One Simple Idea

by Stephen Key

Stephen Key is touted as a sort of acolyte of Timothy Ferriss, he of The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content. fame. Key's key (sorry) idea is very similar to the 4HWW: It is possible to break free of a workaday, humdrum life and have everything you want without becoming a corporate drone working for a paycheck by working for "the man". Simple Idea, however, is different in its methodology. Rather than the "do the same things better, become more efficient through outsourcing, spread out, travel, work globally, and become rich" approach in 4HWW, Key's approach is that you become a source of ideas to people who will pay money for them. All you have to do is think of things that nobody else does, then market the idea yourself or license or sell it to somebody else so they make money for you. Key's plan is achievable, concrete, well-formulated, and certainly executable. But again, due to the similar nature of Simple Idea to the 4HWW, the majority of readers will simply not have the skill set, determination, or willingness to make the sacrifices needed to fully implement the strategies in this book. This is not to say that the ideas, strategies, and their approach and methodology. are unrealistic. In fact, Key's made millions (he says) doing just what he spells out in the book. That may be true, but what's for sure is that Key has been teaching his plan in college courses and many of his students have successfully implemented his ideas and plans, so it is difficult to doubt the veracity of his claims and the feasibility of his plans (which again, is like 4HWW in that its author, Timothy Ferriss, as also the living proof of his book’s tenets). One Simple Idea itself is well laid out and efficiently organized. The writing is crisp and clear, like you would expect from an educator, but it may be just a little bit too pushy and repetitive for some readers. (The beginning goes on endlessly with rah-rah-ing: "You can do it. You can do it.") Still, all around, this is an excellent book that I enjoyed reading, and learned a lot from, even though I know I'm not going to be much of an idea-monger in the near future. That is why I do not hesitate to give it five dollar signs and recommend it to anyone who enjoyed 4HWW or is interested in motivational, self-help, or contrarian lifestyle information. Key gives you the information you need. What you do with it is up to you. (Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.)

The Four-Hour Work Week

by Timothy Ferriss

This is one of the most amazing and interesting books I’ve read in the last year. A perennial best-seller, this book contains a ton of ideas and suggestions for making more money, working less hours, doing what you want, traveling, and, well, living a “real” life. Everything the book suggests is, to some degree, reasonable and feasible. But I have to say, If you have a mortgage, kids in school, a decent job, and you volunteer at your church or local youth organization, you’re probably going to be highly reluctant to make the sacrifices necessary in order to execute many of the plans, such as taking a "mini-retirement" and moving to Thailand for six months. That is to say, you can’t have a “real” life without giving up your “normal” life. For many, that makes this book a deal breaker. If you are in your mid-twenties, between jobs, and looking for something better, however, this book is probably much more approachable and useful. I think initially, you’ll have to work a lot more than four hours a week, but I think if you use this book and apply yourself, a four hour work week does become possible, and sooner, rather than later in life. That said, I still think that any serious business person or self-help enthusiast will stand to gain a lot from this book. The expanded and updated version in particular is chock full of websites where one can go to get information about and help executing many of the book’s strategies. At the very least, Timothy Ferriss has succeeded in pulling off the strategies that he’s flogging here, proof positive that it can be done. For an average business person like myself, this book makes me think of things that move me closer to the better, outsourced, high producing, less demanding, more rewarding life that this book promises, and I feel that it can’t hurt and will probably help just about anyone’s life in some way or another, which is why I give it five out of five dollar signs.