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Once again you've offered some sensible suggestions for how to diffuse heated issues "like a grown-up" and move on. Keep up the good work.
Loving your blog and your book (still reading it). This particular blog entry reminded me of a slight typo on page 157 - I'll quote: "If there are 15,000 readers and even 50 (0.003%) [...]"
1% of 15,000 = 150... so, 50 being 1/3rd of 150, is also 1/3rd of 1% - ergo, 0.3% rounded.
I can't get enough of your blogs and book content. You've eluded to writing a possible 2nd book, and I can't wait for that to happen.
Later
Yes, but you didn't *gain* 34 pounds; you *regained* 34 pounds; you'd been heavier than that before. Any experienced lifter knows how much easier it is to regain weight than to add new mass; Buster Douglas went from 234# world champion to 268# parade float in 48 hours after the Tyson fight.
Also, your pictures had the usual before and after tricks; a lot of guys can show similar improvements to the ones in your pictorial in half an hour; shave, apply fake tan, change clothes, tense up, suck in your belly, get closer to the camera, et cetera.
That said, it was a very impressive accomplishment; framed in a somewhat misleading way. Like the 4 hour work weeks; that's maintenance, not setup.
"Here are some examples of where they still haven’t:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Ferriss
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_4-Hour_Workweek (don’t miss the comments/talk page)"
It looks like the wikipedia entry lacks third-party sources; that "The information about Ferriss himself in the section Entrepreneurship is not sourced for verification. The section 4-Hour Workweek is also unreferenced. The section Book Reviews, Hoax Email Poem & Claims is highly critical of his single published work, and it is externally linked through inline references that are not listed in the reference section. The WP:COI tag on this article is to indicate that a single editor is not abiding by a neutral point of view in developing this Wikipedia article. Timothy Ferriss is a human being, and as long as there's an article in Wikipedia about him, this article should fairly and accurately reflect the public record of his activities and achievements."
Digging up third party links to disputed claims might serve you; for example "The body composition changes and muscle gain I talk about on the blog (what does that even have to do with the book?) were measured at San Jose State University using hydrostatic weighing and circumference measurements, combined with measurements from the Brooks Brothers tailor at Santana Row in San Jose, CA."
SJSU shouldn't object to posting your results with your permission; BB might raise an elegantly plucked eyebrow at you for asking, but why not?
More generally speaking, for a lot of critics, information posted on your website will hold less weight than a link to a presumably objective institution like a state university; sorry.
For the record I believe you, but I read you pretty carefully; you're careful to say no word that is not true, I think, but you're willing to engage in marketing type deception, e.g. tanning spray. Doesn't make you a bad person, just a good marketer.
I understand the impulse to defend yourself against slander or personal attacks,but you probably gave these turds a boner by drawing attention to their insults.
You mentioned something when I first started reading about not expending too much energy on blogging. It was great advice.
normal person anonymity audience = ???
Anyways, the Wikipedia biography of you has to be one of the lower quality articles I've seen on that site.
Take Care,
S
I enjoyed reading your book and now enjoy reading your blog.
Your ideas about defending yourself reminded me of something Tolstoy said: Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
The ideas you presented are practical and proactive. Thanks.
Be well
On the positive side, apparently this person has already put your principles to work for them. It appears they have an abundance of free time to threaten people, so they must only be working four hours or less per week. :-)
People do think the web affords them anonymity, but I left a note on my blog that I not only had her IP and visit information saved but that I had turned it over to her local police dept. She hasn't bothered me since.
Sometimes people are just bent on coming unhinged and there's nothing you can do to not become a target. Whether it's jealousy, envy or lack of common sense, you can't control other people's online behavior. But, as you pointed out, there are ways you can defuse the situation without animosity or causing the situation to worsen. Nip it in the bud right away, but do it with tact and common sense, I always say. Nothing fuels the fire started by these trolls more than knowing they've angered you.
Kudos on the post, Tim. :)
Keep leading wisely. You're making a difference in thousands of lives.
Nice catch on the typo! Writing an e-mail to my editor now... Man, you can have a dozen proofreaders read a book 1,000 times and still miss things. It's amazing...
