Role Playing
Welcome to case 4, the hustle culture.
In this exercise, we will integrate your LIA topics while role playing the hustle culture.
There are 4 roles, in this journey you will take on 2 of them and discuss with students on a few deliverables.
Stage 1 - Self Reflection
What is the hustle culture?
Stage 2 - Understand your role 1
Embrace the role assigned to you through out the debate. Each round will be 25 minutes.
After each round, write down as a team your diary reflection as the role you have taken.
The Hustle-Driven CEO
Tagline: "No excuses. Only results."
Characters: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Gary Vaynerchuk
- Musk: “Nobody ever changed the world in 40 hours a week.”
- Bezos: “Work-life balance is a concept for weak minds.”
- Gary Vee: “You have time. You’re just not using it right.”
Background:
- Founder & CEO of a high-growth company in [insert LIA topic industry].
- Obsessed with productivity, expansion, and making an impact.
- Firm believer that “hard work beats talent” and burnout is part of success.
- Considers competition weak if they prioritize work-life balance.
Your Role in the Debate:
- Defend hustle culture as a necessity in [insert industry].
- Argue that sacrifices lead to innovation and profit.
- Downplay burnout by saying, “The most successful people work harder than everyone else.”
👉 Guiding Questions:
- How does hustle culture drive success in [insert industry]?
- What happens if employees slow down—does it hurt the business?
- Should companies be responsible for work-life balance, or is it an individual’s choice?
The Burnout Victim
Tagline: "I worked myself to the top… and now I’m falling apart."
Characters: Ariana Huffington, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles
- Huffington: “Burnout is not the price you pay for success.”
- Osaka: “It’s okay to step back. Your mental health matters more than a trophy.”
- Biles: “We are not just athletes. We are people first.”
Background:
- Once a rising star in [insert LIA topic industry], now struggling with mental and physical exhaustion.
- Followed the “work 24/7” mentality until they hit burnout.
- Feels stuck—quitting feels like failure, but continuing feels unsustainable.
Your Role in the Debate:
- Challenge the CEO’s hustle culture narrative by sharing real consequences of burnout.
- Show how the industry profits from overworking people without offering support.
- Call out toxic productivity—just because something is “normal” doesn’t mean it’s healthy.
👉 Guiding Questions:
- What is the personal cost of non-stop work in [insert industry]?
- Does working harder always mean more success?
- What happens when burned-out employees quit—does it actually hurt the company?
The Balance Advocate
Tagline: "Success without balance isn’t success at all."
Characters: Tim Ferriss, Cal Newport
- Ferriss: “Being busy is a form of laziness—lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.”
- Newport: “Productivity isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing the right things better.”
Background:
- A former [insert industry] professional who left due to overwork culture.
- Now runs a consulting business on productivity & mental health, proving that balance works better than burnout.
- Uses science & psychology to argue that hustle culture is flawed.
Your Role in the Debate:
- Use research-backed arguments to prove hustle culture is unsustainable.
- Offer alternatives to the burnout model (ex: smart work, ethical business).
- Convince others that healthy employees = better long-term success.
👉 Guiding Questions:
- What workplace policies can prevent burnout in [insert industry]?
- Can companies be both successful and ethical?
- Is hustle culture actually productive, or just an illusion of success?
The Corporate Recruiter
Tagline: "We’re not forcing you to work harder—we’re just giving you opportunities!"
Characters: Sheryl Sandberg (Lean In Culture), Adam Neumann (WeWork), HR Execs Who Sell “Hustle” as Passion
Background:
- Works in HR at a major company in [insert LIA topic industry].
- Loves corporate buzzwords like “We’re a family” and “Passion over paychecks”.
- Believes hustle culture keeps businesses profitable—but knows it needs to sound appealing to employees.
Your Role in the Debate:
- Defend hustle culture in a way that sounds “positive” and motivational.
- Convince workers that hustling benefits them (even if the reality is different).
- Try to maintain employee loyalty while subtly encouraging overwork.
👉 Guiding Questions:
- How do companies sell hustle culture without making it seem toxic?
- What incentives keep people working harder for less pay?
- Should companies be transparent about their expectations—or keep things vague?
Round 1:
Scenario:
Your company in [insert LIA industry topic] is scaling rapidly. Business is booming, but employees are showing signs of burnout. Some are quitting, others are struggling with mental health issues. Yet, the company must meet deadlines and growth targets.
Debate Question:
Should the company slow down to protect employee well-being, or should it push forward in the name of success?
Enter a journal diary on your feelings, your experience. 250 words.
Summarize your debate arguments as a team
Stage 3 - Round 2, you will now flip your roles.
If you were the CEO, you are now the Balance Advocate , if you were the Burnout Victim, you are now the Corporate Recruiter.
Round 2:
Scenario:
Your company in [insert LIA industry topic] has the chance to double profits by cutting ethical corners—such as lowering wages, ignoring sustainability, using cheaper materials, or relying on exploitative practices. If you don’t take the shortcut, a competitor might overtake you.
Debate Question:
Is it acceptable to sacrifice ethics in the name of hustle culture and success?
Summarize your debate into a 1 pager for this Round as a team.
Stage 4 - Final Deliverables for this exercise
Integrate your thoughts on the Hustle Culture with your LIA Topic.
Reflect in a 3 pages report by answering these questions with your assigned teams the following questions:
Title page, name of each member
Introduction: (.5 page)
- What role does hustle culture play in [insert your LIA topics]?
- Did your debate discussions reveal unexpected connections between hustle culture and your LIA research?
Key Take away from the debate: (.5 page)
- What were the strongest arguments made in the debate?
- Which character’s perspective changed the way you think about hustle culture?
- Did the debate challenge your assumptions about success, burnout, or ethics?
Specific Impacts & Psychological Insights (.5 page)
- How does hustle culture affect people psychologically in your industry? (provide an example)
- What are the long-term consequences of hustle culture (burnout, job dissatisfaction, ethical concerns, etc.)?
Solutions – Can We Escape the Hustle Culture Trap? (.5 page)
- What are realistic solutions for reducing hustle culture’s negative effects in your LIA industry?
- Should companies, individuals, or governments be responsible for changing the system?
- What policy or business innovation could create a healthier success model?
Group Personal Reflection & Takeaways (.5 page)
- How has your perspective changed after this exercise?
- Do you see hustle culture in your own life?
- Moving forward, how will you define success for yourself?
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