Hustle – The (Overlooked) Critical Ingredient

There are hundreds of strategies and marketing tools available for you to build your brand online. There are countless consultants and branding experts offering their services. There are countless topics on which you can focus your brand.

The bottom line … is that there is literally unlimited opportunity online. But there is one ingredient that many people seem to miss … and this missing ingredient is usually the reason that so many people never achieve their aspirations online.

That ingredient is Hustle. Plain and simple.

What is hustle?

Hustle is not a marketing strategy that you can learn. It’s not an extra source of cash to invest in your business. Hustle is a priceless work ethic. And it’s usually the difference maker.

Hustle means no excuses. If you are building your business and brand full-time, it means really working and building, not just messing around online for hours. If you work full-time (or attend school), it means setting aside 4 or 5 hours per day to build your business. Trust me, an overwhelming schedule isn’t so bad if you’re truly doing what you love and building something that can eventually buy you a life of freedom and passion.

Hustle means numbers. If you’re blogging, blog often. Network relentlessly. Reach out and connect with people daily. Work on your own personal development daily.

With enough hustle, you can overcome a lack of skills, experience, and especially money. But all the creative ideas in the world, the greatest dreams and aspirations, and the finest expertise won’t get you the best results if you aren’t willing to put yourself to work.

Once you make a commitment to hustle, keep hustling. When you are down and don’t feel you’re getting the results you want, keep hustling. When you see the traffic and the money flowing in, keep on hustling.

If you are working on a business and brand that you are truly passionate about, the hustle will feel like play all day. You will want to get up early and stay up late.

Any “overnight phenomenon” is never overnight. There are years of unseen, untold, and often unpaid hustle behind any extraordinary results … but the results are always worth it in the end.