Do You Have Hustle?

In today’s world, it's not enough to simply show up to work, clock in, do your job, and go home. For many, that’s just the baseline. The real question is—what are you doing beyond that? What’s your hustle?

The term hustle gets thrown around a lot, but it’s more than just a buzzword. It’s a mindset, a work ethic, and for some people, it’s a way of life.

What Does Hustle Really Mean?

Hustle means doing what it takes to achieve your goals, whether it's earning more money, securing a position at work or in an organization, or obtaining something specific.

A person may have a main job, but to bring in additional income, they will have a 'side hustle' like selling goods or services. If they do not have a main job, they may do one or several jobs or things to generate income, which is considered the 'main hustle'.

Hustle isn't limited to entrepreneurs or influencers. It shows up in all kinds of people, in all walks of life. For example, if someone has a traditional 9-to-5 job but picks up extra work driving Uber, or running a small business, that’s hustle.

Similarly, if someone is unemployed but constantly finding ways to earn, create, or push forward, that's hustle too.

It’s about resourcefulness. It’s about using your time, your skills, and your network to bring in income or move closer to your goals. Hustle is less about what you do and more about how you do it—with urgency, purpose, and a relentless drive.

The Hustle Mindset

So the real question becomes: Do you have hustle? Are you willing to push through fatigue after your day job to build something for yourself? Will you wake up early, and give up your weekends to get closer to your goals? Will you say no to comfort and yes to progress?

This mindset doesn’t mean you're never tired or that you're constantly grinding without rest. Hustlers get tired. They fail. They try new things. But the difference is—they don’t stop. They don’t let comfort, fear, or uncertainty win.

They understand a simple truth: if you want more, you have to do more. Hustle separates, “I want” from “I wish”. 

Not Everyone Has the Hustle Gene

Everyone would like to think that they will do whatever it takes to survive or to get ahead, but the hard truth is—not everyone has that hustle gene. Some people dream, but they don’t act. Some people talk, but they don’t move. Hustle is a characteristic, a part of someone’s DNA. You can build discipline and motivation, but that deep internal drive? That’s harder to teach.

If you have the hustle gene, you feel it. You wake up thinking about your goals. You stay up planning your next move. You see opportunity everywhere. You're energized by the chase, even when the outcome isn't guaranteed.

Hustle means you're not just reacting to life—you’re creating it.

Final Thoughts: The Prize Goes to the Persistent

Everyone says they want success. Everyone wants financial freedom, flexibility, or recognition. But very few are willing to put in the consistent, unglamorous, behind-the-scenes work to get there.

So ask yourself: do you really have hustle? Because at the end of the day, it’s not just talent or luck that brings results—it’s grit, consistency, and hustle. It’s the people who show up before or after hours, who try again after failing, and who stay focused on the goal even when it gets hard. Their eyes are always on the prize!

The prize doesn’t go to the person who wants it the most. It goes to the person who hustled the hardest and the longest.

Please provide your thoughts in the comment section. 

By Ylanda T. Wilhite