One of the most commonly used terms when discussing the modern workplace is hustle culture. Alongside terms like quiet quitting and firing, hustle culture describes how fast-paced and taxing everyday work life can be.
However, many well-known individuals and influencers also define hustle culture as positive and desirable. They say that hustle culture is a good thing and has helped them succeed in life and work. Thus, they advocate for others to do the same.
Coincidentally, many of these advocates are often wealthy business owners themselves. Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?
So what exactly is hustle culture? Let’s find out.
What is It, Then?
Hustle culture refers to the mentality that you must always be working to achieve success. Work must be your end all, be all. Other terms used to call this mentality are the grind or burnout culture.
Following this mindset means devoting most of your time to work while spending little to no time on rest, relaxation, and hobbies. After all, these don’t contribute to gaining income nor ascending the career ladder. So why bother pursuing them now? Once you’ve achieved your goals, you can allocate time for them.
For some countries like the US, hustle culture is considered something to be followed. The idea of the American dream supports this, as it upholds that anyone can achieve their dreams if they work hard and persevere at their jobs.
Hustle culture in the Philippines is quite similar to that in America, unsurprisingly. Filipinos believe that hard work and determination are the keys to success. It doesn’t matter if the job doesn’t pay well, so long as you have a job, right?
Where Did It Originate?
Despite being a recent term, hustle culture has been present in the workplace for a long time.
As early as the 1970s, signs of this mindset started to appear in the form of workaholism. This is due to the rapid development of industry, which led to employees being required to work at a faster pace with no time limits.
Workaholism further increased in the 1990s with the rise of technology companies. And with it, a more fast-paced and demanding kind of work.
Fast forward to the present, many influential billionaires on social media, like Elon Musk and Gary Vaynerchuck or Gary Vee, have begun promoting hustle culture.
In a post he made on Twitter, Elon Musk shared that he puts eighty to one hundred twenty hours per week into work. He then suggested that other business leaders should follow his example.
Why is Hustle Culture Popular?
Many people find hustle culture appealing, despite the problems that following this mindset causes. Why is that, you may ask? Here are some of the reasons:
Some People Just Love Working Hard.
That’s it, really. There are just some people that take great joy and pride in working.
These people aren’t necessarily overly-competitive nor overly ambitious, mind you. They feel like work gives them a purpose and direction and they find satisfaction in accomplishing their tasks.
They’re Enamoured by the “Rags to Riches” Stories of Influencers.
Another reason people are attracted to hustle culture is mainly due to the many “rags to riches” stories from influencers on social media.
These stories often claim how these influencers “started from nothing” and climbed their way to success from hard work alone. If they can do it, why shouldn’t you?
The problem with these types of stories is that they’re often very misleading. These influencers don’t mention that they either had the support of their well-to-do parents, already had existing wealth in the form of an inheritance or trust fund, or some other financial safety net.
The Current Economic Situation Means People Have to Work More to Make Ends Meet.
Despite the slow recovery of the country’s economy, many Filipinos still struggle financially today. Since many companies are still recovering from the pandemic, stable jobs are hard to find.
Because of this, many Filipino workers today take on several jobs to pay their bills, support their families, etc. This leads to the idea that it’s better to have multiple jobs, so that if you lose one, you still have a backup.
Work Hard, Work All the Time.
Whether you’re working in an office or online, our jobs have become an integral part of our daily lives. Aside from being our primary source of income, it also gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
Because of this, some people have built their entire lives around working. From the moment they wake up to the time before they go to bed, they must be doing something that earns them income. This mindset is called hustle culture.
Despite its popularity, a word of caution is advised for those who wish to subscribe to this mindset. Burnout, increased stress, and decreased productivity due to exhaustion are just some of the issues that following this mindset could cause.
If you’re looking for opportunities for lucrative sidelines, look no further. Just head into Remote Staff’s jobs page and see the various online jobs you can apply for. Good luck!
