This week, I jumped back into a side hustle that I gave up at the end of last year.
I stopped because I felt like the company was taking advantage of its employees, and didn’t align with my values. It was also very difficult to find any measure of success with this company.
I thought if I redoubled my efforts, things would be different this time. It’s taken less than a week to realize what a huge mistake I’ve made.
I’ll give it the rest of the month and reevaluate, but I’m pretty sure I know the inevitable outcome. A lot of work for very little return.
Thankfully, it’s not a permanent decision. By the end of the month, I will know for sure if my original decision was correct.
Hustle culture is not for me. I’ve felt stressed all week, and the results so far haven’t been worth it. Not by a long shot.
Thankfully, the situation can be easily corrected if I still feel the same way at the end of the month.
I’m bummed, but I tried hard, and I learned a valuable lesson.
There’s this notion that if you work hard enough, you can succeed at anything, but that’s not necessarily true.
How to find success
Success takes more than hard work, or even talent. Much of it depends on luck, especially if you are an artist or writer.
Success also requires:
Being at the right place at the right time.
Connecting with the right people and audience.
Working with a company (like Substack) that values you as a writer.
These things are all important.
When you hit that sweet spot, there’s nothing like it. Everything flows. My writing here on Substack is like that. It’s enjoyable, not stressful. I’ve found my happy place.
True success flows from a supportive environment, not from hustle culture.
I have been hustling all week, and I’m exhausted. I am not an unlimited resource, and neither are you. You have to prioritize what is important.
Self-care is important, too. If we forget, our bodies and minds will keep the score.
To succeed, sometimes you need to give up.
You need to give up:
Hustle culture.
Doing what you hate.
Working for companies that don’t value you.
We don’t always have options, but when we do, we should choose wisely. Life is hard enough without making it more difficult.
Redefining success
Don’t let anyone devalue your worth.
Success is being able to live and work with integrity. You succeed when you stand up for yourself and honor your values and goals.
That’s true success.
If you feel like something is a bad fit, your intuition is probably right. Sometimes the answer isn’t to try harder. Sometimes we have to give up to succeed.
That’s what I need to do with my side hustle. I knew it was a toxic situation. That’s why I quit last December, but I let myself get sucked back in again.
Lesson learned. My intuition is usually right.
Let go of what isn’t serving you. When you do, something better will come along, and probably quicker than you think.
When you respect yourself and stand up for your values, that’s when you find true success in life.
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”—Albert Schweitzer
What do you need to give up today? What do you want in its place?
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