So, some of you regular readers (and there are a surprisingly amount of you) may have read this post from a few days ago. A gentleman who calls himself BaldChemist seemed to have a hard time understanding what I talk about here. He seems to think that I am obsessed with money and that being a Hustler is nothing to aspire to. He is wrong, in my opinion, on both points.
I think the issue may be a cultural one more than one based on intelligence or ignorance. I deal with many people in my day to day life that come from a great many countries. We also have readers from all over the world. I want them to understand exactly what we are talking about when we define what a Hustler is.
I am about to explain what a Hustler is to me.
I get around online and see others who claim to be Hustlers. Whether they want to call themselves “Hustla’s” or some other derivative of the term, I don’t really care. The sentiment is the same. They see themselves as something more. They are more than a worker, they are more than a trick, they are more than a pimp, they are more than a gangster… They are a Hustler.
I will start by telling you what a Hustler is NOT. A Hustler is not a thief, a crook, a swindler, a liar or a con artist. A Hustler may possess these skills. A Hustler may have even been one of these things in the past. But unless you drop the life of the criminal – you are a criminal. A Hustler is not a criminal.
So here is where I lay down my definition of what makes someone a Hustler. I will not be doing something cute like…
“H is for Honor”
…because, frankly, I am just not that guy.
A Hustler is someone who is or has been hungry. Personally I was hungry in the literal sense. I have gone without food for days. I have gone without a home. I have been broken down to nothing but pocket change found on the street. Now, not everyone has to be literally hungry for food. You could be hungry for money, hungry for fame, hungry for respect, hungry for knowledge or hungry for self improvement. Whatever it is that you were or are hungry for, it has to be a hunger that burns in your gut like acid. It has to make you spit fire. It has to be the single voice that rattles around in your brain when you are all alone.
Being hungry like I was makes you understand what real hunger is. You can think of nothing else. Every step you take is in the direction of the only thing that will satisfy that hunger. You will go through, around, under or over anything that gets in your way. When you haven’t eaten in days, no is not an option. When trying to understand the depth of this hunger – think about the crackhead girls who will do anything for a fix. That is the type of fixation that will keep you motivated.
A Hustler needs that hunger. Being a Hustler without hunger is like sitting in a car without gas. It might be comfortable and you might look good doing it – but you aren’t going anywhere.
A Hustler works a Hustle. I started writing this by defining all the things that could make up a Hustle. The post got incredibly long, very quickly. Here is the condensed version:
A Hustle is an activity that Hustlers devise to generate income or define their place in their community. A Hustle doesn’t have to generate income, but for most Hustlers, it must. It can be a job, a temporary project or a new business venture. A Hustle is the vehicle you take to reach your goals.
That is the basic idea.
So now we know that a Hustler needs – motivation (Hunger) and a Hustle (Plan of Action).
What next? What else does it take to make you a Hustler versus a guy with an idea and motivation?
A Hustler’s state of mind. A Hustler cannot be refused. He or She has honed their mind and skills to razor sharpness. There cannot be a doubt that what a Hustler tells you has not been completely thought out and absolutely verifiable. Sometimes this comes with experience, but not all of us have that kind of time.
I built my game when I was young. I had no experience. I had no skills other than the ability to talk other kids out of their lunch money. These were survival skills. I had to do this or I wouldn’t eat. I lived with strangers who really didn’t care about my welfare.
But where others found obstacles, I found opportunity. I don’t know how much of that is genetic and how much is conditioned. I do know that it is obvious when you meet someone with game and obvious when you see someone without. We can smell our own. We used to say “Game recognize game” back in the day. That is still true. And once you get on your game, like minded people will flock to you. But you need to develop that Hustler state of mind.
I can’t tell you how to develop a Hustler’s state of mind, but I can put you on the path. The next time you hear the word “No” ask “Why”. It doesn’t matter if someone else told you no, or if you said it to yourself.
Ask for a raise at work. If they say no, ask why. Do you need more skills? Do you need to create more sales? Do you have an attitude problem? By asking why, you are defining the obstacle. Once the obstacle is identified, a plan can be enacted.
Ask yourself if you can afford to buy your own home. No? Why? Is it because you don’t make enough money? Is it because you don’t know how to buy a home? Both can be overcome with the right plan.
Without a “No” there is no “Yes”. And that is the Hustler’s state of mind.
So this is what a Hustler is to me. Motivation + Plan + Focus = Hustler.
Keep Hustling
Great post. I completely agree with everything you said and I learned a lot. This post just inspired me to do something I’ve been on the fence about for a while.
