“I’m Busy” Isn’t a Flex: How Hustle & Comfort Both Stop Progress

Here’s how you can find the middle ground that actually grows you because hustle culture and comfort culture can both wreck your momentum 👇

In this episode of The CEO Lounge, Derrick Thompson and co-host Joselyn Flores break down why being “busy” isn’t the goal — progress is. They talk about the difference between profitable, purposeful grind and busy work that burns you out, plus how to spot the red flags when hustle turns unhealthy.

You’ll hear practical leadership insights on:

Why “I’m busy” can be a warning sign (not a flex)

How to protect your time and stop saying yes to everything

Why grinding must be seasonal with a clear end goal

Systems + people (not chaos) as the real path to scale

The mindset shift: outlast most people, don’t outwork everyone

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Chapters:

0:00 Busy vs profitable grind
0:30 Hustle vs comfort extremes
3:25 Protect your time (power of “no”)
6:54 Busy work = burnout (no progress)
11:53 When hustle turns unhealthy
14:12 Grind seasons need an end date
22:05 Systems + people (not chaos)
34:04 Outlast mindset + real balance