Thanks!
Tim
My virtual assistant reads all my public emails and unsubscribes, and deals with them as I have instructed her to do for each situation. She only contacts me if she needs me to give more information or make more suggestions.
Outsourcing is not just about time management, it is also about insulating yourself from bad-ness.
That does not work with comments on my blog, though -- but I have noticed that when people are mean they tend to address me as "the author" as opposed to calling me by name, and don't leave a real email address. In that case, who cares what someone says if they are not willing to take responsibility for their own statements. There, it mostly takes practice in letting it roll off me.
While I do preface your predeliction for martial arts to my friends who get the book. I was alway very interested in the manner that you fought those and won. Those bouts seem in line with your book exactly. Find a weakness in the system and exploit it.
I thought this brought home the manner in which your book operates more than anything else.
The NBTD always make me laugh as well. There's simply no need to pay too much attention to them, and yes, as you've noted, when the whine becomes a wail, do something about it in a way that ends it straight away.
NBTD obviously had never participated in any martial arts (as the bragging doesn't have any part in them) but teaching, and learning a new way to do things does.
I do giggle at times, where you take your work so far to the extreme, I myself take the levels you operate at with a grain of salt (in other words, the goals are there, but I cannot simply drop what I'm doing to complete them all one at a time). But your focus in these operations are always delightful to watch, and your ability to chronicle them make them very watchable/readable.
Thanks again for your great insights!
Sorry to hear about all the fun people you have heard from. I hate to think you have to spend your time answering idiots like these guys and girls. Concentrate your efforts on the people who you are helping and want your advice-remember you only have 4 hours a week and we fans should keep you pretty busy!
It was funny reading this. Remember you and I sitting in that restaurant in Austin during SXSW, and me telling you to prepare for all the haters and the people trying to call BS. I remember you not really understanding why people would doubt stuff that was obviously true and you could prove--now you understand. You have handled it really well though; you took all the advice I gave you and added to it. Good job.
And to everyone who doubts Tim, I will say two things:
1. I have vetted him up and down, and never found him lacking in truth.
2. Go roll with him. Seriously, go to AKA and get on the mat and say to his face you don't believe him. I guarantee you won't say it twice.
BTW--Congrats on becoming a #1 NY Times Best Selling Author. I told you it was going to happen...
Well, now you're a celebrity, you're going to have to cope with a bit of celeb bashing I suppose. You can't please all the people all the time (can you?).
You've really inspired me though, although some times I get frustrated that I'm not there (where you are) yet, then I remember that I'm on the right path, and I'll get there in the end, and I get excited again.
Keep up the good work, your blog posts seem to be becoming more frequent, you'll probably get more readers that way, what are you going to do with us!
PS I'm surprised you haven't got any links to your bodyquicken product. I guess you don't need the extra business (I bought some anyway - it's a great website)!
And never forget that almost all of those negative comments come from 14 year olds!
-Richard Lee
Right on! Keep fighting the good fight! And as Ron LeGrand says, "Don't listen to the morons!
The point is... that people kinda miss the point...
The 34 pound gain story: It inspired me that it could be done and I started weightlifting using your methods (Colorado exp). 10 pounds muscle gain since reading your book (2 months ago?). How many others did this inspire? I've seen at least 10 people start their own blogs on this topic. Has anyone been negatively affected? I don't think so.
Good thing I've been alerted about the tanning spray scam though! Now I know to use it too, before I take my "after" pix! ;)
Angela Wills
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Hi Angela,
Yep, that is a real letter. Mrs. Vinski, the best 1st-grade teacher ever, forced me to write that to my parents. It was a real keeper ;)
Tim
I am so pleased that you took the time to write this post. In my last comment I almost asked you about how you have decided to response to the criticism and then decided not to on the basis that it just gave more "airtime" to your critics.
Your rules are spot on. I think the hardest thing is to hold yourself back from always going in guns blazing when idiots post nonsense about you. I think your approach illustrates that you really walk your talk in terms of focusing on what's important and ignoring what's not.
