Soon 33 years young. I’ll be back on the playa in August for Burning Man.
33. I’ll turn a glorious 33 this weekend.
It’s going to be a great natal year–I can already feel it. Repeating numbers (born in ’77) are good luck. Perhaps it will be good luck for you, too: in this post, I’m giving away a round-trip ticket anywhere in the world and more.
But back to that strange birthday gift…
Much to the chagrin of my momma-san, I’ve become quite difficult to buy presents for. Some friends even think I’m impossible to find presents for.
It’s not entirely true. I love handwritten letters, home-made brownies (like Fred Wilson), girlfriends dressed in next to nothing, and–most of all–when people do something nice.
Before we move on (wait for it, wait for it), please watch this super-short movie trailer:
In lieu of gifts this year, my birthday wish is to help high-need kids in public schools take field trips.
Can you imagine never having the chance to go to the aquarium or natural history museum? “Never” as in, literally, never in your life?
That’s unacceptable.
Since I am turning 33 this year, please help choose a field trip to support here with a tax-deductible $33 donation (or any other amount). Feel free to give from $10-$10,000 in the “Give to the most urgent project” field, whatever you can afford.
If we run out of field trips (which would be awesome), we’ll focus on reading projects. Literacy = the most fundamental path out of poverty.
Beyond the good karma and thank-you letters you’ll receive from the kids:
Incentive #1 – The trip: Donate before this Sunday at 12 midnight PST, and I’ll pick one of y’all randomly. You’ll get a round-trip ticket anywhere in the world that Continental or Star Alliance fly, whether Rome, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, or hundreds of other awesome locations. There is no expiration date on the trip, so you can take your time.
Incentive #2 – How it becomes $100,000: I will match every dollar donated, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000 total. That means that if the field trip gifts (donations) total $50,000, I will write a check for $50,000, all of which will go to public school kids in need. Remember, it’s tax-deductible.
Please go to this page and look around. Seriously, take a peek.
The goal is to get approximately 1,500 donors at an average of $33 each, which will add up to $50,000 and, matched, add up to $100,000.
Incentive #3 – If you want to get some goodies, please help spread the word. Tell people I’m matching donations and get them to this post or this DonorsChoose.org link (same as above). Leave a comment below telling me what you did to spread the word (Facebook, Twitter, e-mail blast, add to your e-mail signature, encourage employees/friends to do the same, etc.).
The three most die-hard promoters will get pairs of my favorite sunglasses on the planet: Maui Jim’s. Grand winner will get a VIP gift card (good for any pair, including $300+ models) and two runners-up will get a pair of $200+ sunglasses of my choosing.
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Beyond the bribes, you’ll feel awesome about yourself for doing some real good for little ‘uns who have so little. Trust me.
Superman is not coming to help these kids, nor is the government — will you step up for even two minutes?
I hope to help with the bigger policy changes, but, as one politician said, “Show me a movement first and then I can respond.”
I think that’s doable, and this little experiment could be exhibit A.
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Note for Non-US readers from Baahar:
“For people from outside the US: during the checkout process on donorschoose.org, it asks for your address. I couldn’t proceed at first because my postal code was too short, and there was no message to indicate what the problem was. Type a 5 digit number to pass that stage.”
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That’s how we’re gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration.)
Dear Tim,
Happy Birthday! I haven’t read your book yet or know too much about you, but your hobbies touched me as I care about children’s education. Within framework of a charter school, I want to develop a curriculum incorporating Vedic Math and yoga.
Yes, I am a new age type chick, who’s happy to see the sweeping changes you’ve made to people in true Indigo style. I told Jason Fried author of Rework the same thing and as always we’ll all expect greater things from you in the next 33 years.
Take care
S
Happy Birthday! This is a great way to get help to the students and schools who need it most. Working on my TESOL Master’s naturally led me to donate toward providing dictionaries for ESL students and their families. This is such a huge need. Also, having taught in the public school before, I can attest to the fact that teachers do give out of their own pockets for their students and classrooms. By promoting giving in this way, you are helping so many students and teachers–and making a difference in people’s lives.
Thanks!
Lots of good opportunities to give, thanks for the link. It was a difficult choice.
Happy Birthday to you! 33? You’re still wet behind the ears… and you’ve accomplished so much. That’s outstanding.
Our schools face a LOT of challenges. My husband is a 5th grade teacher in a Title 1 school. The biggest challenge is not having inadequate supplies, books or computers, the biggest challenge is discipline. Combine that with the fact that most of the kids come from homes with barely literate parents (usually moms who starting having children as teens), who don’t support their childrens’ education and you have a recipe for disaster that no amount of money is going to solve. Sadly, this is an issue that most politicians want to ignore, and sticking their heads in the sand won’t help the problem.
