Five Ways to Increase Your Hustle by 10%

PETER SHANKMAN

POSTED ON June 30th, 2010

34 COMMENTS

Yesterday, I tweeted the following:Increase your hustle by 10%, and your game will increase by 50%. Trust me. I’ve done it.

Here are five easy ways to help increase that hustle.

1) Talk to three people you haven’t spoken to in a while – Hint – Facebook makes it super easy. Simply look to the right of any page, and you’ll see this:

Simply say hi to three people in your network. Doing this every day guarantees that you’re talking to your entire network, and not wasting those connections. It also promotes top of mind presence, which makes people think of you when they need something – which leads to more work for you, which translates into more revenue – i.e., upping your game.

2) Get off your ass. Get up 30 minutes earlier tomorrow and go outside. Run around the block. Walk if you’ve never run. Go grab your bike out of the garage, dust it off, and ride it for 30 minutes. I don’t need to go into the obvious health benefits of doing this, but here’s something you may not know – A 30 minute workout can boost your endorphins and dopamine levels (the happy chemicals in your body) for up to six hours. That’s six hours of happy-you at work. Result? You do more, manage your time better, and are in a better mood. People respond to that – It ups your game.

3) Go drop some money on something cool. Yes, we’re all taught to save. But never underestimate the game-upping power the hot new phone, or camera, or laptop has for you and your business. Just the simple act of owning it helps – You know how good you felt when you got your new laptop? Same thing. You want to use it more. So you will. More work = game upped.

4) Change the scenery. Work from somewhere else tomorrow. A different block, a different city, a different country. Do what’s 1% out of your comfort zone. If you’re comfortable working from Starbucks, head to the park. My favorite? Go find an airport, and park as close to it as you can without getting arrested – so you’re just outside the runway and in the flight path. Then sit on the hood of your car and work wirelessly on your laptop, making sure to look up every three minutes and watch these multi-ton behemoths fly overhead, just inches from your skull. Loud engines up your game.

5) Take on a pro-bono client. Nothing like doing some good to up your game. Not only will you feel good, but people notice people who volunteer for good things. You’ll wind up helping a ton of people, and as important, your name will get out there to people who matter even more so. Game: Upped.

There are tons of other ways to up your hustle, thereby upping your game. What’s your favorite? Leave it in the comments.

http://tdhurst.com tyler hurst

Love #4.

A good #6 is eating something good for you, like a fruit for a snack. Apples and peanut butter are a fantastic pick me up.
http://www.InCouraged.com Megan Strand

Great post!

Here’s mine: Read “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. Learn about “the resistance”, how to spot it and crush it. Super powerful and will change the way you look at what you choose to spend your time doing.
http://www.myelitewellness.com Mishell Brookins

I love them all and # 4 is definitely thinking out of the box
Mary Ann Heinen

I try to do #2 everyday — on my lunch hour. I’m fortunate to have a shower/locker room at work. Running/walking is a great way to relieve stress and helps one tackle the afternoon workload!
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http://jgellas.blogspot.com Jim Gellas

Love the suggestions! Here’s another one…surround yourself with inspirational people who will motivate you to up your game and your life. Thanks for all your inspiration, Peter!
Sophia

I will try no. 1. I was actually thinking of doing that on a personal level just to keep in touch with my friends a little more than just reading their statuses. I’ll do it from my business page as well. Thanks!
http://www.cooldesignsforlandscapes.com Katie Cool

My fav is #3 – Should I buy that new Mac laptop I’ve been drooling over?
Tory Patrick

Fantastic ideas, Peter! I’ve never actually done work while watching planes fly overhead, but I must say…Gravelly Point Park in Arlington is the perfect spot to watch planes take-off from from Reagan National. One of my favorite things to do in DC.

Here’s to increasing my hustle!
http://www.encarolina.com Jason

Hey, I just started #2 this week and didn’t even know it – cool !
http://www.hluska.ca Greg Hluska

Great tips, thanks for sharing!