I'm glad you have responded to some of this though because I'm sure there are people out there who have let the crticism they have read about you affect their view of you and your ideas. Now they can see the other side of the story.
Andrew
This is a great post. :) I do have a question that I couldn't find the best place to ask, so I will ask it here. Are there any plans for translations of the book to Thai, Portuguese, and Mandarin? It would really be great if this can happen because I have friends and potential clients/partners that could benefit from the book.
this is an important post. Everyone who blogs, writes a book, or otherwise puts them self "out there" will face this type of BS. You make many good points. I agree that anonymity is one of the biggest causes for a lot of the worst comments on the internet. I have some readers who say mean stuff while hiding behind fake names.
Congrats on the success of your book and blog. I hope our paths cross sometime, you are interesting to read.
thom
If you go to any chat room on the internet, or any forum, the place is full of these people trying to get a rise. Same as the real world. Everybody just needs to be prepared to laugh at.
One extra point which i have found defuses most situations (except in the case of the psychotic) is a "way out card". It all comes down to pride in a lot of cases. Once a person has committed themselves to a public attack on you they are committed by pride and fear of appearing weak in the pubic eye, to carrying it out. No one wants to appear foolish and have their pride dented in front of their friends. When it comes to a choice between having their pride dented in public or some part of their body dented, I have found 99% (especially if intoxicated with alcohol/drugs or anonymity in an online case) will chose to continue and escalate the situation.
If the aggressor is offered an "out with pride intact" card instead of a physical or online drubbing they will almost always take the "out with pride intact".
In bouncing it is the classic case of telling the person in front of their friends in a humanistic tone, "I understand and I'm really sorry, I would be angry too. It's nothing against you personally at all, and the last thing i want is an argument or worse with you. (I always insert this if the person is with his girlfriend or female friends as it inflates their ego and deflates their anger) But it is a rule I'm told to follow by the management and i need to enforce it to keep this job. I'm really sorry." If they are still angry I step closer and whisper just loud enough for his friends to hear "Look, i'm studying and i really need this job, I'm already on thin ice with these people. Can you help me out here please, i really don't want to give them a reason to get rid of me".
This has worked in most cases.
Of course you are always prepared for a negative reaction.
The same can apply online. I am a working musician traveling the world and I have had lots of negative posts, flames and childish insults directed at me online.
As you said the worst thing you can do is enter into the fray. If it continues I offer the "out with pride intact" card. This in conjunction with admitting any mistake or acknowledging one of their points (only if valid) usually takes care of the problem and can actually turn a vitriolic enemy into a supporter. This does not mean you have to appear groveling or cap in hand. If it is accompanied by facts supporting yourself it is just a quiet way of reinforcing your self or argument while offering them a way out with respect intact.
The worst thing possible is to wade in all guns blaring. Offer facts and nothing more. Offering your rage strokes their ego and achieves their goals. Dispassionate, normal speech in the face of raging insults strikes far harder than wild recriminations and angry defensive insults and remarks.
Be careful also with humour to defuse a situation. It almost never works in real life and without the hand gestures and facial expressions, almost always ends in disaster online.
On a final note, as someone who has received numerous (too many to count) threats of being shot, stabbed, kneecapped and "dissapearing". Not one threat has ever been followed up. So it is not worth worrying about. They are trying to instill fear into you to feed on your waking moments and cause you uneasy sleep. If you give it a second thought they win.
As a friend used to say don't worry about the ones with the mouth, keep your eye the ones who say nothing and walk away quietly.
The only people who have actually tried to kill or maim me have never ever offered a warning. And these people are very very rare and i doubt most people will ever encounter any in their lifetime so don't become paranoid! life is too short.
The tall poppy gets the most sun.
Keep up the good work Tim and enjoy yourself.
Either way, it's great advice.
Not just the personal stuff, but the rules that people can apply. I get a lot of questions from people on how to handle negative buzz.
I once got into an online spat with a local blogger that was well known for attacking everything and everyone. He was later exposed as someone that had been convicted of a sex crime. Once that went public, it really let the wind out of his sails and he eventually closed his blog and retired because the backlash was too great for him.