I wish I had a solution. I know change can be effected. I’ve enjoyed hearing the stories from my husband and his colleagues about the kids he’s helped — not only with academics, but with self-confidence and behavior issues. He has more kids come back to visit him than all other teachers in his school. Some just to say, “Hi!” and other to show him their report cards and honor roll certificates. My husband has a unique Socratic teaching style and has very firm classroom rules which are enforced consistently. I know he’s earning lots of good karma each year with all the positive change he creates.
Tim,
As a teacher I think this is an awesome idea for a birthday present. Happy birthday and thank you very much. I made my donation and linked your page to my Facebook. I hope you reach your goal.
Mike
Happy birthday Tim! Been following and giving to DC for a few years now – helped them with the Amex challenge but it’s been a couple years since I have given- priorities shifted. Thanks for redirecting my attention. Keep up the good work. At this point, wouldnt expect anything less from you. BTW – 333 just seems more symmetrical to me.
Great birthday gift idea, Tim! 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Tim as always you are an inspiration. As an Economics major at Elon I wrote my senior thesis on the effectiveness of our country’s educational system and it’s ability to teach our country’s youth to think critically, as an entrepreneur would; free of guidelines (instead of simply the ability to remember things and follow rules as on standardized tests). So obviously when I saw this post I was encouraged to participate. I have done the usual as promoting it through email, Facebook, and Twitter; however I have taken it one step further.
After reading your book last year I took some time off (3 months mini retirement across the US) to explore, think about goals, and create a muse. Via many suggestions in your book (elance, elimination, 80/20, VA’s/interns, etc.) I now have my own site which will launch in 3 weeks: a hybrid of a social networking and event management site which will serve as a virtual assistant and guide to everything going on in each user’s area. One thing I am doing through the site’s blog is donating 10% of the site’s revenue each month to an announced charity. After reading this blog post I have decided for DonorsChoose.org to be the charity for the first three months (more than a month since there will be a building period) and this will be announced on iAmPlayground.com’s blog which will bring more press to this wonderful philanthropy.
P.S. If you go on iAmPlayground.com or click on the link from my name you will not find as much information until the site kicks off as I am packaging the marketing for the first two months after reading your post “How to Create a Global Phenomenon…”
First off- Happy Birthday!!! I hope it is wonderful!
Most important for me tonight is to say a big, huge, “THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!” I am one of the teachers whose grant proposal you chose for your Give-Back page. I was trying to find funding for the tools to make my classroom whiteboard interactive, but the price tag was hefty. Of the $1200 I needed I had received about $300 from family, friends, and former students’ families as well as putting some of my own money into it. When I went to bed last night I was still at $886 to raise. But when I awoke this morning I saw some nice-sized donations from complete strangers including people living in Europe. I hope you can imagine my surprise and joy! I continued to work this morning on grad school, work, and my business and watch the donations pour into my proposal. Within just 12 hours, I had received full funding for this dream. It is no longer going to be a dream, and in just a few weeks my students and I will be travelling together down the road of learning thanks to your kindness and the generosity of all who gave because you “found” my proposal.
On behalf of a classroom of WONDERFUL children, their families, and myself (and my own family), please accept my sincerest and deepest thanks!!!
Happy Birthday Tim!
Your book and your blog has literally changed my life and introduced me to so many other great resources, writers and people (Ramit Sethi among them).
Thank you for doing great things and keep it up!
– Casey
I LOVE DonorsChoice.org. Every month, I give $120 to art projects. As a former art teacher, it’s a great way to keep giving back. The money goes directly to the classroom, with no administrative costs to get in the way. This is such a fabulous birthday present. I’ll be giving an extra $33 this month for a field trip in your honor.
Tim – Nice work wielding your powers for good. Through $33 in the pot and got the word out to al my FB friends.
Cheers
Jay
Happy Birthday Timmy! Best of luck for your birthday present 🙂
p.s. Love those glasses too
[…] You can follow Tim Ferris and find out more about this program at this link […]
So, a while back I posted here that my wife and daughter and I were doing it – we were renting out our house, and moving to San Francisco for six weeks. Well, we are here and loving it. The heat index at home is over 100 degrees every day, so we love the cool and the fog of San Francisco in the summer (Mark Twain – “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”. We are loving it, and it is all thanks to the inspiration you provided in the Four Hour Work Week. We’ve got just over a month left here in SF, and we are having a blast (I keep hoping to bump into you at the Village Market on California, but I guess that would make for a REALLY small world) So, checking in on your blog and saw your fundraising challenge. How could I do anything but donate? We are, right now, doing something amazing thanks to you. So, of course I had to donate. It’s a brilliant idea and I think I will steal it come Christmas and birthday time. So, in order to shake off the glaring sun here in SF (ok, that might be a slight exaggeration) I would love to win sunglasses!
