I’m Bad at Hustling.

No seriously.  I’m really not great at hustling.

The word hustle has become synonymous in the leadership space and business community with people who get things done. Who will stop at nothing to close the deal. Who will execute like crazy. Who can’t stop and won’t stop.

Even my good friend and my Catalyst predecessor, Brad Lomenick, has written a great book articulating the need for hustle.

To be very honest, I feel bad that I don’t have that kind of drive.  My motivation does not work that way.  Does that mean I’m not cut out for business or leadership?

The other day I realized I wanted to write about this and then saw this Instagram picture on her InstaStories from Brooke Fraser Ligertwood.

 

 

Hmmm.  That’s an interesting definition.

I remember someone asking me recently, “Do you just love your JOB?” I thought about it for a minute and realized something.  I do love the mission I’ve been called to.  I love the people I get to serve with and the leaders we get to serve. I love the Church.  I truly love leadership.

But….it’s all still a JOB. A vocation. I don’t want to work all the time.  I’d rather be playing horse with my kids. Or golf with my friends. Or on a date with my wife. I’m just not that motivated to work all the time.  I know that the leaders that are talking hustle are talking about pushing. I know they are talking about going after the dreams you have. But what if I’m not naturally motivated by achievement?

In Daniel Goleman’s groundbreaking article in the 90s explaining emotional intelligence, he talks about the FIVE attributes that make up EQ.

Self-Awareness 

Self-Regulation

Motivation

Empathy 

Social Skill

When I first looked at these I asked myself, “Which of these attributes would be the lowest or most unnatural for me?” Easy. Motivation. I’m just not intrinsically motivated to achieve for achieving sake. I really don’t care if I’m real honest.

So what to do? I’m not motivated to achieve for achievement sake? I’m clearly not great at or driven to hustle. Well what am I good at?  Will I amount to anything in leadership?  I have seriously asked myself these questions for years. Others have asked me these questions in a far less kind way.

Then I got it. You know. IT. I figured it out.

I’m really good with relationships and people. Matter of fact, the Lord has gifted me in this area. Is there a correlation to that with hustle? YEP.

I realized that as soon as a set of eyeballs enters the equation, my motivation goes through the roof.  You know when I hustle? It’s when I’m serving others. Listen. I’m not saying this in a self-righteous way. I’m truly, internally motivated by others. Making them great. Lifting up their gifts. Allowing them to be successful. That’s the kind of hustle that comes naturally to me. And that’s the kind of hustle I can do all day, everyday.

I guess I just assumed I’m not the only one who feels that way. I bet there are a bunch of leaders that are feeling guilty like I do when I don’t feel the hustle bug biting me. Maybe it’s just the definition of hustle is different for each of us.  And to all my good friends who love to talk about hustle, keep getting after it. I’m just a little different.

See what I mean? I’m just not good at hustle.

Are you good at Hustling?