It’s Not You, It’s Me — Using the “H” Word.

This article was originally posted on LinkedIn

After much thought and discussion with others, I have come to the conclusion that my dislike of the word “To Hustle “ or “Hustler” maybe a generational thing and that the word hustle has changed meaning into something else that I don’t understand and I need a lesson. Please explain it to me…

When I was a boy the words “To Hustle” or being a “Hustler” was a very negative term and I will refer to it as the “H” word.

Something that has bothered me in 2015 was the over glorifying of the “H” word. It wasn’t until yesterday that I realized why I have such discontent for the word. Please excuse my use of the “H” word me while I try to explain below:

The first reason is that to claim you hustle is a form of chest beating or bragging about doing work and claiming(indirectly) to hustle that you are working harder than other people and the other people(whoever they are) should know it too. I am too old school to use the term hustler in this way(please understand it is me not you).

I don’t feel any need to brag about going to work, doing work or working weekends and nights to achieve my goals. Some of the “best workers” I know have high expectations for the quality of their work and they deliver it without it being trophy to show off in public. In my eyes, they have ever right to beat their chest like King Kong but don’t have time, they are working.

Lets be clear, I am not against being proud, tooting your own horn or even out right bragging when bragging has substance or even a little purpose but to brag about relative things is pointless.

For example; to brag that I am smarter than the rest of my friends or that I work harder then everyone else is pointless and arrogant.

With that said, it is OK brag about winning something or being the best at something, like best sales person of the year, etc. This is much more acceptable as long it is kept to an acceptable minimum.

The second reason comes from my youth. When I was growing up in the last millennium if someone said that they were hustled into buying something or doing something then it was a negative thing. A person that hustled was to be called a HUSTLER and a Hustler couldn’t and shouldnt be trusted. It is for this reason(it is me not you) that I have negative feeling about glorifying the term hustle or to be a hustler.

In conclusion, maybe it is me that is over sensitive or it is generational definition of the the “H” word but I find it too difficult to take serious when the “H” word is being thrown around like balloons at my kids birthday party. I would like to have a discussion on how the “H” word is used today and its modern definition.