I have donated, first and foremost.
I emailed every person in my address book who might actually read my email and go donate (just over 40 people)
I told my wife about it (which doesn’t really count as another donation, but she will sprend the word through her contacts and blog, etc)
I spread the word on twitter (I’ve only got 100 followers, but if a few follow through, it’s all to the good.) (@charliephoto)
My twitter feed is linked to my Facebook page. (I’ve got some ungodly number of “friends” on Facebook, but maybe fifty will pay attention)
I wrote a post on my blog (www.thecharliechannel.com) about your fundraiser and told every one to go donate.
I bumped the Stumbleupon and Dugg the Digg.
I am sending good San Francisco mojo your way, for whatever that is worth.
And finally, as a 38 year old lifetime athlete who in the last year competed in his first sprint triathlon, swam a 2.4 mile open water event (a mile more than my previous longest distance and my second open water swim ever… all in less that a year of swimming for the first time since high school… thank you Total Immersion), who is running longer distances than he ever has in his life, and who plans on sucking ever bit of living there is out of my life, let me send my good thoughts to you on your 33rd birthday. I plan on kicking ass and having fun every day of my life and your books will help. I’m sure I will see you along the journey. Keep the good ideas coming.
I’ll keep passing the word of this great fundraiser until it is over. Then I’ll still tell people to go to donorschoose.org and give.
To all and Charlie, thank you so much for your support! And to Charlie specifically, be sure to grab dinner at The Front Porch in the Mission around 29th betw Mission and San Jose. Delicious 🙂
Pura vida,
Tim
You’ve gone and made me all mushy… Thanks for that. Happy 33rd… hope it’s a stellar one.
Cheerzzz
L
Happy Birthday, Tim. As an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles I have been fortunate to have had 24 of my proposals funded through DonorsChoose.org. Now my wife, also a teacher, had her first proposal posted today.
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=405431
She is requesting a comfortable rug where her kids can sit and read.
I hope you have a chance to add it to your list.
Thanks!
Hey, I just started reading your book and I’m already jacked up on your stuff. This was my first time on your site and when I saw “Round-trip ticket”, I was immediately thinking of the challenge you gave to your students and I told myself, “Whatever it is, I’m doing it!” So, I put it on Facebook, Myspace, Linked In, and then sent an email to my friends and family. Posted a blog on my site, and then submitted it to about 30 social bookmarking, blog, status, and Article sites. (Nothing on Twitter as I don’t have an account yet, don’t judge me).
I want some of those glasses!! As a trophy and a reminder!!
I’ll be happy if I don’t win with just this, means someone went out there and crushed it!!! I’m going to see if I can’t get my local radio station to mention this later.
Honestly, I haven’t even finished reading the book and I think its the most influential thing I have or will ever read. Can’t wait to get into some more of it!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM!!!
I don’t think that I will be able to persuade all of my Etsy friends to donate and I also don’t have that many Twitter followers and no Facebook account at all and I guess the folks in the forums my brother hangs around will also contribute … BUT I had an idea which deprived me of last nights sleep, because I was overly exited and had to open up an account, write a task description, check every few minutes whether the task was approved, etc. ( all on the tiny screen of my iPod Touch)
So far I invested 10 USD and am about to get 95 donation codes from all over the world utilising that link you tweeted about earlier. I hope to God this is legal 🙂 Because I want to get codes worth 999 USD
ps.st: maybe you should not publish this comment .. I don’t want to start a chain reaction here 🙂
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Tim: I’ll just change your name. That should do it 🙂
Great Idea for a birthday gift. Hopefully this idea catches on for everyones birthday.
Happy Birthday snake! 1977 -year of snake – have no clue what it means but I was born that same year and also consider myself super lucky.
I was born and raised in Moscow Russia (well at that time it was still the “all-no- so-mighty” USSR (-;). I now live in the SF Bay Area work for a pretty popular company that makes pretty popular i… products and enjoying it.
When I am not at work the rest of my free time is occupied with my two sons under the age of 3. A few weeks ago I was preparing for my way overdue vacation and I really needed a non-mom/non-baby book. Per recommendation of my good friend, I picked you! Well next best thing – your book hee-hee. And it was the best I could read on the beautiful beaches of Ibiza, Spain. Oh man, I tell you – vodka can give you a buzz but if one reads your book on the beach of Ibiza – the adrenalin of inspiration beats any the buzz – loved it – super inspired, thank you! Spasibo! gracias!
