PURPOSEFUL HUSTLE BLOG

“Action expresses priorities.” - Mahatma Gandhi When it comes to creating an equitable and inclusive workplace, it’s not enough to have good intentions. After George Floyd’s murder in 2020, hundreds of major corporations pledged billions of dollars to DEI efforts. However, very few of those pledges actually came to fruition, and the ones that did were not necessarily spent productively. The Washington Post reported that, 14 months after Floyd’s murder, the 50 companies which had pledged $50 billion only actually distributed $1.7 billion. That’s less than 2 percent of what was pledged. That’s what happens when good intentions are not accompanied by a plan. Good intentions are a start, but they’re not enough. Unfortunately, this happens far too often in the DEI space. The intention is there, but because the organization does not have an intentional strategy, it has no teeth and inevitably fails or fades away. To achieve meaningful action, an organization needs to use their intentions as a springboard. Right now, the vast majority of workers value diverse and inclusive companies. Capitalize on that intention by taking meaningful, organization-wide actions:

Another year is upon us, and that prompts many people to create New Year’s Resolutions (or goals, or objectives) for the year ahead. Even though we’re really just turning the page of the calendar, the psychological effects of the New Year are real. People feel like they have a clean slate, and a chance to head in a new direction. This phenomenon is known as the fresh start effect. This concept claims that “people are better at tackling their goals when they start on so-called temporal landmarks.” A temporal landmark might be the first day of the year, the first of the quarter, or a Monday morning. There is some debate about whether the fresh start effect is a help or a hindrance, but one thing’s for certain: the effect is real. There’s a reason gym attendance increases by 20 percent at the beginning of a new year! How can you use the fresh start effect to create momentum around your work’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices? Try the following 4 steps:

If you’re like many Purposeful Hustlers, you’ve started (or want to start) a meaningful side project. Your intentions for the project might be to earn extra money, make a positive impact, or simply do something you enjoy. But what happens when your side project is so enriching that you decide to make it your full-time focus? How can you take the leap from side hustle to full-time gig? Starting a business can give you greater freedom and flexibility, a stronger sense of purpose, and help you flex your creative muscles, but it often comes with risks. A major reason people resist converting their passion project into a full-time business is because of financial risk. And that makes sense, since many businesses fail within the first few years. To set yourself up for financial success and overcome other potential obstacles (changing markets, the fear of striking out on your own, etc.), it pays to come up with a solid plan. Here are 4 steps for turning your side hustle into a full-fledged business:

If you’re like many Purposeful Hustlers, you’re an independent go-getter who isn’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and do whatever needs to be done. You take pride in your work ethic, and you’re dedicated to following through with your commitments. These are all excellent qualities to have, and they will take you far in your endeavors, BUT your rugged independence could occasionally have negative effects. Pushing yourself is one thing; pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion is an entirely different story. Additionally, there are some situations where—even though you may hate to admit it—you’re simply not an expert. You can’t know everything about every topic. If you’re trying to be your own website designer, marketer, IT manager, and accountant (in addition to running your business, founding a program, or whatever your “hustle” might be), you’re bound to run into areas that are simply beyond your expertise. And that’s okay! It’s fine to admit when you need help. In fact, it takes a good deal of courage to be vulnerable and humble enough to acknowledge when you’ve reached your limit. Dare to seek help when: You’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed. You’re having trouble keeping track of your various projects. You’re facing an issue that is beyond your area of expertise. You’re struggling to focus on your main mission. Your mental, physical, or emotional health is beginning to suffer. Your relationships are being negatively affected by your workload. Even if you know it’s time to ask for assistance, it’s a whole other thing to ask for it. You might feel embarrassed at the prospect of asking for help. You might feel like you’ve failed in some way if you need to turn to others for support. Or, you might assume that others are too busy to help or uninterested in lending support. Alternatively, you may assume that it’s too expensive to hire someone to assist you. All these roadblocks can prevent you from reaching out and asking for help when you require it. If you’re grappling with some of these roadblocks, try following these four steps:

When it comes to starting a small business, it’s easy for personal and professional spending to become as tangled as a plate of spaghetti. Is your morning cup of coffee a business expense? Did you save the receipt from your purchase of office supplies? And where should you deposit those first checks? All of a sudden, you have to pay closer attention to the flow of money—both income and expenditures. And, if your small business is a side hustle you have to pay attention to two (or more!) income streams and, potentially, create two different budgets. If that sounds overwhelming, don’t worry! We’ve got you. Budgeting your business and personal income really boils down to two main steps: Setting a budget Tracking your spending

It’s not always easy to put yourself out there, especially if you’re already surrounded by a supportive community of people who want to see you live into your purpose. But meeting new people and expanding our network is essential to growth. Especially if you are looking for more support and encouragement in pursuing your purpose, I cannot overstress how important is to find YOUR people.

These days, we hear the word “self-care” tossed around a lot. It’s used in so many different ways and has become a buzzword to sell products ranging from face masks to yoga classes. It’s used so much that it can almost feel like another form of stress. We might get caught thinking, “I have so much going on already, and now I need to worry about self-care too!” But whether we like it or not, taking good care of ourselves is essential. We need to be a friend to ourselves. Especially as Purposeful Hustlers, in order to live into our purpose, we need to be able to be the best versions of ourselves. We need to know what we need to stay healthy, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Our wellbeing is SO IMPORTANT.

One of the most common obstacles people mention to me when wanting to do impactful work is finances. It seems like there’s never enough money to make the changes in your life that will help you live within your purpose or create the impact that you want to see. This is where the hustle part of Purposeful Hustle kicks in. With little or no money, I have seen people create countless impactful solutions. In fact, I soon realized in my philanthropic work that the organizations with the biggest impact are often the ones who are underfunded. Why? Because those organizations prioritize impact over fundraising and are too busy doing the work to raise the money. You CAN make a huge impact with a small cash flow.

It is totally possible for you to have the impact you hope to have in the world while maintaining your career ambitions. The two are not mutually exclusive. You can contribute to positive social change AND be successful professionally. In fact, being able to marry the two is the key to maximizing your Purposeful Hustle. Investing in and developing yourself to be the best you can be means that your contributions to the greater good have the capacity to be that much better.

You’re ready to start living in your purpose. You’ve identified your personal purpose statement using these Simple Steps to Make Career Decisions That Better Align With Your Values, or maybe you already felt clear and confident in what your purpose is. You’ve checked your fears and your doubts at the door. Maybe you’ve read 5 Questions to Ask if You Want to Take Action But Think There is Nothing You Can Do. Either way, you’re talking the talk of a Purposeful Hustler. Now it’s time to walk the walk. Here’s where to start: