Grindset influencers and CEO cosplay – Is business bullshit harming the real economy?
Why the grindset and hustle culture deserve a closer look
In this episode, Andrew Harrison speaks with Professor Fiona Macquarie to unpick the modern mythology of the grindset: relentless self-optimization sold as the path to career and financial success. The conversation examines how social media, TV shows, and marketing-friendly business books create a performative version of entrepreneurship that often substitutes image for substance.
How social media breeds influencer CEOs and performative entrepreneurship
Macquarie explains how platforms reward constant content and headline-grabbing personas. Influencer entrepreneurship, CEO branding, and podcast stardom can eclipse actual company performance, turning media presence into the real business. The episode explores why this CEO cosplay appeals to young men and how it overlaps with public figures like Stephen Bartlett, Gary Vee, and similar personalities.
Why hustle culture and toxic productivity backfire
The show critiques the idea that waking at 4 AM, extreme exercise, and “bulletproof” rituals automatically produce success. Beyond the physical toll, the grindset assumes invisible labor—household help, childcare, and privilege—making it inaccessible and unsustainable. The episode highlights burnout, avoidance of reflection, and an unhealthy fear of failure that the grind narrative promotes.
Business books, MBAs, and the marketing of expertise
Macquarie argues many pop-business books simplify complex management realities into bite-sized rules. Ghostwriting and marketing often convert books into credentialing tools rather than sources of rigorous insight. Similarly, some MBA programs serve networking and ritual status as much as skill-building, producing credentialed but not necessarily wiser leaders.
Regulation, storytelling, and cautionary business journalism
The discussion contrasts the violent language of disruption—"move fast and break things"—with the social need for regulations that protect people. Cautionary journalism-style books, like Empire of Pain, are recommended as better teachers than list-based how-to manuals because they show how small decisions cumulate in real consequences.
Practical alternatives and takeaways
- Favor reflective learning and failure-tolerant practice over perpetual optimization rituals.
- Consume business storytelling and investigative journalism to learn nuanced lessons.
- Question performative advice and check for privilege or unseen labor behind success claims.
This episode blends cultural critique, research-informed commentary, and pop-culture references (including a nod to Fountains of Wayne) to offer a clear-eyed challenge to grind culture and influencer business narratives. It’s useful for young professionals, academics, and listeners tired of productivity dogma.
