Latest news with #hustleCulture
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Has Hustle Culture Faded? Exploring What Gen Z Values Most
Is hustle culture dead? Well, it is for many Gen Z employees. Is hustle culture really dead? Well, I certainly remember when it was alive and well. In fact, as a Millennial who entered the business world in the early 2000s, I can't think of one conference that didn't have a productivity guru. Gary Vaynerchuk, Adam Neumann, and Elon Musk were among the top leaders of this cultural phenomenon. They'd headline events all over the world, riveting the crowd with their hashtag snippets and efficiency expertise. And we would jot down every note and then try to implement their words of wisdom into our weekly schedule. Well, let's just say that living out their 5-star tips for achieving success with only 3 hours of sleep was easier said than done. We all failed. Because, let's be honest, hustle culture sets you up to fail. There's no way that humans can live like robots. Millennials became the icon of hustle culture in their 20s. Perhaps that's why, in 2025, we're the generation facing the highest levels of burnout. In fact, according to a recent Aflac report, Nearly two-thirds (66%) of all Millennials say they are facing moderate or high burnout — far more than Baby Boomers (39%). So, what does this all mean for Gen Z? Is hustle culture making a comeback anytime soon? Well, much like skinny jeans and side parts, I think they'd prefer to leave it in the past. Here are the three things Gen Z wants instead of hustle culture. Gen Z Wants Job Security And Stability According to the Work in America survey by the American Psychological Association, job insecurity is one of the biggest concerns for the majority of U.S. workers (54%) in terms of stress levels. Interestingly, they found that employees (44 and under) were the most likely to report job insecurity as a high stressor. And that's not surprising, especially when you look at the economy right now and the lack of entry-level jobs for young people. Gen Z, compared to their Millennial counterparts, aren't looking to make the top ten list of multimillionaires before their 25th birthday. Many of them want to simply attain the basics. But, according to McKinsey & Company, even that seems out of reach. For instance, when surveyed, almost a quarter of Gen Z respondents did not believe they would be able to retire, and only 41% expected to have enough funds to own a home one day. Perhaps this is why salary, second to job security, is one of the most critical aspects to Gen Z when it comes to what they value in a job. Gen Z Wants A Competitive Salary With Benefits Gen Z still values flexibility. Don't get me wrong. This generation values a hybrid schedule, a four-day workweek, and all the benefits that come with working remotely. However, they also don't want to have to live with six roommates in a two-bedroom apartment, hoping that ramen will last them through the week. Gen Z wants more than their Millennial siblings, and they're not afraid to ask for it, especially when it comes to increasing their salary. In fact, according to the Global Payroll Association, 20% (one in five) say their salary should exceed $100,000. The Salary Negotiation and Expectations survey from Resume Genius also revealed that this generation, when surveyed, expected a 10% annual raise, even without a promotion. And 55% were willing to negotiate their salary compared to 48% of Millennials. So, is money the only thing that Gen Z cares about? Are they only after security and salary? Not at all. This generation is highly altruistic, giving, and innovative. They want to help you create dynamic companies. But that doesn't mean that they're immune to reality. Gen Z wants to be able to put food on the table and ideas before the boardroom without worrying about their light being shut off. They're more than willing to go the extra mile, but unlike Millennials, they'll ask the company to cover the cost of their time. Gen Z Wants To Have A Life Instead Of Hustle Culture Gen Z isn't looking to burn the candle at both ends to get the corner office. They want to feel refreshed when they come to work on Monday. A considerable part of that is being able to have a separate life outside of their 9-to-5 work week. So, what does that look like? Here are two things that matter most to Gen Z when it comes to living a balanced life: Gen Z understands the importance of being present and showing up. But, what they don't understand is filling their schedule with meetings, in-person luncheons, and never-ending check-ins. This generation values your input and your mentorship, but they also value your time. That's why many of them prefer flexible work hours that allow them to concentrate on producing excellent work vs. just showing up for the sake of tradition. Mental health is an absolute priority for this generation. In fact, a recent article in Harvard Business Review highlighted this very fact. The writer even went so far as to suggest that workplace mental health is one of the most fundamental things that organizations should consider when creating a healthy workplace culture. And There You Have It! Hustle culture is no longer the popular choice among Gen Z. However, that may not necessarily be a negative. In my opinion, it's a positive move forward. Perhaps this generation will give us all permission to step away from the chaotic hustle and focus more on our health. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Does Gen Z value hustle culture? Not really. A lot of their values aren't connected to hustle culture at all. They want a healthy work-life balance. Who were some notable influencers in the hustle culture movement? Gary Vaynerchuk, Adam Neumann, Elon Musk, and Tai Lopez Have any of these influencers changed their perspectives on hustle culture? Absolutely! Many of them have retracted their positions on hustle culture and encouraged employers to offer a healthier workplace culture that offers a better balance between personal and professional life.
