From Frenzy to Focus: Lori Reeves Of BrandStrength On How We Can Cancel Hustle Culture And Create A New Sustainable Work Paradigm
An Interview With Drew Gerber
Allow yourself the freedom to follow your own path. Despite external pressures, remember that you have the ultimate say in your own business. It’s perfectly fine if others approach things differently. Discover what works best for you and grant yourself permission to pursue only that.
“Hustle Culture” is an ethos often propounded by young self-proclaimed internet gurus that centers around the idea that working long hours and sacrificing self-care are required to succeed. This mentality may have gained popularity in the mid-2010s, but it has peaked, and now it has been sardonically renamed “Burnout Culture.” So why exactly is Hustle Culture the wrong path to take? What damage can it cause? What is a viable, sustainable alternative to hustle culture? How can we move from Frenzy To Focus? In this interview series, we are talking to business leaders, mental health leaders, marketing experts, business coaches, authors, and thought leaders who can share stories and insights about “How We Can Cancel Hustle Culture And Create A New Sustainable Work Paradigm.” As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Lori Reeves.
Lori Reeves, a seasoned marketing veteran and founder of BrandStrength, leads the Solopreneur Success Club. With over two decades of experience, Lori has coached hundreds of solopreneurs, helping them establish solid brand foundations and stand out in their markets. Through efficient action tasks, focused coworking calls, and personalized guidance, Lori empowers members to unlock their full potential and create lucrative and fulfilling lives as successful solopreneurs.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to know how you got from “there to here.” Inspire us with your backstory! Tell us about your typical day!
I typically spend my days doing my favorite thing — dreaming up ways I can help solopreneurs get more done in less time! That’s the complete focus of the Solopreneur Success Club and at the heart of everything I do, both for myself as a solopreneur, and for my clients. So, my days consist of brainstorming ideas, bringing those ideas to life, sharing about what I’m doing on social media, and interacting with my clients and students. It’s the life of my dreams!
What lessons would you share with yourself if you had the opportunity to meet your younger self?
Here’s an important lesson I wish I had known before: Waiting for confidence to take action is like waiting for a treasure at the end of a rainbow — it won’t happen. The truth is, it won’t feel easier until you take that leap of faith and start showing the world who you are.
Sure, it can feel uncomfortable to stand out, to step into the spotlight and let others see you. But if deep down you believe in your ability to make a difference, then go for it. Embrace the discomfort, overcome the fear, and trust that your unique talents and perspective can change lives.
Here’s another important truth I wish I had known: Your way of doing things, even if it’s different, is what makes you special — the secret ingredient that sets you apart. As new entrepreneurs, we often try to fit in and follow others to find success. But let me tell you something: blending in won’t make you stand out.
Instead of hiding your individuality and trying to be like everyone else, embrace what makes you wonderfully different. Celebrate your quirks, your unconventional ideas, and your unique approach. It’s these very qualities that will propel you forward, launching both yourself and your business to new heights.
Ok, thank you for sharing your inspired life. Let’s start with a basic definition to make sure that all of us are on the same page. How do you define Hustle Culture?
In our fast and busy world, hustle culture can seem like something we have to embrace to succeed. It makes us believe that we must sacrifice our well-being and push ourselves to the extreme to achieve our goals.
I see hustle culture as a captivating trick, tempting us with promises of success and praise. It convinces us to ignore the gentle whispers from our bodies and souls, telling us to keep going at all costs. But in this constant chase for getting things done, we unknowingly give up the things that truly matter in our lives and work, the things that bring meaning and make a difference.
Now let’s discuss an alternative to Hustle Culture. To begin, can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority on the problems that come with Hustle Culture?
During my early years as a web designer, I had an amazing chance to work with entrepreneurs from various fields. It was like sitting right at the front, witnessing their journeys. And guess what? I noticed something common among them all. They had this incredible drive and were always hustling, trying to do a million things at once.
But here’s the surprising part: Despite their strong desire for success and peace of mind, they seemed lost, unsure of which way to go. It was like they were trapped in a whirlwind of chaos, desperately searching for meaning amid all the confusion.
Seeing this up close helped me understand how Hustle Culture affects even the most determined people. It’s kind of sad, actually. The more they pushed themselves to make a name, the more exhausted and disappointed they felt.
What really saddened me the most was a troubling trend I noticed — entrepreneur after entrepreneur expressing doubts and considering giving up on their dreams.
