Estimated Reading Time: 3.5 Minutes

I’ve been part of hustle culture since I was sixteen years old. And if I’m being honest—for a long time, it worked.

I’ve always had a job. Sometimes one, sometimes two. There was even a stretch of my life where I had three jobs at the same time. Not because I was desperate, but because I wanted a certain kind of life. I liked experiences. I liked nice things. I wanted to study abroad, travel, and explore the world, and I understood early on that those things cost money.

People might call it “champagne taste on a beer budget,” but I was willing to work for it.

Back then, hustle wasn’t forced on me. It was a choice.

When Hustle Stops Being a Phase

At first, working hard felt seasonal. Temporary. Strategic.

But over time, hustle stopped being a phase and quietly became my default. My baseline. Even as I moved into better jobs and earned promotions—when I didn’t actually need to hustle as hard anymore—I never slowed down.

I didn’t question it because hustle had always opened doors for me.

Early in my career, I believed visibility was everything. So I said yes to everything:

Side projects
Committees
Extracurricular groups
Anything that put me in rooms with the right people

Looking back, probably 70% of the extra work I took on didn’t align at all with where I truly wanted my career to go. But at the time, alignment didn’t feel as important as access. Hustle gave me proximity. Proximity gave me opportunity.

And that mattered—until it didn’t.

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

There’s a book by Marshall Goldsmith called What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. I haven’t even read it yet, but the title alone says everything I need it to say.

Because that’s exactly how I feel about hustle culture at this stage of my career.

I don’t want more promotions.
I don’t want more work.
I don’t want accolades or fancy titles.

What I crave now is alignment.

Hustle worked. It got me here. But it’s not going to take me into the next phase of my life.

Hustle vs Alignment: The Real Difference

Here’s the clearest way I can explain the difference.

Hustle asks:
How do I get into the room?

Alignment asks:
Is this the right room for who I am now?

Hustle is about proximity.
Alignment is about coherence.

Hustle is loud.
Alignment is quietly certain.

Hustle seeks validation, visibility, and momentum.
Alignment doesn’t need applause to feel right.

Hustle performs.
Alignment settles.

Hustle expands capacity temporarily.
Alignment respects capacity long term.

Hustle borrows energy from the future.
Alignment plans around what you can sustainably hold.

One of the most powerful distinctions for me was this:

Hustle optimizes output.
Alignment optimizes life.

That line stopped me in my tracks.

Motion vs Meaning

Hustle often confuses motion with progress. Long to-do lists, constant busyness, endless activity that looks impressive from the outside but doesn’t always move you closer to where you actually want to go.

Alignment measures meaning.

It asks whether the things on your calendar and your task list are truly connected to your future—not just filling space or feeding urgency.

Another realization I wish I’d learned earlier:
Hustle is seasonal. Alignment is foundational.

Hustle has its place. It’s useful when you’re building, learning, or creating access. But alignment is what sustains you when you want a full life—not just a successful career.

From Fear to Trust

Hustle is often fueled by fear:

Fear of missing out
Fear of falling behind
Fear of being ordinary

Alignment isn’t fearless—it’s just done negotiating with fear.

Alignment is anchored in trust. Trust that what’s meant for you won’t require you to exhaust yourself to receive it. Trust that congruence matters more than constant striving. Trust that when something fits, it feels right—without friction or stickiness.

You don’t have to force alignment. You recognize it.

Choosing Alignment Doesn’t Mean Losing Ambition

I want to be clear about this: choosing alignment doesn’t mean I’m anti-work or anti-ambition.

I’m still ambitious—just about the right things.

Alignment feels like the most honest chapter of my life right now. Not because hustle failed me, but because I’ve outgrown needing it to define me.

Hustle helped me build a career.
Alignment is helping me build a life.

A Question for You

Has hustle ever worked for you?
And more importantly—is it still working now?

If you’re in a season where you’re questioning your relationship with work, ambition, and success, you’re not alone. This space is for people who are redesigning their lives so they actually fit—our goals, our capacity, and our values.

Hustle vs Alignment: Why What Got Me Here Isn’t What I Want Anymore