26 Things You Can Do Today Rather Than Hustle
I don't much like the word hustle. I know it's all the rage these days. Hustle is the new black. People have their "side hustles" and they hustle early in the morning and they hustle late at night. They hustle, hustle, hustle. But I'm a word person, and I don't like the sound of hustle.
Hustle
to move hurriedly or unceremoniously in a specified direction
to obtain by forceful action or persuasion
to push or force one's way
to act aggressively, especially in business dealings
to push or convey in a hurried or rough manner
And as a noun....
busy movement or activity
a fraud or swindle
anything you need to do to make money (Urban Dictionary)
There are so many words inherent in the definitions of "hustle" that are the absolute antithesis to how I want to live my life. I don't want to be in a hurry and move without ceremony. I want to have soft edges. I don't want to merely be "busy."
I know that, as a freelancer and small business owner, the world may tell me I should hustle. But I'm over shoulds. And I think there are plenty of nicer actions you can take that will still inch the needle forward on your goals.
Rather than hustle, let's...
be dependable
live with intention
savor the moment
celebrate
make a list
work hard
show up early
ask good questions
be consistent
enjoy the journey
focus
do one thing extremely well
plan ahead
prepare for all eventualities
use language persuasively
get enough sleep
prioritize
consider life to be a grand adventure
defy expectations
embrace who you are
explore the possibilities
take the next logical step
run the numbers
get the job done
I'm not knockin' hard work and getting in over your head. I'm not knockin' working weird hours, or a lot of hours. I'm not knockin' pouring every drop of your blood, sweat, and tears into achieving a goal. I just think we're better than hustle.
Let's chase the work we're proud of, the work that makes us happy, and the work that supports the kind of life we want to live. ~ Lisa Butler