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Am I the only person who is incredibly turned off by the term "hustler"? It's right up there with "I'm an idea guy". In fact, I think that "I'm an idea guy",

by blhack 15y ago

Am I the only person who is incredibly turned off by the term "hustler"? It's right up there with "I'm an idea guy". In fact, I think that "I'm an idea guy", has just morphed into "I'm a hustler".

rmason 15y ago
I think it's short hand for this blog post which popularized the term. http://learntoduck.com/micah/hackers-hustlers http://learntoduck.com/micah/hackers-hustlers A startup can consist of two hackers - but one has to function at least part time as a hustler. FYI locally at Michigan State the student entrepreneurs group is called hackers and hustlers and it was named after that very post.
tikhonj 15y ago
More than that being a self-proclaimed "hustler" also feels sleazy. It's sort of like combining an "idea" guy with somebody whose only goal is to sell the product, not to add quality or make something cool. This is just what I associate with the word "hustler" and not a reflection on the article, on which I have no comment at the moment.
- _delirium 15y ago
  It seems to be used in a more positive way in tech, but I agree that I always read it as having a sleazy connotation--- not just someone in it for the money, but in it to make money at all costs, dishonestly if necessary. The term came from people who use deception to lure people into making bad bets, after all.
freshfey 15y ago
I'd say a hustler is a do-er. He's solution focused, knows how to talk to whom about what problem to get it solved, goes the extra mile and is just as passionate as the hacker (he just works on a different problem than you).
invalidOrTaken 15y ago
I don't know...a hustler actually solves problems. Nasty, gross, annoying, fuzzy problems that have no right to exist, but do anyway. Hackers hate these problems[1]. I moved into a new apartment complex a few months ago from out of state. The landlord was going to put us into a different living situation than we contracted for. All our calls were met with a bland, "We ran out of room." Resident hustler roommate had a talk with them and they meekly knocked down a wall to make things right, and gave us a discount. Hustling has a very different set of skills than hacking. Hacking rewards thinking carefully and doing the Right Thing The First Time, where hustling rewards more of a shotgun approach. Maneuvering one's way past secretaries, remembering 10 acquaintances who might be talked into putting up seed money and calling all of them---these are things hackers hate to do if they can't accomplish them cleverly, and so they often go neglected for great products with hackers behind them (because no one else could be). I'll take a good hustler over an idea guy any day. If they're legit a hustler, they're worth their weight in gold. [1]http://www.paulgraham.com/gh.html http://www.paulgraham.com/gh.html, search "nasty"
- feralchimp 15y ago
  "Hacking rewards thinking carefully and doing the Right Thing The First Time" You have just won the gymkhana for linguistic drifting.
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by blhack 15y ago

Am I the only person who is incredibly turned off by the term "hustler"? It's right up there with "I'm an idea guy". In fact, I think that "I'm an idea guy", has just morphed into "I'm a hustler".

rmason 15y ago

I think it's short hand for this blog post which popularized the term. http://learntoduck.com/micah/hackers-hustlers http://learntoduck.com/micah/hackers-hustlers A startup can consist of two hackers - but one has to function at least part time as a hustler. FYI locally at Michigan State the student entrepreneurs group is called hackers and hustlers and it was named after that very post.

tikhonj 15y ago

More than that being a self-proclaimed "hustler" also feels sleazy. It's sort of like combining an "idea" guy with somebody whose only goal is to sell the product, not to add quality or make something cool. This is just what I associate with the word "hustler" and not a reflection on the article, on which I have no comment at the moment.

_delirium 15y ago
It seems to be used in a more positive way in tech, but I agree that I always read it as having a sleazy connotation--- not just someone in it for the money, but in it to make money at all costs, dishonestly if necessary. The term came from people who use deception to lure people into making bad bets, after all.

freshfey 15y ago

I'd say a hustler is a do-er. He's solution focused, knows how to talk to whom about what problem to get it solved, goes the extra mile and is just as passionate as the hacker (he just works on a different problem than you).

invalidOrTaken 15y ago

I don't know...a hustler actually solves problems. Nasty, gross, annoying, fuzzy problems that have no right to exist, but do anyway. Hackers hate these problems[1]. I moved into a new apartment complex a few months ago from out of state. The landlord was going to put us into a different living situation than we contracted for. All our calls were met with a bland, "We ran out of room." Resident hustler roommate had a talk with them and they meekly knocked down a wall to make things right, and gave us a discount. Hustling has a very different set of skills than hacking. Hacking rewards thinking carefully and doing the Right Thing The First Time, where hustling rewards more of a shotgun approach. Maneuvering one's way past secretaries, remembering 10 acquaintances who might be talked into putting up seed money and calling all of them---these are things hackers hate to do if they can't accomplish them cleverly, and so they often go neglected for great products with hackers behind them (because no one else could be). I'll take a good hustler over an idea guy any day. If they're legit a hustler, they're worth their weight in gold. [1]http://www.paulgraham.com/gh.html http://www.paulgraham.com/gh.html, search "nasty"

feralchimp 15y ago
"Hacking rewards thinking carefully and doing the Right Thing The First Time" You have just won the gymkhana for linguistic drifting.

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