The Mindset Shift Needed to Go From Side Hustle to Full Time

It seems to be a fundamental part of being human: we find real happiness when we’re working toward something that gives us a sense of purpose and growth. After a period of personal realignment, where you’ve hopefully cleared away old limiting beliefs, a new world of possibilities opens up. The big question becomes, what do you do with that freedom? How will you find that sense of fulfillment?

For many, that path involves building something of their own, like . But to succeed, you first need to develop what I call a “complete game.”

The Kid With the Incomplete Game

Years ago, I met a man named Dan Pultney who told me something that has stuck with me ever since. The first thing I noticed about Dan was that he was incredibly tall—six-foot-ten. Naturally, I asked him if he’d played basketball.

“All through high school and I even got a college scholarship,” he said. “My dream was the NBA, but a knee injury changed my plans.”

Later, he mentioned his son, so I asked if his son was tall, too. “He’s 15 and already six-seven,” Dan told me. “He’s got the basketball bug, too. He wants to play for Duke. The kid’s work ethic is amazing—he’ll be out in the driveway shooting hoops in a snowstorm. You have to drag him inside.”

I was impressed. “You must be so proud,” I said.

“I am,” Dan replied, “but unfortunately, he’s not going to get a scholarship to Duke or anywhere else.”

I was confused. He has the height and the drive, so why not? Dan’s answer was an eye-opener. “The problem is, my son only practices the parts of the game he likes. He doesn’t practice what he like. As a result, he has a very incomplete game. No coach is going to recruit a player who doesn’t have a complete game.”

Why a Complete Game Matters in Everything

That phrase—a “complete game”—hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s not just about basketball; it applies to absolutely everything in life.

Think about lottery winners who end up bankrupt. They have the money, but they haven’t developed a complete financial game. They don’t know how to invest or protect their wealth; they only know how to spend. Their incomplete game costs them everything.

This applies to every important area of our lives:

• The fundamentals are the same for everyone—saving, investing, and minimizing debt. We might start from different places, but the rules of the game don’t change.
• Eating right, exercising, stretching, and getting enough sleep—these are universal principles for a healthy life.
• Respecting your partner, supporting their goals, communicating well, and forgiving—these are essential parts of the complete game for any strong relationship.

Whether you’re building a family or , the core principles for success are remarkably consistent. The path to transforming your requires mastering all aspects of the business, not just the fun parts.

I had to be honest with myself. In my own life, I was just like that 15-year-old kid. I focused on what I liked and avoided what I didn’t, even when I knew it was important. I had an incomplete game in my finances, my health, and more. This is true for most people. We stick to what’s easy and, as a result, never reach our full potential.

Before you can what you want, you must first the person who can achieve it. Becoming means developing your complete game.

Defining Your Path Forward

If you don’t define who you are, the world will happily do it for you. Ads, social media, and even well-meaning friends will try to tell you what you’re capable of. But only you have the right to decide who you want to be. It all starts with a few simple questions.

Don’t answer these based on who you were yesterday. Answer them based on who you want to become tomorrow. Take out a notepad and map out the next 12 months.

1. What do you want your work life to look like a year from now? Maybe this involves or creating a plan for developing . This is how you fund the rest of your life, so how can you maximize it?
2. What would you like to achieve financially in the next year? This could be paying down debt or hitting a savings goal. Gaining control here reduces a massive amount of stress.
3. Who do you want to connect with? Do you want to find a partner, reconnect with an old friend, or share a new experience with someone you love? The quality of our lives is often defined by our relationships.
4. What would you like to see happen with your physical health over the next year? Don’t take it for granted. Decide on a goal and write it down.
5. Is there a hobby you want to start, a project you want to finish, or someone you want to help? What else would make you happy?

This isn’t about creating a rigid, five-year plan. It’s about consciously choosing a direction. Most people just let life happen to them. You’re choosing to be different.

The Difference Between a Plan and a Wish

When I was about to graduate from college, I listened to a speaker talk about the importance of writing down your goals. I went home inspired, filled a legal pad with my dreams, and then promptly shoved it in a desk drawer.

Years later, I found that notepad while cleaning. I hadn’t accomplished a single thing on the list. Why? Because I never looked at it again. I thought writing it down was enough.

I decided to try again. This time, I reviewed my list every Sunday night and planned my week. I’d ask myself, “What’s one thing I can do this week to get closer to the life I want?” Suddenly, I was making real progress.

Consistent focus is the key. Whether your goal is better health or launching a , you have to reinforce your decisions daily. Your thoughts guide you, and what you practice most is what you become. Building or turning your doesn’t happen by accident; it’s the result of cumulative, positive actions.

Your journey starts with defining your path and the person you want to become. Then, you reinforce it with focus and consistency. With that kind of mindset, you have everything you need to build the life you truly want.