As I listened to their heartfelt frustrations, a sense of urgency stirred within me. I felt the need to address the underlying reasons behind their discouragement. Witnessing individuals with incredible talents and untapped potential doubting themselves was a wake-up call. It showed me the pressing need to challenge the prevailing belief that success only comes through nonstop hustle and sacrifice.
The specific term “Hustle Culture” may have been popularized in the 2010s, but the concept behind it and the behaviors that come with it can be traced back hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years. From your vantage point, experience, or research, what were the main drivers of Hustle Culture?
A big reason why hustle culture exists is because we’re afraid of looking like beginners. When we were kids, we didn’t mind learning and trying new things without feeling embarrassed. But as we grow up, there’s this unspoken rule that says we always have to be good at everything, leaving no space for learning and making mistakes.
This change in how we see things has a big impact. We start to believe that hustling is the only answer, constantly trying to do as much as possible in the shortest time. The pressure to seem like we have everything figured out becomes really strong, pushing us to skip important stages of personal growth.
I work in the marketing industry, and so I’m very cognizant of this question. What role do you see that marketing and advertising has played in creating the frenzy caused by Hustle Culture that many of us feel?
We’re constantly exposed to images and messages that create a false idea that we should always be ahead in our entrepreneurial journey.
It’s important to remember that the people we see in marketing and advertising may be much more advanced in their own paths than we are. But we often forget this and start comparing ourselves, feeling pressured to be just like them.
The images and stories we see can be deceptive, showing us an incomplete picture that doesn’t capture the real struggles and difficulties of entrepreneurship. This leads us to have unrealistic expectations and think that we have to constantly hustle to succeed.
Can you help articulate the downsides of Hustle Culture? Why is this an unsustainable work paradigm?
Hustle culture tricks us into thinking that doing as many tasks as possible in a short time is more important than doing them well. It makes us believe that being busy all the time is glamorous, but in truth, it prevents us from producing high-quality work.
We give up on thoughtful thinking and deep creativity to rush through tasks, which leads to lower-quality results. We end up spending more time fixing mistakes, which is a waste.
In this never-ending pursuit of quantity, we forget the importance of slowing down, improving our skills, and nurturing our creativity. It is in those calm moments when we can concentrate and let our true brilliance shine.
Let’s now discuss Focus, the opposite of Frenzy. Can you please share one area of your personal or business life where you simplified things and then felt less frenzied and more fulfilled? Can you please explain?
In my work and teachings, being efficient is really important. Recently, I discovered a technique that changed the game for creating lots of social media graphics in just a few minutes. This meant I could make posts and schedule them confidently, knowing they would have a big impact for a long time without needing constant checking or changes.
Realizing how much time this could save in the coming months, I felt like I had to share this amazing knowledge.
In just a few days, I put together a workshop where I guided my students, step by step, on how to use my approach and get the same amazing results in just a few minutes of their own time.
I made sure to give it my all, and the final outcome exceeded their expectations. So far, more than 500 students have joined the workshop and they have been super happy with it. They say it has changed their lives by saving them so much time and letting them focus on other important parts of their businesses.
One woman even told me that my workshop was the difference between her posting on social media and avoiding it altogether.
What life experiences have you adopted in your business or personal life that have left you more satisfied? Can you please explain?
Mindfulness practices have been a game-changer for me, both in my business and life satisfaction. A mind that is not managed can wreak havoc, particularly in the entrepreneurial journey, as its primary goal is to ensure our safety and survival. However, the mind does not view the path of an entrepreneur as “safe” in any sense.
Without proper care and management, our thoughts can easily derail us and hinder our progress. It is crucial to cultivate mindfulness and not take every passing thought too seriously.
To foster this mindful approach, I prioritize daily moments of reading or listening to materials that ground me in the present. I engage in calming exercises like breathwork, allowing myself to center and refocus. Embracing a positive and encouraging mindset also plays a vital role in my practice.
By consistently nurturing these mindfulness habits, I empower myself to navigate the entrepreneurial journey with greater clarity, resilience, and a sense of inner peace.
Okay, fantastic. Here is the main part of our interview. In your opinion, how can we break the addiction to being busy or trying to find the next big thing? How can people truly focus on tasks that make THE difference to their business and lives giving them satisfaction or life purpose alignment? Based on your experience and your area of expertise, can you please share “Five Ways To Move From Frenzy to Focused”?
1. Direct your attention inward, away from comparing yourself to others. By freeing yourself from the trap of comparison, you can liberate yourself from the constant need to measure up and escape the cycle of hustle culture. Instead of seeking validation externally, focus on your own progress, growth, and unique journey. Embrace your individuality and celebrate your own achievements without the burden of comparison. Remember, your worth is not determined by how you stack up against others, but by the value you bring to the world in your own authentic way.
