The Hustle-as-Virtue Narrative

The hustle-as-virtue narrative is everywhere. Bragging about 4 a.m. work sprints. Wearing exhaustion like a badge. Pretending that motion equals momentum.

It’s easier than ever to spin up a ghost venture. A few lines of vibe-coded code, a landing page, a social post, and call it progress. Pair that with ramen profitability as the supposed pinnacle, and you’ve built nothing more than the illusion of a company.

Every enduring venture: Apple, OpenAI, Tesla, Nike, Disney, Starbucks, any true scientific breakthrough, any great achievement began the same way: with love, deep belief, and the patience to build a foundation that outlives its founders. Once you build with your heart, there is little that can stop you.

Everything else is just hype, noise, and wishful thinking.