Entrepreneur
19-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How to Quit the 'Hustle' Grind Before It Breaks You
Research shows productivity drastically declines after working 44 hours per week or more. So why is hustle culture still pushed in entrepreneur circles? It's time to forget that mentality and lead like a real hustler. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Death by overwork. In Japan, they call this phenomenon "karoshi," a term coined to capture the ultimate cost of the "rise and grind" hustle culture — the human life. With 70% of the C-suite reporting they're seriously considering finding another career, turnover costs due to employee burnout have reached a staggering $322 billion globally. Add burnout being linked to a host of physical and mental health struggles, from depression to heart disease and it's not a far reach to theorize that something isn't working. Undoubtedly, there's always another goal to crush, but is it worth working until we quite literally…drop? Are our greater efforts leading to greater rewards, or are we simply paying a price we never intended to pay? Related: Why Hustle and Work-Life Balance Are 2 Clichés I Wish Would Go Away How did we get here? While hustle culture didn't happen overnight, by 2015, the average full-time worker in the United States was logging a 47-hour workweek. Somewhere between Silicon Valley tech startups, the explosion of the gig economy in the early 2010s and the rise of social media influencers, overwork became a normalized way of life. Not only did the emergence of startups like Apple and Facebook glamorize the full-throttle, no-excuses grind, but after the 2007-2009 recession, hustling felt like a lot more than a mindset — it became a survival tactic. Wanting to prove our worth, we listened as influencers like Grant Cardone or Gary Vaynerchuk told us from their G-Wagons that the recipe for success was to grind harder. As our physical, mental and emotional resources were slowly sapped, what we once valued was forced to take a backseat. Wellness, relationships and sleep be damned. Just a little more hard work, more hours, more networking, more output, more…more. After all, our worth was measured in the number of hours we worked, wasn't it? If hashtags were to be believed, #sleepisfortheweak. Soon, we were a caricature of our former selves, swimming in a sea of sameness fueled by adrenaline, caffeine and the latest "self-improvement" mantra we picked up on TikTok. After all, if we were going to reach that unreachable dream, someone had to pay the cost. Does hustle culture deliver what it promises? Earlier this year, Elon Musk posted on X that "Very few…actually work the weekend, so it's like the opposing team just leaves the field for two days! Working the weekend is a superpower." Twelve hours later, the world learned that the DOGE employees were working a staggering 120 hours a week. Was Musk right? Does working more hours give us superhuman powers, or does his "simple math" fail to add up? Let's take a closer look. A Stanford University study found that overwork comes with diminishing returns. Logging more than 55 hours a week actually decreases your productivity. According to Gallup, the risk of burnout for engaged employees doubles when an employee works 45 hours or more per week, with the risk climbing even higher for employees who aren't engaged in their jobs. After recognizing burnout as a global health issue in 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that working long hours can put you at a significantly higher risk of stroke and heart disease. According to another study, the life of an entrepreneur doubles your risk of depression and triples your chances of becoming an addict — all thanks to factors we've normalized, like the stress and isolation of the job. Despite these alarming statistics, new findings show a shift is happening. While the Baby Boomers may still be stuck sipping on the hustle-culture Kool-Aid, younger generations like millennials and Gen Z are increasingly prioritizing healthier lifestyles and work-life balance over a bigger paycheck. In fact, work-life balance is their number one priority when choosing a new job, with millennials leading the charge. In other words, they're waking up and realizing there's truth to Dolly Parton's words: You don't have to "get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." Related: Hustle Culture Is Lying to You — and Derailing Your Business How to de-hustle your way to a life worth living I don't know about you, but if my #alwaysbeclosing mantra has me so locked in that I'm on the fast track to barely recognizing myself, are all those late-night hours still the badge of honor I thought they were? If I hustle my way from an abundant life with loved ones to a one-man show, will my "success" really justify the cost of what I've lost? If relentless stress has my mental health nosediving, are soaring profits truly worth making short work of the one life I've got? Seven years ago, I decided I was done being another mindless cog in the hustle machine. I'd taken a hard look at what I'd become and realized I no longer recognized the man in the mirror. I'd lost my authenticity, what made me…me. My creativity was sapped, and my work was essentially a carbon copy of my colleagues. My hustling hadn't just cost my creativity — it had cost my company, my customers, my relationships and my well-being. It was time to de-hustle my life. No, I didn't decide to take up forest bathing or goat yoga, but I did integrate a set of "de-hustling" principles I still follow today. Adopting these hasn't just transformed how I live, but they've been a game-changer in how I run my business. It turns out that de-hustling didn't kill my business — it's increased our revenue every year by at least 30%. A real hustler operates like this: Works no more than 30 hours per week and often enjoys three-day weekends Prioritizes time with loved ones and themselves Keeps work as a second, third or fourth priority Explores diverse cultures and ideas to develop a richer intellect Rejects systems and recipes for chasing the dollar Operates with true strategy and purpose, where every action is connected to a measurable outcome Leads with empathy and compassion In the end, adopting a living-first mentality isn't about dreaming smaller or capping your potential. It's about slowing down, ditching the autopilot of the grind and being intentional and efficient. It's about caring for ourselves and choosing presence over the quick plateaus of performance. It's about spending time with those we love and doing the things that make us feel alive. It's about building a life and business without sacrificing what matters most at the altar of rhetoric disguised as self-improvement. Welcome to de-hustling — where your life as a real hustler begins.
