombs and pictures that are NOT appropriate for young adults under 18. So, pretty please get back to me and say you will consider a book club, podcasts, and even a book for the under 18 sponges thirsty for your insight. Coming from you it will sound better than coming from me. I also counsel students on their senior projects and hacking just about anything is a great start. I always recommend your website but can not show them to the students myself. Thanks for reading and considering.
HI! Just wanted to second this idea! I would love to see a stripped down, perhaps updated, version of the 4 Hour Body focusing just on fat reduction/ slow carb diet. Book has been life changing for me and I would love to share it with others, but a little hesitant recommending something with the caveat to “just ignore that whole better orgasm part”. Couldn’t bring myself to buy it for my mom either, even though I think she could really benefit.
I appreciate the suggestion. I am very interested in curriculum, but I need to handle a few other large projects first (including a few in education). Totally understand that, as a teacher, you probably can’t show them graphic material. On the other hand, I guarantee you that, by 18, kids who are digital natives have seen “adult” things that we can’t even imagine! Still, school environments have constraints on F-bombs, etc., which I absolutely get. One step at a time!
Tim, would you ever do a Cousera course, or some other online learning?
Definitely. I’ve done classes with creativelive.com before, which I also advise.
Hey Tim, when is the best time to send out an email to a business or subscriber list?
Keep up the great work. 🙂
Tim, brother, just finished another short version podcast about the benefits of being the jack of all trades. Was told the day prior that being good at many things will never pay off. Ambushing my work mojo. I was two seconds from Ferris Knowledge Bombing (which should be a thing?) his own world of knowledge. Stoked to bottle up and drink your words often. Now we get email. BOOM! Cheers from the cheese state! — neal
Thank you, Neal. I really appreciate you (and everyone’s) kind words. I hope to have good things to share soon.
Tim I’m NOBNOMing my way through August and can’t wait to share the results. I’m thankful for the way you challenge me, both in perception and motivation. Cheers to your new emails!
Keep up the good fight, Patrick! I’m right along with you on NOBNOM. And thank you for the kind words 🙂
Enjoy hearing that I’m not the only one ‘e-mail challenged’ but, you have me beat by a couple hundred thousand!
Enjoy the blog, the podcasts, and the ‘podcast in the podcast’- I have turned several of my friends on to these and ‘The 4-Hour Workweek’, (only to get pissed when they actually implement not answering the phone until THEY have that scheduled!)
Thanks, keep spreading the good stuff!
Hi Tim!
I love your 3 books, I enjoy reading your blog and I am having a blast listening to your podcast! You are a great inspiration!!!
If you are ever in Quebec City, maybe you feel like having dinner with a German in a French speaking city choosing food from a wonderful BYO Vietnamese/Cambodian restaurant? (pick your language =)
Keep being yourself!
I think this is a supremely generous offer. I cannot wait for the Q&A and the audio 4 Hour Chef. Thank you.
You’ll get the email within the next 5 days or so! Look forward to meeting you during the Q&A.
You rock!
🙂
Given everything you’ve learned, what’s one piece of advice you would give to yourself at 25?
I’m a sports writer that contributes to a few big name sites, but want to build my own brand in a legitimate way–while not coming across as a spam artist. Any advice or resources I can read? Please and thank you.
What is the email list end game for you? Now that you have addresses how will you leverage them? Service promotions, digital products, etc like everyone else, or do you have something new in mind? Please disrupt and revolutionize this space. 🙂
What’s the most effective cure for procrastination? I love your books & want to go full out trying your strategies, but I can’t get myself to do some of the hard work. 🙁
Great points about email reaching subscribers while social is now (ironically) lacking. Q: You started off with AWeber years ago. Now that the email marketing world has evolved, are you going to stick with them or check out systems like MadMimi (which I think Seth Godin uses)? I’m curious to know because I just ran an analysis on SaaS pricing and email marketing products came up.
About time! And I assume your homepage is getting a massive rehaul too?
And if you’re going to take recommendations, I’d love to see Kamal Patel of Examine.com on your site. Those guys are awesome, and after having Dr. Rhonda on your show, he would be an amazing compliment!
