Hustle Culture

 

I grew up on a farm, I raised my kids on a farm and my roots are farm based. I am so glad that I had that experience in my life. Farm living is unique and valuable. 

This is how I describe the farming community that I once lived in, "they know how to work hard, and they know how to play hard". It is common practice to work every day of the week, often very long hours, depending on the season it could easily exceed 12 hours/day. I have to admit I am out of touch with today's young farmers, but I believe it is still the same today as it always has been. The facts are that not one cattle farmer is going to wait until 8:00 AM to have the workday start and check the cows. That would be a disaster. A grain farmer would never take the weekend off, as opposed to combining that field that is ready to go. Or perhaps a weekend off in general for any reason. Self-care for a farmer would possibly be a quick trip to the chiropractor, when it rained. I was recently told by a farmer, "it's not a job, I love what I do". Farming and ranching are the epidemy of "working from home". Taking your kids to work is a daily practice. Where else would you get daycare than was the cab of a tractor or combine. 

I am not sure if my former community would fall under the new term, "Hustle Culture". Hustle culture is defined as working long hours and sacrificing self-care in order to succeed. Work patterns have become an all-consuming priority. Work may include part-time gigs, side hustles, or putting in overtime. It is believed that if you give work all of your attention, you can achieve anything and everything. In the work force hustle culture is common among full-time employees, especially with the younger generation. 

Right now, times are tough, making ends meet is hard. Careers are important to both genders. Having an additional job or putting in overtime is going to become a common practice. Moving up the corporate ladder is consuming.

I found out when I owned my own business it was way more demanding than I ever thought it would be. Business owners are always thinking, working or planning for their business. Cell phones are more like a personal secretary. You mess up, you fix it. Farming would fall under your own business. Business owners have to be ready for when things fail. Like a hailstorm, drought or excess rain. Or a switch in economy that doesn't require your own business services. The "what ifs" are game changers. 

Work ethics are not only learned but inherent. Some children can't manage to get the garbage out, while others are setting up a lemonade stand at every corner. Some resent how hard their parents worked and decide that is not for them. Others chose hard work because that is all they know. It is a fact that a child's work ethic is influenced by a parent. It would seem that a parent is the front runner for your kids to determine how much "Hustle" they will put in their work lives.