> This feels like an expression of the "just world" fallacy[1]. It's entirely possible that many of the people stuck in 50hr/week jobs did all of the things you list but didn't get the lucky breaks Tim did and so are still working 50hrs a week.
Saying I'm expressing the just-world fantasy implies I'm casting judgement on people or somehow saying they deserve to suffer in miserable jobs because they made bad choices. I don't think that's what I said at all. Recognizing the reality that everyone has a role (that they may not be aware of) in deciding what to do next is not a moral judgement.
Entrepreneurship and becoming wealthy are not requirements to be intentional about work and having a fulfilling life. As an example, my sister is a single mom with an autistic child who worked in fast food for years and of course hated it. She realized she would be much happier if she could work in a healthcare field because she wanted work that made more of a difference to peoples lives. So she busted her ass and took student loans for night classes, and today she's successful as a nurse working every day in an operating room. For her, self-awareness of her desires led to goals and actions led to a much better outcome.
> Consider an alternative reality where everybody read 4HWW, took that advice to heart and proceeded to apply it to their life. Would everyone be working 4hrs/week or would you still need some people to work those 40hr/wk jobs that keep the world running?
I don't think it's necessary for everyone to achieve the same outcome for something to be a good idea.
If you read the book you would know it's not really about working 4hrs/wk but rather about freeing yourself up to pursue work you find fulfilling. I think many more people could do that if they knew it was an option, but I don't think everyone would achieve that. Entrepreneurship is risky and difficult, and many people prefer a more predictable path.