Guest Author - Jen Blackert

I had just finished yoga and I was sitting by the pool at the gorgeous Crossings in Austin, TX where I spent last weekend teaching a workshop on lifestyle design. My rest at the pool was short when a workshop participant came up and asked me what I was reading. I snickered and said, “The Four-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss.” I hesitated and then added, “It’s about lifestyle design. I am intrigued by other perceptions.”

When the participant asked if I had any breakthroughs and discoveries. I quickly responded, “Yes. Actually, I have. There are many concepts and ideas that are being questioned in my head.”

So, what does it mean to design your life?

Both, Tim and I start with the same concepts.

#1. Define. Define what you want to be, do and have in your life. That’s simple. In the book, Tim adds tools and calculators to figure out your TMI (Target Monthly Income) and other important numbers to live by. He gives the phrase – ‘Calculated Risk’ a whole new meaning.

#2. Eliminate. I believe the next steps are to get rid of everything you don’t want in your life. However, while Tim talks about things like – The low-information diet and offers ideas to get rid of any unproductive items in your life; I believe we need to figure out what we are doing that is draining our joy, peace and passions for life. We need to eliminate what isn’t working for us. The fact is some people can receive information and not allow it to clutter their mind.

#3. Automation. I believe the next step in designing the lifestyle of your dreams includes evaluating your behaviors and habits and realigning them to work for you (instead of against you) in your life. In other words, how can you change your habits and behaviors to focus on your dreams instead of your struggles? Tim does discuss ideas on living fearlessly in chapter 1. I love the idea of doing what you most fear first during your day!

In this chapter, Tim discusses how to make residual income. And although this is a valuable skill it is not what we all desire. For some -- status quo is a perfect life.

#4. Liberation. In my program I discuss ideas on how to improve your rate of creation so you can live the life of your dreams now and in the present moment. Tim on the other hand discusses how to fill your free time. In my program this is included in the define chapter. When you ask questions for example, “What do you want your life to look like?”

This concept of liberation is exciting. What would you do with your time if you had all the money you needed? You didn’t need to work? How do we fill this void? How do we add life and experience life?

I can’t say enough about the book! It is funny and it gets you thinking bigger. How can you live a life of abundance, joy, peace and happiness?