Have a terrific Birthday or in Russian it sounds like this “S dn’iom rojdeniya!” Per your wishes, here are some lucky repeating numbers for you and all the kiddos you are supporting –
33 – $ amount I am donating tonight – wish I can do more but daycare costs are heavier than gold
88 – number of my facebook and twitter friends -Yeah, not so many but these friends are all over the world – a few on each continent – and one of these guys recommended your book
266 – emails in my address book I’ll send this to (could be some overlap with above but that’s ok, we’ll get them using the Shawshank Redemption style)
20,000 – number of people I am running the SF Marathon this Sunday – I’ll print your blog/site on my t-shirt for everyone to see! – the da** Russian raises the bar people – bring it on (((-:
Enjoy your Birthday!
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!! Lass es krachen… 😉
Viele Grüße
Ulrich
Aloha mai e Tim,
Hau’oli l? h?nau (Happy birthday!)
Ive been a long time fan of your book and this blog but never posted. Thank you for THIS wonderful post. Its pretty kick ass that you are helping students out!
I read your book awhile ago and it changed my life dramatically. I want you to know that not only did it inspire me to take charge of my financial life but it also continued to inspire as I changed my health as well.
I used to weigh 360 pounds, had a very low paying teaching job, with very little self confidence or esteem. In the last 4 years I have lost 190 pounds (without surgery!!) and with the inspiration of your book, I turned my experience into a muse. I started a business in the weight loss and fitness industry about a year and half ago and have since doubled my teaching income. Needless to say I left the teaching job and now not only do I have great health and wonderful income but I get to do things that really matter to me. . . Help others (especially in the native Hawaiian community) and spend time with my beautiful wife and children.
I loved your post awhile back about traveling to Maui 😉 Come visit again e kama’aina!!!
Aloha mai e Tim,
Hau’oli la hanau (Happy birthday!)
Ive been a long time fan of your book and this blog but never posted. Thank you for THIS wonderful post. Its pretty kick ass that you are helping students out!
I read your book awhile ago and it changed my life dramatically. I want you to know that not only did it inspire me to take charge of my financial life but it also continued to inspire as I changed my health as well.
I used to weigh 360 pounds, had a very low paying teaching job, with very little self confidence or esteem. In the last 4 years I have lost 190 pounds (without surgery!!) and with the inspiration of your book, I turned my experience into a muse. I started a business in the weight loss and fitness industry about a year and half ago and have since doubled my teaching income. Needless to say I left the teaching job and now not only do I have great health and wonderful income but I get to do things that really matter to me. . . Help others (especially in the native Hawaiian community) and spend time with my beautiful wife and children.
I loved your post awhile back about traveling to Maui 😉 Come visit again e kama’aina!!!
Wow — congratulations, Dallas! I will most definitely be visiting Maui in the upcoming year (that’s the plan, at least), so I hope to bump into you and congratulate you in person!
Tim
Happy Birthday Tim! Although I’m not where I want to be in me life you have give me a certain perspective, thank you.
Happy birthday Tim!
What a great idea to raise funds for education! Our 15 months old twins Fleur and Maurice are the greatest joy we have and I want to support children in need.
Donated $33 and posted your link to LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
Keep up the inspiration!
Best wishes,
Martin
Happy Birthday, Tim! You are a delight. Thank you for everything. My boyfriend and I have just finished the 4HWW and our ideas are coming quick. I’ll keep you updated.
As for your fundraiser, I’ve donated $33. I’m so grateful that you’ve chosen to support this cause.
I’ve updated my facebook status twice now and also emailed my contact list.
Also, I wanted to pass along to you something that benefits teachers: HUD offers a 50% discount from the list price of some foreclosed homes to pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, firefighters/emergency medical technicians, and law enforcement officers. If that is too insane to register the first time I said it: fifty-percent off the list price of a home.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/reo/goodn/gnndabot.cfm
Have a wonderful birthday and thanks for this fundraiser! x
Don’t forget, the philanthropy can continue…After August 31 Sonic will have their Limeaides for Learning initiative running. Pull those tabs and vote for DC projects. Thanks Tim for creating a new Donor base! You, and all these people that you have inspired to donate, are amazing!
Thanks for reminding me to take the time to give back. It felt great.
had no idea you were a Leo. grats!
Tim, Feliz Cumpleaños from the UNSTOPPABLE FAMILY.
You were the inspiration for my family to travel the world and leave all our material “possessions” behind. We have completed month 20 and are not stopping anytime soon! We have made giving part of our lives as well and your birthday gift to needy children is impressive!
We are encouraging all our UNSTOPPABLE FAMILY followers on our blog, FB fan page, Twitter and through You Tube to participate in your birthday wish.
