Edition 80 - The Hustle Culture and the Poverty Mindset

The Hustle Culture and the Poverty Mindset

Something a little different for your holiday enjoyment.

The term “hustle culture” has often been synonymous with success, wealth, and life satisfaction. It’s worn by many as a badge of honor and superiority. When we are part of this culture, there is an innate sense of competition and striving.

What is meant by a poverty mindset?

A poverty mindset is a conscious or subconscious belief that we don’t have enough. It can affect many areas of life including our financial wealth, family, relationships, education, our physical fitness, etc. It’s the feeling that we don’t ever have enough that drives us into the hustle culture.

The poverty mindset can stem from our inner beliefs about ourselves. These are mindsets that gained traction early in our formative years. These were usually based on the way our parents and those around us dealt with finances, relationships, discipline, and education. Some of these beliefs include:

1.      Money equals success. The more the better.

2.      More education (degrees, certifications, licenses, etc) demands greater respect.

3.      I must work harder than anyone else to be successful.

4.      I’ll never have enough.

5. I'll never be like ________ (fill in the blank).

The poverty mindset can drive our internal hustle. It says we are always lacking.  We must work harder. We must do more. And more. And more. It is fear based.

It’s a recipe for burnout and intense dissatisfaction in life. Doing more actually sucks the life out of us to the point we are not happy or satisfied with most things.

Unfortunately, no amount of hustle will overcome this mindset. A shift is required in how we think about success, meaningfulness, and purpose.

Asking yourself these questions may help you determine your path forward and help you identify the areas where a poverty mindset has been operating in your life.

1.      What is my purpose in life? (Why do I do what I do?)

2.      What do I enjoy doing?

3.      What are the best parts of my work/vocation/business?

4.      If I had more money, what would I do?

5.      What is my definition of success? Why do I feel that way?

6.      Do I have several close friends that I regularly spend quality time with?

7.      Am I a disciplined person?

8.      What areas of life do I recognize the need for improvement?

Hustle culture is not a healthy culture. Figuring out the motivations behind our actions is a good first step in determining where and how we apply our energy.

Steve Platia has been developing and leading high-performing teams, products, and processes in the renewable energy, manufacturing, oil/gas, and construction industries for over 30 years. He can be reached at platsteve@gmail.com or (918) 269-0472.