YES! My favorite lifehacking site teamed up with my favorite fitness site? How can I make this happen?
something like “YES! My favorite lifehacking site teamed up with my favorite fitness site? How can I make this happen?
What are your thoughts on marijuana? With your
Experience I would love to know the take home. All I hear are extremes it’s either bill o Reilly sounding like a normal dbag or cheech and Chong saying blaze it up you will
Be fine. Is there a balance
You have found at all? I really have wanted to ask someone who has tasted success a real
Answer no some bullshit extreme response.
[Moderator: Phone and email removed]
You da man keep
The content coming. Can’t wait
Till
All my hard work pays off and we grab a cup
Of
Joe or
Wine or anything and talk. Thanks for
Inspiring. Ps sorry for weird text input phone being pain in the ass.
Used DSSS from four hour chef with a teenage client in a therapy session today. He was very interested. Thanks for the hard work and random question, do you play fantasy football or have any interest in real or fake sports statistics and probability?
Any advice for building my first company? I’m a 21 year old engineering student! 🙂
No question but wanted to let you know I have finally taken up the drums after watching your show on learning. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. I am 2+ months in, take a weekly lesson here in New Orleans and love it! Thanks!
What’s the most effective way to end procrastination? I love your books. I want to go full out, adopting your strategies, but I can’t get myself to do a lot of the hard work.
Any advice for starting my first company? I’m a 21 year old engineering student!
Hi Tim, 4HWW turned me into a successful entrepreneur and my husband lost 10 kilos from the 4 hr body. We’re both great at following good advice but sometimes the momentum stops as we get comfortable in our journey. Any advice for daily motivation and general kicking ass mindset? I currently do the 5 minute journal for gratitude and try to do my ‘what before 11am’ 3 important tasks. Is there any other daily ritual you find helpful?
You’re stranded on an island Swiss Family Robinson style and you need to build a treehouse. Would you add a regular slide or a twisty one?
Tim, not so much a question but just saw your tweet and couldn’t pass up a live opportunity to thank you. The 4-hour work week got me an amazing, self-employed day job, 4-hour body got my wife and I in the shape of our lives, and 4-hour chef taught us to eat like kings! And with all that settled I was able to move forward with my dream of publishing a youth sci-fi novel, which is now available from every major bookstore. Many thanks for all the inspiration my friend-you helped me make it happen!
Kevin
What’s the next conference you’ll be speaking at Tim? Would love the opportunity to shake your hand!
Whats the next conference you’ll be speaking at? Would love the opportunity to shake your hand?
I build WordPress websites professionally, but in the past 2 months I’ve had a huge influx of past clients coming back around asking for help setting up MailChimp or Constant Contact. It’s actually been a lot of fun as a designer, working on templates for email.
It’s pretty fun, right? I get a kick out of playing in a new sandbox. Different world.
Hi Vicki, I need some help with Mail Chimp and getting my newsletters in order. Would you be able to help? 🙂 thanks !
Can’t wait to start getting your emails! 🙂
Hello Tim,
Could you give us a few ideas on possible upcoming podcast guests you have been thinking about? I listen to each one and must say I get a lot of great information from them all. I do like the variety of the guests you haven chosen so far.
I enjoy your books and podcasts and currently following the Slow Carb Diet plan. It was tough at first to follow but those cheat days sure help.
Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
Carey
I mostly just wanted to say thank you Tim. I have been an advice reader and follower of your work for sometime. When the 4HWW first came out I got me to truly understand and utilize the 80/20 rule throughout my life both personally and professionally. Then with my advanced signed copy 4HB which has been through a lot. Wish I has taken better care of it but what better way to appreciate a book that to thouroughly go through its pages. Had so much fun with that one but I have always seemed to struggle when it came to the slowcarb diet. But the 4HC has been my most favourite as it reconnected me with my love for cooking opened so many door. Got me to start hosting dinner parties again which I had been on hiatus for 5 years. My friends have coined the phrase “Ferriss find” from all the things you have lead me to discover whether from the book, blogs, or your amazing quarterly box of goodies.
