my unpopular opinion on "hustle culture"
I’ve built 2 successful businesses so far in my 25 years. What you see now — the time freedom, the creating my own schedule, the working on my own terms, etc. — didn’t happen without the hard work and the hustle.
Hustle is so vilified that people forget it’s what it takes to build, at first— and that’s the key, at first.
Do I believe we’re made to hustle until we die? Absolutely not (and if we are, Lord take me now😂) but building really amazing things takes some really hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. AKA — hustle.
Think about a normal job, a doctor, if you will. They don’t just pop out of high school ready to be a doctor. They don’t come equipped with the knowledge and skills ready to reap the rewards of that profession magically. It takes work. Late nights and earlier mornings, staying home alone to study rather than going out with friends, working hours upon hours. 12+ years of hustle to get to the goal.
Hustling towards the goal (whatever that is for you) is not toxic — it’s necessary but it doesn’t last forever. Please don’t ever let anyone tell you that hustling for the life you want is toxic and please don’t ever let it get to a toxic point (because it can). Work hard for the goals that you have, celebrate the goals that you hit, rest when you need to rest, and when you reach a sustainable place, slow down.