“The world belongs to those who hustle” is the mantra of our day.
Rush, push, work harder.
Persist, fight, and claw to the top.
If you work hard and hustle more, you can own the world.
Our media is full of advice encouraging us to hustle, hustle, and hustle some more.
Here are just a few titles ripped from recent headlines:
- 3 Steps to ‘Hustling’ for Success (Time Magazine)
- Hustle as Strategy (Harvard Business Review)
- 10 Habits Of Highly Successful Hustlers (LifeHack)
- The 6 Best Ways to become Rich (Yahoo!)
We post hustle quotes as inspiration on our social media feeds and posters in our workplaces. The Internet boasts thousands of them:
- Hustle until your haters ask if you’re hiring.
- Good things happen to those who hustle.
- Hustle like you’re broke and keep that passion.
- Hustle until you no longer need to introduce yourself.
- Don’t stay in bed unless you can make money in bed.
You can even buy a “Hu$tle t-shirt” if you want.
I don’t disagree with the adage. No doubt, those who hustle will end up owning the world.
I’m just not sure the world is what I most want to own.
What does it benefit a person to gain the entire world, but lose themselves along the way?
Some of the greatest blessings in life cannot be experienced if our lives are constantly filled with hustle chasing after the world.
In fact, many of the most important pursuits of our lives require us to stop “hustling.” They require quiet, peace, solitude, even rest.
Becoming the best version of ourselves will always require less hustle. The pathway to bettering ourselves and our souls requires meditation, solitude, and drawing away from the world around us.
Becoming a present and intentional parent (and/or spouse) requires less hustle. The requirements are listening ears, quality time, and focused attention.
Becoming a selfless and giving difference-maker in your community requires empathy, compassion, attentive eyes, and frequent conversation.
Even becoming a leader worthy of admiration requires patience, thoughtfulness, and willingness to serve.
I encourage you to work hard. We should all be using our talents and gifts to make a difference in the world.
But for those who are tempted to lose their soul through hustle in a relentless desire to gain the world, you are making an unwise trade.
There is great reward to be found in more stillness… and less hustle.
Mariann says
This was great! Thank you!
Stephanie O'Dea says
The desire to Be More, Do More, Achieve More, is utterly exhausting — and in fact, it doesn’t bring you closer to your end goal.
That’s the part that gets dismissed —
you really CAN have it all. There’s no need to run yourself ragged getting there —
you want to have money in the bank that provides peace of mind and security?
You ABSOLUTELY can have it — just calmly figure out the best path to take in which you aren’t frazzled and burnt out.
If we are lucky, life is long. I truly believe we should enjoy the journey — not race around frantically trying to get to some arbitrary finish line.
lots of love — xoxo steph
Eve says
We were criticized by others in the family because we were satisfied with just a warm house, bills paid and food on the table. I worked before we were married and when we decided I would stay home and just be a housewife because I loved taking care of a home and he loved coming home to a warm inviting place with meals ready and a relaxed wife, Some people went nuts. So old fashioned and just wasn’t done,
We would be celebrating our 50th this year but he died in February, We never envied the vacations, boats, new car every year, big house of our friends and family. We paid off our modest little house, drove 8 year old paid for cars and only occasionally ate out. We missed nothing. Most of them are still hustling and trying to pay off their enormous bills every month.
Sunshine says
Thank you for sharing this encouraging life! I hope you have happy memories and a sweet time remembering your love on your 50th.
Jessalynn Jones says
Great post Joshua. It reminds me of the fisherman story. There was a man who fished all day and spent evenings and weekends enjoying his family and friends. Then one day an American business man came and told him to grow his business and get employees and other locations and a corporation so that at the end of it he could fish all day and enjoy his family in the evenings. The fisherman said “I already do that”
Hustling is about working too hard now so that maybe you can enjoy life later. Instead let’s work hard but maintain balance and create the life we love while we are living it NOW!
Krys says
So many people I know who hustled all their lives are now doting on their grandkids because they missed engaging with their own children when they were growing up.
Niki says
What does it benefit a person to gain the entire world, but lose themselves along the way?
Mark 8:36
I think the concept of minimalism goes against the grain of hustle, or to hustle. Less is more is always going to be better than more of more. To be sure living minimally gives us more time to hustle; but who does that serve? Matthew 6:24
Penelope Kimball says
People are just trying to make ends meet, not own the world.
joshua becker says
Nope, they are trying to own the world.
Julie says
I like your article. If you had read the article 10 Habits Of Highly Successful Hustlers (LifeHack) you would see it speaks of many of the things you do. Don’t judge an article just by its title.
Helen says
Just reading your piece Joshua, made me feel calmer and nourished today. It was the nourishment of connection, because I share these values with you and it’s satisfying to have them reflected back to me again.
Accidentally Retired says
I’ve come to the simple realization that as a society we’ve all been programmed wrong. Is it good for a capitalism? Yes. Is it good for the individual? I don’t think so.
So I agree completely. Less hustle, and more being present for those that matter.