Ricky,
First, thanks for dropping a line. I appreciate the feedback. My point in doing this is to, hopefully, help people make the right moves and share a little of my experience. I talk a little about my mistakes, hopefully folks like you can learn from those and succeed more quickly.
I don’t do this for money so when you shoot me a Digg or some other link like that – it helps to spread the word. And to me, that is worth more than money.
I have a lot of Karma debt to work off.
Amen! Great post Hustler!
I’d post up more of a comment, but I gotta go feed my hunger.
-Tyler
Are you hustling us when you say you have a lot of readers? Because your alexa ranking is surprisingly high for someone who claims a lot of readers.
Is this part of the hustle?
I believe its a cultural issue as well. A hustler is thought to be somewhat who is a “street business” person… aka an drug dealer (in the urban areas mainly.) Thats not the issue though, a hustler is simple a business person. Either way, good post and I’ll definitely keep in check with this blog….
Entrepreneur,
For some reason your post got caught by my spam filter.
Whenever I post, I get about 2,000 to 3,000 hits (it has been going up each time – started at about 100 hits on my first post six months ago). Thats a lot to me. I’m not competing or trying to throw up numbers like professional bloggers. You aren’t much of a Hustler if you spend your time chasing someone else. I’m working on my own game. I’m not in this for fame or recognition my man, just trying to help out a little where I can. Paying it forward a little. Offering a hand up to those who need it.
Hell, I was surprised to get that much traffic. As you may notice, I don’t have any ads or revenue generating links on my site – so traffic isn’t my main concern. I just want to help those who are looking for it. Thats why I participate in “Link Sharing” not advertising.
What I was really saying was that I get reoccuring visitors from a lot of different countries (75 different countries the last I checked – including a lot that surprised me like South Korea, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia ). So it was really for their benefit that I defned what we were talking about here.
Thanks for checking up on me though. It’s nice to know you care.
Keep Hustling
That’s cool. There are many sites that do hustle their numbers though … claiming 15,000+ readers and all that when its so obvious they don’t have 15. I’m an entrepreneur through and through and I don’t believe in going the short distance.
Hustling has a bad connotation … but I understand what you’re saying.
Cheers! Keep posting!
I like the definition. Guess I fall within the category of hustler. Good blog. It’ll go places.
good shytt homie i feel you 100%
I found your site through EntreCard by clicking on a category I never would have considered before. I am glad I found this…the first post I read was very deep. I know someone who fits the description of Hustler very well and I just kept thinking of him.
I wish I could be a hustler too….I have some of the traits you mentioned but I am scared of taking risks so I don’t qualify.
I think you also need to add that Hustlers are very strong because they keep getting up and trying again regardless of how many times life kicks them in the teeth.
I guess I have found a new blog to add to my reader now…so keep up with the good stuff and keep on keeping it REAL!!!
Your post has set my mind on fire! I want to be a hustler! A hustler in short is a high-achiever, never takes no as an answer!
“A Hustle is an activity that Hustlers devise to generate income or define their place in their community.” I wonder if the plan and team are different depending on which purpose is more important. Or is the process of building & executing exactly the same across all successful hustles?
The reason I ask is that my goal is to be leader & some of the brains behind several different ventures. Some of my ideas are purely about making money. Others are about establishing a reputation. My guess is that I should get the money situation squared away first, then I can afford to take more time on the creative reputation-building ideas. Or should I start with whatever is easiest to begin?
Sorry if these questions are too far afield… if they are, maybe I could ask for you to discuss prioritizing in another post.
Lulugal, keep hustling girl – you will make it as long as you have heart. Hustlers don’t take crazy risks. They plan and make calculated risks. You will never catch me jumping out of a plane because the benefit doesn’t meet the risk. It’s not my kind of hustle. I am not afraid – hell I have done things that would make a parachutist wet themselves.
So don’t worry about risk – you will know the right opportunities when they hit you. All Hustlers can.
Ben, the plan and the team are separate but connected. Like the wheels and the car. You need both to get to your destination. The process, in general, is basically the same. The details change but the process is pretty much repeated. That’s why Hustlers on their game can repeat their success over and over again.
To answer your specific questions – you can do both at the same time. We used to call it “Fronting” but in the business world we refer to it as “Positioning” or “Branding”. You are an expert in something regardless of the status of your bank account.
