I was at a big tech conference in Austin and everyone was talking about 'hustle culture' like it's the only way to succeed.

Every speaker and booth was pushing the idea of working 80-hour weeks and side gigs. I saw a panel where someone literally said, 'If you're not grinding, you're falling behind.' It felt really off, especially after seeing how burnt out some of my friends in those roles are. I think this constant push is setting people up for failure and health problems, not a good career. Does anyone else feel like we need to push back against this as normal advice?

3 comments

3 Comments

paulc932mo ago

So what does "sustainable work" actually look like in a real job?

kevin_sullivan2mo ago

Feel that hard. I tried the whole "rise and grind" thing a few years back and my main achievement was burning out so bad I forgot what my own hobbies were. It's not good advice, it's just a fast track to being tired and bitter. We absolutely need to push back and say that sustainable work is what actually leads to good work. The whole idea that you have to wreck yourself to be successful is just broken.

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viola_cooper621mo ago

Wreck yourself to be successful" is exactly it. Like that mindset treats human beings like disposable batteries you just run down until there's nothing left. I wish more people would realize that being constantly exhausted isn't a badge of honor, it's just a sign you're being taken advantage of.