Thursday 8th June Newsletter

Orange you glad it’s Thursday? 🍊 You might find these ap-peel-ing:

• Hustle culture: It’s not going away, but it should.

• “Oops” moments at work: Handle them like a pro.

• Self-belief: Tips from Workin’ Moms’ Catherine Reitman.

OPINION

Hustle culture still exists — it shouldn’t

At the annual Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal in 2018, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian had a few words to say about hustle culture. He labeled it “hustle porn” and went on to brand it “one of the most toxic, dangerous things in the tech industry right now.” It has been described elsewhere as the “fetishization of people… overworking themselves”.

In 2023, its presence can still be felt across social media, with self-declared transformational coaches promoting upwards of 18-hour workdays. They dub it the “#grindset” but, in reality, it’s rooted in an insatiable desire for more bucks, a bigger house and a better title. 🏆

It sacrifices work–life balance at the altar of economic gain. It’s the prosperity gospel of modern work-life. Hustle culture’s biggest evangelists dodge responsibility by having you believe that if you don’t succeed, it’s because you didn’t work long or hard enough.

It’s also a movement that needs a continuous flow of martyrs to maintain itself. And that’s just what they are: martyrs who post about how much they’ve had to sacrifice in their lives — from relationships to a full night’s sleep — to advance their careers.

The simple answer: then quit it. 🛑

— Aaron Niles, Career Writer

What are your thoughts on hustle culture? Reply and let us know!

DAILY INSPO

Signs it’s time to switch careers ➜

FROM THE JOB BOARD

Featured vacancies

➕ Business Development Executive, London - Remote
➕ Lead Developer, Manchester - Hybrid
➕ Cybersecurity Infrastructure Architect, Oakland - Fully remote
➕ Personal Assistant, UK - Remote contract

Popular searches

Tech/IT, Electrician, Sustainability, Teaching

TODAY’S ADVICE

Mistakes were made

Well, 💩. You forgot to attach an important report to an email. You accidentally ordered 100 conference tables instead of 10. You left the oven on, which started a small fire in the office kitchen.

Everyone makes mistakes at work. Some are small, some are big.

The good news is that you can always overcome them — that is if no one was injured or killed in the process. 😬

These quick tips will help you out:

• Admit to your mistake. Take responsibility for it. Don’t try to cover it up or shift the blame.

• Apologize. Sincerely. And to every party affected by your mistake. “Sorry” might be the hardest word — but it sure goes a long way.

• Set things right. Do what you can to rectify the mistake.

• Take stock of what you learned. View mistakes as career lessons and growth opportunities.

• Forgive yourself. Making mistakes is what makes us who we are.

• Move on. Dwelling on it will do no one any good.

More on making mistakes at work ➜

DON’T MISS

🌡️ Some excuses are okay when you don’t want to work. Like these ones.

👋 Parting ways with a professional resignation letter.

⌛ Part-time jobs: some perks and benefits.

🤔 I think, therefore I work. Jobs for philosophy degree holders.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

A guide to self-belief

In this TED Talk, Canadian-American actress Catherine Reitman talks about confidence, choices and regret. Through a personal account of how she came to step out of her comfort zone, she shares tips with her audience on how to do the same.

So, this is how to follow your inner voice and start believing in yourself (but for real this time)!

WATERCOOLER CHAT

Late nights vs early mornings 🤼‍♂️

Not everyone has the same energy levels at certain times of day. You’ve got your early risers, and then you’ve got your late bloomers. For most people, 8am to 2pm are the peak efficiency hours, with productivity decreasing rapidly after.

Others prefer to start work a little earlier, say from 7am to 12pm, take a break to recharge, and then continue working later in the day. If you’re not locked into a 9-to-5, the world’s your oyster!

What are your ideal working hours? We’re listening! 👂

MEME IT

Catch you on the flippity flip :)

💬  Help us be even better. Give feedback

Created with care by Chris Leitch, Electra Michaelidou and Aaron Niles.