Reflections on The 4-Hour Workweek: Lessons That Made This Quarter Easier

Katie Corbett holds the book, "The 4-Hour Workweek"

By Katie Corbett

Since I owe a lot of my success—and future planning—to the book, “The 4-Hour Workweek,” by Tim Ferriss, I have decided to revisit the book each quarter in 2023. Here are my thoughts in quarter one. I hope this inspires you to pick up a book that helps you live your dreams. Enjoy!

What is Your Intuition Telling You?

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By Katie Corbett

 

When it came time to write my post for last Friday, I couldn’t decide on a topic. I asked my intuition, and I got the feeling I should take a break. I had a busy weekend and still couldn’t think of a topic, so I’m blogging about this.

What answer do you get when you’re solving a problem or surmounting a creative obsticle? Leave me a comment and share your story.
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What is Your Vision for Your Latest Creative Project?

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By Katie Corbett

I decided to blog about my latest creative project (my novel) because I want to use this opportunity to brainstorm a little bit. It can be fun to move away from writing serious posts about deep life things, and think a little more about something fun and creative.

I envision my novel expanding into a series. My novel is about a pac of werewolves, and there are five members in the pack, so I would like to write a book from each of their perspectives. The first book in my novel is from the point of you of the pack Alpha. I think, for the subsequent books, I will write from the point of view of each of the other members. I am even playing with the idea of having each book be written in a different genre, but we will see. That is probably quite controversial, so I will get some feedback from my writer friends before making a firm decision.

I also see this book being made into a movie. It would be really cool to do some creative things with that, since one of my characters is blind, and another one experience is impulse control issues because she is a psychopath. I would love to find a creative Director who is interested in Exhibiting each of these characteristics in a fun way, so the audience can experience a little of what life might be like in that person’s shoes.

Are you working on any creative projects right now? What is your vision for your latest project? Is your vision as simple as getting started? I would love to find out, so feel free to leave me a comment.

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A Discovery Quote That Made me Think

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By Katie Corbett

As usual these days, I looked to my creativity app for inspiration. This quote popped up, and I found it thought-provoking:

“Discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

(Marcel Proust)

I found this quote so captivating, because over the past year, I  have been trying to find new places to go, things to try, people to be friend, in order to make my life more interesting. I took a job that required me to travel two hours one-way at least once a week. I made a lot of new friends, but haven’t had the time or energy to maintain those relationships along with my current friendships. I’ve tried various new hobbies, but have put them aside in favor of other pursuits.

In the end, I opted to dial back my lifestyle to more of what it had been the previous year with a slower pace, and a remote job. Instead of trying to look for the new and different elsewhere, I am now looking for the new and different in my every day life. Seeing every day as a new challenge and a new adventure has helped me remain interested in continuing to do what I have been doing.

Have you ever thought you needed a change of pace, and then realized all you needed was a fresh perspective? I’d love to hear all about it, so feel free to leave me a note in the comments.

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What Would Be an Extreme Scenario of Failure?

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By Katie Corbett

I found this question, “What would nbe an extreme scenario of failure?” in an app I use for inspiration. I’ve thought a bit about failure this week because I got a new puppy. Due to this additional responsibility, I’ve needed to let a lot of other things slide.

I think that rather than feeling like I’m failing just because I can’t keep up with all of my commitments, I’m going to choose to see the failure as not living my life to the fullest. I realize this seems cliche, but I found this comforting as I’m changing a huge part of my life.

For instance, if I didn’t get my puppy because I felt I needed to do many other things that others felt were important, that would be failing. I know that balance will come in time as I get used to this level of time commitment and responsibility.

What would be an extreme scenario of failure for you? Let me know in the comments.

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Who is Your Favorite Artist?

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By Katie Corbett

My favorite artist is singer/songwriter Avril Lavigne. I love and appreciate her work for many reasons.

