I've had a lot of fun, fulfilling periods of working hard with other people to ship things I'm really proud of. For me it was important that there is an end date and when there's no end date you treat it - as Ice Cube puts it - like a marathon not a track meet so it is more sustainable. Also that whole "its fun" part was what separated good hustle from bad hustle (or as I like to call it, grind).
Conscious hustle for me is a flow state, that workless work that happens when I am in alignment with my values. Your post arrived at the perfect time, I was below the line last week and blindly hustling. Needed the reminder and gave myself a change of pace day in nature to recalibrate.
There’s an interesting thread on the topic of flow and when even flow is unconscious vs conscious. Like, when I’m locked in for hours at my computer, I’m in flow, but I’m also lost in it. I wonder how that’s serving me and how it’s not.
Great post. I've been wrestling with this lately as I've just launched after months of development, and I need to prioritise "promoting" which is just a euphemism for selling.
As I wrote in a note the other day, I always liked the hare more than the tortoise when I was younger. But my current mantra is "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast".
I'm also
1) Committed to stay authentic as I try and get attention.
2) Very lucky that my income stream from what I have been doing for years has picked up again, so I have runway to play the long game on my main project.
But still, I get impatient and frustrated, because I want this to work. Haven't reached that level of awakening and equanimity yet.
im 100% in that "needing to promote myself" phase too, which is always a little uncomfortable for me - but I'm leaning into it and, like you, trying to do it as authentically as possible
also not judging myself if something doesn't feel perfectly "authentic" and a little performative. I'm willing to try things and be surprised.
You sent me down a rabbit hole to look up what performative really means:
1. "Performative" refers to something involving an artistic or acting performance.
2. In everyday language, it often describes behavior or speech that is done to make a particular impression on others, sometimes without genuine intent—essentially, something done "for show" or to appear virtuous or aligned with certain values, rather than to effect real change
I love entrepreneurship because I think of it as a craft, not as a unicorn chase. Which fits your point about exploration and discovery.
Guess the trick is to focus as much as possible on the first definition, trusting that if we do it well, it will get the attention--and income--we need to keep on crafting.
Yeah I think so. AND what I've found is that I've always been SO focused on #1 and staying authentic, and SO afraid of coming across as #2. And I'm wondering how that might be limiting me, preventing me from taking risks or putting myself out there in different ways because, god forbid, I come across as performative. And I wonder what it would feel like to drop the inner judgment around #2 and just try stuff, feeling into each time what feels aligned or not, and giving myself the permission to mess up, knowing that I can always realign.
I say this as someone just called me out on LinkedIn for the way I promoted this post, which has triggered a lot of my parts, so I'm very actively sitting with this question.
Just checked out the comment on LinkedIN. If it's the one I think it is it was uncalled for IMHO.
I guess when it comes to #2, we know there's nothing wrong with trying to make an impression, as long as its congruent with who you are and your craft.
I'm one of those weirdos that now likes teaching or presenting. I'll admit it's because there's a part of me that likes the theatrical energy of it.
I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying the performance--whatever the medium. The energy is necessary--it's part of what makes the talk--or post--compelling.
We just all need to build thicker skins when we get in the arena, and trust ourselves if we are coming from good motivation--which includes motivation. And just ignore the trolls.
Hi David. I've just found your newsletter having had two separate people recommend it to me in the last week! I like the idea of conscious hustle. As you say, by working and getting stuff done is how we have survived through the ages. I guess it means balancing work against other important factors such as rest, connection, eating properly etc, rather than endless hustle (often because everyone else seems to be doing it!)
I like how you say that LeBron James sleeps 12 hours a night because that is part of how he is a professional.
Recognising that ones’s hustle is blind or becoming one was a big one for me. Somehow the mountain that is entrepreneurship keeps gaining height and the hustle never ends.
A conscious hustle for me was about re-prioritising. I realised that a blind hustle impacted by physical and mental body and slowed down even the so-called blind hustle. A conscious hustle also feels more productive. Thanks for writing this piece
I would add I think it’s important to still show genuine interest in people whether or not they are hustling, consciously or not.
What made me run as fast as I could away from the vortex was feeling like nothing I said mattered unless it related to someone else’s hustle.
good point.
I've had a lot of fun, fulfilling periods of working hard with other people to ship things I'm really proud of. For me it was important that there is an end date and when there's no end date you treat it - as Ice Cube puts it - like a marathon not a track meet so it is more sustainable. Also that whole "its fun" part was what separated good hustle from bad hustle (or as I like to call it, grind).
