Main vs. Side Hustle, Work Ethic and Leveling Up | Vanessa Sanyauke | Beyond Coding Podcast #99

Work Ethic Roots

Vanessa Sanyauke and Patrick Akil explore the roots of their work ethic, attributing much of their drive to their upbringing. Vanessa shares how her mother's relentless work ethic, often juggling multiple jobs, instilled in her the belief that hard work is essential for achieving one's goals 1. Patrick echoes this sentiment, highlighting how his own experiences shaped his understanding that nothing is handed to you without effort 1. Vanessa notes the societal shift towards entitlement, emphasizing the importance of adding value and working for what you want 2.

If you want that car, if you want that job, if you want that title, what are you doing to really get yourself to that place where you can acquire that?

--- Vanessa Sanyauke

Both agree that the journey and effort behind achievements should be celebrated, not just the end results 2.

   

Celebrating Effort

The conversation shifts to the societal tendency to overlook the hard work behind success, focusing instead on the end achievements. Vanessa and Patrick discuss how social media often glorifies the results without acknowledging the dedication required to get there 2. Patrick shares his observations of people feeling stuck in their dream companies due to hierarchical structures, which can stifle career progression 3. Vanessa reflects on her decision to pursue her own company to break free from such limitations.

I think work ethic and achievements should be celebrated, but the road to get to that should also be celebrated.

--- Patrick Akil

They emphasize the need to appreciate the process and the perseverance it takes to succeed 2.

   

Avoiding Burnout

Vanessa and Patrick address the challenge of maintaining a strong work ethic without succumbing to burnout. Vanessa recounts her experience of juggling a growing side hustle with a demanding day job, which led to burnout symptoms like exhaustion and irritability 4. She advises prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries, such as scheduling downtime and learning to say no to non-essential commitments 4. Patrick acknowledges the difficulty ambitious individuals face in balancing their responsibilities and the importance of recognizing personal limits.

Sometimes burnout comes out from saying yes to absolutely everything.

--- Vanessa Sanyauke

They discuss the importance of self-awareness and making sustainable choices to prevent burnout 5.