PURPOSEFUL HUSTLE BLOG

Many people today harbor a dream of starting a business. The idea of a “side hustle” has captured the imagination of those working a traditional job. The Flying Elephant team is going even further to show how to make that “side hustle" purposeful!

If living out one’s purpose was easy, everyone would be doing it. But it is not easy. Even if you know what your purpose is, you might not know how to live in that purpose. It may feel like there are a lot of obstacles in the way of the difference you want to make. That is where hustle comes into play. Purpose is WHY you do something. Hustle is HOW you get it done. So, you’ve gotten to the point where you can name your purpose. You know what lights you up, and have pieced together how your unique passions, skills and experiences can be channeled to have the most positive impact on the world, but how do you pull it off?

When considering what your unique purpose is in the world, it’s essential to reach into your roots. Only YOU have lived YOUR story. Where you have come from has made you who you are, and in many ways, has positioned you to pursue a purpose that is meant for you. Before you look forward boldly into your Purposeful Hustle, one of my biggest pieces of advice is to look back. You may be surprised what you learn about yourself that helps you articulate what you think your purpose is. You may realize you have special skill sets or insights that have specifically prepared you to make the impact you want to have in the world.

So you think you’ve found your purpose? That’s awesome! Purpose is truly a gift, but the only way to know if you are on the right path for YOU is to test it out.

I get asked this question a lot - so I thought I would share my thoughts. I can only speak to my personal experiences but am confident that this applies to ALL parents and guardians.

Growing up, my mom used to always say, “You should never be bored because you should always have a party inside yourself.”

So you’re really fired up about something. You feel like you’re finally living out your purpose, at least some days, in some ways. That’s so great! You want to welcome your friends, family, coworkers, and even the stranger behind you in line at the coffee shop into your purpose, but where do you start? How can you get someone to care about something that feels SO important to you?

There are events that wreck us, things that break us down in ways we weren’t prepared for, that make it hard to show up in the world the same way the next day. I’m sure we all can recall at least one such event pretty quickly. In moments like these, our purpose comes into question, and the thought of hustling may seem unbearable. When tragedy really hits home, it can leave us feeling absolutely powerless.

Tomorrow is election day. And no matter how stressful and exhausting the current state of politics may feel, we as Purposeful Hustlers know that it’s so important to vote. And in true Purposeful Hustler fashion, we know that it’s not only important to just vote, but it’s important that we vote with purpose. Taking action is central to who we are. We know that apathy is not an option for someone sincerely pursuing their purpose.

With devastating headlines pouring in and given the current political climate of our country, it can feel impossible to go anywhere without a serious topic coming up in conversation. We know that our kids are subjected to this overload of information as well, regardless of how much we wish we could keep them safe from it. Often, there are serious things happening even in our own backyards that will affect our kids, but we don’t always know how to bridge that gap of trying to talk with them about it. But no matter how hard, it’s important that we try. While so much is happening in our communities, and so much is changing in our culture, it is not in our nature as Purposeful Hustlers to stay on the sidelines. Part of figuring out how to best engage with the things we care most about is figuring out how to help our children process what is happening in the world around them.