Your definition of 'Hustle' is hurting you

Do this instead.

Sep 22, 2024

Every business guru, every financial guru is telling you to hustle. Once you are done with the main hustle, they tell you to start a side hustle.

I agree with the hustle mindset but I don’t agree with the definition.

Most of the time, hustle is defined as relentless amounts of work (16-hour days, no weekends) in the area of your expertise or an area that brings in the cash (driving Uber on the side).

There is nothing wrong with initiative and hard work. The only wrong is see if the out of balance, unsustainable mindet towards short term goals.

Instead, my definition of hustle is where you invest a considerable amount of time in something that teaches you new skills or taps you into a high-leverage network. Why? because your long-term success depends on how valuable your set of skills are and whether you are connected to the network (people) who will either pay you for them or help you sell them to someone who will.

There are other problems with the traditional definition of hustle.

It is so concentrated on your output that it effectively dismisses all the other elements. It misses on:

Why are you picking up a side hustle in the first place? If it is to make more money then how much money is enough money? When do you stop or slow down and get back to a balanced life? When do you stop ignoring other important elements like spending time with your loved ones?

Modern hustle culture creates success in one area at the cost of everything else.

It ignores that you are still trading your time for money and not building scalable skills.
It ignores that you should pick something that is in line with who you wish to become. Work isn’t only a means to an end. It shapes you and molds you into the person you become. Why wouldn’t you rather build a version you will like instead of an automaton focused on short-term results?
It is good to have initiative and take action. The only tweak I recommend is to make sure your initiative and action point in the right direction.
Hustle culture is not sustainable. You cannot sprint forever. You will crash and burn. The initial results can be addictive and get you hooked. But, you cannot maintain that pace - it isn’t healthy and will create too much collateral damage. Don’t be the equivalent of a rich guy on his fourth wedding who is ‘working’ all the time while high-strung on coffee and nootropics. His life is no fun.
What to do instead:

Slow down and focus on how you can serve others. Make life better for enough people by adding value or solving problems and in return, you will be rewarded handsomely in money, motivation, and meaning. This will bring lasting happiness.
Create priorities that will contribute to a balanced, happy and productive life. Include work, family, relationships and a cause bigger that you (the Divine). This isnt me saying it. These are the 4 pillars happiness expert Arthur Brooks recommend.
Look to build skills that will enable you to solve better or bigger problems.
Sustainability comes from a long-term outlook. Plan for the next 5 or 10 years. Set a trajectory for your life. Then as Alex Hormozi puts it, become the person who knows where they are headed and has fun while getting there.

Hope this helped you gauge what kind of hustler you wish to be ;)

Much Love,