Entrepreneur
04-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Hustle Culture Is Lying to You — and Derailing Your Business
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Over two decades of working with some of the world's largest organizations — particularly in tech — I've seen a troubling pattern emerge: the glorification of burnout under the banner of "hustle culture." Long hours. Skipped vacations. Constant motion. These have become badges of honor for ambitious professionals. But here's the hard truth: Hustle culture is lying to you. Left unchecked, it won't just cost you your health — it can sabotage your business. At first, this relentless drive appears effective. Over 100 years ago, psychologists Yerkes and Dodson illustrated that performance improves with moderate stress. This is now known as the Yerkes-Dodson Curve. But they also showed that beyond a certain threshold, stress leads to sharp declines in productivity and performance. Today, many entrepreneurs and leaders mistake constant pressure for high performance. They confuse burnout with dedication. But this mindset ignores a critical fact: Chronic stress isn't just mentally draining — it physiologically alters the brain. Related: How to Disrupt Hustle Culture and Build a Business That Supports Your Wellness When we're constantly overwhelmed, the brain's capacity for attention and memory — the very building blocks of leadership — deteriorate. And attention, as I often say, is the currency of leadership. Without it, clarity vanishes. Decision-making suffers. Innovation slows. Teams falter. The damage doesn't stop at the office door. Chronic stress disrupts sleep, inflames anxiety and chips away at physical health, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and immune dysfunction. What once looked like "grinding toward greatness" starts to look more like grinding yourself down. A common fear among high performers is: If I eliminate stress, will I lose my edge? The answer is: Absolutely not. You don't sharpen your edge by exhausting yourself. You sharpen it by cultivating resilience, clarity and calm. You can be both dynamic and centered. Fast-moving and grounded. The best leaders I've worked with aren't wired on stress — they're powered by clarity. And that clarity is not an accident. It's practiced. If you're finding it hard to break the hustle culture mindset, start small, but with serious intention and, if necessary, forced repetition. Here are three concrete steps you can take to get off the path to burnout: 1. Set a daily calendar reminder to intentionally pause Truly block off (and don't move) this "white space" into your schedule and protect it fiercely. I've found some very powerful 5-10 minute guided meditations and breathwork routines on Art of Living's Sattva app that help hit the reset button on an otherwise busy day. Even if you only have 5-10 minutes, you'll give your nervous system a chance to recoup from a constant "go-mode" that can deplete your mental and physical strength. 2. Redefine "success" with a new personal KPI each month Hustle culture trains our brains to chase external wins, but you can rewire that reward loop by creating your own, more meaningful metrics. Choose monthly goals that nurture your mental health and sense of presence. That might mean meditating daily for 30 days, exploring a new local park, taking a full lunch break to connect with a friend or finally planning that unplugged vacation. The key is choosing goals that refill your energy, not drain it. Related: Here's Why Hustle Culture Is a Big Lie 3. Find a way to incorporate nervous system rehab into your corporate culture Breathwork and simple movement breaks like a quick stretch away from your desk are free, scalable tools you can implement individually or in group settings at an office. Many high-performance teams I've worked with have integrated 5-minute breathing resets into their Monday meetings and have seen measurable boosts in focus and team morale. Tools like breathwork and meditation aren't "soft skills" or indulgent time-outs. They are scientifically validated ways to reset the nervous system, quiet the noise and tap into a deeper reservoir of energy and insight. A few minutes of conscious breathing can reduce stress, recalibrate your focus and unlock better decisions. This is the foundation of Transformational Leadership, an approach that strengthens both performance and well-being. It's not about rejecting hard work. It's about pairing it with smart recovery. Structured pauses. Deep work instead of performative busyness. Cultures that support reflection as much as action — in other words, working smart. Because here's the truth: You can win in business and still lose where it matters most — your peace of mind, your health, your relationships. I've seen this firsthand in my work with Fortune 500 leaders who checked every external box of success yet felt anxious, restless and disconnected. Only when they turned inward through conscious breathing and introspective practices did they rediscover a more enduring form of success. Not just a sharper mind, but a steadier heart. Not just peak performance, but sustainable energy. Many told me it was like finding a new fuel source: one that doesn't burn out. Related: Hustle Culture Is Dying — And It Should Be. Here's How to Start Working Less. And we're already seeing this shift take hold. A new generation of leaders is prioritizing well-being as a strategic imperative, recognizing that thriving businesses are built by thriving people. The future of leadership isn't about who hustles harder. It's about who leads smarter — with clarity, compassion and inner strength. In a world addicted to speed, stillness may just be your greatest advantage.
