Hey, fellow entrepreneurs – brace yourself for a potentially uncomfortable question. Have you ever stopped to consider if the whole concept of ‘hustle culture,’ where you grind 24/7 and sacrifice everything for success, is not far off from the deceptive promise of a pyramid scheme?
Think about it. Pyramid schemes thrive on the idea that if you just work hard enough and recruit sufficiently, you’ll reach the pinnacle of financial independence and luxury. Sounds familiar? The hustle culture narratives often parrot this same tune: Work around the clock, say goodbye to your social life, and you’ll be rewarded with entrepreneurial nirvana.
But here’s the controversial bit: Isn’t this promise equally misleading? We celebrate the few who make it, plastering their faces on Forbes and glorifying their bank accounts, but ignore the silent majority suffering from burnout, broken relationships, and spiraling mental health. The narrative dangerously implies that those who fail just ‘didn’t hustle hard enough.’
Are we simply perpetuating a toxic cycle that’s as risky and destructive as the schemes we publicly condemn?
Let’s have an honest conversation. Are we unfairly romanticizing overworking, or is this ‘extreme work ethic’ a necessary step on the ladder to success? Where do we draw the line, and how do we build sustainable, healthy entrepreneurial ventures without falling into this trap?
Ready for the heat
Other have said it better than I could, so I’ll just add one thing. The hustle culture does not tend to address WHAT you’re doing or WHY you’re doing it. Financial independence, sure. But why and how are you getting there?
What I’m saying is that it is treating entrepreneurship and business like a numbers game, like the top comment’s good example about “turning $1000 dollars into $10000” posts. Very rarely do you talk about adding VALUE, helping people with what you’re doing, selling, etc. It is truly just a cash grab and “how much do you make a month” mindset.
When I’m considering a business pursuit or a job, one of the questions I ask myself is “how do this bless my neighbor?” Are you providing good jobs/work for people? Beneficial services? Valuable products? This is the type of thing I wish I saw more chatter about in these kinds of groups.