I work from the moment I wake up, to the moment I go to bed. And I work 7 days a week. And when I’m not working, I’m thinking about working. And when I’m working, I’m working.”
— NVIDIA CEO, Jensen Huang
Hustle Culture is Toxic: It’s Time to Leave it in the Past
I’m really concerned by how many people I’ve seen lauding this quote and this way of thinking. Because hustle culture is dead. Can we please leave it that way?
Look. I, too, am extremely driven. I grew up in that Silicon Valley hustle culture, working round the clock. It was cool to be at your desk on a Sunday, to boast about working 24/7.
But with more perspective, I now see there’s a big difference between doing our BEST work versus working to the extreme all the time.
As a fintech founder and CEO of Orum, I certainly think about my company a lot — when I’m running, at 2am when I can’t sleep, etc. And yes, sometimes those all-nighters and days of all-out sprints are necessary.
Team Orum knows our customers depend on us for the simplest API for fast, reliable payments and instant bank account verification, and we all show up for the hard, intense moments that have led to our continued success. We show up equally on the “business as usual” days, never shying away from doing any and all parts of the job.
But how can you show up like that for your customers when you “work from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed?” How can you bring your full self to work when….your entire self is work?
You can’t.
The New Way To Work
So, as a leader, it’s my job to give myself and my team permission to take time away from working. That’s what it takes to be a whole person, to have the energy and clarity to give it your all when it is time to work.
And truth is, some of my best work “a-has” do happen when I’m on a run or doing a bit of gardening. Pardon the pun, but you get out of the weeds in a way that you can’t when you’re hustling 24/7.
Be passionate. Work really damn hard. Stay late in the office when everyone’s crunching that week to win a big opportunity. Consider no task too small.
But working on a Sunday just to prove a point? Thinking about nothing but work, every waking minute?
Nah. That model is dead.
Join The Discussion: Do You Think Hustle Culture Is Dead?
This conversation began on LinkedIn, where we're exploring whether hustle culture still holds value or if it's time to move on. Share your own perspectives and see what others are saying in the comments. Together, let’s continue to reflect on what a healthier, more balanced approach to work could look like.
