1+1: The Hustle Trap + 2300 Reasons Why

Here’s one leadership idea and one resource I’ve found beneficial this week:

1 idea: The Hustle Trap

A management consultant was enjoying a sunny morning at the beach when a fisherman came rowing back to the shore with a large catch. The consultant was impressed, so he approached the man. “Nice catch,” he said. “How long did that take you?”

“Oh, just a few hours,” replied the fisherman.

His eyebrows arched in surprise. “Wow, that’s impressive,” he replied. “If you were having such a great day, why’d you stop so soon?”

“This is enough to provide for my family today,” said the simple fisherman.

The consultant was confused. “So what are you doing the rest of the day, then?”

“Well, every day after I get my morning catch, I go home to have lunch and a siesta with my family,” said the fisherman. “In the evenings, we usually gather for dinner with a few friends, then sing and play dominoes until late in the evening.”

The consultant’s face darkened with a look of disapproval. “Well,” he said, “that sounds great, but I think you’re missing out on a big opportunity here.”

“Oh yes? What’s that?” asked the fisherman.

“Well, at the rate you’re catching fish, you could really create a tremendous enterprise here,” he replied.

“And how would I do that?” asked the fisherman.

“It’s simple, really. First, you’d fish for several more hours each day. You’d take the excess fish you caught and sell them at the market. With the savings you’d generate, you could purchase more boats and fishermen to work for you.”

“Ok,” said the fisherman. “Then what?”

“Well, with the revenue you’d generate from your fleet, you could do lots of things. You could create your own distribution channels to sell directly to consumers, boosting your profit. You could invest in an operation to package and preserve your fish to sell in more markets. You could even relocate your family to a larger city with more opportunities.”

“Ok,” said the fisherman. “Then what?”

“The sky’s the limit then,” said the consultant, getting excited. “You could take your company public at that point or sell it privately. Either way, you’d have enough money then to retire early and live like a king.”

“Ok,” said the fisherman. “Then what?”

“You could do whatever you want,” he replied. “Fish…spend time with your friends…play dominoes. You’d have total financial freedom.”

“But isn’t that what I’m doing now?” asked the wise fisherman.

***

In our hustle to achieve the culturally-accepted definition of success, we often miss the beautiful life we have now. We burn the candle at both ends, sacrificing the joys of the present for a future that is not guaranteed. And while some financial seasons certainly require hard work and long hours, many leaders live this way by default, attempting to sprint a marathon. It’s the Hustle Trap.

Jesus was relentlessly focused on his mission to share the good news with the world and leave a legacy behind. Despite his grand mission, he always seemed to have time for fishing trips and picnics. If even he had time for this kind of leisure, why are you so hurried and stressed?

Beware the Hustle Trap.

***

• On a scale of 1-10, how fast is your pace of life right now?

• How is your vision of success fueling that pace?

• If you wanted to slow down, how would your vision of success need to change?

1 resource: 2300 Reasons Why

One of the most formative childhood influences on my childhood has been my experience with debt—the weight I felt when my family was buried it in and the freedom I experienced once it was paid off. In this podcast with my fellow Fort Wayner Austin Thoms, I walk through those formative experience and explore how they have shaped my faith, parenting, and entrepreneurial journey.

PS: When your kid thinks you're Batman…