Get Shit Done vs. Hustle: Is There a Difference?

Entrepreneurs wake up every morning with one key goal: to get shit done. You are your own success ― you’re pushing the buttons and pulling the levers on your business machine and have to make tons of decisions that will hopefully keep pushing you forward. Onlookers may watch you in awe as you flawlessly juggle 100 tasks, phone calls, questions, and more on a daily basis and wonder how you ever do what you do.

On the surface, some might say you’re a hustler. You’re always moving, talking, doing, and most importantly, closing. But are you really a hustler? Or do you just know how to get shit done?

In today’s blog post, I’ll walk you through the subtle differences between getting shit done and hustling.

Let’s get moving…

Are You Hustlin’ or Getting Shit Done?

There’s a not-so-clear difference between hustling and taking action to make things happen, but there’s also a lot of overlap.

Hustling carries a somewhat negative connotation, so not many bona fide entrepreneurs want to be seen as hustlers. The term focuses on making money – a goal of any entrepreneur, of course – but the perception changes in the way that money comes in. Hustling focuses on the dollar figure and casts off the process, long-term planning, and personal growth and investment. As long as you’ve got money coming in, you’re not too concerned about anything else.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because after all, you are making money. But career entrepreneurs who are truly born for the role know that there’s an art to entrepreneurship. It’s not just about making quick cash, but rather building a sustainable business that will carry your career forward. It’s not just about finding one thing that works and sticking with it, but also experimenting with other things to see if you can get better results. It’s not about going with whatever makes you money, but rather finding what you’re good at and passionate about and using those skills to build a prosperous future.

Entrepreneurs put a lot of meaning behind their work, and this simply isn’t the case when you’re just hustling. Granted, some entrepreneurs start out with a side hustle to get their feet wet in the business world, and that’s fine! But if you really want to embrace and benefit from everything that entrepreneurship can offer, you’ll need to go beyond the basic hustle and start thinking long term.

Hustlers Get Shit Done, But…

It is absolutely fair to say that hustlers do know how to get shit done. In case you missed it, I covered the “Get Shit Done” approach in an earlier blog post and how to apply it to your daily life. Hustlers live by many of the methods I highlighted in that article, from time management to getting rid of distractions. Many of them even prioritize great organizational skills so they can stay on top of tasks and keep the money rolling in. If they didn’t know how to make things happen, their revenue streams would dry up and they’d be back at square one.

And, as the word ‘hustle’ implies, they go about their activities with a sense of urgency. They work quickly and often work long hours. They’re afraid to slow down because they fear missing an opportunity to close a deal or make a sale. They’re always on the lookout to gain an advantage in a situation.

People who get shit done often do the same. They’re no strangers to hard work and they know how to take control and make things happen. But getting shit done isn’t just about making sales calls, going to networking events, and closing deals. Sometimes, it’s about outsourcing tasks so you can take a vacation. It’s having a lunch date with a friend so you can stop thinking about work for a while. It’s reading a book or attending a conference for personal or professional growth.

I like to think that the main difference between a hustle vs. getting shit done comes down to this:

…It’s All About Intention

If you’re only focused on making money, you’ll be spending your days hustling. Yes, you’ll be getting shit done because that’s how money is made, right? Making money is a daily grind, whether you’re working for yourself or someone else. As an entrepreneur, you don’t want to leave any stone unturned, because you might just find that one thing that will cement your success.

intentions quote by oprah

However, when you shift to a mindset of getting shit done instead of straight hustlin’, you’re setting yourself up for the long term. You’re taking more time to plan out what you need to do in a day, week, month, or year. You’re breaking down goals into smaller tasks so you can stay focused and better manage your time.

Like most things in life, it’s all about balance. Work hard, but also know what you’re working for and what it takes to make things happen instead of just looking busy or living for the moment.

Getting Shit Done vs Hustling: Which Will You Choose?

Glorify the hustle or don’t — it’s really up to you. I don’t want to leave you with a bad taste in your mouth every time you hear the word “hustle.” Entrepreneurs need to do quite a bit of hustling to keep themselves motivated and moving forward. But they also need to realize that it’s not just about speed or dollar figures, but also how they’re setting themselves up for sustainable success. You need to be able to think about the short and long terms and create a plan that will allow you to continue to build and grow your dreams.

More specifically, just as you would think about work/life integration, it’s important to look at how you can integrate getting shit done and hustling. Both entail taking massive action to achieve your goals, but also make sure that your purpose aligns with how you want to design your own life.

Head back to my blog for more entrepreneurial insights to help you in your hustle and get shit done.

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