Obviously you need money to eat and make sure your clothes are clean. But I have walked into many meetings with a clean suit, hungry, wearing dirty underwear and with empty pockets and walked out with a check or signed contract in hand. Never let the fact that you are broke shade your hustle.
Some like to say “Fake it till you make it” and I can get behind that. Just don’t lie. If things get personal or someone starts asking to many questions answer them directly with a qualifier.
As an example, if someone says “You don’t seem to have a lot of experience with this type of project.” I would reply with “You are right but I have worked on all the components that contribute to making this type of project successful. Knowing that this is my opportunity to use those skills and experience to their maximum benefit you can be assured that no one will be more detail oriented or focused than I will.”
Like I said, make sure you can eat and keep your clothes clean. I would sleep in a car as long as I can keep some clean and ironed clothes with me, I am set.
Keep Hustling!
Great post, I wish many kids can read this and know a true definition of a hustler.
-www.zsportscars.blogspot.com
i love the hustle especially in montserrat where you can prone your skills once you know about hustling and i’m proning minds to become the ultimatum hustler that has ever lived… A hustler is a go-getter
also you can read the hustlers ten commandmnents and check skinnymen.com or other websites….
keep the hustle alive!!!!!!!!
Man am I ever so glad I ran across this.. I swear to you im not feeding you bullshit.. When I say me and a couple of my guy’s was just talking about this subject the other day… Most of my definition of hustler was the same thing u was talking about.. I didn’t qoute everything you said just probly worded a few words a lil different.. Which came for me to believe that true hustlers think alike… my favorite thing you said.. Is crime don’t make you a hustler.. You have to feel the hunger spit out fire… That’s a true HUSTLER… I felt that shit foreal.. Everything I own I got cause I work hard for it.. I didn’t steal it nor was it givin to me… I can’t remember who said this but im glad they did.. Qoute this… ( “Just because you wasn’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth doesn’t mean you can’t make a rusty fork work” ) that shit true then a motherfucker… Knowledge is power my nigga… Keep hustling…
12/21/08 7:05am
(LiL-B Da Hustla)
I absolutely love how you define a hustler. I find no where in your definition for an argument– and truth be told, I look for a good argument. I think everyone has a little bit of a hustler in them, they just gotta reach deep down and grab it out. I don’t call myself a hustler but when I want something bad enough, that “hustler mentality” or “go-getta” state of mind comes out and I get it. Great article. Keep on keepin’ real. We need more like you. You should take this word and spread it. Get it out there to the younger generation or people who just don’t get it because too many people get the wrong idea about hustling and link it with crime. Our people will perish for lack of knowledge.
I like to look at my self as a hustler because I am 22 years old and currently a GM of a very successful restaurant,i started working at the age of 13 and from that instant I loved the taste of moneythrew the years I kept it moving,always making moves getting my weekly income right. the street life was always an option for me but never a solution,I saw how ligit money can grow and fast money disappear,the people I grew up around were hustlers but not the way I wanted to hustle..I told one of my workers the other day hustle till u feel fat and he smiled and said what does that mean,I simply replied “kid do ya thing make ur money at ur tables eat up the tips till you can’t breath” he then looked at me and shook his head with a big smile ..I am happy to find a true and genuine definition of the word used so lightly HUSTLER..would love to see or read some more of ur words please reply..
It is so ironic that I came upon this particular post. I recently started a blog and I titled it The Diary of A Hustler. I debated whether or not I should use the term in fear of being misunderstood. I even write about that in my post and define the word too. Wow, that is such a coincidence. You explain it so well that I think I am going to link to this blog in my post so my readers can have a more clear definition. Good job.
nice, I like this HUSTLERS a wonderful word. Noe let’s get to the point you idiots really expect me to belive this shit you call a definition of a hustler? if ai then u r some motherfucking sones of bitches! i’m not angry
or am I?
Even Thou Am A Girl, I Believe I’m A Hustla Cuz I Put Food On The Table
yeah hustler hustler Ive found my mind on print with you alls site I think and think these things out all the time in my mind unfortunately til now had no positive plain feedback. the honesty and straight forwardness in the intelligently put wording appeals across many a line. you are transposing everything well.. flattery is a complimentry I intend to flatter you more than just blogs responses. i willuse this in my jump off to rebuild my hustle and my community too. I get it keep it coming
I dun care bout what others say on here a hustler is someone who makes money and works harder then everyone else. respect hustlers cuz there’s not a lot of em left
Keep this shit up, game
Being a hustler has no limitations. Black white yellow green man or woman or in between – as long as you are making money and making a difference – you are a Hustler.