I recently read an article by Graham Cochrane called The Hustle Myth. It was eye opening and I have been feeling that way for a long time. The main theme of his article is that you don’t need to hustle to be successful in your business but you do need to be diligent and work hard to serve your clients or customers excellently.
The world has lead us to believe that the only way that you can get ahead in your business is to work 24/7 and that if you don’t do this that you will not achieve your goals. This is totally not true and as Graham mentioned is synonymous to workaholism and will lead to burnout. The world has also said that you need to be always chasing the all mighty dollar and that is the only way to judge a successful life. This too is incorrect because there are so many other factors that can determine how successful someone is.
In working on your business it is important to determine to determine the priorities surrounding your life. If you fail to do this then you will always become a slave to your business. You don’t have to sacrifice everything that is important to you for your business to be successful. If you have a family, your spouse & children need to see you. How many successful millionaires do you see now with broken families? It is more likely than not that it is true. How many successful business owners have you seen totally burned out and struggling with health issues. The answer is plenty. Your health and exercise is important and you do yourself no benefit by “hustling” for your business success and forgo your health.
Another thought that was mentioned is that “hustling” is lazy. It takes no thought to pound the pavement and hustle, doing the same thing over and over, expecting the progress to the next level. The better way is to take a step back and take time out to learn about what you need to change or focus on to be more successful. Take time out to learn and adjust. If you have ever heard of the 80/20 rule it’s says that 80% of your revenue comes from 20% of your activity. It’s only be reflecting and learning about your business that you are able to pivot and become more profitable. Hustling (doing everything you can all the time for some money) will leave you burned out and waste your time.
Set some clear boundaries in your life concerning your business. Know your limits and allow your business to operate within it. Ensure that you take time to enjoy all that God has blessed you with and don’t become a slave to your business. Be careful to set realistic expectations when working with your clients so that you don’t put yourself into a situation where you need to work past your established boundaries. Be faithful and strategic. Be diligent and serve your clients well. Remember to establish the priorities in your life and set boundaries.
Be blessed and make something great happen!