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Hustle culture has presented itself as one of the easiest traps to fall into in our American society. Maximizing productivity and acquiring financial success can seem tantamount to a happy life, but such is not the case. It is important not to conflate financial success with finding meaning and fulfillment within your occupation and day-to-day life.
Consider your own finite lifetime. Will you regret that you spent too much time with your family and friends, wishing you worked harder and made more money? It is a shame that we live in a culture that places far too much value on job titles and high paying salaries while not placing very much value on living a meaningful, fulfilling life. That part is left up to the individual.
The trap that hustle culture sets is simple: the key to happiness is to work as hard as you can and make as much money as you can before you die. Seneca warned us against such a trap centuries ago in his essay On the Shortness of Life in which he says “life ceases for the rest of us just when we are getting ready for it…It is not we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”
What I posit to you is that there is some sort of balance to be achieved between financial security and fulfillment in your occupation. Our professional lives should not be concerned with maximizing productivity, but rather maximizing meaning. Adopting such a view is difficult because of how enticing job titles and high paying salaries are, but also crucial so that we do not fall into this trap that Seneca warned us about.
Many entrepreneurs and the essence of entrepreneurship itself embrace this balance and mindset. Entrepreneurs take risks in order to do what they love. It should go without saying that doing what you love is a spectacular way to maximize meaning in your life. Nevertheless, it is incredibly difficult to get started.
So, while there is not right way to achieve this balance and no two individuals will take up the same path, here is some advice, both professional and personal:
And lastly….
Embodying such a mindset will help you to maximize meaning in your life. Whatever you choose to do, whether it be as an entrepreneur, teacher, hairdresser, mechanic, journalist, accountant, nurse, or engineer, be conscious. Pay attention to yourself and the people around you. Remember that life is a gift and that living a meaningful life is the best we can ever do with it. Keep these things in mind and you may look back and see that it was the most important thing you’ve ever done.
Did you enjoy this article? Check out similar content here: Business 101 – How to Disrupt an Industry and Find Your Passion?
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