After a long weekend, I’m majorly contemplating the meaning of work in today’s society. I know I’m done with “work for work’s sake” and engage only in work that’s meaningful and fulfilling to me. But I still come up against a lot of resistance when I tell people that I:
1) Will never work at 9-5 again.
2) Don’t believe a pension, social security or company of any kind will “save me.”
3) Have come to these conclusions after a lot of reading, studying and thinking.
But I am not alone!
Enter the male version of me. His name is Timothy Ferriss* and reading his book and blog are godsends to me. They remind me that cutting out the fat, traveling and working as little as possible (while obtaining enough money to live on) are what my life is all about. If you count yourself an Expy, it might be yours too.
Read Tim’s book & blog and get inspired (or listen to this interview with him by my friend Erica to see why you should!). If you’re put off by the idea of “only” working 4 hours a week, ask yourself: why? What is it you’d rather be doing in those hours you spend behind the computer or answering the phone? If the answer is travel, then you might enjoy reading about how to DEAL (Definition, Elimination, Automation, Liberation).
I’m working on incorporating a lot of Tim’s ideas into my life right now. I started by cutting down on the amount of information I take in (setting up an email policy was a good, easy way to do this). I then defined what it is I work for and how much I’d need to obtain, in financial terms, to live the “life of my dreams.” The good news is, I’m on the right track. Because I use public transport, bum rides or walk, I don’t have car payments. I’m not in debt. I don’t have a family yet. But, according to the book, all these things need not be true to travel the globe. In one chapter, Tim describes how families can make travel a part of their reality, too. Even after I have kids, I plan to continue exploring the globe. If they don’t like it, I guess they’ll have to lump it.
For any child of mine will know travel isn’t part of life. Travel is life.
*What a hottie!!



3 comments ↓
This is definitely one of my favorite reads. He’ll actually be at the conference I’m attending on Saturday.
For now, I need to find my passion and then make it a 4 hour job…
GWEN! I miss you so much
Come visit us here in Texas Soon. And doesn’t Tim just rock the house? He’s quite an inspiration for me.
I definitly need to read this book. right now I have $104 to my name. The only ways I have been able to travel abroad has been through school. And now that i’m done with college I’m scared I’ll never be able to afford to travel again! EEEKKK!
Leave a Comment