How to Become and Expert in 4 Weeks Timothy Ferriss Style |

How to Become and Expert in 4 Weeks Timothy Ferriss Style

4 Hour Workweek Have I mentioned that I am now a huge fan of Timothy Ferris, author of the 4-Hour Work Week? You may have guessed as much, considering that 2 of my last 3 posts were focused on my new favorite book that I believe every entrepreneur, freelancer, dreamer, risk-taker, and free-thinker should own.

When I picked up this book in the bookstore, I opened it up to someplace in the middle, which happened to be chapter 9, (Income Autopilot I) and began the usual skim. I thought I might pick up a piece or two of useful information and then perhaps put it down and move on to skim another book.

I stood frozen in the isle of Barnes and Noble engulfed in what I was reading. At some point I realized that needed to find a comfortable chair and wandered through the shelves toward one end of the store relying only on peripheral vision to get to the destination. It was this chapter that drove me straight to the cash register to purchase it.

One part in particular really stood out to me, and that was a small section called How to Become a Top Expert in 4 Weeks. Being in the business of promoting people and businesses through press releases and internet marketing, the information in this chapter was incredible. And it can be for you too if you’re goal is to gain exposure and make money.

You Can be an Expert

Ferriss says there’s a big difference between being an expert and being perceived as one. I couldn’t agree more. It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert and no one knows it and it doesn’t matter if you are the top expert in your industry or not if the media is coming to you for expert advice. If you know more than most people about a particular niche, you can be an expert.

Ferriss’s Advice on How to Become an Expert in 4 Weeks

I don’t want to deter anyone from buying this book because I don’t want Ferriss to lose out on any of his much deserved royalties. Though I’m recapping his bullet points here, there is much more to gain from the book itself including resources, more tips, and tricks to accomplish these tasks to becoming an expert in 4 weeks.

Join 2 or 3 related trade organizations
Read 3 top selling books on your topic
Give one free 3 hour seminar at the closest well-known university
Give 2 free seminars at branches of two well-known big companies such as AT&T or IBM
Offer to write 1 or 2 articles for trade organizations
Join a service that journalists use to find experts to quote for articles

Share Your Opinion!

What do you think of Ferriss’s strategy? Can you see yourself doing this? If not, why? What was your favorite part of the 4-Hour Workweek? If you own this book, what convinced you to buy it?

August 29 2007 06:00 am | Business Building and Business Networking

23 Responses to “How to Become and Expert in 4 Weeks Timothy Ferriss Style”

Chad on 29 Aug 2007 at 6:52 pm #

He brings up really good points that a lot of people just don’t seem to think are within their grasps. Press releases? More people should be learning!

I’ve only seen reviews of his book so far. I’ll be looking for it in the bookstore tomorrow.

Take care,
Chad.
NothingMan on 29 Aug 2007 at 11:07 pm #

Ok, I’ver heard about enough of this book I just might have to go buy it. How much are we talking here? 15$?

I’m pretty far from thinking about making money with my blog, but I suppose it’s always good to know the tricks of the trade.
David on 30 Aug 2007 at 6:42 am #

I got it for $11 and some change at Costco and I did much of what he recommended. It’s amazing what happens when you actually take action on something that you know you need to do.
Timeout - August 30th 2007 | Blog on 30 Aug 2007 at 1:31 pm #

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NothingMan on 30 Aug 2007 at 8:27 pm #

ok, mental note. I need to get this. I work next to a Barnes and Noble. There’s no reason I shouldn’t

Thanks
Chad on 31 Aug 2007 at 6:34 am #

It was “On Order” at Borders. That’s supposed to be instantaneous and convenient but, for some reason, I hate not being able to just be there and walk out with a copy.
NothingMan on 31 Aug 2007 at 6:50 pm #

Got it… this better be good
Christine on 05 Sep 2007 at 2:10 am #

That’s awesome – Keep us posted on what you think of it!
Christine on 05 Sep 2007 at 2:11 am #

How annoying! Did you end up ordering it from them, or just going somewhere else for instant gratification?
Christine on 05 Sep 2007 at 2:13 am #

That’s exactly it Chad! There are so many things within our grasp that we only THINK we aren’t capable of. And the most critical factor in changing everything about your life is just to change things is to change your way of thinking….
Chad on 07 Sep 2007 at 11:29 am #

I’m 3/4 of the way through the book. It came in from “on order” two days later. Incredible!

That’s all I can say about it without overloading the brain with excitement!

I’m already looking for a personal assistant from India to do my blog research for me! (outsourcing my life; compliments of Feriss Lifestyle Design.)

The book could really be 5. Seriously. Speed Reading, Marketing 101, Drop-Shipping 101, Niche Tackling, Outside the Box Thinking… it’s all there.

Great read! Super glad I waited for the “on order.”
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Anne on 01 May 2009 at 8:29 pm #

I bought the 4 hour work week about 14 months ago and that time I’ve spent 5 months overseas and opened my own business, I’m planning my next trip right now and automating my business further!
Michael on 23 May 2009 at 3:45 pm #

I’ve had the book for 2 years,love it but you have to know the in/out of the internet, to really make it work. I’m very close!!!
Cash Ellis on 23 Jun 2009 at 12:12 am #

I picked up the Four Hour Work week 2 years ago. I have read the book in and out several times as well as listened to the audio version on repeat at the gym or in my car or even in my shower clock radio / cd player. Since then I have opened 8 companies using outsourcing, globalization and the resources discussed in the book. I have become a believer that the world is flat and now am a pioneer towards connecting the world to do business in new ways. As I have been set free I have come to the realization that these resources and concepts are too great to be left to the individual to decide its purpose and potential. This is why I now devote my life to setting others free as well.

I have created an international organization dedicated to this purpose and have been building intellectual armies across the world for almost a year now. The book has accidently hit on a few global trends like outsourcing and enterprise communication technology. The combination of the 3 is a an inevitable trend that will change how business is done.

I recommend that you read this book and equip yourself for the future. Otherwise you will find yourself equipped for a world that no longer exists.

- $
LocalSEO on 20 Jul 2009 at 9:52 am #

The bullet points above are very interesting but bring up a bit of a catch 22. That is before you would be given a platform to speak at a major college for three hours or at a Fortune 100 company you would need to build trust and recognition with those colleges and corporations. That is not done in four weeks. I am not knocking the book, I am sure it will provide hundreds of solid tips I can incorporate into my busines.
Aluminum Fence Products on 15 Oct 2009 at 4:34 pm #

I don’t know, this seems shady to me. People work there whole lives to become “experts” in their field, and while I do own this book, I don’t agree with all the suggestions it has in it. I guess, even though I am fairly young, I think if people are paying to work with or listen to an expert, they should actually be one, not perceptively but reality.

Just my $.02
brandon redlinger on 08 Apr 2010 at 12:12 pm #

I absolutely love this book. I read this chapter just a few weeks ago and had to come back to it. Im in the process of becoming an expert in my field of study myself, but now I can become one even quicker and start to have the impact that I want to sooner. And not to mention make more money doing it too. I highly recommend this book.
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