I can relate to a lot of her lyrics. Especially when I was in high school, her music gave me solice during a lonely, confusing time.

She’s clearly doing what she loves. Anyone who has been in the music business for 20 years, as Avril has, is working from a place of passion.

I also think it’s cool that she dabbles in a variety of projects, from acting to fashion to film-making. She’s a woman of many talents.

Who is your favorite artist? Why are you a fan? Let me know in the comments.

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The Joys of Running

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By Katie Corbett

 

 

I have recently taken up running. I am in the midst of my fourth week of the Couch to 5K running plan. I have discovered throughout these weeks that running helps me in some amazing ways.

 

Running gives me something to strive for. Each day I run, I am getting closer to my goal. This keeps me motivated on days when I do not feel like running.

 

 

I am excited to think of myself as an athlete. I decided I wanted to be a runner long before I ran my first race. I trained for and ran a 5K back in 2016, and I am excited to be doing it again.

 

It is my hope that running will help me be more social. Many other people enjoy running, both casually and competitively, and I will need to run with someone in order to run races. (Blind runners hold onto a cord and a sighted person holds onto the other end and they are about 18 inches apart. That way the blind runner can be guided by the cited person without being too close.) I’m excited to meet new people, and run with others as part of my journey.

 

 

Have you recently taken up a new hobby? What benefits does it provide for you? I would love to know, so feel free to leave me a comment.

 

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The Three People who Light up my Life

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By Katie Corbett

 

I wasn’t sure what to write about this week, so I used an app that I turn to when I need inspiration. The prompt that came up asked who are the three people who light up my life. That seemed like an interesting topic, so I figured I would go with it.

 

The first person I will mention is my best friend. We talk almost every day, and I can always rely on her to be there for me. One of my favorite things about her is that she always knows what question to ask to get me out of my emotions and into a more rational frame of mind.

 

The next person I thought of was my husband. I enjoy spending time with him, and he is always up for a road trip or adventure. We have been together for more than 6 1/2 years, and while every day hasn’t always been easy, I appreciate him for being such a great partner to me.

 

The final person who came to mind was a friend I made earlier this year. She lives in New Zealand. We have been having fun writing a story together, and I always appreciate her perspective on things. It is fun to be friends with someone who is so different from me.

Who are the three people who come to mind who light up your life? Let me know in the comments.

 

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Feeling Overwhelmed? Take a Break

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By Katie Corbett

 

When overwhelm starts to occur, it can be easy to try to push through. As a result, you could end up working until you are spent or shut down. I have found it helpful to take a break.

 

Overwhelm can easily happen to me when I need to make multiple choices. The most recent example is that I am tentatively searching for a new dog. There are so many different breeds out there, and it can be overwhelming. I have also taken quizzes and have never gotten the same result twice. And then when it comes to adoptable dogs… It gets even harder.

 

I’m trying my best to take it slow through the process, and take breaks in between research sessions. I’m also trying really hard to be honest about what I’m looking for, so that it will help me weed out the choices that might not be the best for me.

 

Are you in the middle of a project that is overwhelming? What things are you doing to pace yourself and make sure that you are getting all the information you need?

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The Fun of Co-Writing

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By Katie Corbett

 

Typically thought of as a solitary activity, writing is fun when someone else is brought into the mix. I started working on a story with one of my friends this past week, and have found the process to be energizing and enjoyable.

With file sharing, software, and technological advancements, it has never been easier to collaborate on a project. With a little forethought, planning, and communication, it can be a fun activity for all involved.

I’ve learned a lot throughout this project. My co-writer lives in New Zealand, and our story is set there. She’s teaching me all kinds of really cool things like the way schools are set up, alternative words for fast food (takeaway), and incorporating New Zealand-style mannerisms and speaking.

Is there an activity that you think is solitary, but could lend itself well to collaboration? Find someone with similar interests and ask them if they would like to join you. You might be surprised at all of the fun you will have.

 

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