Stop Romanticizing 'Hustle Culture': Productivity Tips That Actually Scale Your Life
By Derek — Money isn't complicated. People just make it complicated. ·
It’s June 2026, and if I hear one more person talk about their ‘morning routine’ that involves waking up at 3:45 AM to ice-plunge and journal for three hours, I’m going to lose it. Look, I get it. We’re obsessed with productivity because we’re obsessed with the idea that if we just optimize our existence enough, we’ll finally outrun our anxiety.
I spent five years at Goldman. I’ve seen the guys who think sleeping under their desk is a badge of honor. You know where most of them are now? Burnt out, divorced, or staring at a net worth that doesn’t cover the cost of their therapy. Money isn't complicated, and neither is productivity. People just love to wrap it in layers of performance art to feel like they’re doing something important.
Real productivity isn’t about doing more things. It’s about doing the right things so you can get back to living. Here is how I actually get my work done without losing my sanity.
Kill the ‘To-Do’ List
If your to-do list has more than three items on it, you’re not managing your time; you’re managing your delusions. When I was at Howard, we were taught to prioritize, but in the corporate world, they teach you to ‘stay busy.’ They are not the same thing.
I operate on the Rule of Three. Every single morning, I write down the three things that, if completed, will move the needle on my business or my clients’ wealth. Everything else? That’s just housekeeping. If I answer emails, check Slack, and shuffle paperwork, but I didn’t hit those three high-leverage tasks, I had a bad day. Period. Stop confusing movement with progress.
The ‘F1 Pit Stop’ Method
I watch F1 religiously. If you watch a race, you see that the pit crew doesn’t try to rebuild the entire car in two seconds. They focus on exactly what needs to change to keep the car going fast: tires and fuel.
I apply this to my workday. I break my time into 90-minute ‘stints.’ During those 90 minutes, the phone is on ‘Do Not Disturb.’ I don’t check markets, I don’t check the group chat, and I don’t look at LinkedIn. I focus on one high-level strategy or client plan. When the stint is over, I take a 15-minute break. I stand up, walk around, maybe grab an espresso. Then, I reset. If you try to work for eight hours straight, you’re just ‘working’ for six of them and staring at a screen for two. Be disciplined with your focus, and you’ll find you can do in four hours what takes most people all week.
Audit Your ‘Yes’
This is where most of my clients bleed time. They say ‘yes’ to coffee chats that lead nowhere, ‘yes’ to committees they don’t care about, and ‘yes’ to projects that don’t align with their long-term goals. Every time you say ‘yes’ to something mediocre, you are saying ‘no’ to your own growth.
I’m ruthless about my calendar. If a meeting doesn’t have a clear agenda or a specific outcome that benefits my clients or my firm, I’m not there. I’ve learned to say, ‘I can’t commit to that, but here’s a resource that might help.’ It’s not about being rude; it’s about respecting your own time. If you don’t put a price tag on your time, everyone else will treat it like it’s free.
Automate the Mundane, Humanize the Significant
I’m a financial advisor, but I’m not a calculator. I use tech to handle the data, the rebalancing, and the reporting. If I’m doing math that a piece of software can do in milliseconds, I’m failing.
Look at your week. What are you doing that is repetitive and boring? Automate it. Use Zapier, use AI tools, use a virtual assistant. If you’re manually scheduling meetings or inputting data, you’re not an entrepreneur; you’re a clerk. Your value is in your judgment, your advice, and the way you connect with people. Double down on that and outsource the rest.
The Weekend Reset
I don’t work on Saturdays. Ever. I’m either out in Charlotte, catching up with friends, or obsessing over the latest race data for the McLaren garage. Because I shut down completely, I show up on Monday morning sharp.
Most people try to ‘tinker’ with work all weekend. You’re not resting, and you’re not working. You’re just lingering in a state of low-level stress. Give your brain permission to exit the building. When you come back, your clarity will be sharper than anyone else’s on the team.
Productivity isn’t a lifestyle; it’s a tool. Use it to build an asset—your life. Stop letting the noise dictate your calendar and start owning your choices.
I’m curious—what’s one thing you’re doing right now that’s just ‘busy work’ in disguise? Hit reply or reach out and let’s talk about how to cut it out. Let’s get to work.