Why Hustle Culture is a Lie (and How I Gained Momentum Instead)
I have found myself very productive lately. But I mean a quality productivity; not just the kind where you sit in a chair for 10 hours a day moving things around. From the consistency of writing this weekly newsletter to building my AI-powered education platform, and even enjoying my work at the law firm more, I’ve found a rhythm. I’m even launching a podcast this week!
But this hasn’t always been the case for me
A couple of years ago, I was overwhelmed by the most mundane tasks. I had over a thousand dollars worth of online shopping returns mocking me; items that didn’t work out sat in boxes for months because I didn’t have an ounce of energy to take action. Refunds that I needed to fight for without an ounce of extra energy to spend on that. I was in basic survival mode without even realizing it.
From the outside, I was "functioning." I was showing up to work and hiring people. But internally? I was hesitant. I’d wait months to fire the wrong people, and months to replace them once they left. You can imagine what that does to the morale of a small business. At the time, I didn't think I was depressed, but looking back, I know I wasn't living anywhere near my potential.
I was in such a rut that no "5 AM Club" or "Five Second Rule" could save me. Honestly, reading those aggressively ambitious "10X" books just made me more exhausted. I even remember attending a Tony Robbins seminar and realizing that for me, change cannot come from a place of fear. Real change comes from a deep place of gratitude; enjoying what I currently have while knowing I want more.
The Turning Point
Fast forward a few months, and I barely recognize that version of myself. It didn’t happen overnight. It started when I began working with my coach, Ashley. I admired how she showed up as a prolific artist; writing books, creating graphics, and painting; all while running coaching programs. I knew she had cracked a code I hadn't yet deciphered.
So, how did I get unstuck? It started with a 30-day "sprint" to birth the BusinessBliss website.
The "Choose Your Own Adventure" Strategy
Ashley helped me develop "Short Quests" and "Long Quests." Long quests are the supporting habits (like my daily walks and meditation), while short quests are bite-sized projects.
Instead of a rigid to-do list, we created a Bingo Card. This was a game-changer. Instead of pre-deciding my day; which always felt restricting, I had the freedom to look at the card and "choose my own adventure" based on my energy.
Investing in the Vision
I also learned to stop trying to do everything on a shoestring budget like there was a trophy for suffering. I hired a Squarespace developer. I utilized my marketing assistant’s artistic eye to build mood boards. Our brand colors actually came from a book cover I fell in love with over the summer (yes, I’m a person who judges books by their covers!).
Repairing Self-Trust
The biggest shift, however, was internal. Ashley asked me: "What skills are you trying to learn by making this project happen?"
I realized I was trying to repair my self-trust.
I’ve wanted to launch an educational course since 2018, but I felt like I'd be doing people a disservice by just giving them videos and worksheets. It wasn’t until AI became prevalent that I realized I could pair my legal expertise with an AI companion. Now, I can give people a human foundation plus a tool that builds skeleton agreements they can take to their lawyers.
The Lesson
I stopped looking at BusinessBliss as something I had to make happen and started looking at it as something that would be fun to have. The pressure to "perform" lifted.
I started seizing "pockets" of time: 10, 20, or 30 minutes. I realized that a little bit of consistency daily accumulates to far more than a three-hour burst once a month.
If you’re feeling stuck in the "hustle," remember: You don’t have to do it all alone, and you don’t have to do it all at once. There is immense power in small, consistent, joyful action.