In November 2009, two months after passing the bar, I got my first attorney job – Associate Attorney at a multi-office defense firm. And I f&%$ing hated it. It was the first job I ever dreaded going into. I don’t mean that sometimes I didn’t feel like going to work. I mean, I DREADED it. I specifically remember one day thinking that a small fender-bender on the way to work might be nice because I wouldn’t have to go.
I recognized that this wasn’t healthy. I wanted to change it. But I had no freaking idea how. The economy was terrible. Fresh out of law school, with only public interest and government internships under my belt, I had almost no understanding of what options existed in the legal industry. Even if I had, I think I lacked the self-awareness at the time to know what types of firms and practice areas would be a good fit for me. I was confused, unhappy, and directionless so I started doing things…
Literally. With no concrete path to take to figure a way out of my job hell, I just started doing a bunch of things outside of work that I vaguely hoping that my flurry of activity would somehow help me find a different job and happiness. I started running and racing which gave me a physical outlet for my frustration and a sense of accomplishment as I’d check off race time goals. I got drinks with one of the few attorneys outside of work that I knew and shared my situation. I went to a bunch of different types of networking events, legal and non-legal. I hired a company to help me apply to other law firms.
I also read a lot of books. I did not have cable so reading naturally became my go to pre-bed ritual. I’d take ideas for books from anywhere (and still do). I saw a book with an interesting title, The Four-Hour Workweek, referenced on a Facebook acquaintance’s page and decided to get it. If I recall, I borrowed it from the library. I read the book, found it very interesting, and then went back to my life.
I had no idea at the time, but reading The 4-Hour Workweek profoundly influenced my career path and life. It planted the idea in my head that the traditional workweek and career path were not the only option. And that you could not only survive but excel following a less traditional path. It is these core beliefs that gave the courage to quit my job and move to California, to pursue more and more remote work, and to travel solo for three months while still practicing as an attorney.
The book has also been a source of practical guidance for me throughout the years. At multiple times since I read it, I’ve found myself drawing on principles that are set out in the book. principles that I did not even remember that I remembered. For example, I have used what Tim Ferris, the author, calls “fear-setting” countless times. In short, you imagine the worst-case scenario of a decision.
For example, when I let go of a part-time position to work on building my law firm, I thought about what would happen if could not support myself without a steady paycheck – I’d get another full or part-time job, a risk I could handle. In 2017, Ferris did a great TED Talk that really delves into the origins and benefits of fear setting. Find it here.
I highly recommend that every current and aspiring digital nomad or remote worker, read The Four-Hour Workweek. I am probably due for a re-read of it. The Four-Hour Workweek is not about how to become a “digital-nomad” or “travelpreneur” or live the “laptop lifestyle.” These terms were not even part of the vernacular when the book was written. But I think it helps you to become better at running a business and working remotely.
The book at its core is about getting the most out of the work that you put in…to anything. Work is a natural application of the principles in the book but they can just as readily be applied to all areas of your life. Ferriss provides a great example in the book about gathering information ahead of political elections.
I’d also note that the book was written a while back, and some of the specifics will be dated. The principles, however, remain gold.
If you have an Amazon account (or use someone else’s), I’d love it if you would make your purchase through one of the links below which will give me some pocket change from Amazon:
The 2009 Updated Version:
The OG Version:
Footnote: For anyone who is creepy – I mean talented enough – to reverse engineer my life and figure out where I worked in this time-period, I’d note that my dissatisfaction is not a criticism of the firm. I’ve worked in much more toxic work environments with greater happiness. The area of practice, the type of firm, and the particular office of the firm I was in were just a bad fit for me made worse by the timing.