If you do not have enough donations to hit $100,000 we will fullfill on that wish and match the remaining.
You kick ass Tim! Enjoy Burning Man…stay hydrated!
Rhonda Swan~ Mother of the UNSTOPPABLE FAMILY
Fine job, Tim.
Have a great BD!
Donated and posted link on my Facebook page. Happy Birthday!
I’ve dontated and will post a link to my FB page! What an amazing thing to do for you birthday Tim!
Just put this on my Facebook page. What a fabulous thing! Thank you for every inspirational thing you do.
I’m in for some cash. I figure, I have consumed your book (3 times), almost every book you and Kevin have recommended in your random show – and think that the ideas have increased the value of my business by about $1M thus far (although that of course isn’t cash yet). Also, understanding how to take an idea, use systems and outsourced labor to make it come to fruition and make money . . . I didn’t come up with that, you did!
Last weekend I read this blog – came up with an idea for a sales training product in my industry. 2 Hours later I had the software spec’d out. By Monday I had a developer hired. By Tuesday I had it paid for by a vendor that just wants their name on it.
Production Date = 45 days
Cost to me = $0
Expected year 1 net profit from effort = $150K
. . . so you deserve a gift from me, as a thank you if nothing else! More importantly, those kids do.
I love your take on things . . . I love making money too, but my goal ultimately is to give it all away (and we do a lot of that even now). I saw my father make and lose $1M+ 3 different times in the 80’s (when that was a ton of cash). He took a nap on my couch in my apartment when I was 21 and died. About 2 months prior to that he said that the biggest regret he had in his life was that God entrusted him with all that money and he never did anything for anyone when he had the opportunity.
Keep up the good work Tim – Happy B-Day.
Wow Mark, what a wonderfully touching and inspiring story! I continue to be amazed at the work and love that philanthropists share with teachers trying to make a difference. Take care.
Happy birthday, Tim!
I want to congratulate you for thinking about others more than you think about yourself. Especially now that it’s YOUR birthday.
I wish you good health and happiness as I’m sure these are contagions.
Thank you for this awesome initiative!
The tiny amount of money we can donate is nothing compared to the earthquake impact it will have on these kids’ lives.
If we can all get together and “plant the seed” for future learning, the changes we’ll see are gonna blow our minds!
Ever seen a 7 year old use a computer? It’ll blow your hair back and fry your mind!
Let’s give these kids what they need, and get out of their way…
The results will be incredible!
I am so pleased to have been shown this incredibly worthwhile cause. I feel great being able to help in ways that often go over-looked.
Great cause. Happy to help…off topic but eagerly awaiting a more detailed explanation of your diet program. I am 2 months into it, have lost 28 pounds and eaten well over 100 cupcakes…very happy.
I’m 55 and have to agree with you about the repeating numbers. Shall indeed donate. Trips to the Griffith Park Observatory are among my favorite memories of elementary achool.
Great way to put some money to work! I donated today.
Happy Birthday. Wishing you many blessings.
Great cause. Donation complete. Happy Bday Tim! May you have many more revolutions around the sun !
Brent
Tim! Happy Birthday!
I just donated to help kids get books in Missouri. Reading is the most powerful way out of poverty consciousness. Thanks for caring about it!
Hey Tim,
This was a great idea. I’m envious on how you use you social brand to get word out like this. Awesome work.
Matt Geyster
My birthday is this week, although I seriously need to take some leaps and get out of the rut im stuck in because I’ve celebrated my last two in the same night shift hell hole. Hopefully with your ideas on lifestlye design ingrained into my mind I will soon be competing in serious amateur golf tourny’s all over the world instead of working my life away! Happy B-day Tim and thanks for all the insight!
Mike, I am a teacher in Ca. and have been blessed by the kindness of DC philanthropists. I received an iPad through the site, which was an amazing tool in the classroom, my students learned so much….to say the least my hair was blown back and my mind a bit fried to see the potential of these kids unleashed by technology. Over the summer I brought the iPad home. My 5 year old is reading fluently thanks to reading apps and my 3 year old has mastered letter, number, and shape recognition and how to play the piano all because of this tool. Technology is revolutionary in the classroom and significantly alters a child’s ability to learn! Thanks for supporting public education!
Tim,
Happy Birthday. As a former school teacher, I am touched by this birthday gift you are giving. The video brought tears to my eyes. To see that we live in a country with so much abundance, yet our children suffer. In my own community, field trips are being cut to make up for budget deficits. Field trips open a child to the possibilities! I will spread the word on my blog, Twitter, Facebook and Linked in.
