The word “hustler” might not resonate with most people, given its various informal and sometimes disapproving meanings in the dictionary. It often describes someone with slick and sleazy ways to make money. But that’s not the only thing, as it can also mean a resilient determination to succeed.
One demographic that’s familiar with the drive to succeed are entrepreneurs: their literal existence hinges on the need to stand out and be unique in the face of the competition. They are people who consistently look for ways to be better in their activities and ultimately be the best. So, you shouldn’t be ashamed if you’ve got the “hustler” tag from friends and family as you try to found a startup and wade the entrepreneurial waters.
But holding on a moment here: a hustler has to be more than the naming, which begs the questions. How do you become a hustler? What traits make a hustler successful? Finding the answers would entail you doing some research.
Luckily, we’ve got five of the most common traits you can find in successful hustlers and how they can help you be one.
- Pin-Sharp Focus
It is one thing to “want” success and goal accomplishments, and an entirely different case to keep at it like it’s all that matters. Successful hustlers have an impressive focus level, which sets them apart from any crowd.
Successful hustlers have set goals for their activities – be it daily, weekly or monthly – and focus on achieving them till it gets done. It doesn’t matter if it’s work-related or the other aspects of their lives. The discipline to maintain a laser-focus round the clock is incredible and something you can emulate as well.
Overall, focus gets you closer to achieving your dreams, and you get to start with one goal at a time. Mapping out your goals and faithfully crossing them off the list would set you well on your way to becoming a successful hustler in your field. It follows whether you are trying to sell your startup idea for the first time or hoping to get MoM (Month-on-Month) revenues steady.
- Advanced Networking
We’re optimistic that most people are beginning to understand networking’s importance in their endeavors. Entrepreneurs now realize that interactions and contact with other players in the industry are crucial keys to success.
However, successful hustlers typically take that and dial it up to 11. They live on the premise that the only way to succeed in “the game” is to consistently network and be on the lookout for new opportunities. This is important if you want to climb the entrepreneurial summit a lot quicker than the competition.
Speaking of the competition can get very stiff in the entrepreneurial world, and if you don’t crank up your networking efforts, someone else will leave you behind.
- The Will to Dream Big
“You can achieve anything you want if you can dream it” – this saying helps people succeed in life endeavors. However, there is the tendency to stay in the comfort zone and play things safe. This is why the world needs people to step up to the plate and dream huge.
How big are we talking about here? Ridiculously big. You-must-be-out-of-your-mind big. Successful hustlers often go up that route, and it has made them a success. Having the will to dream big – more specifically, bigger than the others – immediately sets you apart from the competition.
An inordinately big dream only alludes to the can-do hustler spirit, which prompts you to go further, aim higher, and work harder than most people would like to. Bringing said dream to reality propels you to outstanding success more often than not. We only need to look at companies like Facebook and Amazon to see their possibilities.
- Avid Risk-Taking
If you are willing to dream big, it only fits that you’re also willing to take the accompanying risks. Accomplished hustlers understand the challenges in entrepreneurship and are ever-ready to face them head-on. What’s more? They’d do so, even when others don’t think it’s possible. It is common to see startup founders quitting in the face of rising odds, but true hustlers continue plugging away at it even when there is only a sliver chance of success.
The “never-quit” attitude will set you apart and give you an advantage in a world where businesses fall by the wayside leaving tough-as-nails ones to make the difference.
- Frequent and Heavy Fails
We’d admit that life throws a curveball now and again. Things wouldn’t always go as planned, and sometimes, we won’t get our “happily ever after” results. While this holds for all walks of life, real hustlers have it differently.
Given they are unconventional about entrepreneurship, the tendency to record fails more often than the average Joe exists. They’d record more impactful losses if their high risk doesn’t hit the mark. But what lesson would we leave with you about this? It’s that successful hustlers get back up after every failure and try again.
It’s almost poetic the way they go about it: real hustlers see failure as a part of the process and would take it in their stride when they fall. This is one quality that startup founders can utilize to forge ahead in the turbulent world of entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
We think entrepreneurship is a beautiful concept, and someone fielding a startup company needs all the support he/she can get. However, there is a line between “run-of-the-mill” and “successful” in the entrepreneurship industry. People would love to be at the latter end of the divide. After all, the goal for most startup founders is to be the best at solving a particular need in society.
However, the big question is, “Do you have what it takes to put your startup on the path of success?” Borrowing a page from successful hustlers might be your best chance at success, and the characteristics mentioned above are an excellent way to begin.
Do you have any thoughts or opinions on the hustler spirit in entrepreneurship? Maybe further contributions on what makes a successful startup founder in the 21st Century? Do sound off in the comment section, as we would like to hear from you on the topic and the article.
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