Hustle

Hustle is a thought-provoking and engaging show from Viceland aired in 2019 that brings viewers on a rollercoaster journey of understanding the hustling spirit of America's diverse and energetic small business landscape. The series is fronted by John Henry, a successful self-made businessman, and entrepreneur renowned for his work in real estate, fashion, and venture capital.

Each episode is carefully constructed around one business or entrepreneur in New York City, each facing their own unique challenges. The businesses featured range from a hair salon and a bagel store to a dance company and a custom sneaker brand. Henry’s role is to help these entrepreneurs scale their businesses while providing viewers with a lens into the trials, tribulations, strategies, and triumphal victories associated with growing a business.

John Henry does not merely play the role of host but serves as a mentor to the entrepreneurs he meets. Leveraging his personal journey and experience, he relates with the entrepreneurs, understands their challenges, and provides actionable insights and strategies. His role isn't to do the work for them, rather, his goal is to give them the tools and knowledge they need to turn their businesses around themselves and send them towards increased profitability.

What sets Hustle apart from other business-oriented shows is its realistic portrayal of the struggles and hardships of entrepreneurial journeys. It doesn't romanticize entrepreneurship, rather the focus is on the struggles and grind it takes to get a business off the ground and to keep it running successfully. Hustle is about real people facing real challenges, making it eminently relatable and paving the way for substantial learnings.

The show packs a powerful punch of motivation, emphasizing the importance of determination, grit, creativity, and risk-taking in entrepreneurship. Throughout the series, Henry focuses on various aspects of business, including supply chain management, marketing strategies, distribution channels, and turning customer complaints into business improvements. All these business aspects are not discussed hypothetically but are proven in the transformation journey of the businesses featured in a real and tangible way.

Henry interacts with, confronts, and encourages the entrepreneurs throughout the series, making the audience feel like they are part of the conversation and adding an intimate aspect to Hustle. These candid moments reveal not only business strategies, but also the emotional investment and resilience required to manage and scale a business.

One of the most compelling parts of Hustle is that it showcases a diverse array of entrepreneurs — men, women, young, old, different races, backgrounds, and industries — reflecting in a broader sense the diversity of the American small business landscape. This diverse representation widens the appeal of the series, ensuring every viewer finds someone they can relate to or learn from.

Visual elements also form a key aspect of Hustle. The cinematography strongly emphasizes the day-to-day operations of businesses underscoring the relentlessness of the hustle. Graphics and animations are subtly used to explain complex business concepts and strategies, making it easier for the audience to understand and apply to their own entrepreneurial journeys.

In all, Hustle isn't just a television series but a practical business guide and inspiring tool for anybody remotely interested in entrepreneurship or small business. Through real-life examples, reminiscent conversations, intense mentoring sessions, and tangible transformations, Hustle adds a fresh perspective to the world of business shows. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur looking for motivation, a student of business interested in practical learning, or an armchair fan of business shows, Hustle is a series that you wouldn't want to miss.