Negative Side Effects of the Hustle & How to Deal With It

negative side effects of the hustle

At some point or another, every successful entrepreneur experiences the negative side effects of the hustle. Every day is not smooth by any stretch of the imagination and usually what you expect to happen does just the opposite. So you have to be a chameleon and change with your environment otherwise you will get chewed up and spit out.

If you don’t experience any backlash from your hustle, then you’re not hustling hard enough. Sorry, but you’re not. As the saying goes, anything in life worth having doesn’t come easy. The hustle is no different. You’ll have to make sacrifices, you’ll realize your job is never done, and you’ll compare yourself to everyone else around you… but that’s normal. So let’s talk about it, shall we?

you have to make sacrifices

If you are fully committed to making your side hustle work, you will 100% have to make sacrifices… like a lot of sacrifices. But that shouldn’t scare you because you have control over what and how much you sacrifice.

I’m also not saying that you have to give up your entire life if you want to succeed, though, the more time and effort you invest in something, the more you will reap the benefits from it.

You can have it all, just not all at the same time.

At different stages of your life you’ll feel more called to do certain things than others. In your 20s you may be focused on your social life, in your 30s you may be starting a family, in your 40s you may commit to traveling, 50s going through a mid life crisis (kidding, sort of)… you get the picture.

The point is that if you really want your “big idea” to work, it needs to be at the forefront of all these different times of your life despite what everyone else your age is doing.

For example, when I was in my early 20s I knew I wanted to do something “big”, but I also knew I wanted to “live it up”, travel, and have fun because I thought your life ended after 25. Turns out, life is still good.

However, I really do believe my life could have been even better now had I hustled my ass off during my early 20s instead of wasted them getting wasted, (hi mom! Just kidding I’ve actually never been a big drinker).

Anyway, had I blogged a little longer, researched a little harder, and invested a little smarter I would probably be much further along than I am now; but then I wouldn’t have had all the experiences leading up to right now. So it’s really just give and take and a game of sacrifice.

your job is never done

As an entrepreneur/blogger, your job is never done. There’s always one more email to send, one more piece of content to edit, one more video to create… it never ends! This can literally consume you and you can become obsessed with “making it”, which is both a good thing and bad.

You could work around the clock 24/7 365 and STILL have something to do. This means it can be hard to relax because you’re thinking of what you should be doing. Even reading a self-development book becomes a task, despite it being educational.

The reality of running a business is that because the majority, if not all, the responsibility is on you, you always want to give your best and be the best. And being the best means dedicating a lot, a lot of time.

There are always ways to expand and grow your business. It’s kind of addicting actually. And if that’s not something that interests you then you have to find a way to shut it off and be satisfied because like I said, your job is never done.

you compete & compare

The thing about being an entrepreneur is you’re your own boss. You’re the founder, CEO, customer service representative, content creator, sales department, and creative director. This means you always have to be on your A game and keep an eye on your competition, which is both proactive and dangerous.

When you see your competition doing cooler things than you with higher quality content, it can be super discouraging. It’s easy to fall into the trap of the comparison game and feel like you’re not worthy enough.

Plus if your competition “beats” you, you go into the blame and complain game and totally rip yourself a new one for letting it happen. That’s a lot of… stuff to deal with!

On top of all that, you’re also in competition with yourself. You’re always looking for ways to improve, innovate, and expedite your content/business. That in itself is a full-time job trying to keep up with everything.

It’s exhausting to say the least. But here’s the thing, there will always be someone above you and below you so cut yourself some slack and know that comparing, complaining, and competing will get you nowhere.

What is your biggest blogging challenge? Tell me in the comments below!

xx

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6 Comments

  • Reply
    Sheila Joy
    04/04/2017 at 7:34 am

    I’m really glad I found your blog and thank you for writing this! I feel the same about “slacking off” in my early 20s and I had the chance right then and there to grow my blog and it would probably be thriving right now (I’m about to turn 27!) But I also have to remind myself of all the life lessons I learned during those years that make up who I am today. It’s a balance!

    http://www.insearchofsheila.com
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    • Reply
      brittany
      04/05/2017 at 9:59 pm

      You’re still young! You have time… and quite frankly so do I. We need to be less hard on ourselves, ha! I love your outlook Sheila, you’re going to do just fine, I can feel it. Thanks so much for your sweet comment. xx

  • Reply
    Leicie
    04/11/2017 at 10:49 pm

    This spoke to me, and I think it’s because being a libra I am constantly wanting balance. I want balance in my intimate life, social life, everything. I definitely felt the same way in my early 20s. I knew I was supposed to do something big I just didn’t know what or how I would get there. I never focused on “meinc.” I focused on working for other people and working full time and trying to go to school full time instead of just taking a step back and focusing on what I wanted to do and what I loved to do. It took 27 years to realize it and the last 2.5 years putting together the pieces to find out what it is that I love to do and what I can and am good at. I have made a lot of sacrifices and most of them being this year. I have taken a lot of me time, I quit the job I hated, I pulled away from people, cut people out, pushed people away, and have stepped back from my social life almost completely to fully focus on where I am going and what is best for me and to be honest with you, it has pissed people in my life off, caused drama even because I don’t “make time for them” but I know deep down inside that the people who are meant to be will be there in the end.

    I think that it’s truly about the game, the journey in all its forms good and bad and I am loving every part of it and getting to know myself …getting to know the woman that I have become and the change I have embraced and the life choices I have made for myself so that I may lead the life I want and that includes all the sacrifices socially and financially. Brittany, you are strong, and you are inspiring life has so much ahead for you in your journey and I am thankful for myself and all your readers as we get to watch it unfold so thank you for making us a part of your journey and taking us along the hustle with you. I get that its hard work I am right there with you! It’s the work that gives the humble and the worthiness.

    Thanks for this post!

    • Reply
      brittany
      04/20/2017 at 3:38 pm

      Wow Leicie! It certainly sounds like you are on your way and I am so thrilled for you! Sometimes shit just hits us like a ton of bricks and we’re like “ohhhh ok, that’s what this is about” and like you said, the pieces just fall together. If you have a blog I hope you blogged about this experience because I think it’s something a lot of people can relate to! I too believe it’s about the journey more so than the destination, the climb is half the fun! I absolutely loved hearing your story, thank you so much for sharing it with me. Please stay in touch! xx

    • Reply
      Dhwani Parikh
      05/19/2017 at 11:57 pm

      Its so good to hear that. Im 29 and feel all that resentment of not being able to find who you truly are because of whatever reasons we all had. I wish more women would understand this and talk about this. This would be truly supporting women because deep down we are all the same. Keep it up Brittany:)

      • Reply
        Brittany
        05/22/2017 at 12:42 pm

        Yes! I believe a lot of women experience a lot of regret in their late 20s which is funny because in our 30s and 40s we’ll probably think the same thing! Thanks so much for your support Dhwani. I created Not Another Blonde to be that open, judgement-free space for all aspiring girlbosses so feel free to speak your mind here at any time! xx

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