Thanks again – CD
I’d like to see more about failure and how to deal with it. It seems all we get are success stories about app launches and whatnot, but no failures.
Also, many (like me) do not have the resources to facilitate a huge launch or have extensive social networks. What would you suggest an introvert would do to launch a new product / service / app?
Two things:
1) Google “Productivity Hacks for the Neurotic and Crazy” and read the post by me.
2) Read the “12 Lessons Learned Marketing The 4-Hour Body”
Good luck!
Hello Tim,
I enjoyed all the podcasts so far. The variety of guests has been what keeps me listening. Who do you intend to have on your podcast in the coming months and why?
I’m also following your slow carb diet and found the cheat days a great motivator to stick to the plan.
Thank you for sharing yourself with us,
Carey
I have introduced my friends to your books and philosophy. Keep moving forward so you can share your new adventures with us.
Thanks, Carey! Have some great folks coming, including the co-founder and President of Pixar Studios. Anyone amazing at what they do is a candidate…
4 years ago, when I read 4hww, it changed my vision of the world for ever… Since then I work a lot less and enjoy a lot more my life and bring much more value to my clients. Your frenzy to optimise everything by hacking inspired me a lot to develop, between other projects, the ruby community in Paris. And you definitely changed the way I look at email. I try to stop watching email too frequently, especially when I code :).
For your blog, I think you should do it responsive, since lots of people are using their phone (especially reading emails :)) and if they click a link and they arrive in your blog it’ll be … better if it’s responsive (and that’s really easy to do).
Then I would say : continue to help us improve our lives. You are one of the greatest inventors of the 21th century, you give so much to people… thank you for everything ^^
Thank you so very much, T! Definitely agreed on responsive. Working on it right now. Actually just signed an agreement 2 min ago to get it done.
Quick question: in business school (undergrad at UCF)… Accounting major or Management Entrepreneurship Track or both or neither? Why?
Depends totally on what you want to do. I’d generally vote working in a fast-growing startup of 15-30 people, industry mostly irrelevant. Work for master dealmakers.
I have many ambitions.. as you clearly have had. I’d like to develop my own app, pursue a music career, study in yeshiva, amongst many other things. The basis of what I’d like to do mostly is entrepreneurial, just I have been told to learn Accounting because it is “the backbone of business” as one person has told me, also I figure a CPA would be a good route to acquiring startup capital. Yet I fear being dreadfully bored and not accomplishing anything I’d like to accomplish going that route.
Exactly Tim…!! Trying to get through into the startup..interview scheduled tomo…I had watched your interview with mentor Ed Zschau !!
Hi Tim,
I’ve have been an avid reader and fan of yours for sometime now and have applied many of your techniques in growing my business. First was a previous metals business I starred with $300 and tested very successful using many if the suggestions in the 4hr Work Week.
Right now, I’m a co-founder & CEO of a tech start up called Uffucient. It is basically the ‘Uber of Everything’ and we are ready to go love in a few weeks. We have lists of top bloggers (500), email marketing stretegies ( per your last article) and a number of other stretegies (meetups, etc). What else would you recommend we do to promote downloads of our mobile app? Is there a life hack to getting downloads and more importantly users? Do you have any growth hacker tips?
I would love to hear your answers!
Than You,
Stefan Kojouharov
Ufficient.com
What is the top smart drugs/ combinations you have found to be the most useful? I’ve tried my fair share (namely: modafinil, most the racetams, and caffeine/theanine)
I’m a big fan of CILTEP, but I need 12-13 hours of sleep the following night. Use with caution.
Tim, can it ask how you were taking the Ciltep? I took what I thought was the correct daily dose for about 3 weeks, with zero result.
Huge fan of CILTEP and, like you, find that a bit of extra sleep is needed in the evening –– after a full day of drive, motivation and Getting–Shit–Done® –– though nothing even close to the extended 12 to 13 hours of sleep you’d mentioned. Supplimenting with choline seems to take some of the edge off of CILTEP (the teeth-grinding edge it sometimes has), and a dose of GABA and melatonin just before bedtime insures absolutely rock solid sleep.
