# Author and Podcaster: Tim Ferriss

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-12-21
- Length: 1h 24m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss

## Summary

Tim Ferriss, author of The Four-Hour Work Week and host of The Tim Ferriss Show, explains how he bootstrapped his first supplement company, Brain Quicken, by leveraging sales skills from a dot-com job and negotiating with contract manufacturers. He details the operational burnout that led him to systematize his business, travel the world to master skills like tango, and write his best-selling book through a targeted blogger launch strategy. Ferriss also discusses his transition from entrepreneur to investor and podcaster, his methodical approach to self-improvement, and his advocacy for psychedelic therapy to treat depression.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss#t=0) Introduction: Tim Ferriss and the Four-Hour Work Week
- [4:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss#t=262) Early Life, Depression, and the Dot-Com Crash
- [19:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss#t=1153) Bootstrapping Brain Quicken and Contract Manufacturing
- [34:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss#t=2075) Scaling the Supplement Business and Operational Burnout
- [47:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss#t=2873) Travel, Learning, and Writing The Four-Hour Work Week
- [57:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss#t=3479) Launching the Book via Bloggers and Tech Media
- [1:08:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss#t=4095) From Author to Investor and Podcast Host
- [1:16:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss#t=4595) Psychedelics, Mental Health, and Future Plans

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Brain Quicken (product)
- The Four-Hour Work Week (product)
- The Tim Ferriss Show (product)
- Trusan Networks (company)
- Trader Joe's (company)
- GNC (company)
- Black Belt magazine (other)
- Techmeme (other)
- Tech Crunch (other)
- Gizmodo (other)
- Crown Publishing (company)
- Jack Canfield (other)
- David Blaine (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [331 - I wrote a book and it's out TODAY!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-12-05-331-i-wrote-a-book-and-its-out-today) (People of Packaging)
- [034: Staying Motivated & Overcoming Lack of Money, Time & Skills](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-01-03-034-staying-motivated-overcoming-lack-of-money-time-skills) (Product Startup)
- [The Pilot: Unveiling the Blueprint of "The Builder Circle"](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-05-13-the-pilot-unveiling-the-blueprint-of-the-builder-circle) (The Builder Circle)
- [Episode 314: You have to trick yourself](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-07-09-episode-314-you-have-to-trick-yourself) (Making It)
- [158 - 3 Years Straight of Drug/Device Podcasting, Guarding the Process, and the Future of the Show](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-10-16-158-3-years-straight-of-drug-device-podcasting-guarding-the-process-and-the-futu) (Let's Combinate)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-12-21-author-and-podcaster-tim-ferriss. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.