#hustle #mindset #motivation… these are the hashtags that have started to plague social media over the last several years. We scroll through our feeds and see people bashing on 9-5 jobs, bragging about how much they are “hustling”, and creating a facade around hard work.

We’ve been wanting to write this blog post for a while now, but have hesitated due to some unpopular opinions we will be opening up. If you believe this post is a personal attack on you, it’s not. This post is simply a reminder to all the entrepreneurs of the world to spend your time doing the work that will make your business successful instead of trying to convince others that you are successful.

In the 90’s everyone’s mother (literally) was a real estate agent. Today, everyone is an online marketer. We have all set out to crack the code on how to perfect search engine optimization or gain the most engaging followers. That is fine, we’re right there on that quest with you. However, the problem arises when the online entrepreneurs of the world take to social media to CONSTANTLY post about how much they are “hustling”. They are the first to post about how unconventional their life is and how they are “beating the system.”

You might even find yourself nodding along and agreeing with their motivational posts or liking their Gary Vee video reposts, but do any of these “hustlers” actually share the work they have accomplished? Granted, they might be doing something that isn’t easily postable like SEO or consulting. The point is, their social media is more about how much they are “hustling” and less about the actual work they are supposedly doing. If you post 9 times a day about your work “routine” and nowhere online is there proof of your work, not even a website…there is your problem.

Not only has this trend gotten out of control (I bet you can name at least 5 people you went to high school with who do this), but it gives all young marketing companies a bad rap to overcome. Whenever we go to pitch a new client, almost always they share a nightmare story about a past experience with a marketing company, claiming it is similar to ours, who overcharged and under delivered. We are automatically judged when we walk through the doors and have to work twice as hard to pitch our services. Thankfully, we now have a year’s worth of work samples, client testimonials, and a substantial website to back us up. But these online “hustlers” did not make it easy for us ladies when we were first starting out.

Instead of telling us about how much you hustle, we dare you to actually go out and prove your hustle. Get your hands dirty, find potential leads, set up introductions, build out your portfolio, actually get your business up and running. Once you do this, you will see that there isn’t enough time in the day to create content to convince your followers about your hustle. Once you do this, you’ll actually have a platform to be successful.

If you or someone you know is currently suffering from “hustler” syndrome, please reach out to us and we’ll be happy to set up a coffee chat.

Xo,

Cobalt & Sapphire