Hustle culture is garbage

We love to discuss us some “hustle” these days, especially in the startup/tech world. Everyone is hustling. It’s noble. Let’s deify it. Break your back trying to work harder than everyone else. Get that money.

** Puts rifle up to scrotum **

Stop.

I’m not the first person to argue hustle is bullshit; this guy even did back in 2015:

Here’s the thing: everyone hustles. We’re all just trying to survive and to succeed in this life — whether that’s professionally or personally — and giving another person a lecture on the extent of your hustle is intentionally self-aggrandizing and wholly deluded. How about just shut up and work hard in silence like the rest of us? Is there a point to your hustle drivel outside of self-promotion? Can you not interrupt me with that shit when I’m trying to eat my pasta? How many times do I have to roll my eyes before you get the hint? Why did you say your girlfriend left you, again?

I will add my voice to this chorus, however.

What is this whole “hustle” deal really?

It’s just an extension of three things:

• Human beings aren’t very good at managing their time
• We love to be “busy” even if we’re not productive