Today, I want to dive into a topic that has been brewing in my mind for quite some time – the delicate dance between hustle culture and quiet quitting.
Like many of you, I’ve experienced the intensity and demands of hustle culture firsthand. As a San Francisco-based professional in my thirties, working in the tech industry alongside my partner (whom I recently married in 2022), I’ve witnessed the unrelenting pressure to work long hours, sacrifice personal time, and push ourselves to the brink in pursuit of success. At the same time, quiet quitting has been on the rise since covid. As someone who’s used to dedicating a lot of my attention to career and work, it is definitely a foreign concept. In this post, I’ll share that there’s another way, a middle ground that allows us to build wealth while maintaining our sanity and personal lives.
Understanding Hustle Culture and Quiet Quitting
Let’s start by breaking down these two terms. Hustle culture glorifies productivity, ambition, and an unyielding dedication to work. It’s the belief that success is only attainable through burning the midnight oil, sacrificing sleep, and blurring the lines between our personal and professional lives.
On the other extreme, quiet quitting is a rebellion of sorts against the relentless pursuit of success at any cost. It’s about finding a way to meet our employer’s expectations without sacrificing our well-being and personal fulfillment. Quiet quitting recognizes that there’s value in work-life balance, self-care, and preserving our mental and physical health.
The Harsh Reality of Hustle Culture: My Personal Experiences
Now, let me share a bit of my own journey through the trenches of hustle culture. I spent the first few years of my career in finance, working at an investment bank. Those years were grueling, to say the least. I would head into the office before the sun even rose, and often leave well past midnight. This is the case Monday to Saturday, with a slightly more relaxing Sunday working half day. Sleep became a distant memory, and rest was a luxury I couldn’t afford.
This relentless work ethic was not limited to just the junior team members like myself. Even seasoned professionals with a decade or more of experience at the firm were subjected to the same grueling hours. It seemed like an unspoken rule that success meant sacrificing our personal lives entirely.
It didn’t end there. As I embarked on my journey as a startup founder, I thought I had escaped the clutches of hustle culture. Little did I know that the stress and demands of entrepreneurship would take their toll on me in different ways. It became a 24/7 obsession, a constant battle to tackle various challenges and keep the company afloat. In the words of Paul Graham, “Instead of working at a low intensity for forty years, you work as hard as you possibly can for four.” I lived and breathed that mantra, sacrificing weekends, evenings, and even precious moments with loved ones.
The Emergence of Quiet Quitting
Then came a turning point. The world shifted, and the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new era of remote work and flexibility. It was during this time that quiet quitting was born. Suddenly, the traditional norms of office life began to fade away, and a newfound freedom emerged.
In my current employer, a tech company with a remote setup, I am experiencing a very different culture first hand. Gone are strict office hours or the constant gaze of supervisors. I’ve been able to reclaim some semblance of control over my time.
When is Quiet Quitting Acceptable?
My interpretation of quiet quitting is not about doing the bare minimum and shirking our responsibilities. It’s about finding that sweet spot where we fulfill our obligations while still prioritizing our personal lives.
Quiet quitting is not about laziness or slacking off; it’s about meeting the expectations of our employers while maximizing our time for personal pursuits. As someone who’s pursuing financial independence (FIRE), my goal is not to burn out like a frantic founder but to adopt a slow and steady approach.
Compensation Structure and Quiet Quitting
The concept of quiet quitting can also be correlated with how employers structure their compensation plans. In industries like finance, it’s not uncommon to see discretionary bonuses that match or exceed the base salaries. These compensation structures incentivize workers to sacrifice their well-being for the promise of financial gain.
On the other hand, some companies in the tech world have opted for pay structures without bonuses. In such cases, the motivation to go above and beyond diminishes, as there is less financial reward for doing so. This can create an environment more conducive to embracing the principles of quiet quitting, where meeting expectations becomes the primary focus.
Treading the Middle Ground to Financial Independence
Now, let’s talk about the middle ground – that delicate balance between hustle culture and quiet quitting. The truth is, most of us won’t become overnight millionaires or achieve jaw-dropping success in the blink of an eye. It’s a multi-decade journey, requiring perseverance, smart financial decisions, and yes, hard work.
Hustling at an unsustainable pace for multiple decades is simply not feasible for most people. It leads to burnout, strained relationships, and a lack of overall fulfillment. So, what’s the solution? Finding a job that doesn’t demand every ounce of our energy and time, allowing us to complete our tasks within a 40-hour workweek.
Addressing the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
One of the biggest challenges in navigating between hustle culture and quiet quitting is the fear of missing out (FOMO). We’re constantly bombarded with stories of overnight successes and individuals who seemingly have it all. It’s easy to feel inadequate or behind in our own journeys. If I don’t push myself to work hard like my peers, am I missing out? Am I falling behind?
Here’s the reality: success looks different for everyone. By embracing the path that aligns with our values and well-being, we can overcome FOMO. In practice, it could mean taking a slightly less challenging role, with equal pay and better work culture, vs. a cut-throat, always-on role that could look more glamorous on LinkedIn.
Remember, it’s not a race to the top; it’s a personal journey towards financial independence and a fulfilling life.
Create a Side Business as a New Income Stream
My personal favorite of finding the middle ground is investing time and energy into passion projects. As someone who is entrepreneurial at heart, I find it motivating to allocate my newfound headspace and hours to side projects. To some, it’s a creative pursuit, or a cause we deeply care about. To me, I’m dedicating time to grow this blog as a side business.
With a steady 40 hour job that leaves you with headspace and time, you can commit 10-20 hours each week to grow a side business. Month after month, nurture and grow the project, and grow a new income stream.
Bet On Yourself and Play the Long Game
Finally, let’s circle back to the ultimate goal: financial independence. The middle ground approach acknowledges that most of us won’t achieve overnight wealth or fame. Instead, it emphasizes the power of consistency, smart financial decisions, and long-term planning.
Hustle culture, after all, is placing our fate under the whims of an employer. By reclaiming our sanity, we gain the mental space to dedicate time to pursue our curiosity.
By challenging the extremes of hustle culture and quiet quitting, we can create a fulfilling and sustainable path to success in that delicate balance.
Embrace the middle ground, prioritize your well-being, and carve out time for your passions. In doing so, you’ll not only find financial independence but also a life that is truly rich and meaningful.
