Title: The Hustle Economy
Author/Editor: Jason Oberholtzer
Illustrator: Jessica Hagy
Genre: Business; Nonfiction; Self Help
Goodreads Rating: 3.72/5 stars
My Rating: 3.5/ 5 stars
Pages: 224 (Paperback)
Publisher: Running Press
Published: April 5, 2016
Summary: To survive in today's gig economy, you must be a mover, a shaker, a doer, and a maker. In The Hustle Economy, we give you 25 essays from founders, writers, producers, game makers, artists, and creative types from every path who share one common trait--they are all self-made hustlers who have managed to turn their creativity into careers. In this collection you will find essays from: Producer and performer Mike Rugnetta on why "Do what you love" is both the best and worst piece of advice you'll ever receive. Author, television writer, and humorist Emma Koenig on staying focused and productive no matter what life throws at you. Web comic Zach Weinersmith on the equation for success and using your creativity to do what the rest of us won't. Trendspotter Jess Kimball Leslie on identifying your skills and turning it into a successful career. This book exists to inspire and inform. Your creative career is attainable, and we'll show you how to do it and why it's worth it.
"While the suggestion "eat what you want; leave what you don't" might, at first glance, seem like a flippant and self-centered resolve, with little-to-no regard for expense, there is a truism that rings at a deeper level for me. In essence I hear: Do what you want. And of course, the cliché quickly follows: To thine own self be true. In other words don't force yourself to do, or partake, or be force-fed anything that does not whet your appetite, tempt your palate, fit your tastes, or intrigue, entice, or otherwise nourish you." { - Nancy Zastudil }
The Hustle Economy is composed of twenty-five essays by creative individuals, who have turned their passions and creative natures into sustainable careers. Both the editor, Jason Oberholtzer, and the illustrator, Jessica Hagy, wrote an essay, each, for the book, as well.
I had a few reasons for picking this book up: 1.) I loved Jessica Hagy's How to Be Interesting: An Instruction Manual . So, I figured I'd check out any other work that she was involved in. 2.) I'm majoring in English, a highly creative field - depending on what career path, one decides to take. Editing and writing are the two areas of the very broad English field, that I'm interested in; and I've been looking around and asking around for people's professional and personal experiences with creative careers - particularly careers in the English field. 3.) Being a college student, I have the doubts and worries that every college student experiences, no matter what subject they are majoring in. I suppose I was hoping to quell some of those doubts and worries through reading about how others had worked through and/or around their own doubts and worries.
"If you wouldn't daydream about it, it isn't part of the big picture." {- Donna Salgado }
Unfortunately, I didn't find what I was looking for. Which, doesn't make any of these twenty-five individuals' stories and experiences, any less valid. If I was aiming to be a freelancer, a small business owner, a self-employed blogger/editor/artist/ journalist etc... I believe that this collection of essays would have been more applicable to myself. While the core of these essays is rooted in turning one's dreams and passions into realities for his/herself, the executions of the writers' careers were generally non-traditional - breaking away from a large business and facing the career world, alone. There's nothing wrong with any of that, but this advice is more so geared towards the individual, who is pursuing a career that is composed of taking on passionate work when it's available, rather than going after a career that is non-stop passionate work.
What I did take away from this collection of essays is this: to succeed in whatever career one chooses, one needs to have a strong work ethic that is compatible with his/her talents, passions, and the bit of luck that everyone receives, occasionally. And, most importantly, never give up.
The writing, itself, was interesting and well-done. The format of the essays and the illustrations added on to the interest factor. And, I appreciated the diversity of the authors' backgrounds, careers, and experiences. My personal gratification with this novel was low. But, the effort put into this collection of essays is obvious. This wasn't the book for me, but I believe that this would be an excellent addition to the library of any individual, who is wanting to leap into the world of non-traditional creative work.
"Just make good work and put it out there." The first word doesn't mean "simply", it means "only". Don't procrastinate, don't hide your work. And don't make bad work, at least not knowingly." {- Nick Douglas }
In case you missed it, here is my review for Jessica Hagy's How to Be Interesting: An Instruction Manual .
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