Perfect Life Project

Meeting Tim Ferriss part two

Tim Ferriss' 4-Hour Work Week launch party was held in Sydney on Friday night. While I read the book upon its US release I was interested to meet the author and gauge the Aussie response to his 4-Hour Work Week message.

Around 150 guests filled the Hotel CBD's Jam room and the drinks flowed freely as we chatted to Tim and threw questions at him about his lifestyle design philosophy. Interestingly, many of the questions Tim fielded were technology and web related, rather than travel and freedom

Of course the contentious topic of Geo-arbitrage and outsourcing his work to "India" were discussed.

All in all it was an interesting night and Tim came across as a gracious host. He is friendly, enthusiastic and informative.

I have found a couple of links to other people who were there for the event with more details and photos.

The 4-Hour Work Week has been an inspiration to me and helped spark my improved lifestyle. Since reading the book 12 months ago I have travelled extensively within Australia, South-east Asia and the USA. I have managed 10 weeks of holidays in that time with another trip strating this week to take the 13 months total to 11. As Tim points out, all this can be done while successfully owning a business.

Doing business in Borneo

Greetings from Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. My wife and I are currently staying in beautiful Kota Kinabalu, just above the equator in a gorgeous and lush tropical paradise. The hotel is 5-star luxury and no expense has been spared in entertaining us and the other guests on this trip. The meals are magnificent, the cocktail parties plentiful and the activities highly enjoyable. Best of all, its all basically free.

The Perfect Plan for 2008

I recently discussed my ambitions for the coming year in "Making the most of your freedom". Now that I have returned home and back to work I have set about implementing my plans for 2008.

My greatest challenge appears to be juggling a business and some lofty ambitions for the year with my lifestyle goals of working less, travelling and pursuing my sporting interests. Here is what I wish to do in 2008.....

Learning from holidays 2

Six weeks of travel is coming to an end. As I sit here at San Francisco International I can reflect upon a long and enjoyable break. My family and I have managed to see and do a remarkable amount on this trip, from San Francisco, northern California, Colorado, copious amounts of snow skiing, snow shoeing, back to California and Santa Cruz and the mid-Cali coast.....it has been quite the trip, especially with two young children in tow.

Road Testing Perfect Life

I have just left Australia for a big holiday, with just a little bit of work thrown in.

Currently in Auckland New Zealand, a beautiful city in a beautiful country.

Next stop San Francisco where my family and I will see the sites and meet some interesting business contacts.

Then its 5 weeks in the snow of Colorado.

My business is set and ready to run without me there. This will be the biggest test I have given it. I will check in from time to time, but overall am confident my team will look after things with little trouble.

Lets see how it goes.

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Arrived in San Francisco last night and now ready to see the city.

Discovered my offices back home had been flooded in large storm. My staff, true to form, have it under control. no deadlines missed, business as usual.

This is a good test for remote management.

Breaks are good

Taking a break from the everyday is good. In fact, I would suggest it is essential.

I have just returned from a trip to Thailand and, although it was a hectic holiday with a fair share of partying, it was a great recharge for me.

The trip meant that I was away from my office for 11 days. No calls, only one email, no deadlines or schedules. No work for 11 days. For once my mind was totally occupied by things other than my normal life.

By the time I returned to work I was itching to go. New ideas started swirling around my brain, I was refreshed and ready to go. In short, the break did me good as far as work goes. I have just two months until I take off again on an extended break and so I will be attacking that remaining time with vigour.

As a side note, holidays also trigger Parkinson's Law. Most people, knowing they are going to be away from work tend to produce more in the time leading up to their holiday. The enforced deadline works to focus you and your work. Likewise upon returning from holidays there is often worked piled up that must be sorted quickly.

Travels in Thailand

I have just returned from a trip to Thailand, staying at the beautiful southern island of Phuket and the capital Bangkok.

The trip was a business "junket", one of those great benefits of owning a business and having suppliers who are keen to keep your custom. As a result this 8 day journey was largely paid for by a media supplier to my agency...airfares, accommodation and quite a few drinks.

While it was a week to let my hair down and relax a little, it was also an opportunity to observe another culture, explore and reflect on my life.

Thailand seems to display the extremes bewteen wealth and poverty very starkly. In Phuket beggars and street vendors spent their days attempting to extract money from wealthy tourists, while in Bangkok slum-like communities resided alongside towering skyscapers housing western tourist and the local elite. It was eye-opening to say the least.

Credit Where It's Due

I have a confession. I used to hate credit cards.

My wife and I used them for years without discipline and accumulated a debt we shouldn't have had. I then cut them up and steadily paid down the debt, regretting every day we had had the cards.

When I started my latest business I didn't even have a credit card, which some suppliers found amazing.

However, in the last year or so I have begun to look at credit cards in a new light, and have found how beneficial they can be. Now, I love credit cards.

Goals Important Part of Perfect Life

My quest for a perfect life isn't just about creating more idle time so I can pursue a hedonistic lifestyle. For me, it's creating time to chase dreams, to challenge myself and rise above the ordinary.

In fact, for someone who has been striving to minimise "work time" and maximise "free time" I have been extraordinarily busy of late...but with very satisfying results.

The last month has seen me realise a few dreams and be involved in some very worthy causes; not for personal profit, but for personal satisfaction.