Happy Birthday Tim,
Wow, in 1977 I was traveling all over the world. Now I am the Director for an International project that supports conservation projects and integrates health care in the (very poor) villages surrounding national parks in Africa and Asia. I love your Mission, your cause, and most importantly, your birthday gift to the kids. Of course I donated to the environmental education project.
Please! Do not make this into “social experiment” on FB,Twitter…e.t.c..
I will never donate a penny in the future!
Happy B-Day! and congratulations on a wonderful idea!
Happy Birthday Tim! May all of your wishes come true. 😀
I love this idea for celebrations.
Thank you for your book 4HWW and for being an inspiration.
Spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, Stumble Upon and Digg. I hope everyone blows your goal out of the water.
Donated to ‘Most Urgent’ which happened to be Reading En Espanol. Humorous considering the extent of my Spanish is “Donde esta el bano?” “Cuatro cervezas por favor.” And an unpleasant statement that I thought meant something akin to have a nice day which I shouted down the street in Varadero; turns out the sentence ends with ‘mother’. Oops.
Alles gute und liebe zum Geburtstag!
Happy Happy, Joy, Joy, Happy Happy, Joy!
Dang, for some reason I didn’t know you were that young!
Cheers,
D
Tim,
Great idea! I hope more folks will step up so that you can write that big matching gift! I just donated 5 minutes ago!
I have utilized many of the ideas, techniques etc in my business and personal life that I learned by reading your book. It is a shame that so many kids can’t read or don’t enjoy reading because of their poor education.
Take care,
Brent
I am really excited about this. I grew up in Dallas and we went to the symphony each year, which I would never had that opportunity otherwise. I know that this opportunity had a huge impact in my life. Music is a wonderful part of my life and the life of my family.
I hope my small gift will have the same impact on someone else.
I have posted my request for help with this “Great Opportunity” on my blog, my twitter, my FB page, my personal email and business email. I am still trying to think of other ways to get this information out. Can’t wait to see how much $ this generates.
Thanks for all you do
Thanks Tim! And Happy Birthday.
I’ve donated and am encouraging everyone I can reach to donate.
You inspired me to launch PayItOutward.org and Tim Ferriss’s Give-Back Birthday is the first featured charity on the site.
I’ve tweeted it, dug it, emailed it, added it to del.icio.us, posted it to my personal blog at http://blog.danandem.com, and of course I’ve posted it to my FaceBook page multiple times, as well as posting it on the walls of a couple of influential bloggers and encouraged all who see it to re-share it.
And if I think of anything else, I’ll do that too.
Happy Birthday, Tim.
Changing more lives by the day. We all love you, man.
Thanks for the recommendation, we will make sure to visit The Front Porch!
Mr. Ferriss,
As a teacher in an urban school, I would like to thank you for your efforts in celebration of your birthday. With increasing budget cuts, providing quality education is a challenge that educators face daily. I was not able to benefit from your giving page because I am focusing on mathematics and technology this year with an extreme classroom makeover to become eco-friendly. Good Luck, Be Blessed and Thank You.
http:/donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=388356
First off, very informative post on your part.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
I plan on donating and have spread this message via Facebook!
Happy Birthday Tim.
‘some pursue happiness, others create it.’ ~unknown
That’s cool, my birthday was the 24th. I have donated to a literacy project here in Texas, and my Twitter and Facebook updates promoting your project will go up shortly.
beautiful idea.
thank for sharing it.
Rosalind
Hey mate,
While I am a regular follower of your blog I don’t usually comment, but I’d just like to say that I think what you’re doing is really great. I’m not sure whether it’s because I just got a new job or because it’s such a great cause but I actually donated twice to two fantastic opportunities. And while having a new job might seem like I’m going in the wrong direction, I can assure you I’m closer to my personal business objectives than ever before. Most importantly though, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you have a great day and continue to be an inspiration to both myself and all the people you’ve helped both directly and indirectly. 😀
Cheers,
Cole
Great idea Tim. I did something similar for my own birthday last year. It was a pleasure giving to Donorschoose in honor of your day.
I support our educational systems, both directly and indirectly, through crits and donations. One of my favorite is a supplemental arts program in Austin called Lupe Arte.
Happy Birthday Tim!!!
What a wonderful way to start your personal “new year”.
Your generosity will bring big smiles to so many children and teachers. Bravo!
33 already?
It feels like just yesterday that I discovered the first episode of Trial by Fire and reviewed your amazing techniques on my website, this crazy guy Timothy Ferris that by far had the coolest outlook on learning. Love it, keep up the awesome work! You are so inspiring, and I hope to oneday be as streamlined as you-this payday, my coworkers and I are all going to donate to this cause! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Tim
A random act of kindness that affects the lives of kids is truly a love of humanity.
