HeatherHuhman.com

Part 1: My 4-Hour Workweek Dreamline

I recently received a review copy of The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. Although I’m a slow reader, I’ve already finished it — and aim to read it again sometime soon.

Don’t worry, I’m not downsizing to a four-hour workweek. I actually really enjoy what I do! But, I do desire a change in “lifestyle design” as Timothy Ferriss discusses in the book. And to help commit myself, I’m outlining my dreamline here.

From his blog, Ferriss provides the following instructions for creating your dreamline:

Create a two timelines—six months and twelve months—and list up to five things you dream of having (including, but not limited to, material wants: house, car, clothing, etc.), being (be a great cook, be fluent in Chinese, etc.), and doing (visiting Thailand, tracing your roots overseas, racing ostriches, etc.), in that order.

For now, don’t concern yourself with how these things will be accomplished. That’s all covered later.

Consider the question: What would you do, day-to-day, if you had $100 million in the bank? If still blocked, fill in the five “doing” spots with the following:

1 place to visit
1 thing to do before you die (a memory of a lifetime)
1 thing to do daily
1 thing to do weekly
1 thing you’ve always wanted to learn

Chances are that the ultimate TMI figure will be lower than expected, and it will decrease over time as you trade more and more “having” for once-in-a-lifetime “doing.” Mobility encourages this trend. Even if the total is intimidating, don’t fret. It is possible—case studies in the book prove it—to get to more than $10,000 per month in extra income within three months. This is usually 3 or 4 times more than is needed. Getting to an extra $2,000 or $3,000 is seldom a problem.

You can have it all—really.

Using his template, here’s my 6-month dreamline:

Step 1: HAVING

1. New laptop
2. New cell phone and upgraded plan (unlimited data/texting)
3. One full-time employee for Come Recommended

Cost = $579 (laptop) + free phone with upgrade + $60/month (upgraded phone plan) + $2,917/month (salary) = $3,556

STEP 2: BEING

1. Highly sought-after speaker
2. Employed full-time by Come Recommended

Cost = $0 (own time) + $4,250/month (salary) = $4,250

STEP 3: DOING

1. Spend more time with my family
2. Visit the gym whenever I want
3. Take vacation whenever I need a break

Cost = $0 (own time)

TARGET MONTHLY INCOME = $3,556 + $4,250 + $0 = $7,806 (monthly expenses to be paid from my husband’s income)

TARGET DAILY INCOME = $7,806 / 30 = $260.20

Steps to Take Now:

1. Begin research for the first of many e-books to come, Relocating for an Entry-Level Job: Why You Probably Have to and How to Do It
2. Brainstorm 5 possible sponsors of the Relocating for an Entry-Level Job e-book series
3. Create a database of colleges/universities that might be interested in hosting me as a speaker

Steps to Take Tomorrow:

1. Begin writing Relocating for an Entry-Level Job: Why You Probably Have to and How to Do It
2. Contact 5 possible sponsors via e-mail
3. Contact database of colleges/universities

I will keep you updated about my dreamline for the next six months. In the meantime, what’s your dreamline?