Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter

by Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson

One of the secrets to getting what you want in life is creating the perception that you don’t need a thing. That can be a difficult energy to project—especially when you’re struggling—but committing to that perception will make you more attractive professionally, personally, and even romantically.

You’re never going to find lasting success until you take full responsibility for what happens in your life. No one owes you anything. Just as you don’t owe anyone else. Once you accept that fundamental truth and accept that you control your journey, so many doors that seemed closed are going to open up in front of you.

Try it yourself. If you’re in a meeting and your boss looks to you for affirmation, don’t give it to them. That doesn’t mean stare at your phone or off into space while they’re talking. By all means, maintain eye contact and show that you’re listening. Just don’t offer them any nonverbal feedback beyond that. I promise that if you do that, the person who’s speaking will become fixated on you. Subconsciously, they will be thinking, “Everyone else is giving me verification. But this person isn’t giving me anything. What’s going on?”