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Sacrificing Sanity for an Entrepreneurial Mindset
If I had a dime for every time I saw an alleged “business guru” peddling some entrepreneurial snake oil, I wouldn’t need to start my own business. It’s curious how so many of these experts haven’t actually started a business (many of them are just upper-level participants in MLMs or took over Daddy’s company) … and not at all surprising that they believe in the mythical entrepreneurial mindset.
As someone who has written a lot about entrepreneurship, I won’t deny that mindset plays a big role in your startup’s success. But it’s not what this famous mindset is often portrayed as. An unwavering belief that you will become wealthy simply because you work hard is the devastating effect of the Protestant work ethic — the idea that noble people work hard and hardworking working people gain access to heaven.
However, fetishizing hard work leads us to burnout, happiness, and potentially immoral choices. Plus, burnout drives us mad. So, how can we pursue our entrepreneurial journeys while staying sane?
The Problem with the Daily Hustle
The Protestant Work Ethic wormed its way into entrepreneurship circles as well as MLMs. The message is painfully clear: you must hustle 24/7 to achieve your goals. If you don’t, you just don’t want it badly enough. And your success is…
