In a world where Elon Musk works 100 hours a week, an Uber driver works 40 hours a week alongside a 40-hour full time job. Yet, one is a multi-billionaire, while the other is part of the working class, barely making ends meet. If they both work nearly the same number of hours, why are their circumstances so vastly different? Boasting about his long working hours and “hustling” lifestyle, Musk tweeted that “nobody ever changed the world in 40 hours a week.” He also insisted that “doing what you love won’t feel like work”, that everyone should be “working up to 100+ hours a week to make change in the world.” It’s easy to see how at first glance his statements sound commendable. Phrases like “changing the world” and “love won’t feel like work” evoke a cause-driven attitude, making one feel as though they’re living in a cliché Hollywood film that glamorizes the entrepreneurial hustle. Simply ‘liking’ one’s job is no longer enough, one has to obsess over it, promote it on social media, and showcase their workaholic lifestyle to other employees and employers on platforms such as LinkedIn. A…
How Hustle Culture Ignores Time Poverty: Working Long Hours With No Choice
April 29, 2022
