What is it like to have a never-ending task list based on a multitude of projects? Is this a way to make a living? Being an entrepreneur/independent contractor has advantages and disadvantages. I recently heard a podcast where the host spoke about entrepreneurship and jokingly added, “We hunt for our food.”
Being an entrepreneur in kingdom work is a fascinating adventure I struggle to define. If you listen to entrepreneurs talk about their many ventures, you will hear the word hustle whether it is spoken or not. There is a consistency in busyness, an unending flow of projects, and “what’s next after this?” thinking. It is a mindset with no shut-off valve, only considering two or three steps ahead of the current activity.
I experienced this recently when I endured a week that had my interim pastor duties from Sunday to Wednesday midday. This was followed by traveling to lead a clergy retreat, which lasted until Friday afternoon. I traveled out of state on Saturday morning to work with a church I’m consulting. I returned Sunday late evening to get up Monday morning and resume my interim pastor duties in the office, just in time for my small group lunch meeting and some late-day coaching.
I remember the heartfelt sermons I have preached over the years about being busy in kingdom work without becoming a busybody. My definition of a busybody is someone who stays busy doing things that serve no cause or purpose. It is activity for the sake of activity. Work designed only to cure boredom and not necessarily produce anything of value.
The dichotomy of this is apparent. One of our basic Christian goals is to avoid being a busybody. A fundamental goal of an entrepreneur is to stay busy. Christians count on God’s provision even if it requires the work of our hands coupled with God’s blessing. Entrepreneurs often have the mindset of “we hunt for our food.” Christians focus on “being” as much as “doing.” Entrepreneurs typically do not live by that rule. What does a Christian entrepreneur do with this paradox?
This is not a time management problem. It is a mindset dilemma. What I am learning is that the more I get into a mindset that feels like I am “hustling” (both in effort and generating business), it feels like I have stepped onto or over an unhealthy line. Yes, I am a busy person. All the proof you need to verify this is on my website.
I must establish a workable schedule that helps me avoid a hustle mentality. That is time management. If I first do not establish the “why” behind the “what,” I will lose it every time and overschedule myself or add far too many tasks for any (and every) day of the week to achieve. If my mindset is not healthy, neither will my schedule be.
I would love to hear from others in this quandary. The more tips and tricks we can learn from each other, the better. I’m on the learning edge of this and recognize that I have a long way to go for this to become a healthy rhythm in my work and life.