As a quick sidenote, CILTEP in combination with piracetam is wonderful, especially for putting yourself into “hunker down and study” mode, though choline supplimentation is mandatory –– unless you really want to experience the worst headaches in the world.
Tim, I think it’s time for the Four-Hour Toddler. If you’re not ready to have one yet, I’m sure some of your readers would be happy to have you join them for experiments in eating broccoli, falling asleep, and getting out the door in the morning. Parenting is the ultimate crucible for lifestyle experimentation.
I just wanted to also say “Thank you, Tim” for your work ethic and advice and positiveness.
🙂
Fully agree. Your books have been eye openers. I’ve gifted them on more than one occasion!
Hi Tim,
Can intermittent fasting work/interact with slow carb, if my first meal contains 30g of protein, but isn’t consumed until around 12pm?
Best,
Brian
Yes!
Good marketing strategies to sell to businesses (who have sales from $2M-$20M
Hi Tim,
I just subscribed. Thanks!
Also, what’s the deal with the Tim Ferriss Experiment videos? I want to purchase/view them, but the links you provided in your blog post do not work. Please advise 🙂
What’s the best way for an artist to get on magazines and TVs?
My wife does performance art and dance, finding really hard to get on bigger medias. Any idea?
Please: more of the excellent work sharing, interviewing, revealing. It’s enlightening, encouraging, and inspiring at the same time.
You have a helluva jump start on a network of friends and authorities that rivals JARVIS.
Hola to Neil, and kudos for a clean podcasting sound.
Hey Tim. Big reader of yours here in NYC. While I identify strongly with the entrepreneurial, life hack, self-optimized approach, as a social entrepreneur I also hungry for pushing these ideas into the social good sphere. Have you thought about it? If not, would you consider it? Hell I’d help/collaborate. If not, I’ll end up doing it by myself, eventually, but we could use some signature Ferriss-ness on it. I just know among my fellow millennials there’s a real hunger for it.
PS Thank you for the MLBJ recipe in 4hrchef. My wife loves the recipe, and I love what it leads to. 🙂
Hey Tim, the 4HWW inspired me to build an automated business back in 2009, it’s carried me since and allowed me to do some traveling and live in pretty cool places.
I did however, go against a word of caution you offered, “don’t do ingestibles.” Though it’s worked really, really well and I’ve replicated the business, TWICE.
My question is about how the internet has changed since the last update. Social media has obviously taken over communication both personally and in business, but you’re moving back to email. Do you have any suggestions or methods for converting your list to buyers?
GaryV says, give give give ask, what’s your recipe?
You’re my hero Tim haha. How do I “Tim Ferriss” writing a book? Is there an outline of structure or style best Sellers have in common? I have heard you say to just write everything down and compile it later…get thoughts on paper. However is there a way to speed up the process without sacrificing content? Maybe developed your own outline…hit best seller points, and fill in the blanks? I’m all over The place writing first book. Thanks in advance.
Just search this blog for “How to Write a Bestseller This Year.” That has EVERYTHING.
Love, love, love this space. You are my virtual mentor, thank you. Listen to the podcasts daily and love the random show. Any chance you could throw a few female candidates in the podcast mix? Any thoughts on how to conquer a fear of flying?
Thank you. Would love more women on the podcast. I don’t discriminate. If they are amazing and come across my purview, I’m open. Check out Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s interview. Who would you like to see on?
Tim, I was just having this conversation the other day with my friend. A few years ago people (maybe even you!) were announcing the death of email. But here we are, for the reason that it is still user controlled, and not awash in the stream. (Compare this to streaming music and the vinyl collector!)
As a vinyl collector, I think I may more purchases based on the email lists I am on than the FB and Twitter feeds I follow.
Tim,
I am a recent college graduate turned job-seeker. Do you have any 4-Hour tips for getting into a job (particularly SF/tech startups)?
Also, I tried changing your Wikipedia photo to the one with you between the two stacks of books, but it got removed for copyright. Do you happen to know the copyright holder/photographer of that picture?
Thank you for all your hard work and many valuable insights!