Tim Ferriss – A good man doing Great things.
Bart
Done… Great way to start a Sunday. Happy Birthday Tim and see you on the Playa…
Bruce
[…] pieces of media stood out to me this weekend. Tim Ferriss introduced me to the upcoming film, Waiting for Superman, a documentary exploring the failing US primary education system. The movie trailer taught me that, […]
Fantastic – happy to pitch in.
Happy Birthday!
Hey Tim!
I see that your posts have become more and more regular. Does this mean that you are done writing your book? And if so, when is it going to be released?
Not done yet! Just waiting for the edited manuscript to come back to me for final pass. These blog posts are a nice break for me 🙂 Thanks for asking, and more to come soon…
I am glad I now been informed that this sort of project exists.
Field trips are one of THE best way to make something stick in the head of a student, the act of seeing something actually working out in the world is electric.
I went from a private Montessori school with nearly weekly trips to the hospital, laboratories, museums, aquariums, parks or trips to work on the Montessori ranch (as part of the method laid down by the good doctor).
When I had to go to public school in a very cash strapped district, I noted a severe lack of field trips (as well as books for that matter) and any other kind of experience based education.
When we finally got to go back into private school in high school after a long dry-spell, we were promised at least two field trips per year to which we received three for my whole four years (one of the trips being the senior trip to Disneyland which being a Southern California resident doesn’t really count as ‘mind-blowing’). I know this is a frivolous complaint in the face of people who have never in their lives had the opportunity to see a museum or an art gallery while in school. However my experience from going with an abundance and then without any really gives a clear perspective on how important it is to get out and see things actually working and moving.
Happy Birthday Tim!
You picked one of my projects for your Birthday giveback page. Thank you so much it was funded! I love that so many donors told about their love of literacy! It does a teacher’s hear good. I want to thank you for doing this for your birthday, it is a great way to give back! Especially to those of us that teach at high-needs schools. Thank you and Happy Birthday!
http://www.donorschoose.org/hickerson
Fantastic idea – I love harnessing the power of social networking for great causes! Kudos, and happy birthday!
Tim, Happy Birthday
I posted last night and for some reason I can’t find it. I shared that every year we took a field trip to the Symphony in Dallas. It was wonderful and changed my life. Hoping this will change others lives as well.
I did share this through my blog, twitter, face book, business email and personal email.
Thank you for making a difference.
Lori
Donation complete. Great birthday idea! I’ll steal it for my next one.
Thanks for the ‘Delivering Happiness’ book recommendation, btw. I was literally taking notes every few pages on ways to improve my own company. Brilliant read.
Happy Birthday Tim,
Great idea to celebrate a birthday.
Keeping Rocking
“The child learns to worship money and the things which money can buy; he admires cruelty and cunning, rather than Sympathy and Love. So, the Home, the School and the Society have to rise and take up this challenge posed to the future of this great land.”
Atharva Veda
Mr. Ferriss,
As a teacher, I would like to say thank you for your support and bringing awareness to education and the challenges that we face. With increasing budget cuts and shortfalls, it is difficult to provide quality education to our students. I did not benefit from your current giving page because I am focusing on mathematics and technology projects this year. If you have the time, please take a look at my extreme classroom makeover to bring modern technology into my room and decrease the amount of paper used in my classroom. Go Green! Thanks
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=388356
it is a good idea you have. The government is definitely not coming to the rescue of these kids. In fact, the Obama administration has defunded the voucher programs in DC depicted in the video. His kids get the best education, but rest assured his definition of hope does not include the kids of D.C. I only mention this because of the hopeful parents shown in your video. Obama has dashed their hopes. And here is Super Tim in his Vibram Five Fingers to the rescue! Good deal.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Tim!
If I was a little closer I might send you some baking, but I have a feeling that customs would eat it before it made it to you.
I don’t expect to win anything for this, but I did want to pass along that I have tweeted about this many times now and posted it to my facebook page and will see how far I can blast this across the major corporation I work for before people get annoyed and I get an email from HR. I know the work email will be after the matching timeframe, but I am sure you will more than welcome as many donations as you can get.
Children discovering the joys of learning is so important and is something I will happily donate to over and over.
Regards,
Stephan
Happy Birthday Tim! My donation was sent to the kids in Ohio.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM!! I facebook’d, email blasted and re-posted the link on facebook. You are an inspiring individual. Thank you for sharing your design!
Great idea Tim…just left my donation. Happy Birthday!
Namaste Tim,
Happy Birthday, God Bless you !
