Off Topic: Lifestyle design has a lengthy past but a short history

Lifestyle design; the art of the sometimes radical lifestyle configuration of personal outsourcing, has been practiced for quite sometime by liberated people from all walks of life. But has spent a relatively short time in the main stream consciousness.

In 2005, NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman created the bestselling hit, The World is Flat. The book’s 5th “flatting” factor was outsourcing. Friedman argued that this practice enabled companies to componentize manufacturing and service efforts.

In August of 2005, author A.J. Jacobs read Tom’s book and thought to himself, “why should Fortune 500 firms have all the fun?” “Why can’t I join in on the biggest business trend of the new century?” “Why can’t I outsource my low-end tasks? Why can’t I outsource my life?” He then goes on to write a piece of cultural history for Esquire called My Outsourced Life .

AJ’s piece was re-published as a section of Tim Ferriss’ book and my personal bible, The Four-Hour Work Week. But Tim doesn’t stop with AJ’s anecdotes, he takes it one stop further by showing readers how to effectively hire a personal assistant (PA) for $5 to $15 per hour from places like India. Tim’s outsourcing advice has been the most highlighted aspect of his controversial book.

Getting a remote personal assistant is a huge departure point and marks the moment that you learn how to give orders and be commander instead of the commanded. It is small-scale training wheels for the most critical of [Four-Hour Work Week Skills]: remote management and communication. It’s time to learn to be the boss. It isn’t time-consuming. It’s low-cost and it’s low risk.

-Tim Ferriss

I have experienced the benefits of personal outsourcing. The practice doesn’t just free up more time, it strengthens your entrepreneurial muscle and allows you to focus on your strengths.

Whoever your are, YOU can learn to do this.

photo credit: Paulo Brandão