I have no idea of the details as I did not pay close attention, but I know at one point he stopped blogging and said he should not still have to pay for his mistake.
It was funny hearing him say that.
Good article too - if you get lemons, make lemonade right?!
All the best.
The higher you get on the flagpole the more your ass shows.
Those are some phenomenal training grounds you've been to, wow!!
BTW, David (your OLD Judo mate from way back when) just finished your book, I'll be getting mats in my gym and we're gonna start getting in some BJJ and Judo here
Systems, systems and automate :) RIGHT :)
He is loving your book as is everyone else who i GIVE IT TO.
Also, can you please re - post where to purchase a BOX of 4HWW book's, I know you did this before and I apologize for asking you to do so again, it's time to stock up as these will be gifts for many of my clients.
Your bouncer days sound great, I used to bartend / bounce at a great dive bar, the guy who ran the liquor store was the local high school wrestling coach and he loved to throw down, ha ha - he had that REAL Man strength that seems to come around late 40's or so and it was painful to wrestle him!
Well, keep the great posts coming and anytime you're in the area you have a place to train - strength or BJJ / Judo.
We're 25 min. south of Princeton.
Thanks in advance for the re-post of how to purchase a box of 4HWW books.
I hope to hear more about your lessons learned from wrestling, combat sports and more and how they transeferred to your business.
Best,
Zach :)
PS - I was hoping to see you when the TapOut show visited your gym and picked up that dude w/the wild hair who was living in Bob's office and grilling on his broken Foreman Grill! ha ha
I'll add to the ego booster: I affirm your blog and thus indirectly validate your existence as well. At least you don't take up random space without contributing to the greater knowledge.
Although I find hilarity in most things negative or rather not PC, it's always easier to negate than affirm. The techniques you've provided are interesting because they are parallel to what I was taught in Karate - it was the older technique that required more diligence than the modern Americanized verison of flailing arms and legs in random directions hoping it doesn't look like what it is: a contrived idea. The real deal: The first thing I learned when I stepped into the dojo is avoid fighting at all costs. So, I learned how to run away for the first hour. Literally, run. I ran around Hearst gym for an hour.
Anyway, I'm less articulate than Declan but I think you get the gist of my point. I swear if I was smarter I could quote Sun-Tzu but actual intelligence is escaping me. I don't think I'm even allowed to be responding to a post while I'm at work. Go figure.
I've kept a "healing journal" blog for 2.5 years, working through my own issues and with mostly women in their early 40's who are divorcing and starting over, and I have recently started selling books of my blog material to this audience. I routinely receive threats of physical violence or legal action, often because I'm supposedly writing about THEM when I have no idea who they are or that they've done the examples I give.
#6-- Removing anonymity has been a huge help, particularly with the death threats posted where my children would see them and with the cyberstalker who logged on 84 times a day (seriously). Filtering helps, too, but sometimes a comment is meant for me alone and if they're threatening me, I may just approve the comment, including their identity.
The down side is that you can run around like crazy trying to set the record straight and having all these people clutching at you when they haven't even read your material, and it eats away at your time and your joy. It's not just time consuming, but the creature feeds on YOUR energy.
But here's the epiphany...not a single person who has attacked me on my blog or about my blog is one of my core audience for my books. I am defending my work to people I cannot help and who don't want to do the work to help themselves. I suspect your naysayers are doing the same and holding onto their old behaviors rather than ready to shift to a different mindset about their life plans.
It amazes me how people like going after others that are trying to do good. What benefit does it do anyone to attack you? Obviously the person failed to read your book and absorb the spirit of it other wise they would've engaged on more productive activities like finding themself a muse.
We all thank you for your book and opening our eyes to the world of possibilities. Cynics and "haters" will always exist. If you don't have them then it means you haven't made it.
Thanks again Tim. Keep up the good work!
Eddy
Don't take it personally. James Frey ruined it for everybody. :)
You wrote a great book and you don't need to defend yourself.
"The envious praises me unknowingly"
Kilhil Gilbran
This is the first time I've ever posted anything to a blog.