But I think it can be really rewarding to hustle!
fun is totally a measure of worthiness i bring to my work these days
if its not fun, why am I even doing it?
Makes me think of a quote from Walden / Thoreau, which was essentially about this perceived tension:
"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."
Damn... that's good
Conscious hustle for me is a flow state, that workless work that happens when I am in alignment with my values. Your post arrived at the perfect time, I was below the line last week and blindly hustling. Needed the reminder and gave myself a change of pace day in nature to recalibrate.
So happy this found you at the right time!
There’s an interesting thread on the topic of flow and when even flow is unconscious vs conscious. Like, when I’m locked in for hours at my computer, I’m in flow, but I’m also lost in it. I wonder how that’s serving me and how it’s not.
How do you think about getting “lost” in flow?
I startle when my 45 minute alarm goes off! And realize my body needs moving around.
Great post. I've been wrestling with this lately as I've just launched after months of development, and I need to prioritise "promoting" which is just a euphemism for selling.
As I wrote in a note the other day, I always liked the hare more than the tortoise when I was younger. But my current mantra is "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast".
I'm also
1) Committed to stay authentic as I try and get attention.
2) Very lucky that my income stream from what I have been doing for years has picked up again, so I have runway to play the long game on my main project.
But still, I get impatient and frustrated, because I want this to work. Haven't reached that level of awakening and equanimity yet.
im 100% in that "needing to promote myself" phase too, which is always a little uncomfortable for me - but I'm leaning into it and, like you, trying to do it as authentically as possible
also not judging myself if something doesn't feel perfectly "authentic" and a little performative. I'm willing to try things and be surprised.
You sent me down a rabbit hole to look up what performative really means:
1. "Performative" refers to something involving an artistic or acting performance.
2. In everyday language, it often describes behavior or speech that is done to make a particular impression on others, sometimes without genuine intent—essentially, something done "for show" or to appear virtuous or aligned with certain values, rather than to effect real change
I love entrepreneurship because I think of it as a craft, not as a unicorn chase. Which fits your point about exploration and discovery.
Guess the trick is to focus as much as possible on the first definition, trusting that if we do it well, it will get the attention--and income--we need to keep on crafting.
Yeah I think so. AND what I've found is that I've always been SO focused on #1 and staying authentic, and SO afraid of coming across as #2. And I'm wondering how that might be limiting me, preventing me from taking risks or putting myself out there in different ways because, god forbid, I come across as performative. And I wonder what it would feel like to drop the inner judgment around #2 and just try stuff, feeling into each time what feels aligned or not, and giving myself the permission to mess up, knowing that I can always realign.
I say this as someone just called me out on LinkedIn for the way I promoted this post, which has triggered a lot of my parts, so I'm very actively sitting with this question.
Just checked out the comment on LinkedIN. If it's the one I think it is it was uncalled for IMHO.
I guess when it comes to #2, we know there's nothing wrong with trying to make an impression, as long as its congruent with who you are and your craft.
I'm one of those weirdos that now likes teaching or presenting. I'll admit it's because there's a part of me that likes the theatrical energy of it.
I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying the performance--whatever the medium. The energy is necessary--it's part of what makes the talk--or post--compelling.
We just all need to build thicker skins when we get in the arena, and trust ourselves if we are coming from good motivation--which includes motivation. And just ignore the trolls.
Easier said than done, but go for it!
Hi David. I've just found your newsletter having had two separate people recommend it to me in the last week! I like the idea of conscious hustle. As you say, by working and getting stuff done is how we have survived through the ages. I guess it means balancing work against other important factors such as rest, connection, eating properly etc, rather than endless hustle (often because everyone else seems to be doing it!)
I like how you say that LeBron James sleeps 12 hours a night because that is part of how he is a professional.
Recognising that ones’s hustle is blind or becoming one was a big one for me. Somehow the mountain that is entrepreneurship keeps gaining height and the hustle never ends.
A conscious hustle for me was about re-prioritising. I realised that a blind hustle impacted by physical and mental body and slowed down even the so-called blind hustle. A conscious hustle also feels more productive. Thanks for writing this piece
I really liked the idea of having a "work sutra". I'm gonna try this!
Here's the one I use:
May I be mindful in my work,
Seeing it as an expression of my true nature.
May I bring a spirit of care and attention
To each task,
Not seeking gain or praise,
But simply serving all beings.
As I care for this world,
I cleanse my own mind and heart.
May this work be of benefit to all.
Thank you!!