The Hustle is not as easy as I thought

In the 70's the music was really flashy and fun and I learned how to do The Hustle. It was a dance and very similar to Travolta's style. I was so proud of myself that I could do the dance. About 7 years ago, I learned another meaning of The Hustle. It's not just a dance from the 70's. Nope. The "Hustle" means a way to make money besides the traditional paycheck job. I met lots of talented "hustlers" on the streets, at homeless shelters, and at various hang outs throughout my travels. I guess they had learned a lot sooner than me that the "Hustle" was much more than a disco dance.

So I started thinking and thinking about it. I kept using the word Entrepreneur. I kept visualizing a little shoppe at the flea market or in an old forgotten plaza. I kept doing research and learning more about business and budgets online. I would drive around small towns and big cities looking at new businesses, vanished businesses, open spaces, abandoned spaces, and collecting demographic information. The more I learned, the more hopeless it seemed. And I thought college was a waste of time. Then I kept whining about the budget and the numbers. Why were all the so-called "facts" interferring with the once beautiful and achievable "American Dream" of home ownership and entrepreneurship? Why wasn't intelligence, will, and desire enough? Was it a racist thing? No, because I saw that these so-called "facts" were having the same effect on anyone regardless of their sex or race. Was it a luck thing? No, because there were still many people who were beating odds stacked against them. Finally it dawned on me. Though I had lots of ideas for a business and a shoppe, I didn't know how to "Hustle"! Eureka! Now, I finally understand.

People like to tell other people how to sing or how to dance and I think they are ridiculous. Anyone can sing or dance. Some people might look more attractive or sound more pleasing, but anyone can do it. Bob Dylan and Weird Al proved it. But not everyone can Hustle. I believe that the reason I still don't have a savings account of satisfaction and the reason I'm still sitting here pondering why I haven't been able to bring any of my business ideas to a profitable endeavor, is simply because I still have to learn how to "Hustle".

What is it? What is The Hustle? I think the people who are the best at it spent a lot of time desperate and hungry. Hunger and desperation do something to people. A person can be healing from various traumatic events, but that doesn't mean they learned to Hustle. However, a person who really feels the sting of hunger and desperation, they learn The Hustle real quick. The Hustle is a certain ability to get what you want with the least amount of energy and resources. The Hustle is the know-how to negotiate terms into your favor. The Hustle is the magic of feeding hundreds of people with two loaves and five fish.

I'm learning and accepting this as I reflect on my online education and my life's experiences (especially the last 10 years). I'm going to be 54 in April of 2025. Many of my dreams came true (college, motherhood, marriage, car ownership) but there are a few that are alluding me (international travel, running my own business, and monogamy). I think that if I ever want to accomplish running my own business, I better learn how to Hustle. I don't feel hungry or desperate though, so I'm going to have to learn it from another motivator.

I've shrunk the proportions. Instead of "Dreaming Big" like having my own shoppe or running my own school, I've reduced the dream to "making extra cash" but I still haven't found a way. I'll keep at it, like a lost mouse in the maze, I'll keep at it until I find that cheese.