Saying "hell yes" to hustle-free

A journey of changing patterns, beliefs, and going against the norm.

Original image by Tnarg via pexels. Modified by Author.

I feel like I’m running on this neverending hamster wheel.
The more I work, the faster I’m caught up in the whirlwind of neverending tasks.

It’s like I can’t escape my workaholic nature.

I was a workaholic at a startup.
I was a workaholic in corporate.
I am a workaholic as an entrepreneur.

I keep getting into these crazy, all-out sprints, cramming possibly months of work into weeks. My perfectionist nature doesn’t make that easier as I set these high standards for the quality of my work.

I am passionate about what I’m doing but I continuously put myself in these situations where I overdo it by trying to do too much at once. Then, inevitably, my body forces me to come to a grinding halt to rest.

It never feels enough.

There is always too much to do.

I’m a continual work in progress, aiming to overcome this old pattern.

So I keep making changes before, during, and after, hoping something will finally stick.

I’ve learned a lot, and I get frustrated a lot as well.

I get impatient with my progress and inflicted by comparisonitis.

Ugh, how can I finally put a stop to this unrelenting churn?

Each time I go through these phases, I do uncover learnings, such as…

• Taking a step back, reexamining my progress, and modifying my plans going forward.

• How to have quality, guilt-free rest as I rewarded myself with some well-deserved time off, too.

• Appreciating the value of patience and slowing down.

• Define what “hustling” looks like, and how it no longer serves me.

• Redefine what “success” means to me, so I know how to lead my life as I build and scale my business.

• Outlining what things and activities fuel my soul, so I can ritualistically prioritize more time for them.

• Having acceptance of who I am and honoring my pace.

I didn’t know about these things when I first embarked on this difficult journey.

I had only heard of the success, opulence, and ease.

We all get sucked in by their success stories and now wondrous lives.

Their years of pain, sweat, and tears that led to their seemingly overnight success are often obscured and simplified.

And if they’re selling you their services, then, of course, they’ll highlight their wildly successful stories and minimize details on those who failed.
…and that skews your perception of what it truly takes.

No matter how they describe their journey, their words can never fully encompass all they went through. As an observer, you can only imagine and guestimate so much of what all that was like without experiencing it yourself.

Plus, you’re not them… as we all have different skillsets, talents, experiences, and life circumstances.

It’s only by experiencing firsthand that you can get a grasp of the tireless efforts they went through.

Being an entrepreneur takes your individual personal growth to a whole other level.

You’re pushed beyond your limits, over and over again.

You’re constantly juggling multiple roles at once.

You’re learning, experimenting, executing, serving, tweaking, optimizing, and failing.

You’re endlessly solving and anticipating problems.

You’re forced to face your fears, weaknesses, and limitations.

None of this is easy.

So I want to have these honest conversations with you.

I hope by revealing my experiences and insights you can shortcut your entrepreneurial journey by doing it your way, at your pace, and, more importantly, to your liking.

Hustling is only one approach. It doesn’t have to be yours.

Your life story is still being written, and you have the power to change your future by what you choose to do now.

What you want is possible.

What you dream of can be yours.

I invite you to join me in this new approach of soul-fueling entrepreneurship.

USEFUL JOURNAL PROMPTS

Take a moment and consider what is your perspective on hustling and how that approach has affected your life. What are things you can adjust to improve your quality of life?

P.S. If this post helped you feel seen or gave you permission to slow down, tap the ❤️ to let me know. Share or restack this to help others caught in the same cycle of doing too much. This kind of honest conversation is something more of us need.