When I think of the word “hustle” I think of coaches yelling, “HUSTLE!”. So when I read hustle quotes, I think I hear it a little differently than someone who hears hustle and thinks of making money.
But in either instance it really has the same meaning.
Whether you’re using it as a verb or a noun for sports or business it’s about digging in to whatever is that other place where you have a reserve of energy or ingenuity and get done what needs to be done.
So just like we did with the motivational quotes for entrepreneurs, I’ve collected my favorite (or not so favorite) hustle quotes and giving my unsolicited opinion on them.
“Good things happen to those who hustle.”
Anais Nin
I’m starting here because I think this speaks directly to women entrepreneurs. It did to me immediately.
I started reading a bunch of hustle quotes and they were all from men.
This one is not.
And that doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but when I read it and saw that it was a woman who said it, I thought, “I bet people thought she was pushy”.
I pictured a ten year old girl pushing her way to the front of a crowd.
I pictured a high school girl raising her hand to answer every question and also ask her own in class.
I pictured a young woman offering idea after idea and working hour after hour to get ahead in her career.
I also pictured the eye rolls of all the people not hustling, behind her, the other 10 year old girls who were told not to be so pushy and be happy with where they were, the other high school kids in the back of the classroom, slouched in their seat counting the minutes til the bell and her coworkers who were fine to skate along and collect a paycheck without trying so hard.
Don’t teach your daughters not to push to the front of the crowd. It’s not pushy. She wants a good seat.
That’s the girl that will make it as an entrepreneur. She’s going to find a spot up ahead of her and then make her way there.
She can say excuse me as she pushes past the others that are happy in their seats in the middle, but if she wants that seat up front, teach her to take it.
“It’s not about money or connections. It’s the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone when it comes to your business.”
Mark Cuban
I’m not going to tell you that money or connections doesn’t help. Of course both do.
But, they aren’t requirements. You already know that.
What’s important about this quote is the “outwork” and “outlearn”.
And I want to tell you which is the one that is going to be more important for you. You will need to do both, but…
Outlearn is going to be where you will really get ahead of the rest of the pack.
Include learning time in your schedule every day. Stay current on things that are changing in your niche.
As you continue to learn, you relay that information to your audience and they will see that you are constantly evolving and growing and will want to grow with you.
And spend the rest of your time outworking every one else. This is probably not nearly as hard as you think it will be.
Especially if you’re constantly learning.
When you have that nagging feeling that there’s one more thing that would really push your post, email or product over the top, do that one more thing.
That’s where most people get lazy and stop.
“The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up.”
Robert Tew
I get frustrated very easily. When I’m learning something new or working out a new process, I build this wall in front of it that I have to force myself to knock down before I can finally start.
I’m learning to help people write better landing pages which basically involves reshaping the words they have already written.
I don’t have a great process in place for how to do that yet because I just haven’t done it enough yet.
Because I don’t have a process, I approach every single one like this:
“I don’t know where to start…I don’t I think I can fix this…I should start from scratch”.
Then I put my head down and dive in and it get it done and it’s never as bad as I think it will be.
But I know that that frustration is partly my mind’s way of focusing in on what I need to do to create a process for this.
I feel frustrated because I know there’s a better way, I just haven’t figured it out yet. Maybe tomorrow I’ll figure it out.
“Great things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln never said this, but the internet says he did.
I don’t know who actually said this, but I like it.
It reminds me that waiting, thinking, planning to do things is not the best way to start.
I’m going to start my business as soon as I have…
I’m planning to create my product when…
I’m thinking about starting a community…
Yes, there is some element of thinking and planning that you should be doing, but you have to know when it is time to start DOING.
Create the things you wish existed.
Kristin Pierce
I just like the way this quote makes me feel. Building a business is based in a creative space.
We are Makers. There was a thing that needed to be built or solved and we are doing it.
That’s not something to take lightly. We create things and then they exist.
This post, for you, I created it.
I sat here and wrote these words and now YOU are reading them.
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
Muhammad Ali
Listen, if you know me, you know I am scared all the time. I barely ever do anything new and don’t feel some level of anxiety.
I know lots of people are like me. I don’t know how to fix it, but all I can tell you is that you gotta start not listening to it.
Start with the small things that feel risky and practice on those and get someone in your corner who will tell you to keep going.
Success is never owned, it’s rented. And the rent is due everyday.
Rory Vaden
Ok, Rory, this feels a bit pressure packed and I do think that once you’ve reached a level of success you can take a breath.
A breath. Not a vacation necessarily, but a breath at least.
What I will say about this quote, though is there is something to feeling that “back against the wall” feeling that can push you out of complacency.
If you need that to keep moving, then come back to this quote.
Those at the top of the mountain didn’t fall there.
Marcus Washling
I read this and just kind of blinked my eyes at it. Like, well, obviously.
But this is important to remember about everyone we see as more successful. They didn’t wake up one day successful.
They started at zero just like you, then progressed and messed up and fixed things and carried on.
Just like you.
They just never stopped.
Just like you will not ever stop.
Much good work is lost for the lack of a little more.
Edward H. Harriman
This is the quote I want you to come back to when you are just about to throw in the towel.
Or when you say to yourself, Good enough.
That extra bit that you might have done is the part that you should do!
You’re either changing your life or you’re not. No waiting for this or that or better weather or other hurdles. Hurdles are the change.
Terri Guillemets
I love this image as the hurdles are the change.
You don’t stand in front of them trying to figure them out or waiting for your legs to get longer.
You go over them. Or under if you must. Just don’t stand there staring at them.
He who is outside his door has the hardest part of his journey behind him.
Dutch Proverb
First of all, I love the “He who is…” start to this quote. It feels good to read that doesn’t it?
And the sentiment is exactly right.
Starting is almost always the hardest part.
So Go Hustle Already!
I don’t need to tell you to go get started. You didn’t even need these hustle quotes, did you?