I’ve always wanted to say that.
A few days ago, I met an artist. We’d spoken on phone and email, but we didn’t recognize each other until introductions were made. The usual pleasantries were followed by…
‘So, what do you do?’
He explained that he mostly does murals, and that he could avail a DVD with his portfolio. A jack of many trades I see. He bounced the question back to me.
‘I’m a freelance writer.’
He smiled cheekily and said, ‘Why didn’t you use the standard reply?’
‘Well, when a guy says he’s a hustler, it’s generally a good thing. When a girl says she’s hustler, people glance around for her pimp.’
I’ve always admired hustlers. They don’t seem to have an actual job, but they float everywhere, do everything, and always have money. I suppose it all comes down to male vs female. I read on Copyblogger that men accept all jobs, while women consider their expertise and only take the task if they’re fully qualified to do it. To quote Chris Brogan of Third Tribe:
There’s a really fascinating gender thing where women worry that they’re not qualified. And men [on the other hand] always just blatantly rush in and say ‘yeah sure I could do that’ — even if they have no real related skill. If they think they have a sense of the skill, they’ll do it.
Ask a guy if he can do ABC and he’ll be like, ‘Yeah sure!’ Then after receiving the deposit, he’ll figure out some way to get it done, mostly through outsourcing. A woman, on the other hand, will tell you she can’t handle it and forward you to somebody that can. Or at least, she’ll show enough doubt for you to think twice and move on. Hence, men make better hustlers. Thus speaketh ‘they’.
To some extent, every teenage boy is a hustler, because they rarely ask their folks for money, but never seem to be broke. I asked my kid bro where he gets his money once, and he said, ‘You make deals.’
‘What kind of deals?’
‘Anything really. I once used the computer to take still shots while watching 8 Mile, printed them out, and sold them as Eminem posters. Sometimes I burn music from my hard drive and sell those, or I rent out my iPod to a pal on a bus trip. Anything really.’
It’s what the guys in TZ call diradira, and I was amused when my taxi guy in Dar said he thinks I’m a hustler. He decided that while I was working in Dar, I must have some office in Nairobi somewhere where people work for me and mint money. God knows where he got that idea. Probably because I told him I was leaving Dar to come back home yet I had no job prospects at the time.
[Note to self: I need to get a ‘taxi guy’ in nairobi. preferably one who works cheap.]
A few months ago, I told a friend I’d like to be a hustler – without the pimp of course, and he said,
‘You already are! You pay your own rent, nobody knows exactly what you do, and your neighbours think you’re a housewife.’
Heehee.
I suppose in some ways I am a hustler. But my kind of hustle needs discipline, and I’m slowly learning to develop that. My life coach helps. Freelancing means being your own boss – sort of – but I haven’t been much of a boss lately. I let myself take breaks for Twitter, and movies, and email, and I don’t pay for overtime. I work during my lunch break, and stay up much later than I should. My baby calls me ‘working head’ because she sleeps when I’m at the computer and wakes up to find me still sitting there.
If my hustle is going to be successful, I need to set up a 9 to 5, so I’ll have time to work and time to play. I should try to keep email for lunchtime, and spend a lot less time on Twitter. I need to leave movies for after hours, and sleep when I need to sleep. Unless I work hard on my discipline, I’m going to keep seeing pink pills, and have 99 problems with no relation to Jay Z, Beyoncé, or Linkin Park.
You have noted very interesting details ! ps nice internet site . “Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.” by Conan Doyle.
One other issue is when you are in a situation where you do not have a cosigner then you may really want to try to exhaust all of your school funding options. You will find many funds and other scholarships or grants that will give you money to support with university expenses. Thank you for the post.
I have discovered that charges for on-line degree pros tend to be an incredible value. For example a full 4-year college Degree in Communication in the University of Phoenix Online consists of 60 credits from $515/credit or $30,900. Also American Intercontinental University Online offers a Bachelors of Business Administration with a entire school requirement of 180 units and a price of $30,560. Online studying has made obtaining your degree much simpler because you can easily earn your current degree from the comfort of your dwelling place and when you finish from work. Thanks for all the other tips I’ve learned through your blog.
Dead indited subject matter, thanks for entropy.
Good – I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Nice task.
I was just looking for this info for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this kind of informative web sites in top of the list. Generally the top sites are full of garbage.
