There was a time when I thought being tired meant I was doing something right. I’m sure you’ve thought this as well.
The long hours. The late nights. Always thinking about work.
That was the price of ambition. Or so I thought.
Back then, hustle felt noble. If you weren’t grinding, you weren’t serious.
But living abroad changed that for me in ways I didn’t expect.
Not because I stopped caring about growth.
But because I started paying attention to how I was actually living.
Adventure outside the ordinary
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What Life Abroad Quietly Taught Me
When you live outside the U.S., time feels different.
People linger longer.
Meals aren’t rushed.
Families sit together without always staring at phones.
Life isn’t constantly scheduled down to the minute, like it is in the U.S.
When I try to explain this people, I realize its hard for them to wrap their heads around it because they are so indoctrinated in American culture they can see another way of life.
And it makes you realize something uncomfortable.
A lot of what we call “drive” back home is really just pressure.
Pressure to be productive. Pressure to prove. Pressure to never slow down.
Here, presence is valued more than busyness.
That shift can force a person to ask themselves a hard question.
If my business is successful but I’m never fully present for my family, my health, or my own life, what am I actually building?
Why Grind Culture Feels Normal in the U.S.
In the U.S., working nonstop is normalized early.
We’re taught that rest is something you earn.
That slowing down means falling behind.
That if you want more, you should just work harder (I never understood this one).
So people push. And push. And push.
Until burnout becomes a badge of honor.
But once you step outside that environment, you see that constant grind isn’t a requirement for success. It’s a habit. A cultural one.
Most people aren’t addicted to hustle.
They’re afraid of what happens if they stop. Thinking this actually terrified me.
Scaling Smarter Changed Everything
The biggest shift for me, now that I understand this is, it’s not about working less.
It about me thinking differently.
Instead of asking, “How do I do more?”
I started asking, “How do I need to be involved less?” (see how we have to reframe questions)
That meant:
Building systems instead of relying on myself
Creating offers that don’t require constant attention
Letting go of control where it wasn’t necessary
Valuing energy as much as income
Real freedom doesn’t come from bigger numbers.
It comes from businesses that don’t demand your nervous system 24/7. And this is my goal for 2026.
And once you see that, you can’t unsee it.
Here’s an un-boring way to invest that billionaires have quietly leveraged for decades
If you have enough money that you think about buckets for your capital…
Ever invest in something you know will have low returns—just for the sake of diversifying?
CDs… Bonds… REITs… :(
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It’s not private equity or real estate. Surprisingly, it’s postwar and contemporary art.
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Outgrowing Hustle Is a Sign of Growth
If you’ve been feeling disconnected from grind culture lately, that’s not a weakness.
It’s awareness. When I hear people say I’m grinding or hustling it sort of bothers me because that’s not what we should be glorifying. Still, we say it as a badge of honor to make us feel good about our efforts. I prefer to use the term “building”.
Removing this from your lexicon means you’re ready for a different way of building. One that supports your life instead of consuming it.
That’s why I respect people who are willing to question the hustle narrative and design something better.
So how do you scale a business without burning out or being tied to a desk 24/7. The answer is usually community and better systems. My friends over at Successment are running their Founders Intensive, and it’s one of the few programs I’ve seen that actually cuts through the fluff. They focus on the high-leverage moves that help founders reclaim their time and 10x their impact. It has definitely helped me see my goals clearer for my business in 2026.
It’s built for people who are ready to outgrow grind culture and start building smarter.
I’ve included a link below for you guys to check it out. If you’re serious about leveling up this year, don't sleep on this.
[Apply/Join the Founders Intensive] -> https://www.successment.co/founders-intensive
Until then, Always keep your goals at the forefront of your mind. Always live in the present, because that’s the only way, you’re gonna live your best life.
🌴Jay
P.S. If you’ve been feeling tired but can’t quite explain why, this workshop might help connect the dots. Scan the QR code and take a look. Even if you don’t join, the clarity alone is worth it.