Since reading Tony Robbins "Unlimited Power" when he was a young "hot shot", I have never been more blown away by a book...especially by someone so relatively young.
(And I've read hundreds...your restricted reading list was a refresher...and owe my life to many sterling works).
Your thinking is cogent and progressive, you energy is invigorating. You've taken the time and energy to put to pen things that have floated through my mind but haven't nailed down.
Congratulations to you!!
You truly are a credit to society...can't tell you enough how you've impacted me and others...when I do something great with your material (after reading Tony Robbins I started several successful businesses and became a heavy real estate investor) I'll let you know what it is! The goal is to automate more, make as much or more and play more...you're trailblazing a new era for the next generation!
Hoorah! Good Job! Keep up the good work, play, and travel!! You're exceptional!!
Ginger
When she wrote threatening things about me on a blog, about paying someone to have me killed, I took all the info to the police. I had to explain to them what a blog was. THey were less than helpful.
First, I want to thank you for showing me the life I've always desired is acheivable. It is refreshing to read a book which not only inspires but provides a clear path to follow. Much like you, I have always refused to be locked down by the traditional life path. Unlike you, however, I have not yet found my way. Herein lies my proposal.
Your story about challenging students to contact someone unreachable inspired me to contact you. With your mobile lifestyle and your emphasis on guarding your time, I imagine you are very unreachable, so I decided this blog would be the most likely place. So, here goes. . .
Why not prove the critics wrong by taking on a small group of "apprentices" and coaching them as they build muses. This would show you were the real deal and attract even more publicity for your book. I remember you wrote about helping friends acheive a good deal of income in just a few months. You wouldn't have to completely babysit them, just offer a little more guidance than can be found in the book, proving your ideas are sound and can be applied successfully.
Of course, I volunteer to be among your group of guinea pigs, and I would be a prime candidate. I am a twenty-six year old entreprenuer with no ties or real career. I have a limited college education (AA degree) and am fairly intelligent. I come from a low-income family. I am an ambitious entreprenuer, a quick learner, and a thrill-seeker. As I have no connection to you and no great accomplishments, my success in administering your techniques would be a testament to their worth. When I show your book to people, they are often intimidated by your accomplishments and brush the book off as something out of reach for "normal" people. Counter this by proving you can help anyone with a fair degree of intelligence and passion to do the same, thus demonstrating your principles are universally applicable.
Whether or not you take this proposal seriously, I will put your guidance to work. Thanks again for showing us dreamers that we really can live whatever life we choose.
Much respect,
James Druman
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Hi James,
Thanks so much for the great letter and kind words, but I'm not taking on guinea pigs at the moment. The main reason? I want you to become your own best guinea pig! My biggest objective is to make people self-reliant, and I think the book -- in combination with the communities on the main book site and elsewhere -- is the best place to start making independent decisions. None of the micro-testing I suggest is risky, and expanding your sphere of comfort is hugely important. The raw materials you need are there, and the best practice is often jumping in and then figuring it out. I know how you feel, as I've been there, but trust yourself to figure it out!
All the best,
Tim
Next the woman (the one that despises you for MMA) will be threatening you with bodily harm for promoting MMA. I guess, I too, am a hypocrite and a shameless whore for enjoying a sport of violence and degradation (kind of like dodge ball).
Can I get a high-five?
Or do you want to start a baby seal- clubbing team?
One thing I learned from business some time ago was that regardless of how much you try helping other people, you can not help someone unless they are open to it. A large percent of the population (I've heard something like 30%) are losers and waste everyone else's oxygen.
If you listen to all the complainers (the ones that aren't legitimate and reasonable), they will ruin your life. I find that it's not even worth replying, much less reading their emails (although it can be entertaining).
I've had people cuss me out for giving them great information for free that they requested. At first, I used to get upset, but now I just laugh and call them insulting names while deleting their email.
I've heard of other people sending money to people (with no strings attached, free money) and people still bitching. LOL.
Is it just me or do losers seem to think that everyone else is a bigger loser than them. Closed minds can't expand. Plus, it's easier to write off everything and blame others than busting your hump to reach your dreams.
