Stop Trying to Hustle!!

Real Talk with Judge Dawson

Stop Trying to Hustle

We hear the term “hustling” very often from today’s “get rich at any cost” generation.  Let’s take a closer look at the word, its’ meaning and application.

 According to a popular online dictionary one definition of hustle is: 
        to push or force one's way.
Compare this to the online Urban Dictionary definition:
    Anything you need to do to make money... be it selling cars, drugs,     your body. If you’re making money, you’re hustling. OR a faster way     to make money also known as the Come up, Usually done illegally. 




It’s the second definition, the urban dictionary definition, that makes me very frustrated with the current mentality prevalent in our community.  The very tone, as well as, definition of the word “hustle” in the urban dictionary, and as used in the current culture, is negative.  In fact, the urban use of the word “hustle” focuses on illegal activity and a negative mindset.  The problem with our urban concept of “hustling” is the failure to recognize that there are no short cuts to success.  All success is deliberate and intentional.  Every morning I get up and workout before going to Court.  I start my day with physical activity, planning prayer and praise.  It’s this type of positive balance and preparation that leads to success.

One morning, while checking into the local gym, there was a group of men in front of me also checking in.  The person behind the counter, who is also there every morning and able to recognize the people who come every morning, asked a particular man for his membership proof.  At this request the man offered a card that was not his, in fact the card was covered with a picture of a woman. Needless to say, the young man behind the counter told that man that he could not use this card, however the man asked “why not” and proceeded to “hustle” his way into the gym. 
Inspired or shall I say distracted by this interaction, I wanted to yell “Stop Trying to Hustle.”  When you know that you are doing wrong, why ask why?  I have come to discover that too many people spend their entire existence trying to hustle their way in to and out of various situations.  Now there is nothing wrong with “Positive Hustling.”  there are examples of great men and women who hustle, pushing to achieve legal success. It’s the negative hustling that leads to a dead end street. 
Another recent example is a group of people who call themselves a company, hired to do some home repair work.  The work was done to the satisfaction of the homeowners and when the work was done many people were impressed.  However, shortly after the work was complete, it was discovered that the company dumped all the debris from this job into the woods of a local neighborhood.  Not only is this dumping illegal, punishable by up to a $1000 fine and six months in jail, but it also embarrassed the homeowner and destroyed the community. This company’s failure to do the right thing, and instead hustle, ended up costing them thousands of dollars in referrals and additional work. 

Hustling vs. Hard Work:

Hustling is the ideal that you can just jump into the easiest profession or activity and make money at it.

Hard Work is knowing that in order to be really good at something and to master an activity, it takes education, planing and hard work.

Hustling is the position that you can be successful while taking advantage of other people.

Hard Work recognizes that when other people don’t benefit from your activity there is no lasting benefit or betterment.

Hustling is used as an excuse when we ignore healthy relationships, family and improvement in the name of making money.

Hard Work understands that we must have a balanced life to have a happy life.  Success is not all about making money. 

When you are at the end of the road of life, you rarely say that you wish you had more money.  Instead you think about the relationships that needed mending or more development.  You think about the time you should have spent with loved ones.  Cycle Breakers know that the only true lasting hustle is the legal hustle based on the principles of goodness and civility.  Remember Cycle Breakers Finish First!

Judge William L. Dawson of the East Cleveland Municipal Court is dedicated to helping people Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!
judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com
www.Judgedawson.com
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