The Lie of Hustle Culture—and What Actually Works with Demir Bentley

In today's episode, I'm joined by executive productivity coach and WSJ bestselling author, Demir Bentley. We dive deep into hustle culture, burnout, and how to truly win your week. You'll learn how working less (yes, really) can lead to more sustainable success, especially if you're building a service-based business. Demir shares the exact steps he used to transition from burnout to balance while growing a thriving business.

We discuss why most people don’t plan their week effectively and what you can do about it. Demir shares his full “Winning the Week” method and we explore how strategy, intentionality, and sustainable planning create space for the kind of business and life you actually want. If you're looking to grow your business without burning out, this episode is for you.

Guest Introduction

Demir Bentley is a top executive productivity coach and the co-founder of Life Hack Method. He’s the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Winning the Week and helps high-performing entrepreneurs and coaches work less while achieving more. After experiencing burnout in his former high-stakes Wall Street career, Demir completely transformed how he worked—and now he helps others do the same.

He’s guided thousands of entrepreneurs to build high-performance habits without sacrificing their health or happiness. His systems are especially powerful for entrepreneurs who are scaling their businesses while navigating the complexities of time, energy, and output.

The Lie of Hustle Culture—and What Actually Works - Key Takeaways

• Hustle culture is not the answer—it’s the problem. Real success isn’t about more hours, it’s about more leverage and intention. Demir’s story is a powerful reminder that sustainability is the key to high performance. Burnout is not required for building a successful business—it’s a red flag.
• Planning your week is your number one productivity superpower, especially as a business owner managing both client work and business growth. If you’re not hitting all the necessary “bases” in your weekly planning, you’re already behind. The right planning system creates consistency, energy, and momentum that fuels long-term growth.

The Real Root of Burnout

Burnout isn’t just about a busy calendar—it’s about a broken belief system. As entrepreneurs, we often feel pressure to equate effort with value. But the truth is, working smarter—not harder—is the real game-changer. Hustle culture is built on outdated myths about worth, productivity, and success.

Social media glorifies hustle and overwork, especially in the online business world. But Demir’s approach is a fresh, empowering alternative—one that allows business owners to scale with clarity instead of chaos.

The Biggest Misconception About Hustle Culture

Many entrepreneurs believe they can simply outwork the competition. But at what cost? If you want to build a business you’ll sustain for 10, 20, or 30 years, the hustle model isn’t the answer. Most people burn out right before they begin reaping the benefits of their hard-earned momentum.

This conversation reframes the hustle: sustainability isn’t optional—it’s essential. If you want to scale your business while protecting your energy and creativity, working fewer but more intentional hours is the way forward.

The Solution: The Winning the Week Method

Most entrepreneurs only plan their week partially—they focus on client calls or content creation but miss deeper strategy work. Demir’s Winning the Week method is all about creating a repeatable weekly system that hits every area of your life and business.

When Demir implemented this method, he cut his workweek in half—from 90 hours to just over 40—without losing momentum. This isn’t about doing less; it’s about planning better. That mindset shift is business owners juggling business growth, marketing, and client delivery.

The 6 Steps to Winning Your Week

• Step 0: Remove Resistance – Your planning environment should feel like a mini-retreat, not a chore. Make it something enjoyable, like planning at a cozy café or with a glass of wine with your partner. When weekly planning becomes a ritual, it becomes sustainable.
• Step 1: Learn Your Weekly Lesson – Ask yourself, “If I had to live this week 1,000 times, what would I do differently?” Write it down. This helps you grow faster as a business owner and leader. These small adjustments lead to big transformation.
• Step 2: Choose a Leveraged Priority – Choose one task that, if done well, will make everything else easier. It’s not about checking boxes—it’s about setting up dominoes that knock over future wins.
• Step 3: Interrogate Your Calendar – Don’t assume your calendar is accurate. Treat it like a cross-examination—what’s hiding between those meetings? Honest planning means fewer surprises.
• Step 4: Triage Your Task List – Prioritize your task list with strategy, not just ambition. What’s urgent? What’s impactful? What’s just noise? Protect your time and focus on what moves your coaching business forward.
• Step 5: Allocate Time Supply to Time Demand – There are 168 hours in a week—every one of them matters. Assign every task a real-time slot. Even if you don’t fill every minute, filling more of your calendar than last week is a win.

Advice Demir Wishes He Had Earlier

Demir’s big “aha”? “You’re living on an X-axis. You believe success and happiness are mutually exclusive.” That belief held him back. The truth is, there’s a Y-axis where both can rise together. You can be wildly successful as a coach and love your life. That mindset shift is at the heart of everything I teach.

Key Quotes

• “Planning is like taking a slap in the face today instead of a punch in the mouth on Thursday.”
• “I believed success lived on a one-dimensional axis—be miserable and rich or happy and poor. Now I know that’s a lie.”
• “The hours I lose in a week by working less? I gain back tenfold by not burning out over 30 years.”
• “Burnout is not a badge of honour—it’s a warning light.”
• “Your calendar is a witness that needs to be interrogated—because it’s not giving you the whole truth.”
• “Leverage is the only alternative to working more.”
• “If you don’t use your time, it spoils. You can’t roll it over to the next week.”

Resources Mentioned

• Demir’s website: lifehackmethod.com  
• Follow Demir on IG: @demirandcarey
• Demir’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/demirandcarey 
• Get Demir’s Win the Week Worksheet: Your Ultimate Guide Through Our Winning The Week Method Planning Process: https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/u6mdyp3hn3i2qgzq8la5  
• Join my upcoming free LIVE workshop: https://www.lindseya.com/workshop