An updated version of Timothy Ferriss’s bestselling book, The 4-Hour Workweek, has just been released.  In an interview with Inc. Magazine published in the March 2010 addition, Ferriss states, “It’s important not to take the title of my book literally.  The objective of the book is to help people regain control of time.”

Ferriss defines work as, “An activity that is financially driven or one that you’d like to do less of.”

When asked why the author thinks his book sold so well and has resonated with well known hard charges such as Netscape founder Marc Andreessen and venture capitalist Tim Draper, Ferriss replied, “I think they like the idea of eliminating the nonessentials.  You need to emotionally condition yourself to the point where you’re comfortable declining almost everything.”

What can successful, but overworked people do right now in order to work less?  Ferriss prescribes the following:

• Do an 80/20 analysis.  Identify the 20 percent of activities and clients that produce 80 percent of your revenue (or salary, predetermined expectations or critical success factors), and then the 20 percent of activities and clients that consume 80 percent of your time.  Then, set a reminder to pop up on your computer (or PDA) three times per day that asks, “Am I being productive or am I just being busy?”

Advice regarding the universal applicability (including you, me and every other person on the planet) and the incredible power of proper application of the 80/20 rule has been around forever.  Most of us have read and heard about the 80/20 rule virtually all our lives.  Unfortunately, very few people consistently and relentlessly apply and properly leverage the 80/20 rule.

As you know, today is the first day of the rest of your life.  Now is the time to recommit to this powerful, universal, life-changing principle... and to relentlessly apply the 80/20 rule in your personal and professional life... for the rest of your life! 

You, your family, friends, colleagues, teammates, partners, and all others you touch and influence will be far better off.  Why?  Because you focused on what was and is truly most important. 

Let the rest go!!!   

Copyright © 2010 by Dan Nielsen