Hustle culture is killing us, and we have to start unsubscribing from this toxic behavior. So many get wrapped up in being busy for busyness's sake and lose sight of the true goal - ultimately leading to burnout and frustration. And so much of what I have been reading this week lines up with this.
- In Greg McKeown’s weekly newsletter, he addresses this, “Progress isn’t about taking many steps; it's about taking the right step.” (Some of this is covered in more detail in Book Brew 59).
- In Ozan Varol’s weekly newsletter, he talks about how we can only see part of the path in front of us, and that’s okay - keep going. “The only way to know what comes next is to start walking - before you see a clear path. You’ll only see a few steps ahead. But you can make the whole trip that way.”
- In Dan Sullivan’s book Who Not How, he goes over the concept of understanding the importance of finding the right person to help you with your task/project/goal - you don’t need to do everything yourself.
- “We’re taught from a young age that we need to do everything ourselves. We’re taught that getting help from others is ‘cheating’; and something we absolutely shouldn’t do.”
- “Stop asking, ‘How can I accomplish this?’ A much better question is ‘Who can help me achieve this?’”
- In one of Seth Godin’s blog posts this week, he echoes Sullivan’s sentiment of Who Not How with, “Begin with this question ‘What are you hiring yourself to do?’”
Lessons on Boundaries from My Grandmother
Setting clear boundaries also goes a long way to avoiding the nonsense of hustle culture. I was thinking about my grandmother this morning and how she is so amazing at setting and keeping her boundaries and commitments.
For instance, if I call her and she is expecting someone to show up in the next few minutes, she is sure to tell me she can’t talk right then, explains why, and ends the call. I have such respect for her and the way she handles her commitments.
For context, she is in her 90s, so she grew up in a time when women weren’t given much of a voice. So, for her to be able to stand firm on her boundaries is admirable and an inspiration to me.
Key Takeaways for a Healthier Mindset
My advice to myself (and to anyone else who cares to listen):
- Don’t participate in the hustle culture - it isn’t admirable.
- Ensure your progress is measured by taking the right step, not just checking a box that you took a series of steps.
- Walk your own path.
- Find the right Who to help you.
- Be clear on what you’re hiring yourself to do.
Stop chasing busy. Start living purposefully.
Ponder This:
- Are you measuring progress by meaningful outcomes or simply by how booked your calendar is?
- Who could help you move forward in a way that feels less overwhelming?
- What boundaries could you set today to protect your time and energy?
Books
- Who Not How - Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy
- Newsletters/Blogs
- Greg McKeown
- Ozan Varol
- Seth Godin