Many entrepreneurs I work with have bought into the “hustle culture”, believing they need to work longer and harder to achieve the results they want. Those who are part of the hustle culture wear their dedication to the grind like a badge of honor when the truth of the matter is that hustling not only kills your profits but can also harm your health.
Why We Think We Need to Hustle
There are a few reasons why entrepreneurs think they need to focus on the amount and intensity of work to achieve success. The first is that they see their peers doing this and don’t want them to think they’re lazy or not dedicated enough to put in the same amount (or more) work than they do.
The other reason is that many entrepreneurs come from corporate backgrounds where dedication to the company was measured in how many nights, weekends, and holidays they spent at the office. Once they made the transition to independent work, they never dropped that corporate mindset.
How Hustling Harms Health
When you’re constantly hustling, you never take the time to care for yourself. This means you eat crappy food out of a vending machine or from the drive-through, you suck down energy drinks instead of drinking water, and you get way less than the recommended number of hours of sleep each night. Not only that, but hustling is stressful. Pushing yourself harder and demanding more and more of your mind and body is the best way to burn out or break down—especially when it’s paired with a lack of self-care.
How to Fix It
As an entrepreneur, you need to realize that the rules are all up to you. You don’t need to act like your ultra-hustling peers or keep the same mindset you had when you worked for corporate America. What you need to understand is that working hard and working for performance are two very different things. If you take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, taking time off, eating healthy, and spending plenty of time with those you love, you’ll be in a mental space to achieve more in less time. You’ll show up to the office in the morning with bright eyes, an alert mind, and plenty of energy to get the things you need to get down with enthusiasm. You’ll also enjoy yourself a whole lot more on the journey of building your business.
Hustle Does Not Equal Success
It’s time entrepreneurs finally admitted that being a part of the hustle culture is not something to be proud of. If you’re overwhelmed, burned out, and still not getting the results you want, it’s time to make a change. When you focus on working smarter and healthier rather than working harder, you can take your business to the next level and increase your overall well-being. Talk about a win-win. Want to know how profitable you can become if you drop out of the hustle culture and start working with a coach who’s willing to kick your ass a little? Take my quiz today to find out.
