Can Autopilot Be Interesting?

September 15, 2008

An amazing number of people seem to want to replace themselves altogether. Since “The 4 Hour Work Week” came out, I’ve read so much about automating and outsourcing everything, to the point where you don’t have to work at all.

But I have to wonder how these people will be able to find something to interest them that isn’t work, when they can’t even find work that interests them.

What do you think? Would you get more satisfaction from setting up a pointless business that you’d happily run on autopilot, because you didn’t have the enthusiasm to help it grow?

Or would you prefer to do something you loved so much, it didn’t feel like work?

[?]

Comments

15 Responses to “Can Autopilot Be Interesting?”

Scott McIntyre on September 15th, 2008 12:25 pm

This is an interesting take on the craze for outsourcing, Cath.

Personally, I really enjoy the many tasks that are involved in getting a project up off the ground. I like adopting a ‘hands on’ approach so that I can shape its development in line with my vision.

Then, further down the line, I’d have no problem delegating out the more routine/ admin. type tasks.

I would, however, always want to have an active involvement in overseeing the main direction.

Keeping my finger on the pulse of a project isn’t a chore- it’s something that I relish.
Brad Shorr on September 15th, 2008 12:43 pm

Cath, It would be fun to run a business on autopilot, but you’d have to have some mighty good people to pull it off. Otherwise, you’d have a disaster on your hands in no time.

Brad Shorr’s last blog post..Never a Dull Moment - 3 News Items from Word Sell
Lance on September 15th, 2008 1:01 pm

I’d prefer something I loved so much that it didn’t seem like work. That said, if I could set something up to run on autopilot, and the money flowed in because of this — then I could use the new found time and money to really work at developing the passions I have in my life. Hmmm….which came first, the chicken or the egg…

Lance’s last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
cathlawson on September 15th, 2008 2:27 pm

Hi Scott - it sounds like you have a similar attitude to business as I do. Someone needs to direct the business - but a lot of these advisors don’t mention that.

Hi Brad - definitely. And getting it to the stage where it was possible would be a huge challenge.
cathlawson on September 15th, 2008 2:29 pm

Hi Lance - you could do that, but I guess it would depend whether you thought it was worth putting off your passions until you’d reached that point.
Stacey / CreateaBalance on September 15th, 2008 2:34 pm

I would prefer to do something I love so much that it didn’t feel like work. And, I’m also a believer in outsourcing. I outsource many things in my life (cleaning my house, doing my groceries, taking my track to the landfill, etc). Sometimes outsourcing can allow people to focus on what really matters (like taking care of your children, living your passion, and developing your best life).
I think there can a happy medium…such as selling quality material on autopilot while developing more content with it not feeling like work.

Stacey / CreateaBalance’s last blog post..Revisiting Life Passion - Part One
Terence Chang on September 15th, 2008 4:34 pm

Cath:

I think everyone read the same book differently. The message I got from the 4HWW book is that you should own the company but not running the company. So you have free time to achieve something even bigger.

When you pull yourself away from the business operation, it means you remove yourself (the bottle neck) from dragging down the company growth. It actually helps the company grow. Of course, like Brad said in the first comment. You need to have a group of good people to operate the company for you.

I would recommend everyone to read a book called “From good to great” by Jim Collins. It tells you the most important things to do to take a good company to a great company.

I don’t think anyone can start working only 4 hours a week since beginning of their company infancy. To be honest, there are many millionaire out there. Many of them are working only 2 hours a week and play golf and hike to the mountain for the rest of week.

The question is how they do it? I can only conclude that they invest their money wisely so they can enjoy their life while making very good income.

It’s possible and I am getting there!

Terence Chang’s last blog post..Entrepreneur Story - Bloggers Launch TrainforHumanity.org Humanitarian Initiative
cathlawson on September 15th, 2008 5:43 pm

Hi Stacey - outsourcing those time sucking tasks is essential isn’t it? It gives you time to focus on your work.

Hi Terence - the 4 Hour Work Week encourages folk to automate a business to run by itself while you go off travelling the world.

I’m not saying folk shouldn’t do that. But they should pick something they enjoy because it could take a lot of years before they reach the stage of having their business run without them - especially if it’s their first business.
Barbara Swafford on September 16th, 2008 6:19 am

Hi Catherine,

I’ve always loved to work, but wouldn’t mind having a side business that was profitable that I could put on auto pilot.

I don’t see myself ever NOT working, but in the future would like to have more time for more of my favorite hobbies and activities.

Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..NBOTW - Determined To Be The Best
cathlawson on September 16th, 2008 6:26 am

Hi Barbara - It would be good if you could turn one of your hobbies into an automated side business. I can definitely see the logic in having one - I just wonder how long it would take to build one that would bring in a decent amount of cash.

An ebook, or a book can also be pretty automated once you’ve written it I guess, if it stays in print for a while.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome on September 16th, 2008 6:38 am

I haven’t read the book yet, but the 4HWW seems to imply that you work 4 hours on the backs of a whole bunch other people working for a whole bunch more.

Outsourcing is great and again must read the book - but what does outsourcing your email to a VA in India where you only “need” to pay $10 or less an hour do for globalization? Are we taking advantage of the lower cost of living in India or are we exploiting people?

Also, since I love to write, I wouldn’t ever only work 4 hours a week. My writing is my work and I don’t plan on retiring from it, ever.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome on September 16th, 2008 6:39 am

Oops, forgot to subscribe to comments…
cathlawson on September 16th, 2008 8:17 am

Hi Alex - I also worry about the exploitation factor. I’ve read a mixture of views on this. Some folk have said they don’t mind that they’re being paid less, as it cost less to live there. But some of the unskilled ones who are working through agencies must be getting a pittance.

The idea isn’t for me either. I’d get incredibly bored not working.
Ricardo Bueno on September 17th, 2008 12:29 am

I’d like to think of myself as a creative type. With that in mind, I can’t possibly see myself outsourcing “everything” to the point that the entire business is on autopilot.
I like the notion of focusing on “what you do best” and gathering good people around you to take care of the other stuff.

Ricardo Bueno’s last blog post..It Takes More Than Just Great Content!
cathlawson on September 17th, 2008 2:57 am

Hi Ricardo - Your plan sounds smart. It would be a waste of all that creativity if you didn’t use it. And I know you’re creative - you have a great flair for being able to entertain people and making them laugh on your blog for a start.