I want to talk about the hustle

Remember that time I was a janitor?

And some drunk guy knocked on the window at 3 a.m. asking for a ride? And then I called the police?

Those were the days not so long ago.

Today is the one year anniversary of my last day as a janitor.

Today I want to talk about the hustle.

More than a year ago I was working three (paid) jobs. And I was living the dream. And sometimes living the dream means working one job till 2 a.m., being a janitor till 3:30 a.m. and once a week teaching a university course before the 2 a.m. job because once all the night jobs are over and you’ve got a little sleep, you have the day to do what you want.

And sometimes what you want is worth working three night jobs.

I created my dream job when I launched VoiceBox Media in November 2012 and I realized then that I did not necessarily have to connect my corporate/traditional media dream job with my income. I just needed a way to feed money to my student loan people.

I also had nothing left to lose.

My partner recently asked me a question: Why do you think your life exploded in so many ways this past year? Professionally, personally?

I thought about that.

“I had nothing left to lose. I was no longer afraid.”

I’ve tried things and failed – ended up living in my sister’s boyfriend’s basement for seven months.

I’ve gone places and left in a hurry.

I’ve gone without.

I’ve had to leave some bills unpaid.

I’ve gained and lost. A lot.

Sometimes, when you’re living your dream and you have nothing left to lose, you do crazy stuff.

You quit your career-smart job.

You move in with your mom.

You work three night jobs.

You bring your dream job to life.

And then you celebrate these days: the one-year anniversary of your last day as a janitor and everything it symbolizes.

So, I celebrate.

The hustle. The night jobs. The pennies. The dream. The motivation. The grit. The memories. The people.

And I celebrate that, at the end of the {fulfilled} day, the hustle is part of my story.