The Hustle Economy - Jason Oberholtzer (Illustrated by Jessica Hagy)

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 .

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded.


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How to Be Interesting (In 10 Simple Steps): An Instruction Manual - Jessica Hagy

Title: How to Be Interesting: An Instruction Manual

Author: Jessica Hagy

Genre: Nonfiction; Self-help; Psychology; Humor; Personal Development

Goodreads Rating: 3.75/ 5 stars

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Pages: 272 (Paperback)

Publisher: Workman Publishing

Published: March 19, 2013

Summary: You want to leave a mark, not a blemish. Be a hero, not a spectator. You want to be interesting. (Who doesn't?) But sometimes it takes a nudge, a wake-up call, an intervention! And a little help. This is where Jessica Hagy comes in. A writer and illustrator of great economy, charm, and insight, she s created How to Be Interesting, a uniquely inspirational how-to that combines fresh and pithy lessons with deceptively simple diagrams and charts.

It s a book about exploring: Talk to strangers. About taking chances: Expose yourself to ridicule, to risk, to wild ideas. About being childlike, not childish: Remember how amazing the world was before you learned to be cynical. About being open: Never take in the welcome mat. About breaking routine: Take daily vacations . . . if only for a few minutes. About taking ownership: Whatever you re doing, enjoy it, embrace it, master it as well as you can. And about growing a pair: If you re not courageous, you re going to be hanging around the water cooler, talking about the guy that actually is.

“Bring others into your world.”

How to Be Interesting: An Instruction Novel, is one of those books that plopped into my life and waited patiently for me to finally be receptive enough to comprehend and fully take to heart Jessica Hagy’s message. I would say that I’m slightly embarrassed that it took me about three years to finally get around to reading this book, but I truly am a firm believer in situations and people gravitating towards us only when we are in the proper mindset to receive those situations and people, or when we need another learning lesson. Hagy’s novel is both a moving situation and a necessary learning lesson. Hagy’s words serve as a catalyst for change; embarking on the intimate journey of positive self – growth. I truly don’t regret that I waited to read this book because I can honestly say that if I had decided to read this book about three years ago, when I was fresh out of high school and my grandmother had just handed me this book, I wouldn’t have taken any of it to heart. Better to be late to the party and aware of what’s going on than to be at the party and not know why you’re there.

“You’ll need help. You’ll need advice. You’ll need allies. So you have to tell someone how you feel and what you’re up to. Let people in on what you’re doing. They will champion and support you more than you ever imagined, and mock you less than you fear.”

I would say that a key aspect of becoming a mature young adult is being able to acknowledge that while yes, it’s important to be ambitious and to allow yourself to continue to explore the depths of who you are, you don’t always have to do it alone. In fact, you shouldn’t do it all alone. Which is why we must continue to put a heavy emphasis on developing and caring for our friendships, our familial relationships, and our romantic relationships. We need to know that we have people in our corner; people who are loyal and who will continuously push us to become the best possible version of who we are.

“Seek someone who makes you smile. Someone who lives the way you want to. Someone you admire. Someone real and imperfect.”

How to know you’ve found a romantic relationship with potential: You can freely admit that your partner is just as imperfect as any human being (including yourself), but you are still able to see them as loveable and as someone you want to grow with and experience life with.

“Do not fake it. Costumes. Poses. False smiles and forced conformity. It all gets in the way of what’s truly interesting. You are innately unique. There’s no need to hide behind an ill – fitting mask.”

Be authentic. Don’t lie to yourself and don’t lie to anyone else, about who you are and what you want out of life. Never ever settle for less. The minute you begin to fake it, is the moment when you will begin to lose sight of who you are.

“Get sidetracked. Follow your weird impulses and do all sorts of things. Getting sidetracked can lead you to exactly where you belong.”

“Leave the safety of home.”

“If you have a personal dream or a wish or a desire, know that you’re the only one who gives enough damns to see it realized.”

“Safe is often dangerous. An easy life is like quicksand. Before you know it, you’re trapped and can’t move, can’t breathe, can’t get to where you really wanted to go. Don’t coast unless you’re rolling downhill on a bicycle.”

“Forgive. Most people, even the nasty ones, are doing the best they can. They may not deserve your love and admiration, but your scorn burns the both of you.”

If you only get one take away from Hagy (which I assure you is impossible) I hope that it is the revelation of how crucial and life changing “carpe diem” truly is. At the end of it all, all that will matter is how you chose to spend what time you did have and what kind of impact or lack thereof you left on both life and others.

Reading How to Be Interesting: An Instruction Novel, felt as though I was getting a much-needed dose of reality and encouragement from a good friend, who had refused to allow life to cause her to become jaded or less of herself. This novel was an easy read, brimming with ah-ha moments and passages that made me pause because of how honest and heartfelt they were. Whether you decide to hash out this book in one sitting or to savor it in tidbits, you won’t regret it.

Hagy’s novel is one that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. The advice within these pages is indispensable and potentially a true catalyst for powerful and positive change in your life. A must-have read, particularly, for young adults and college students; the individuals who need to not lose sight of themselves throughout their journey into adulthood and through the higher education system.

“Maybe your past isn’t perfect. Maybe it was brutal. Maybe you were brutal. Maybe you’ve got more scars than you thought one skin could hold. You can’t linger on those thoughts. You will drown in them.”

Stay afloat in the good company of Jessica Hagy.

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded.

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- Anisa