Timothy Ferriss (b. 1977) is an American author, public speaker, and productivity guru. In 2007, he published The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich which was a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller.

Productivity and teachings

Ferriss is known for his application of the Pareto Principle to business and personal life. He has also taken the position that technology such as email, instant messaging and internet-enabled pda's complicate life rather than simplify it. His teachings fit under the umbrella of what he calls "lifestyle design" which he positions as an alternative to the "deferred-life" career path where one would work a 9 to 5 job until retirement in their 60's. This involves breaking what he calls "outdated assumptions" and finding ways to be more efficient so that 'work' takes up less of people's time.

Ferriss delivered guest lectures on High-Tech Entrepreneurship and Electrical Engineering at Princeton University , where he is also a graduate.

The 4-Hour Workweek

In April 2007, Random House released his book The 4-Hour Workweek through its Crown imprint. The book warns against information overload, recommends what Ferriss calls 'selective ignorance' and coins the phrase 'lifestyle design.' He also advocated hiring virtual assistants from developing countries such as India.

Before the release of the 4HWW, Ferriss was an unknown. He marketed the book heavily through bloggers who he created personal relationships with. He has since been praised for this technique. The book eventually hit number 1 on both the New York Times bestseller list and the Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

The release of his book moved Ferriss' blog to the Top 1000 on Technorati. According to Fast Company, it is read by many of the "top tech CEOs in the world.

Other life

Ferriss is founder and CEO of BrainQUICKEN, a company that sells sports nutrition supplements. He also holds the Guinness Book of World Records' record for the most consecutive tango-spins in one minute. Ferriss and his dance partner Alicia Monti set the record live on the show Live with Regis and Kelly.

In 2008, he won Wired Magazine's "Greatest Self Promoter of All-Time" prize and was named one of Fast Company's "Most Innovative Business People of 2007.

See also

• Lifehacker.com
• Robert Scoble

References

External links

• Tim Ferriss Blog
• Problogger Interview: with Tim Ferriss
• Ferriss' company BrainQuicken