Wall Street Journal
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
North Korea Infiltrates U.S. Remote Jobs—With the Help of Everyday Americans
Christina Chapman looked the part of an everyday American trying to make a name for herself in hustle culture. In prolific posts on her TikTok account, which grew to more than 100,000 followers, she talked about her busy life working from home with clients in the computer business and the fantasy book she had started writing. She posted about liberal political causes, her meals and her travels to see her favorite Japanese pop band.
Globe and Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Outcome over output: Move away from hustle culture to ensure long-term success
Carsten Bruhn is the president and chief executive officer for Ricoh North America. In North America, corporate culture can often glorify overworking and hyper-productivity, expecting employees to be available and connected at all times. However, recent data from a variety of parties including Mental Health Research Canada shows Canadian employees are growing tired of the 'rise-and-grind,' with more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of professionals reporting burnout symptoms. While hustle culture might yield short-term business gains, it is unsustainable and can damage a company's ability to attract and retain talent in the long run. Rather than driving employees to the edge of exhaustion, leaders can promote lasting growth by prioritizing purpose over immediate results and fostering a culture where employees feel a sense of fulfilment from their work. Sounds easy right? Not exactly. Meaningful implementation requires a commitment to seeking, understanding and acting upon the concerns, needs and ideas from your team. At Ricoh, striking the right balance between driving productivity and fostering purpose in the workplace starts with a culture that permeates all aspects of our business – one that recognizes the need for both flexibility and accountability. According to our employee engagement survey, that approach is working, with scores having steadily increased over the past few years. The more you give, the more you get Our new digital workplace has created the opportunity to curate a unique work experience. Traditional 9-5 schedules have given way to greater flexibility, and with it, a greater need for self-discipline. We are better able to focus on things that are meaningful both within and outside of our jobs and we've found that providing some leeway can mitigate burnout and cultivate loyalty. According to a recent Ricoh survey, the 2024 North American Workplace Fulfillment Gap Index, 88 per cent of Canadians said openness to new and better ways of working is important to their decision to stay in their role or at their current company. Fulfilment has an equal impact on retention, according to the same survey, with 84 per cent indicating that feeling fulfilled at work is a main deciding factor as to whether they stay with a company. However significantly fewer (14 per cent) report feeling completely fulfilled at work. Why is that? The onset of a hybrid distributed workforce has made it more difficult to build and maintain a common culture, to regularly engage with one another and collaborate from different locations. Burnout can stem not just from an always-on workforce, but from the roadblocks to connection and collaboration. It is crucial for leaders to engage their teams consistently and provide the tools that allow them to easily engage with one another. Lead the charge and unplug Another approach I encourage is unplugging and that starts from the top down. Setting boundaries between work and personal life is core to fostering wellbeing. When work-life boundaries are blurred, people experience an increase in emotional exhaustion and declining happiness. How do we unplug with phones always on us at home and at the office? I encourage leaders of each business unit to set the tone that's right for each team – perhaps it's a 'no-reply' expectation past working hours and weekends or offboarding projects before an employee takes a vacation so they can fully turn off while on a break. This allows them to enjoy their time away from the office and focus on recharging during much needed rest time. It's important to recognize that what's happening outside of the workplace can also be overwhelming. Many people are struggling to comprehend what's happening in the world today. Things can feel as though they are out of our control, leading to emotional burnout. As leaders, we have the power to set the example and make well-being equally important to business outcomes. There are times to 'hustle' or step up and times to rest. Flexible, hybrid workplaces thrives when we all understand and abide by the personal and business priorities that drive that give and take. By fostering a culture that values purpose, rest and boundaries, companies can create an environment where employees thrive – not just survive. The shift away from hustle culture isn't just about improving work-life balance; it's about ensuring long-term health for both individuals and organizations. This column is part of Globe Careers' Leadership Lab series, where executives and experts share their views and advice about the world of work. Find all Leadership Lab stories at and guidelines for how to contribute to the column here.
