The past decade has seen a rise in anti-hustle culture.
So, I thought I’d introduce you to a misunderstood “friend” clients have used to:
- Build incredible careers,
- Create a legacy for their families, or
- Pull themselves out of difficult circumstances.
Here’s your re-introduction…
Hi, I’m Hustle.
Let me introduce myself because, for a while, people have been throwing rocks at me, and telling others I’m bad.
I’m not.
I have a purpose—just like you.
So, I hope this brief introduction will help.
What am I?
Well, in simple terms, I was given life to help you do a task or activity with intensity. Basically, when you’re supposed to be doing the task, commit to it.
“Wait, why with ‘intensity?’” you might ask. Well, it’s because of a naturally existing force, trying to stop you, which I’ll get to in the ‘When’ section below.
Why are some people calling me a bad thing?
Firstly, I’m not a bad thing. If you’ve seen or heard people throw rocks at me, it’s because they don’t understand me. From what I’ve observed, they don’t know how to work, or they’re trying to sell you an alternative that’s an ‘easy button.’
By the way, my enemy is ‘Easy.’ It was created to kill your soul. There’s no good version of you on the other side of ‘Easy.’ Trust me. I’ve been around for a long time and even seen empires disintegrate because they chose easy.
It’s popular to make fun of me because I’m not the sexy one. I don’t look good, because I look like work.
When am I most important?
In the beginning, and in times of crisis.
Let’s tackle the ‘beginning’ part first.
The effort needed to move through the first phase of anything is hard. A rocket ship trying to get off the launch pad uses 80% of its fuel to get out of the gravitational pull of earth.
The inertia, or force trying to pull you back to ‘normal,’ is intense.
So, you need my help.
I’m here to help you get to the stars. Actualize yourself. And, get through the hard phase.
Initially, you lack knowledge, experience, perspective, insights, and habit. But I bring energy, intensity, focus, learning by mistake, and grit. They’re just as powerful.
In times of crisis, the forces around you, or in you, are just as strong. You need my help to act quickly and stop the crisis from getting worse. That’s why I inspired the quote, “All hands on deck.”
How can I become toxic?
That almost hurts to write. However, I’m a product of nature, so too much of anything, or using something in the wrong context can become toxic.
Just like water is a good thing to hydrate and keep you alive. Too much water can drown you or saturate your efforts.
Let me bring you back inside the rocket ship.
That initial thrust of power, excitement, and momentum from getting off the ground is intoxicating. It would be very easy to keep your finger on the ‘hustle button,’ but the ship doesn’t need it anymore. (I’ve tried changing the button to ‘hustle,’ but it’s been futile.)
Plus, you’d run out of fuel.
An inexperienced pilot might think the force of gravity is still there, but you and I know it’s not.
So, when it comes to me, you need to be careful because I can become a way you ‘always operate.’
And that’s not a proper use of me.
I’m a helper. I’m a tool. I’m your friend in the early times, the hard times, and the ‘I’m almost done times.’
So, to wrap up, I hope you’ll be a friend to me when others throw rocks at me. I’m not bad; I’m misunderstood.
Just like everything in this world, I have my place.
(Oh… and I have some other ‘friends’ I might introduce you to, and they battle the same issues I do.)
Sincerely,
Hustle
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Whether you already had a good relationship with hustle. Fell out of love with hustle. Or, needed a re-introduction, I hope you see hustle for what it is—a necessary part of A Peak Life.
Be Bold. Take Action. Leave a Mark.
Todd Herman
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