Hard work & greatness are cool again [WRAP 165]
|
Hey Reader, a fun programming announcement... starting next week, I'm adding TWO newsletters for you! If you signed up for my productivity tips and tools, then on Monday you will receive Analog Action. Each newsletter will help you be more intentional and focused with simple, pen-and-paper, "analog" practices. If you signed up for newsletter and creator tips and strategies, then on Wednesday you will receive HeyCreator. Each newsletter will help you create better content, sell more products, and build a business you love. Note that this email will be coming from hello@heycreator.com. The Weekend WRAP will continue to send on Saturday mornings. If you want to manage your subscription preferences, click here. I also wanted to let you know I'm really enjoying the new book Tiny Experiments from my friend Anne-Laure Le Cunff. I've been a member of her community, Ness Labs, for the past 4 years, and she has a ton in the book about science-backed strategies for designing a life that helps you get your best work done in a way that matches your energy and goals. Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any podcast app. 💡 One Big Idea: The Return of Hard WorkI've been noticing something interesting lately: hard work is becoming cool again. Not in a hustle-culture, burn-yourself-out way, but in a meaningful, purposeful way. Let me explain... There's a shift happening in how we think about work and self-improvement. For the past few years, there's been a strong (and important) emphasis on self-care, being gentle with ourselves, and questioning hustle culture. All good things! But sometimes this swing toward self-compassion has left us asking "why try at all?” or “oh you think you’re a big deal to do big things, huh?” In 2025, we're finding a sweet spot between these extremes. People are rediscovering that it's actually pretty cool to:
But here's the key difference from the toxic hustle culture of the past: this new wave of hard work comes with full awareness of our humanity and our relationships. For example, as a dad of young kids, I'm not ignoring my family to chase YouTube subscribers. But I am proud to talk about staying up from 10 PM to midnight to edit videos, or waking up at 4 AM to write. These aren't sacrifices that hurt my relationships – they're intentional choices that show my kids what it looks like to pursue something meaningful. This isn't about grinding yourself down—I don’t work those hours every day. But it’s about having the self-awareness to know what matters to you, then having the courage to work hard for it. And increasingly, I'm seeing people celebrate and admire that kind of purposeful effort.
👀 Video to Watch: Timothée Chalamet on Pursuing GreatnessSpeaking of celebrating hard work, watch this clip of Timothée Chalamet discussing his approach to his craft. It's a great example of someone pursuing excellence while maintaining perspective and purpose. 📰 Thread I Read: The Dam Has BurstJulian Weisser wrote a short essay about this exact cultural shift we're seeing. He argues that we're entering an era where ambition and hard work are becoming aspirational again, but in a more balanced and healthy way than previous generations. 😆 Meme of the Week: I have a permit“You can’t build apps, you don’t know how to code!” Have a great weekend, Matt Ragland p.s. if you have a (literal) minute to share feedback, click here. |