I recently became a big fan of ditching caffeine in exchange for more water. Turns out that hyper-caffeinated Greg was not productive Greg! I dropped my caffeine intake, upped my water intake and became more productive to boot.
Meagan

#4 is my fav – amazing what a change of scenery can do :)
http://adrianchilders.com Adrian Childers

Nothing motivates me more than the thought of making enough money to allow my mom to retire and invest in my Dad’s business. Whoever your loved one is (parents, grandparents, g/f, siblings) use them as your motivation and how you will make a better life for them.
http://www.websitesthatwin.com Philippa Gamse

Hey Peter,

I’m sure you’ll appreciate this one – take a few minutes out to spend with your pet. I have a home office, and a few minutes giving my cat a tummy rub or having her sit in my lap and purr makes all the difference – her energy is very solid and grounding . . . good thinking time!
http://twitter.com/briandshelton Brian D. Shelton

Great work, Peter. #1 and #5 are the one’s I do most frequently, so I’ll give the other three a try to maintain high levels of #endlesshustle. ;-)
http://www.lodestar-group.com Jeanne Eury

Great ideas! I live just outside of DC and going to the park near the airport, alternating the rush of the planes just over your head with the views of downtown is so invigorating-I’m a big fan of #4
http://www.twitter.com/mkinshella Matt

I’m the communications person for a nonprofit that answers a helpline for people needing social services (2-1-1). Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my job and “problems.” When I need to shake myself, I sit on the phones with some of our great call center specialists as they help people who are in dire need. It helps makes me realize my problems aren’t really problems and it also reminds me why I work for a nonprofit. Its always sobering.
http://www.deepripples.com Aaron Douglas

I wholeheartedly agree with #2. Going to a personal trainer at 6:30am everyday kind of sucks, but the improvement on my quality-of-day makes every minute worth it.
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http://PaddleforChange.com Josh Tremblay

Going to an airport to change up the scenery—what a great idea!

Any other places that inspire your creativity Peter?
nathana josephs

Great ideas Peter!

Add these to your list as well, mentor a student or a group of students, or better yet. Teach a class, seminar or give a presentation. Teaching your methods is a great way to promote your business in classes, or seminars and of course it’s a wonderful way to give back to the business you love. I have interns who are now in marketing and have 4 children contact me to tell me what a great impact I had on their careers and how they still remember the lessons I taught them 25 years ago, what can be more rewarding ?
Paula

Take time to spend it with a family member and listen to what’s on their mind – and not make any judgement.
http://www.reflectmylife.com Caroline Yacu

Peter…you rock! When are you back in LA? Love #5…for us, it’s not so much offering a pro-bono service, but taking time everyday to do something helpful and positive for someone else, a customer, friend, teammate, etc. GREAT ADVICE:-)! Hope to see you soon!
http://www.pigeonforge.com Jessica Doppelt

Another take on #1 – write a personal note (yes, pen to paper!) to someone you haven’t spoken to in awhile. Just say hi, I’m thinking about you and I hope you are well!
I always feel so special when I go to my mailbox and pull out a hand written note. Someone has taken their precious time to write me a few encouraging words. Pass that feeling on!
http://hotheadblog.com Charles Martin

Great stuff Peter. I always make sure I am working on one pro-bono deal in whatever I’m engaged in at the time. Talk with me when in LA next!
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http://www.jkaplanpr.com Jenny Kaplan

I TRULY believe in dance breaks in-between stressful phone calls – crank up my fav tunes and bounce around for a few minutes…brings my mo-jo right back up!!!

:)
http://www.frockandrollonline.com x Corrine/Frock & Roll x

FANTASTIC tips.
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http://anthonymyerspr.com Anthony

Awesome list!

Number 1 will be great for Facebook and LinkedIN!

The airport tip in Number 4 would probably damage your hearing pretty bad though…
Gina

I like #5, especially doing pro bono pr/media for people who have no idea about the industry, like local artists, you have the chance to change their lives and make a massive impact with just a few hours a week, pretty awesome! Tip to find good people — walk around your local market and chat to the stall holders, chances are there are some incredibly talented people looking for a hand there!
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http://www.sitestrategics.com Peter Henshaw

I agree with Gina, number 5 is my favorite too. Not many businesses today do pro bono work. It would really transform a community if businesses were able to do pro bono work for people.

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