This afternoon and evening I ran across a few things that struck varying chords inside of my conscience and being. The chords were plucked strongly enough that I thought I should take a few minutes and write them down for my future benefit and possibly yours as well.
To begin with, I was watching the Gary Vaynerchuck Show Episode #35 and he answered a question about hustle and what it means to him. He said a couple of interesting things…
Hustle looks different for everyone.
In a lot of ways this was a very freeing thing for me to hear. I know that hustle looks different for everyone, but to actually hear someone else say it, someone I respect massively in the business world, makes it bear extra weight.
Why is it important that hustle looks different for everyone? It is so easy to start measuring myself and what I’m doing and how I’m approaching the world based on how others are doing life, business or careers. While this can be a beneficial “measuring tape,” it can also be downright depressing and detrimental.
At the end of his answer about hustle Gary V. wrapped it up nicely by saying…
Hustle is waking up one day, the day before you die and realizing that you gave it your all. Into the parenting of your children, the building of your businesses, whatever you define… its just all in, emotionally and exceptionally. In theory and execution.
At another point today I was reading the “About Page” on the website of another guy who I admire and am currently following online. Brian Gardner is the brains behind the Genesis Framework and StudioPress for WordPress.
As I was reading down the page I ran across a term that I had heard before but wasn’t exactly sure what meant, “Carpe Diem.” A quick google search turned up the Wikipedia article on what the latin words actually mean – “Seize the Day.”
That my friends, “seizing the day,” is what hustle is all about. I think.
I’ve always been a fan of intentional living, aiming for the stars and firing away… but at some point that long term goal has to be broken down into a bunch of daily decisions to make the most of the day I’m currently living in.
After all none of us really knows what’s coming tomorrow. All we can really do is fight for today.
Let’s hustle and always try to seize the day.