Here’s what being boss is not

If we’re going to identify the qualities of what it means to be boss, then we’d be remiss not to identify decidedly unboss characteristics as well. Now, if you identify with some of these it’s okay—we do too every once in a while. But being boss is actively working against these low-vibing qualities:

image LETTING FEAR DICTATE YOUR DECISIONS

image BEING OVERLY NEGATIVE ALL THE FREAKING TIME

image BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR MISTAKES OR FAILURES

image PLAYING THE VICTIM

image GIVING UP UNDER PRESSURE

image SETTING VAGUE GOALS

image BEING APOLOGETIC AND FULL OF SELF-DOUBT

image LOOKING FOR EXTERNAL VALIDATION

image CARING WHAT EVERYONE ELSE THINKS

LIVING WHAT YOU LOVE

Being boss is about knowing what you want and being unapologetic about it. It’s being who you are, nurturing your talents, and sharing them with the world. Being boss means doing the work to get you to where you want to be, even when it’s hard or when no one understands. A boss owns it all, stands up for what she believes in, is brave enough to take risks, has the courage to make mistakes along the way, and makes big, beautiful things happen, even when the process doesn’t always feel easy or fun.

Because life happens in that hot mess of a process. It’s big and beautiful there, too. But only when it’s something you believe in, when it’s something that you find joy in—day in and day out.

Being boss is living what you love, every day and in every way that you can. You have to build a life you love as if it’s your job. Because it is.

EVERY DAY I’M HUSTLIN’

Recently in the circle of creative peers, the world “hustle” got a bad rap and a little bit of backlash. Perhaps it brings up images of working late into the night and on the weekends and having no time for fun. Or it might even conjure up ideas of a mob boss doing less-than-ethical work to get what he wants in unscrupulous ways. That’s not what we’re talking about when we talk about hustle. We’re talking about doing smart work to reach your goals, building a business that allows you to express yourself, making money doing what you love, making a positive impact on the world, and taking care of yourself while you’re at it. Hustle is also about injecting those same practices, boundaries, habits, and gumption you put into your work into your life.

There are times when being your own boss feels so damn good—you’re digging what you’re creating, you’re in the flow, and you know you’re getting somewhere with your work. And there are other times when your big dreams and relentless ambition are just too exhausting. When you feel this way (because you will), it’s time to put your big dreams on the shelf (right next to the airtight jar full of your worst fears) and just do the work.