“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.
Megan E says
I couldn’t agree more. It’s taken me many many years to figure this out ?
Tanja says
Thank you for this inspiring and important message. One can get absorbed in the hustle so quickly. So important to be reminded that there is more to life than running from pillar to post.
Berta says
Tanja — so necessary here, and hard to do but I try to eat less unhealthy food and manage my budget regularly. This is how I learned about my expenses and therefore to live slowly. It is so easy to get absorbed so quickly, in fact, the flow and fast pace in a consumerism world makes it so complicated../…
Aspasia says
After getting absorbed by a cleverly written hustle blog yesterday, I wrote my own ideas of what a successful me might look like and it echoes a lot of what you put in this post: integrity, spiritual wisdom that aids real life, compassion and presence for self and others.
Thanks for the confirmation that THIS is the right place for me ?
Donna Devereaux says
I am not seeking the world. Only peace and joy.
Anthony Dela Cruz says
Thank you so much for this precious insights. It makes me think about my life priorities.
Charles says
Thanks for this post. Many thanks!!
It went straight to my soul my friend.
Thanks. many thanks!!
Kat Roan says
Yes! And the same goes for “Rise & Grind!” I shudder at the thought of having to GRIND every day. Not a pleasant image at all. So glad you touched on this topic. Makes perfect sense to me!
Marc says
Much needed post. I am a early retired IT professional at 45, now 49. Even after 4 years, i still get that feeling quite often that i should do more, push more, get more. I have all that i need and get to enjoy a nice life with my family. We are programmed to hustle and get more. i am slowly deprogramming this thinking but it is so deep within me that it is very long process, but a very much needed one. In minimalism, the hustle is swimming against the current…
Thanks Joshua and thanks to all that write constructive comments, i often find insight in them.
Maria Pinto says
By saying that the “Hustlers will own the World”, well maybe they already do. I am referring to the 1% of the richest in the world, and the control & power that goes to be in that category. Although I think that some of those people may be doing good deeds with some of that money, others are not, and their only wish is to acquire more.
This makes me think of the movie “Wall Street” which came out in the 80’s. The theme was to get to the top, regardless of who you might hurt or destroy on the way, with an insatiable lust for money, greed, & power. Very, very sad scenario.
H. Carmen Li says
Amen.
All these personal development gurus and personal growth talking heads and programs preach “Be-Do-Have.” Imagine yourself being that person (who owns XYZ, do the work to get there, so you can have XYZ). Very “successful” folks (by their metrics) look on to content people like they just went limp in their pitiful lives. No hunger, no goals to strive for. This school of teaching also insinuates those who don’t HAVE XYZ didn’t believe or they haven’t done enough.
After all, we are told that it is human nature to be a goal seeking machine. Sharpen your skills to be the best marksman of those goals, short, medium and long term. Rinse & repeat.
I am all for setting meaningful goals, I am all for hard work. I am all for believing in oneself and seeing the good in others.
I do not need more goods to see the good in this world, nor do I need more goods to feel good about the fruits of this hustle. Unless it is the dance Hustle, I prefer calm repose and still point recharge.
Why not just Be – Do – Be – Do- BE. Scooby would agree. ? ? ?
Valerie Dorsey says
Amen! Thank you for another great post!
I sure do hope the people that need to hear this…. Read it and apply it!
God bless you and keep up the great work!!
Your sister in Jesus,
Valerie Dorsey