Normally I do not read article on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, very great article.
It’s in point of fact a great and helpful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you ever been blogging for? you make running a blog look easy. The entire glance of your web site is wonderful, let alone the content material!
Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
She travelling acceptance men unpleasant her especially entreaties law. Law forth but end any arise chief arose. Old her say learn these large. Joy fond many ham high seen this. Few preferred continual sir led incommode neglected. Discovered too old insensible collecting unpleasant but invitation.
This is the right weblog for anybody who needs to seek out out about this topic. You realize so much its nearly arduous to argue with you (not that I actually would need…HaHa). You positively put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply nice!
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you really realize what you’re speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly also seek advice from my site =). We may have a link change agreement between us!
you are actually a good webmaster. The web site loading pace is incredible. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a magnificent activity in this topic!
Wow! Thank you! I continually needed to write on my website something like that. Can I take a part of your post to my blog?
I carry on listening to the news talk about getting boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the finest site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i acquire some?
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
I really appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again
Really wonderful info can be found on web site. “I know of no great men except those who have rendered great service to the human race.” by Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire.
It’s arduous to search out knowledgeable individuals on this subject, however you sound like you already know what you’re speaking about! Thanks
I’m usually to blogging and i actually appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and hold checking for brand spanking new information.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is actually frustrating. A good site with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for keeping this web-site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Cant find it.
I’ve learned many important things as a result of your post. I might also like to say that there may be a situation in which you will obtain a loan and do not need a co-signer such as a National Student Support Loan. In case you are getting credit through a regular loan provider then you need to be ready to have a co-signer ready to enable you to. The lenders will base any decision on the few aspects but the most important will be your credit score. There are some creditors that will furthermore look at your job history and determine based on this but in many cases it will be based on on your rating.
I carry on listening to the news update speak about receiving boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the top site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i find some?
I’d must test with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I get pleasure from studying a post that can make folks think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
Onine Marketing Manager Wien
Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
I together with my pals ended up reading the excellent tricks on your site and so before long I had a terrible suspicion I had not expressed respect to the website owner for those techniques. These young men became absolutely passionate to learn all of them and now have in truth been making the most of those things. Thanks for truly being well accommodating and then for picking out this sort of superior ideas most people are really desirous to be aware of. My sincere apologies for not expressing appreciation to you earlier.
Useful info. Fortunate me I discovered your site by chance, and I’m stunned why this coincidence didn’t happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
Someone essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to make this particular publish incredible. Wonderful job!
fantastic points altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your publish that you just made a few days in the past? Any sure?
Fantastic website. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to several pals ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks to your effort!
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find It really helpful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to offer something again and aid others like you helped me.
Very good blog you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any discussion boards that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get advice from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Cheers!
Wow, incredible blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is wonderful, as well as the content!
Whats up! I just would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the nice data you might have right here on this post. I will be coming again to your blog for more soon.
I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again!
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Wow, awesome weblog structure! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you made running a blog glance easy. The total look of your web site is great, as neatly as the content!
Spot on with this write-up, I truly suppose this web site needs far more consideration. I’ll probably be once more to read far more, thanks for that info.
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
This site is known as a walk-by means of for the entire data you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and also you’ll definitely discover it.
We are a group of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with useful info to work on. You’ve done an impressive activity and our entire group might be thankful to you.
Many thanks for this article. I’d also like to say that it can possibly be hard if you find yourself in school and merely starting out to initiate a long history of credit. There are many pupils who are just simply trying to live and have long or positive credit history can sometimes be a difficult factor to have.
It’s exhausting to find knowledgeable folks on this subject, but you sound like you know what you’re speaking about! Thanks
I like this web blog so much, saved to bookmarks. “American soldiers must be turned into lambs and eating them is tolerated.” by Muammar Qaddafi.
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again!
I actually wanted to compose a brief remark so as to appreciate you for these wonderful points you are giving out here. My extended internet lookup has at the end of the day been rewarded with beneficial facts and techniques to go over with my company. I ‘d point out that many of us visitors are really fortunate to live in a very good community with so many perfect professionals with great principles. I feel rather grateful to have come across your entire weblog and look forward to some more fun times reading here. Thanks once again for all the details.
Hello.This article was extremely interesting, especially because I was investigating for thoughts on this issue last Tuesday.