Heart of Hustle

We are all working a 9-5, starting businesses, collaborating, investing in new ventures, etc – hustling and going after the bag. We, as millennial, have this heart of hustle that makes us ready to seek opportunities that allows us to capitalize on securing the bags for us and our families. Let’s face it, we have heart and we have hustle!! [Inserts flex emoji here]

I come from a long line of women who WORK. From business owners, corporate sisters, and/or single mothers who work to provide to make sure ends are met. It was no surprise that I too adopted this mentality to make sure I get things done! I worked through college and, for the last almost twelve years, I have been getting my corporate hustle on.

A realization hit me a couple of years ago though. I started to notice that the harder I worked and the more I hustled the more I was neglecting the most important part of the hustle! So, I switched up the things that have been done for years in my family of go-getters so that my daughter will adopt a new method of hustle. As I pass on my heart of hustle to my daughter, I pray my daughter will also learn to chase her dreams, work hard, get the bag, and… obey God wherever He calls her. Sis, I also challenge you to discover what God has called you to do so we can serve more, give more, and encourage more – in the right places. This is what I mean when I say have a heart of hustle!

I went through a season of side hustles. It was a season of trying to figure out what more can I do to make sure more money was in the bank to secure my children and myself for the future. One of the side hustles was selling Mary Kay. I really knew nothing about skin care or makeup. What I did know was how to research and pitch… it’s the marketing in me! Even with me using my god-gift talent for Mary Kay, all I was really doing was putting out money, spending hours thinking of ways to make it back, and draining myself trying to work out the side hustle around my real hustle—my 9-5 with the Federal Government. Although I do like the products and still use them to this day, in less than a year it became clear that was not my hustle lane.

For another side hustle I was ready to spend $10,000 to purchase an investment property. I called up the owner of the property and secured the deal. I spoke to my mom about being the property manager since it was located in MS and she was on board and ready. I even wrote up an entire plan for this hustle. Through all the planning and hustling, it tugged at my spirit and I just could not release the money. Moreover, I almost lost a friend because originally it was supposed to be a joint venture but, with some mild differences, I decided to pursue it alone. In less than a few months it became clear that was not my hustle lane.

Both side hustles were only for the purpose of generating money and/or residual income to pass along to my family and children. Both can be lucrative, great ideas and there are people are thriving in them. However, I did not have the true passion for either. I didn’t desire to do them in that season and, from the way things turned out, God didn’t have the desire for me to do them either. Basically, in both, I was hustling backwards wasting time, money, and resources because they were not in my hustle lane. Thinking back, they really were distractions because God had really called me to start my blog in that season.

When I speak of this new hustle, I am talking about us getting our hearts right and getting in a position that God can use us. He gave us certain gifts and talents that are to be used for His purpose. When operating in these gifts and talents, this means asking ourselves daily, “Are you doing it for the attention of people or the applause of God?” When hustling it means asking yourself, “Are you doing it in your own strength or fully relying on God to accomplish His work through you?”

Colossians 3:23

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Gone are the days that we are pursuing the “new thing” just because we see how much another person is striving in it. She is more than likely striving because it is her calling/assignment. If it is not yours, she can give you her blueprint and her connects and you would STILL fail. The new comparison is looking at your own work and asking God to show you how it does or does not line up with His will for YOU. Compare what you have to what God wants. Don’t just do it for competition. As a matter of a fact, make the new competition us outdoing each other in honor. This is the honor of honoring God in our purposes and assignments.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

In honoring Him, we don’t compare or compete BUT we do COLLABORATE! The new collaboration is what sets apart how you are hustling. If you are hustling in a way that you are in your lane and doing what God has called you to do, you should be able to be so confident in that, that you can collaborate with another woman doing the same thing (Matthew 18:22). You know why? It is simply because you both will understand that you are doing it for His kingdom so there is no need to try to outshine each other for the world’s praise. Instead, we will work together for the Lord’s Glory.

Lastly sis, in all this hustling (God’s way) don’t forget to REST. God called us to do so. We can’t live 100 percent of our lives modeled after the first six days of creation and ignore day seven. When we rest, we lay down our burdens and refresh our souls for the days coming. It refreshes us to be able to continue the hustle. So make it a point to rest and slow down to spend time in His word. Never be too busy hustling that you can’t be in a listening position to hear God’s voice. Listening allows you to be better equipped to do what He has called you to do, which ultimately will lead to you securing many bags.

God bless the woman who hustles!

Take away:

1. Hustling isn’t bad when we work hard for what glorifies God and serves His Kingdom.

2. Make God famous.

3. We all have a role in the kingdom, no matter how big or small. We all need your piece. We glorify God when we unit for His kingdom. 1 Corinthians 12:14

4. Start today. Make small changes. God is happy just to see the work begin. Zechariah 4:10

5. Understand the part of the Kingdom work that is your responsibility. Remember it is a partnership with God. Don’t try to do it all on your own because it is not in your strength but His.

6. Do what God is calling you to do in THIS season.

7. Don’t value profit over people.

1 Corinthians 15:58

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

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