I am from third world country (India), I came to this country 3 years back because of exceptional opportunities and its true, even though sever economy has change people think about USA, but it still remains land of opportunities, I still believe people like Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and you Tim, are result of the same education system who continue to set examples, I never went to field trips, and millions of third world contry student dont, but its important to explore beyond books. I have dontated and called each of my friends in US (I dont have that many) Indian folks cant dontate that much, I have asked few of them to donate what ever they can, I am on facebook and twitter but again not that many friends, but I think everyone needs an opportunity to donate and some how my message is conveyed to them. Many of my friends started reading your book, I give only one gift to everybody on their birthday, “Four Hour Work Week”, many people have changed there lives with your books, and i am passing on the word, I really wish you long and meaningfull life from bottom of my heart, you have changed me and millions of others, and continue to do so.
God Bless you Tim !
Bharat
As a mom and teacher, I can’t wait to see this movie. Whooohooo!
Done and Done. Hope you reach the $100K and it looks like it will! Congrats! I shared it via Facebook 🙂
Here’s to an amazing first 33 Tim. Happy birthday! I can only imagine what you are going to learn, do and teach us all in the 33 to come. So far it been an awesome ride. I love your cause. Donating now and am about to get all over Twitter and Facebook! Have you ever seen the documentary A Right Denied? It’s made by value fund manager Whitney Tilson who directs all his charitable energy toward just the cause your talking about. Check it out: http://www.arightdenied.org/. Perhaps you crossed his path when you were out in Omaha a couple years back. Awesome work on this cause. So needed.
Btw, just put my Vibrams (kso’s) to my biggest test yet…Lake Tahoe Rim Trail 50k(31 mi) trail run. My feet were on fire by the end but what an experience! And no knee probs. Thanks for getting me hooked.
Feliz Cumpleanos!
Scott
Donated. Happy 33rd Birthday, Mr. Bond!
Happy Birthday, Tim! My husband and I collect our change in a pot by the front door. Feng Shui says, with the right intention, the ritual invites prosperity into your home, and I truly believe it works. We decided to give the money away every few months; thank you for the perfect opportunity! I am thrilled that our donation will be doubled thanks to your amazing birthday wish.
Hey Tim:
Your influence has inspired us to continuously improve our lives and the people that surround and work with us.
we retweeted your links in all our personal accounts, as well as the vacation rental facebook and twitter accounts sites . hope it helped..
Happy Bday from Florida..
Diego y Tati
Happy Birthday! What a great way to celebrate. I love this idea and was happy to help. 🙂
Hey, Tim, Hello and Happy Birthday!
Good wishes from the center of Russia.
Come to us, if it’s on the way 😉
not happy, not subscribed to any posts according to your site but am receiving scads of junk mail updates on posts to this topic, over 35 so far. please sort out your subscribe function!
Happy Birthday to you Tim, hope you had a blast! Just donated all the way from Kuala Lumpur.
33!! Happy birthday from a spanish fan Tim (by the way I’ll turn 33 this weekend too!)
I collected donation codes worth 759 US so far and redeemed them. The rest of the codes will most probably come in today, that is after your deadline. I will redeem them for other projects then.
Here is the data, in case you are interested. First I thought of Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, but you have to be in the US to post a task there. Besides, their terms of agreement is intimidatingly long 🙂 Looking for alternatives I found shorttask and microworkers. I liked Microworkers more, because sign-up is easy and you don’t have to fill tons of information to get registered. When posting a task it takes some time till they approve it. They check it for violations (e.g., asking for personal information is not allowed) and even correct the text to make it more understandable. You can price a task for as low as 0.10 USD (which I did for my task), but have to give at least 0.30 USD if you want your workers to be only from the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. Regarding the fees:
*You will not be charged for tasks you rate Not-Satisfied
*You will be charged only for tasks you rate Satisfied (7.5% fee)
*Campaign approval fee is $0.75″
I still hope that I didn’t do something illegal. From my point of view, I did bing.com a favor and paid for their advertisement 🙂
Again, you don’t have to publish this comment and can delete it along with my previous one. Happy birthday and best wishes !!
Otanjobi Omedeto Tim 🙂
Your article made me feel that I am lucky one and now living the greatest year too. So, thanks a lot and have a wonderful B-day 🙂
Hi Tim
I thought this was odd.
The large advertisement up the top right of your page was advertising suicidegirls(dot)com.
I don’t think you would want that associated to your site.
Sorry for creating a comment on this.
Adam
Happy Birthday from Belgium, Tim! Looking forward to your soon-coming book! 😉
Dear Tim,
Thanks to your birthday request, My friend Ms. F.’s classroom project was funded. Thank you for supporting the students of Kansas City, Missouri. This is a brilliant idea!!!
Happiest of birthdays!
Most sincerely,
Amanda