Hi Benjamin,
For the jobs, check out “12 Lessons Learned Marketing The 4-Hour Body” and Charlie’s story.
For the pic, I should own the copyright, as it was taken with my camera, in my house, at my direction. Assuming that’s the case, you have my permission. The one with that mouthpiece in my face kills me. Terrible pic.
Thanks!
Tim
On an unrelated topic, any update on whether your TV episodes will be released would be much appreciated! I haven’t heard much and have looked forward to watching them. I understand it’s a frustrating situation…
¿Pura Vida? ¿Estás en Costa Rica, mae?
Espero tus emails con mucha anticipación.
Be well.
“Tim Ferriss Rethinks Email”
When I got that email, I seriously that you are going to revolutionize email, going to do something crazy with emails (may be another experiment). I am kinda disappointed to see that this is a general blogpost to increase the email signups. The blogpost headline hooked me up so much.
Hi Premkumar,
I’m sorry you feel that way, and I apologize for any confusion. For what it’s worth:
1) This post wasn’t to increase email signups. It was to give long-time readers a heads up that they’ll be getting emails from me, and I didn’t want them to think it was spam, given how long ago many of them signed up.
2) I DO have a lot of thoughts about email. Until I get into it, play around with emailga.me and Boomerang (paid version) for Gmail or whatever service you use.
Best,
Tim
Signed up. Thanks, Tim. It’ll be nice to know when you have new content on the blog. I feel like I keep missing out. (Curious. Is this the same version of the 4HC that we BitTorrented a few months back? Thanks for that.)
Email is the basis of both my 4HWW-based “lifestyle” tax practice (ok, closer to 10 hours per week), as well as my coaching/consulting business for other tax professionals.This fact tends to befuddle the current generation of social media oriented “gurus”. The fact that I build my email lists primarily via direct mail then just makes their heads explode.
You’ve obviously got a massive following, and leveraging that via email is an incredibly intelligent long-term business decision. Can’t wait to see what you come out with.
Jassen, May I ask you a few questions about your experience using 4-hour principles in a private practice setting? Feel free to send me a message. Thanks.
Hi Tim — I am using Mailchimp for e-mail signups and sending emails, which has worked pretty well for me and my online Italian wine business. Their opt-in confirmation 2-step process is nice for weeding out honey pots and the like, but I find not everyone confirms their email addresses — the confirmation email sometimes gets caught in a spam filter.
Just curious about your thoughts (or others) on using the double opt-in services like Mailchimp versus the Aweber model of just dropping your email in (single step with no email confirmation required). It seems like the single step services could have a high percentage of bogus emails, but not sure how high.
Cheers.
Michael
300,000 terrible, I mean really, did you at least shat yourself when you realized?! Good laugh, thanks. Sheesh.
Dear Tim,
I would like to sign up to your new email scheme but I would like to know if I will benefit as much as your American subscribers. Will I? I live in Belgium.
Thanks a lot.
Michèle
PS. I read the 4 hr work week from cover to cover. I thought you were a genius!
Funny how we’ve created all these extra methods to communicate, but somehow it’s harder to get a message through. Or, for us to get the message we want to hear. Looking forward to 1-2 quality updates a week in my inbox. Thanks Tim
Tim, thanks for doing this Q&A. My question has to do with finding a muse. I’ve read your blog posts on the topic, but so far everything I’ve been able to come up with either doesn’t lend itself to automation, isn’t very profitable, has already been done, or I don’t enjoy it enough to motivate me to work on it. Do you have any suggestions for helping me come up with better ideas? Also, do you have any suggestions for helping me find a manufacturer for physical products? Thanks in advance.
Thanks for being inspiring Tim. If the Nobel committee recognise my achievements, then in part that will be down to you. All the best.
There will be a large audience that will appreciate this medium. It needs to be done. That being said – I get plenty of you in my FB and TW streams and that’s where I like it. I, and many others, hit the streams to consume content. I hit the inbox to communicate and GTD so I won’t be signing up. I don’t want to dread getting emails from you. Just thought you’d appreciate this perspective.
Love it Tim – sorely needed approach.