Alright, enough on that.
Keep up the great work Tim. I loved your book, and it happened to be very timely for me. Helped me refocus on where I was wanting to go.
Keep the blogs coming. Great info.
Happy Travels,
James Druman
Few of us are ever 100% wrong or 100% right. The more evolved among us like to listen to the "other" side, and some of us can come to see aspects of things we hadn't quite considered before. If the situation warrants it, I consider these to be teachable moments.
I hope that I will always be able to learn something I had not previously considered from people whose opinions differ from mine. If they walked away without expressing the reasons for their views, because they automatically anticipated a fight, my experience on this earth would be greatly diminished.
MCM
I am reading your book with interest. However,being a physician, I find it to be impractical to impliment the four hr week. On another level getting a muse may contribute to the solution.
I would like to have your input.
###
Hi J!
Thanks for the comment. The muse will definitely create more options. Second, most physicians are doing the work for reasons other than finance, so your might well opt to spend more than 4 hours per week on your job, as it is also your vocation. This is often true for doctors, pastors, teachers, etc. The muse chapters also elaborate on externalizing your expertise to separate time from income.
Hope that helps!
Tim
Here's a thought: List the top two or three most world-changing people that have graced the planet. Think folks like, oh, I dunno, Jesus, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King. Embraced by the world with open arms? Not really. Not that I'm calling Tim "Jesus" (though perhaps a saviour of sorts), but it seems people on a path to help other people just get stones thrown at them. Humans can be dumb.
For my part in the karmic wheel: Tim, your book has been nothing short of perfect. As a yoga instructor who has wanted to expand into product but is dirt-poor and business-ignorant, your detailed ideas broke the process down to something I simply couldn't find an excuse not to do, especially when you use a yoga instructor as an example. Not a lot of ways around that one. I'm on my way, and if things turn out well, I will find you and kiss you. A lot, even. (uh ... that's not meant to be a threat ... please don't publish my IP or drop-kick me to the cement if we meet ...).
Truly, you are a gift to the world. Your book is fabulous!
I traveled from 2000 - 2006 and 3 1/2 years of that time was spent sailing. I am so grateful to have had that experience. I have met fabulous people and seen some incredibly beautiful places. Your book has inspired me to pack up and go again.
As a traveler, I'm sure that you have lots of crazy stories to tell, I know I do. My family and friends often accuse me of having a 'weirdo magnet'. I seem to attract unusual characters and amusing (usually in hindsight)situations. So on that note...
I'm just building a website and several people have suggested I start a blogging. After reading your blog, I'm a bit concerned about drawing attention from
NBTD's. Do you have any advice for a novice blogger before I get started?
I have a feeling we'll meet someday so until then..
Cheers!
The reason I wanted to contact you was because I have been reading your book and im really devouring it. I want to let you know that Im so grateful that you decided to write a book that really reveals a lot of details.
Im not going to ask a question right now but I do have to say that the Relax in Public comfort challenge is serioulsy awesome (in my opinion). I Love a good hard belly laugh and when I get the nerve to do this, I know that I will feel so alive afterwards.I love being authentic with a side of crazy, to me that keeps me young.
And- will you post a pic of you doing this?
Thanks for being yourself and sharing with others- Fierce.
The reason I wanted to contact you was because I have been reading your book and im really devouring it. I want to let you know that Im so grateful that you decided to write a book that reveals tons of details. I have been looking into building an online business for about a year now, and ive found some ok stuff, a lot of overpriced coaching courses, and all of it was information-overload. So glad I didnt bite the hook!
Im not going to ask a question right now but I do have to say that the Relax in Public comfort challenge is serioulsy awesome (in my opinion). I Love a good hard belly laugh and when I get the nerve to do this, I know that I will feel so alive afterwards.I love being authentic with a side of crazy, that keeps me young.
And- will you post a pic of you doing this?
Thanks for being yourself and sharing with others- Fierce
Love to spar with you sometime. I have to free up some time first, so I'm taking notes out of my second read-through.
Why did this post disappear from the main blog page and the RSS feed?