Enough with the hustle: it’s time to make work human again
15th May 2025
Author EditorPosted on Categories Networking & Events
By Joel Lawton.
Let’s be honest: hustle culture is tired. Literally and figuratively.
Somewhere along the way, we bought into the idea that success means doing more, sleeping less and pushing through at all costs. We started measuring our worth by how busy we are, how many hours we work, how long we can keep sprinting.
But here’s the thing: we’re not machines. And trying to lead, create and build from a place of exhaustion isn’t brave, it’s unsustainable.
I’m not saying hard work isn’t important. It absolutely is. But it’s got to be done with intention and clarity. Otherwise, we end up living in survival mode and no one does their best work (or their best living) from there.
This isn’t about slacking off. It’s about finally giving ourselves permission to lead in a way that’s more human, more present, and ultimately, more powerful.
Burnout isn’t a badge of honour
If you’ve ever found yourself running on fumes, trying to make a major decision while your brain feels fried, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too. A lot of us have.
I know what it’s like to operate from that place, on autopilot, constantly reacting, never really pausing.
So many of us end up there, stuck in a cycle of busyness that disconnects us from our own instincts. We forget to check in with ourselves, to ask, Is this even working?
What I’m encouraging is a different kind of leadership, one rooted in presence, not pressure.
Leadership doesn’t have to be lonely
If you’re a founder, you’ve probably felt it: that strange mix of being surrounded by people, yet nobody to share deeply with. The decisions, the risk, the vision, it can feel heavy.
That’s why connection matters. And not just surface-level networking, but the kind of honest, human support that reminds you: you’re not in this alone.
I’ve built real-life, in-person experiences that give founders and leaders a space to just be, no pitch decks, no facades. Just real conversations, in safe environments, with people who get it.
It’s not fluffy. It’s necessary. Because when you feel supported, everything shifts. You make clearer decisions. You breathe easier. You lead better.
From Spinning in Your Head to Moving Forward
Let’s talk about those days when your brain feels like a browser with 42 tabs open. You’ve got ideas, plans, pressure and no idea where to start.
I’ve lived through that loop. And I see it all the time.
My advice? Stop trying to think your way through it.
Instead, step away. Get into nature. Change your environment. My “Your Away Day” experiences are designed for exactly this: helping you reset, slow down, and make space for clarity to land.
Because when we create space, the answers usually show up.
You don’t have to carry it all
We’ve normalised the idea that good leadership means doing it all — but in reality, it drains you and holds your business back.
I help leaders unlearn that limiting mindset. It’s not about doing less, it’s about designing your work and your life in a way that actually supports you. That means systems. That means trust. That means letting go of the idea that you have to be involved in every decision.
And when you do? You don’t just free up time. You free yourself up to actually enjoy what you’ve built.
Zoom out: from in the business to on it
It’s easy to get stuck in the weeds. Replying to emails, chasing invoices, putting out fires. Suddenly, you realise you haven’t thought about the big picture in weeks.
I help founders step back. To reconnect with their why. To get back into creative strategy, not just endless execution.
And when you start working on the business again, rather than constantly grinding in it, you remember what you’re here to do. That spark comes back.
This is the new way forward
Look, hustle culture isn’t going to vanish overnight. But more and more of us are waking up to the truth: we can’t keep doing it this way.
I’m not offering a magic fix. I’m offering something far more real, a way to lead and work that’s rooted in being human first. That means real rest, deeper connection and leading from clarity instead of chaos.
This shift isn’t soft. It’s strong. It takes courage to lead from presence. To choose people over performance. To design a business that supports life, not just productivity.
Hard work will always be part of the equation. But it should never cost us our health, our peace, or our sense of self.
We can work differently. And honestly? It starts with giving ourselves permission.
If you feel called to try a new way of working or would like to learn more click on the links below.
Website – https://www.inyourcorner.co/
‘Your Away Day’ – https://www.inyourcorner.co/your-away-day
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/_in_your_corner/