Does anyone else here HATE the word “hustle”? I can’t be alone in this… it reminds me of gym class back in grade school where a coach is yelling at you to run a little faster while doing fitness tests for the state. UGH!
Whether you run a blog, run a store on Etsy, sell products or services, you hear “HUSTLE” on the reg and probably even more so towards the end of the month. It’s almost as annoying as “girl boss” if you’re a girl.
But in reality, does hustle really explain everything you’re doing day in and day out for your business? And by definition, hustle, when used as a verb, means “obtain by forceful action or persuasion” or “force (someone) to move hurriedly in a specific direction” – inferring that you need to keep moving, relentlessly, without stopping. Neither of these definitions are attractive in my opinion.
It’s as if we’re not always “hustling”, our businesses will be left in the dust while the world and competition is moving towards their highest potential.
I want to break down some of the issues I have with the word hustle:
- Does “hustle” really explain everything you’re doing for your business?
Use real examples to explain how you are feeling or what you are doing. Saying “I’ve been working hard on building my online presence” is a lot more specific than, “I’ve hustled a lot more this month”. Okay, but what does hustle mean in this scenario? It’s literally the f-word of the business world! Completely interchangeable… Don’t cheapen what you do!
- The “hustle” mindset – you need a break!
YES you need to check off your to do list but you also need to sit back and strategize. When you’re always working on something, you run the risk of not slowing down long enough to look at the big picture of your business and strategize how to get there. You need the perspective.
- When did being busy become glamorous?
Like I said above, hustle infers that you don’t stop moving. When I first began freelancing, I was doing it as what’s popularly known as a side-hustle. I never loved the term but I certainly identified with it – if for no other reason than the fact it was tangible and widely understood. It makes the work you’re doing feel legit and less like a hobby. Are you being busy for the sake of it or is what your spending time on contributing to your long-term meaning?
The word hustle, it just feels pushy, icky, salesy, gross. Seeing images plastered on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram that say things like “nobody cares. Work harder” or “0% luck, 100% hustle” just makes my stomach drop. It takes a lot of guts and determination, tenacity and drive with some crazy sprinkled in to build a business, but you know what? It also takes sleep, relaxation, strategy, and grace. Take ownership of what your doing, don’t settle for the word hustle, and move onward, my friend!
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