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1/ Over the past 3+ years I've consciously tried to carve a path without creating another job for myself that I hated.
I've seen many self-employed accidentally create a job and life for themselves which they wanted to escape.
I call these "hustle traps" https://think-boundless.com/hustle-traps/
I've seen many self-employed accidentally create a job and life for themselves which they wanted to escape.
I call these "hustle traps" https://think-boundless.com/hustle-traps/
2/ Let's define it:
Hustle Trap (noun): A mental model built on legacy ideas of how one should work and live that leads to burnout, anxiety or the sense of being trapped. Often obvious in retrospect.
He works M-F, 9-5 even though he works for himself...looks like a hustle trap!
Hustle Trap (noun): A mental model built on legacy ideas of how one should work and live that leads to burnout, anxiety or the sense of being trapped. Often obvious in retrospect.
He works M-F, 9-5 even though he works for himself...looks like a hustle trap!
3/ Trap #1 The dopamine bomb of internet fame
You're working on random stuff and then boom you get thousands of likes, views upvotes or retweets.
Now you try to doing the same thing to get the same result yet you don't even enjoy creating that thing
You're working on random stuff and then boom you get thousands of likes, views upvotes or retweets.
Now you try to doing the same thing to get the same result yet you don't even enjoy creating that thing
4/ Trap #1 The dopamine bomb of internet fame, cont'd
This tweet on a random survey earned me a little attention in right-wing twitter. That was not a culture war I wanted to fight! https://twitter.com/p_millerd/status/1118071142311288838?lang=es
This tweet on a random survey earned me a little attention in right-wing twitter. That was not a culture war I wanted to fight! https://twitter.com/p_millerd/status/1118071142311288838?lang=es
5/ Trap #2 Copying the tactics of a guru who isn’t you
The proliferation of how-to guides, walkthroughs, & productivity hacks is a GREAT thing.
However, the tactics are not the whole story. They have unique psychology, insecurities and skills which you likely don't have.
The proliferation of how-to guides, walkthroughs, & productivity hacks is a GREAT thing.
However, the tactics are not the whole story. They have unique psychology, insecurities and skills which you likely don't have.
6/ Trap #3 The productivity / streak trap
Coming up with a routine of creation can be great when starting, but a streak going for the sake of keeping a streak going.
Take a week off and ponder what you're really up to.
Coming up with a routine of creation can be great when starting, but a streak going for the sake of keeping a streak going.
Take a week off and ponder what you're really up to.
7/ Trap #3, The productivity / streak trap
Many productivity hacks (ahem note-taking nerds) distract us from more ambitious projects or hard questions
From @anthilemoon: "We are scared of idleness because stopping would mean having to really consider what we want out of life"
Many productivity hacks (ahem note-taking nerds) distract us from more ambitious projects or hard questions
From @anthilemoon: "We are scared of idleness because stopping would mean having to really consider what we want out of life"
8/ Trap #4 The desire to prove yourself, especially to your parents
Here's the bad news: The approval may never come. Don't morph your creations, work or path to fit expectations...you'll be a better person if you craft the work and life you want. It's up to others to see that.
Here's the bad news: The approval may never come. Don't morph your creations, work or path to fit expectations...you'll be a better person if you craft the work and life you want. It's up to others to see that.
9/ Trap #5 Chasing “audience” over people you actually want to engage with
Don't let the algorithm dictate your success. Understand the algorithm, but decide which kind of people you want to engage with https://twitter.com/p_millerd/status/1286303872751992833?s=20
Don't let the algorithm dictate your success. Understand the algorithm, but decide which kind of people you want to engage with https://twitter.com/p_millerd/status/1286303872751992833?s=20
10/ Trap #6 Chasing status to calm your insecurities
Status games are hard to avoid. Almost every person wants to be seen and respected, but don't let that insecurity morph ALL your decisions.
Status games are hard to avoid. Almost every person wants to be seen and respected, but don't let that insecurity morph ALL your decisions.
11/ Trap #6 Chasing status to calm your insecurities
@khemaridh shares how he was almost tempted by this trap but eventually decided that becoming a startup founder wasn't what he was really seeking in leaving ibanking! https://overcast.fm/+NPb3je8mE
@khemaridh shares how he was almost tempted by this trap but eventually decided that becoming a startup founder wasn't what he was really seeking in leaving ibanking! https://overcast.fm/+NPb3je8mE
12/ Trap #7 Not Changing Your Environment Or Making New Friends
Many people think the goal of self-employment is to become successful financially. You need money, but without shifting your environment or making a few new friends, you'll feel lost in a wage-based paycheck reality
Many people think the goal of self-employment is to become successful financially. You need money, but without shifting your environment or making a few new friends, you'll feel lost in a wage-based paycheck reality
13/ Trap #8 Not Taking Time Off
In full-time work its easy to plan vacation especially with other full-time workers. Working on your own its easy to fall into the trap of NEVER taking any time off.
Non-work breaks are essential to sustaining your path. https://think-boundless.com/the-other-side-of-rest-taking-time-off-in-an-age-of-anxiety/
In full-time work its easy to plan vacation especially with other full-time workers. Working on your own its easy to fall into the trap of NEVER taking any time off.
Non-work breaks are essential to sustaining your path. https://think-boundless.com/the-other-side-of-rest-taking-time-off-in-an-age-of-anxiety/
14/ Trap #9 An income goal as the metric of success
If you to chase the salary you had before you quit, you'll start orienting yourself only towards what can be paid for and eventually you'll feel like a cog in a machine.
Eventually, youll need your own definition of success.
If you to chase the salary you had before you quit, you'll start orienting yourself only towards what can be paid for and eventually you'll feel like a cog in a machine.
Eventually, youll need your own definition of success.
15/ Trap #10 “I am a x” identity trap
It's useful to tell others "I am a freelance consultant" and to believe it, but it has to be a playful attachment.
If you see yourself ONLY as X you'll be blind to the opportunities & surprises that self-employment offers in todays world
It's useful to tell others "I am a freelance consultant" and to believe it, but it has to be a playful attachment.
If you see yourself ONLY as X you'll be blind to the opportunities & surprises that self-employment offers in todays world
16/ ANTI-HUSTLE STRATEGIES
Undoubtedly, you'll fall in a few of the traps. So what do we do about it? Some approaches I've found:
1. Making other unconventional friends
2. Doing something a little slower than your insecurities are telling you
Undoubtedly, you'll fall in a few of the traps. So what do we do about it? Some approaches I've found:
1. Making other unconventional friends
2. Doing something a little slower than your insecurities are telling you
17/ ANTI-HUSTLE STRATEGIES, CONT'D
3. Taking extended breaks of non-work (2+ weeks) to reflect & contemplate
4. Designing experiments such that you can quit them once you get a sense for what it entails
5. Avoiding activities that rely heavily on algorithms
3. Taking extended breaks of non-work (2+ weeks) to reflect & contemplate
4. Designing experiments such that you can quit them once you get a sense for what it entails
5. Avoiding activities that rely heavily on algorithms
18/ ANTI-HUSTLE STRATEGIES, CONT'D
6. Lower cost of living through geo-arbitrage & lifestyle design to extend your runway
7. Mastering the "inner game" @artofgig
"a gigwork identity is an entire robot suit that allows you to express the real you" https://artofgig.substack.com/p/the-inner-game-of-gigwork
6. Lower cost of living through geo-arbitrage & lifestyle design to extend your runway
7. Mastering the "inner game" @artofgig
"a gigwork identity is an entire robot suit that allows you to express the real you" https://artofgig.substack.com/p/the-inner-game-of-gigwork