2. Reframe your understanding of “not hustling.” Don’t let the notion of not hustling deceive you into thinking it means being less effective or making a smaller impact. Challenge the mindset trap that hinders your progress and holds you back. Recognize that not hustling doesn’t equate to laziness or mediocrity. It’s about finding a balance that allows you to work smarter, not just harder. By prioritizing meaningful and focused actions, you can achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in your endeavors. Embrace the idea that success doesn’t always require relentless busyness, but rather intentional and purposeful work that aligns with your goals and values.
3. Look for mentors and teachers who believe in maintaining a healthy balance between work and life. Not everyone in the online marketing world shares the same views. Some emphasize the importance of working harder than anyone else, proudly wearing busyness and constant action as a mark of distinction. On the other hand, there are those who encourage focused effort and taking care of your mind and body while building your business. If you ever feel pressured to do more than you’re comfortable with, take a moment to consider who is influencing you and why they might be making you feel that way.
4. Take a moment to assess your activities and determine what is truly effective. Evaluation can be as easy as asking yourself three questions: 1. What is working successfully? 2. What is not going as planned? 3. How would I approach it differently next time? Be truthful with yourself about what is not going well and consider eliminating or pausing those tasks. This way, you can invest more of your valuable time on the activities that are yielding positive results for you.
5. Allow yourself the freedom to follow your own path. Despite external pressures, remember that you have the ultimate say in your own business. It’s perfectly fine if others approach things differently. Discover what works best for you and grant yourself permission to pursue only that.
How would you describe a work paradigm that is a viable alternative to Hustle Culture? What would it look like, and what would you call it?
This question makes me smile because it’s exactly the approach I foster within my membership community, The Solopreneur Success Club. This unique program is designed to empower solopreneurs to achieve more in less time, transcending the frenzy and finding fulfillment in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
The Solopreneur Success Club combines coaching, mentoring, and teaching, catering specifically to the needs of solopreneurs. Recognizing that confusion often hinders progress, I not only provide time-saving strategies, workshops, and valuable resources, but also offer personalized support to address their individual questions and guide them towards tangible growth.
In a world that desperately needs people to step up and make a difference, countless individuals have answered the call by venturing into entrepreneurship. However, many find themselves overwhelmed, bewildered, and burdened by the demands of their endeavors.
That’s where my mission comes into play — to assist as many solopreneurs as possible in making a profound impact on the world.
I dared to dream of a world where solopreneurs could bask in the glory of control, productivity, and resounding success. Fueled by this vision, I embarked on a mission to craft a transformative program that would turn this dream into a reality for many.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that have inspired you about working differently?
I love the books “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle and “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks. And, I love to listen to courses and tracks by my favorite instructor, Reuben Lowe, on Insight Timer.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can inspire.
If I could inspire a movement to bring immense goodness to countless lives, it would be centered around breaking down the barriers to entrepreneurial resources and success. Many individuals yearn to make a meaningful difference in the world, yet they often become lost in the complex landscape of entrepreneurship, hindering their ability to fulfill their dreams and make an impact in the lives of others.
This passionate vision fuels my unwavering commitment to empower both aspiring entrepreneurs and those already on their journey, facing their own challenges. My purpose is to provide them with invaluable knowledge, essential tools, and abundant resources that will help them overcome obstacles and achieve resounding success.
By igniting this movement, we can unleash the untapped potential of countless individuals, enabling them to create transformative impact and shape a brighter future for themselves and our world.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
I can be reached through my website (https://brandstrength.co) and my social media channels: Facebook (https://facebook.com/solopreneursuccesscoach), Instagram (https://instagram.com/brandstrength), and LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/lori-nelson-reeves).
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
Thank you so much for having me! It’s been a pleasure!
About The Interviewer: For 30 years, Drew Gerber has been inspiring those who want to change the world. Drew is the CEO of Wasabi Publicity, Inc., a full-service PR agency lauded by PR Week and Good Morning America. Wasabi Publicity, Inc. is a global marketing company that supports industry leaders, change agents, unconventional thinkers, companies and organizations that strive to make a difference. Whether it’s branding, traditional PR or social media marketing, every campaign is instilled with passion, creativity and brilliance to powerfully tell their clients’ story and amplify their intentions in the world. Schedule a free consultation at WasabiPublicity.com/Choosing-Publicity.
