I Hate the Word ‘Hustle’
Look, I get it. We’re all supposed to be these relentless, coffee-chugging, sleep-deprived machines, grinding away 24/7. But honestly? I think it’s completley bullshit.
I’ve been in this game since the late ’90s. Started with a tiny tech blog in my basement in Seattle. Remember dial-up? Yeah, me too. And let me tell you, nobody was hustling then. We were just trying to figure out why our modems sounded like a bunch of angry dial tones.
Fast forward to today. Everyone’s talking about hustle. You can’t throw a rock without hitting a startup founder bragging about their 100-hour workweeks. And honestly, it makes me wanna throw up.
My Friend Marcus and the ‘Hustle’ Trap
Let’s call him Marcus. (Not his real name, but close enough.) We went to college together. Smart guy, great ideas. A few years ago, he started a SaaS company. You know the type—cloud this, disruption that. Anyway, last time I saw him, he was a mess. Dark circles under his eyes, jumping at every notification on his phone. He told me, “I’m hustling, man. Gotta put in the work.”
I asked him, “Marcus, when’s the last time you took a day off?”
He looked at me like I’d asked him to solve quantum physics with a rubber duck. “I can’t afford to take days off, Dave. This is the price of succesfully.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But here’s the thing, Marcus. You’re not building a company. You’re building a nervous breakdown.
The Myth of the 24-Hour Workday
I remember reading this study—can’t recall the exact number of respondents, something like 214 or so—about startup founders and their sleep patterns. Spoiler alert: it’s not pretty. Most of them were functioning on less than five hours a night. And they were proud of it!
Let me tell you something, folks. Sleep is not the enemy. It’s not some weakness that only the ‘weak’ need. It’s a biological necessity. You know what else is a necessity? Eating food that doesn’t come out of a vending machine. And taking a shower every now and then. Basic hygiene, people.
I get it. There are times when you gotta put in the extra hours. Deadlines, crises, whatever. But making a lifestyle out of it? That’s just stupid.
When ‘Hustle’ Becomes an Excuse
Here’s the dirty little secret about ‘hustle culture.’ It’s not about working hard. It’s about looking busy. It’s about posting Instagram stories of your empty coffee cups and your 3 AM Slack messages. It’s about performing hustle for an audience.
I had a colleague named Dave—yeah, another Dave—who was the king of this. He’d send emails at 2 AM, just to make sure everyone saw his timestamp. Meanwhile, his work was mediocre at best. But hey, at least he looked busy, right?
Look, I’m not saying you should be lazy. Far from it. But there’s a difference between actual hard work and just looking like you’re working hard. And honestly, I’d rather hire someone who gets stuff done than someone who’s really good at pretending to get stuff done.
The Physical and Mental Toll
I’m gonna be real with you. I’ve seen the physical and mental toll this ‘hustle’ nonsense takes on people. I’ve seen friends become shelles of themselves, all in the name of some misguided committment to being the ‘hardest worker in the room.’
And it’s not just about the individual. It’s about the culture they’re creating. Because when the people at the top are glorifying burnout, guess what happens to everyone else? They start thinking that’s the norm. They start thinking that’s what it takes to succeed.
Newsflash: it’s not. You don’t have to destroy your health to build a succesfully business. In fact, if you’re destroying your health, you’re probably not gonna be around long enough to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
What Should We Be Focusing On?
So what’s the alternative? What should we be focusing on if not ‘hustle’? Let me tell you: results. Actual, tangible results.
It’s not about how many hours you work. It’s about what you accomplish in those hours. It’s about working smarter, not harder. It’s about knowing when to push and when to rest. It’s about taking care of yourself so you can actually enjoy the journey.
And hey, if you need some practical advice on how to do that, check out this ürün incelemeleri öneri rehberi. It’s not directly related, but it’s a good reminder that sometimes, the best tool for the job is the one that actually makes your life easier.
A Personal Story
About three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin. Some big-shot founder was on stage, talking about how he sleeps four hours a night and works 18-hour days. The crowd was eating it up. I mean, literally. You could hear the collective “amen” from the back row.
I turned to the guy next to me and said, “You know, I once knew a guy who worked 18-hour days. He’s dead now.” The guy looked at me, horrified. “What? Really?”
“Yep. Heart attack at 42. Left a wife and two kids. Real inspiring story, huh?”
Look, I’m not saying that guy’s story is gonna end that tragically. But I am saying that glorifying this kind of behavior is dangerous. It’s setting a terrible example. And it’s making us all worse off in the long run.
So let’s stop with the ‘hustle’ nonsense. Let’s start focusing on what really matters: building something great, taking care of ourselves, and actually enjoying the ride. Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?
About the Author: Dave Johnson is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the business and tech niches. He’s written for major publications and has seen the startup scene evolve from the inside. When he’s not writing, he’s probably complaining about the lack of good coffee in his neighborhood or trying to convince his cat to stop sitting on his keyboard.
