Liberty · Fewer hours and plan B · lesson 11.9 open
Time freedom: fewer hours
Protecting free hours, cutting what pays little for the time it takes, and setting a weekly hours goal.
Promise: a weekly hours goal and a list of what to cut to reach it without losing hourly income.
Why it matters
Geographic freedom without time is just working from somewhere else. Principle 6 of the Code states: fewer hours, not just more places.
Three moves
- Measure: your baseline (lesson 11.1). Without measurement, "working less" becomes an empty promise.
- Cut what pays little for the time it takes: list your weekly activities along with the time each takes and how much revenue it generates. Cut or delegate the worst ones. This is the idea of eliminating what doesn't matter from The 4-Hour Workweek, without the title's promise.
- Protect: free hours go onto your calendar as non-negotiable commitments. Agree with the client on response windows instead of all-day availability.
Saying no is part of it
Your rejection policy and knowing when to decline are time-management tools: each job that pays poorly per hour takes the place of one that pays more, or of a free hour.
The goal
| Today | In 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per week | ||
| Hourly income | ||
| Protected free hours per week |
The goal is only possible if your hourly income rises alongside it (Principle 3 of the Code). That is why this pillar depends on the other two.
List your work week with the time and result of each activity, mark 3 to cut or delegate, and fill in the goal table.
Cutting hours without raising your hourly income; "protecting" hours that no one respects because they were never agreed upon; measuring only an atypical week.
Checklist
- Do I have a dated hours goal?
- Do I know which 3 activities will be dropped first?
Sources: idea of eliminating what doesn't matter and relative income: The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss. Lessons 1.4, 6.5, 8.7, and 11.1.
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Checked on 09/10/2026. Educational content; tax and legal: confirm with a professional.