Hustle culture.
On one hand, it carries a narrative portraying high-profile success and lavish lifestyles funded by VC capital.
On the other, the much less appealing reality of chronically overworked knowledge workers and a never-ending cycle of “more”.
Thanks to these narratives, the idea of hustling has become mostly an object of culture and ideology. And that’s a shame.
Not only because hustle is anything but riches or burnout, but because true hustle is something we should all strive towards to live the most successful, fulfilling lives possible.
But the hustle I’m talking about isn’t what you see in Forbes articles.
It’s far from it. And it’s something everyone can unlock.
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- Confucius
The Problems With Mainstream Hustle Culture
Before I go any further, I want to make this clear—many of the ideals of so-called “hustle culture” are inherently toxic.
Glorifying overworking and pushing yourself 110% 24/7 to achieve your career goals isn’t just disingenuous to our human limits, it’s also counterproductive for achieving long-term success.
No matter how much short-term gain you see, neglecting the rest of your life and working yourself to the point of burnout and chronic stress is hardly a way to build a sustainable vehicle for growth (not to mention happiness).
Stigmatizing rest, ignoring well-being, inequality in so-called “hustle opportunities”, unsustainable goals, and the never-ending build of pressure.
I could go on. But the bottom line is that there are a lot of obvious problems with the mainstream idea of hustle culture that I think any sensible person can see.
With that said, I don't think that the answer lies on the polar opposite side of the spectrum.
The Dangers of Being "Anti-Hustle Culture"
The rise of LinkedIn Hustle Chads has inevitably invoked a backlash from an equally vocal anti-hustle movement.
Again—I’m no fan of the typical idea of hustle culture, and it’s important that we speak up against creating and glorifying toxic societal norms like this.
But I don’t believe that being strictly “anti-hustle” is the answer, either.
Where anti-hustle is wrong
Hustle is not inherently harmful.
Under the hood, hustling is driven by some intensely powerful mindsets and beliefs that we should all use to our advantage.
Self-proclaimed anti-hustlers seem to focus on the stereotypical negative traits of hustle: long hours, toxic positivity, being constantly overworked and ignoring our physical and mental needs.
I don’t entirely blame them for this—they’re all extremely valid concerns.** **No one should let their work consume their lives or adhere to the idea that success only comes from working 100-hour weeks.
But what about the positive drivers of the hustle mindset, like setting ambitious goals and running toward them passionately?
What about the intentional pursuit of things that bring you joy and fulfillment?
What about resilience and pushing ourselves past the point of comfort to better ourselves?
In my experience, these drivers are often undermined by the flat-out rejection of hustling, and I think this can be just as dangerous for our success as flirting with burnout.
The New Hustle
To me, hustle is the passion-driven dedication to pursue a fulfilling, meaningful life.
True hustle has nothing to do with sacrificing 110% of your time and effort to your work, and everything to do with crafting a career that reflects your goals and complements a lifestyle you love.
Hustling means putting your well-being first, while always maintaining positive growth. It means finding peace in continuously pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.
A real hustler has a career that brings them meaning, develops them into the person they want to be, and supports the other areas of their life. They emphasize productivity over long hours, encourage efficiency and realistic goals, and prioritize self-care and well-being practices.
True hustle embraces the personalized aspects of our lives. It respects individual differences and circumstances and allows for diverse definitions of success and achievement, ultimately creating a supportive and inclusive environment for various paths to success.
Hustling isn’t a set of ideals to glorify or chase after. It’s a mindset that respects our needs as humans while empowering us to be the best versions of ourselves—not just in our careers but in every facet of our lives.
Don’t fall for that hustle culture bullshit. Just hustle.
This was originally published on my weekly newsletter Circadian Growth