Closing a Chapter
#71 From Hustle to Stewardship: Learning to Slow Down Without Losing Purpose
Hey! I am so grateful to have you back at my blog. Your subscription means the world to me. ❤️ In order to get to know you better, here is a question for you: How did your 2025 feel like?
Now jumping into today’s blog:
Even though I promised myself to write on a weekly basis in order to improve my communication skills, it has been almost half a year since I wrote my last blog.
Why?
Well, I was somehow too busy doing everything and nothing at the same time.
Based on the lunar calendar, 2025 was the year of the snake, and many people associate this year with leaving things behind. Similar to a snake that sheds its skin, people stop doing certain things or break old habits.
Personally, I never paid too much attention to these signs — probably because I grew up in Germany. But after a catch-up call with a friend about the past year, I realized that it was more true than I wanted to admit.
The Start-Up Years
I relocated to Vietnam in 2017 in order to pursue my purpose: helping others recognize their value.
Together with two friends, we started a language meet-up that eventually grew into a proper language school with more than 35 staff members.
But to get there, I had to work really, really hard. There was no salary for the first two years, and my daily routine looked very simple:
Wake up at 5 AM to call my girlfriend in the UK
Go for a morning run
Work 14 hours
Sleep on a thin mattress in the classroom
Once a week, treat myself to a 1-euro coffee
At that time, I didn’t know anything else. The classic start-up hustle was normal to me.
I mean, all the motivational videos and books I consumed had the same message:
Never give up. Work harder. Blood, sweat, and tears.
Surviving the First Five Years
After surviving COVID and the magical five-year start-up mark (well, according to our business plan we should have broken even after two years, but in reality it took five years to become stable), things slowly changed.
We still had to work hard, but the financial pressure to survive was lifted.
Existential challenges turned into process challenges.
From 2023 to 2025, I suddenly had more time and energy to think about other projects.
I wrote my first book.
I started a small writing and running community.
I did my small-scale charity project with #yeudoi.
I created more inspirational content.
My Pattern of Side Projects
Looking back, I noticed a pattern in my behavior.
I would always combine my main work at Deutsch Campus with a side project:
Deutsch Campus + German learning content on TikTok
Deutsch Campus + Blogging
Deutsch Campus + writing Son of a Viet Kieu
Deutsch Campus + Running and writing club
Deutsch Campus + #yeudoi
Deutsch Campus + …
Whenever I finished one side project, my brain immediately started looking for the next thing.
Until August last year.
Discovering Stillness
For some reason, I started to enjoy my quiet.
No plans.
No morning runs.
No morning brainstorming sessions for the next project.
Instead of socializing with as many people as possible, I simply spent time with my favorite person — my wife.
And honestly, it wasn’t anything fancy.
We didn’t go on special dates or plan exciting adventures.
We just enjoyed existing next to each other.
And surprisingly, I didn’t feel guilty about it at all.
I became so comfortable with this slower life that one of my close friends was surprised when I told her I enjoyed it — because she always knew me as a hustler.
Questioning Myself
After that call, I had to reflect on my habits.
Did I become lazy?
Where did the fire in me go?
Did I really want to slow down?
Was I going off track?
Did I turn from a tiger into a cat?
Since I couldn’t really find a clear answer, I did something unusual.
I asked ChatGPT.
I uploaded my data from 2017 until today — including routines, workloads, reflections, and several “wheel of life” assessments from different stages of my life.
I just wanted to understand myself a little better.
The Insight That Hit Me Hard
After analyzing my essays and documents, the AI created a massive summary.
One sentence hit me particularly hard:
“You didn’t lose your drive. You completed a survival chapter and entered a stewardship chapter. You are not becoming less. You are becoming whole.”
The energy I had during the start-up phase was necessary to build my dream.
But it was never meant to be permanent.
Doing less didn’t mean I lost my drive.
It simply meant that the threat was gone.
Redefining Success
Thanks to this insight, I am starting this new chapter with a new definition of success.
Instead of focusing on how much money I earn,
I pay attention to how calm my decisions feel.
Instead of chasing more hours and more projects,
I focus on how people grow through me.
Instead of beating myself up,
I want to go to bed feeling content and grateful.
Instead of rushing through 2026,
I’m learning to slow down — thanks to the support of my wife — and still manage to #yeudoi, even if I do less.
Thanks supporting Son of a Viet Kieu. If you want to check out other blogs, here are my favorites!
I Did It. I Wrote My First Book. (➡️ E-Book here)
Navigating the Social Media Maze: From Anxiety to Empowerment
Clinging to life: My close to death experience in New Zealand
You value kindness and authenticity the most? Then these passion project might be exactly what you have been looking for: my passion projects
Keep staying awesome! #yeudoi
Yaaay you go Thomas! I‘m glad you’re living a more relaxed and peaceful life now! Such an adult 🤪