I sent Donna an email about you interviewing Dr Robert Cialdini about his new book – are you interested?
I think it could be cool
ross@inceptionbusinesssolutions.com
I agree, email is now back with a bang as social media sites have failed to be truly social. Now social media is all about paid advertising. Look forward to reading more from you.
I was reluctant to join the mailing list before, because I knew your opinion on emails. However, after reading this I’ve signed right up and am looking forward to all the goodies. Yowza!
I would love to be able to connect you with Geoff Thompson for your podcast at some point Tim..I know we have connected in the past regarding this but he has some really exciting stuff going on at the moment and the ‘from factory worker and doorman to BAFTA winning writer is really inspirational.
Give me a shout if you want to find put a bit more or just Google Geoff Thomson inspired!
Okay inventive and innovative life guru from the west coast … what’s with the green knit skull cap? http://fhww.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/timothy-ferriss-hat-headshot-four-hour-work-week-body-chef.jpg?w=500&h=281
Hey Tim, I love the podcasts so much that I’d listen if you had Mr Hanky the Xmas poo! But I especially like it when you have people that guys like me wouldn’t normally have access to. For what it’s worth, I’d love to hear a podcast with Tony Hseih (zappos), the Dalai Lama, Bill Clinton, Jon Jones (UFC Champ), or a Mr. Olympia.
I hope you do not use the email to send blog posts, I prefer RSS (just avoid Feedburner). Also, I Think Twitter is better to check for news and you get less stuff in your inbox that can be distracting.
Looking forward to the Q&A next week!
I have been following the blog and Facebook page for a few years now and the content has never been better! I would have never thought that we would return to email as being a more personal and direct way of communicating. Very interesting approach, looking forward to the exclusive content!
Do you think you will rewrite and update the “Four Hour Work Week”? The book has changed my life in so many ways. I am now a student of Stephen Key as a result, and plan to pursue a career in product licensing. This is solely due to your book and your previous articles on licensing. I would love to see a follow up to your articles “Licensing: From Tae-Bo to Teddy Ruxpin” and “How to Rent Your Ideas…”. Thank you for the direction and motivation you have given me. I will always be a huge supporter of your work.
Thank you for all of the helpful, insightful, and inspiring content. I am a PE teacher at a school that primarily serves students from low socio-economic backgrounds – I find your books and podcasts to be personally and professionally relevant. Without question, I know I am more effective in both areas of life from applying the lessons I’ve learned from you and your guests on the podcast. Furthermore, I enjoy the opportunities to communicate these lessons I learn to my students, which in turn has an immensely positive impact on their lives. Additionally, I always look forward to checking out your book club as those books have become my gift of choice for family and friends.
Your work has also inspired me to expand my travels and learn Spanish. My girlfriend laughs at how excited I get when the customs agent puts the new stamp on my passport. Always looking forward to your new posts and podcasts!
Warmest regards
YAY!
The Blog of Author Tim Ferris is a subject line that I actually look forward to seeing in my inbox. Especially since the podcast was launched. A Long walk while listening is my favorite exercise.
I’ve listened to both 4 Hour Work Week and 4 Hour Body in the last year + and I have made lasting changes as a result. (Not all radical changes; but, with the knowledge I have now, there is no going back.)
I am PSYCHED (as the kids say) to get The 4 Hour Chef audiobook!
Nihongo wakarimasen; but that’s about to change : ) .
THANK YOU!
YES! Was so excited to see this. Count me in!
You ever come visit Portugal? Some Ted talk maybe?
Tim, have you considered lowering the risk of a fallout by using more than 1 email provider (diversifying)?
Derek Halpern talked about this in his YT video called “3 Things To Remember When Everything Goes Wrong” because it happened to him.
I’ve gotten a ton of accidental emails sent from newsletters I had subscribed to, at some point things will go wrong.
Hey,
Happy to know some great and important facts. I didn’t know that Facebook pages won’t be received by everyone. This is valuable information for me.
Thanks
Email updates? What year is this? What’s wrong with Feedly? It’s beautiful, neat, organized and I get your posts as soon as you post them.