When I started my business, I was all-in on the guru advice. You know the kind—”Outsource your cooking, grab your coffee from Starbucks, and make every second count for scaling your business.” While the logic sounded promising, there was something unsettling about it. (And seriously, has anyone else noticed that Starbucks seems to be going downhill lately?)

The advice promised productivity maxed out to the nth degree. It was supposed to free me up for what really mattered: building a business that overflowed with clients, income, and impact.

Instead, I found myself recording videos at 6 a.m., answering emails before the sun rose, and realizing that I was still stuck in the cycle I was trying to escape. The hustle wasn’t giving me the freedom I craved—it was just rebranding the same grind I had left behind in my 9-to-5.

Why Are We Told to Scale by Doing More?

It’s everywhere in the entrepreneurial space: scale your business by adding. Add offers. Add hours. Add complexity. The message is loud and clear—more effort equals more success. But for me, that “more” turned into overwhelm and burnout.

Despite the noise around me, I knew I had to make a change. Scaling my business didn’t have to mean doing more. So, I burned it all down and rebuilt from scratch with one mantra in mind: do less, but do it better.

Rebuilding with Intentionality

I started focusing on efficiency over effort. That meant putting smarter systems in place and outsourcing only to people who cared about my business beyond a paycheck. I didn’t need “yes people”; I needed partners who could think critically about my business and its future.

I also let go of the pressure to churn out microprograms and constant launches. Deep down, I knew the last thing I wanted—or needed—was to overload my plate. So, I stopped. I stepped back and gave myself permission to say no to anything that didn’t truly serve my goals.

The Backward Approach That Worked

Here’s what I did instead:

• Reclaimed my mornings. I stopped rushing through my day and started savoring it. I made time to cook my meals, brew my coffee, and take that first sip without distraction.
• Set boundaries. I committed to being done by 5 p.m. most nights. And during the day? I took walks with any one of my four dogs (sometimes all of them!).
• Stopped glorifying the grind. The grind doesn’t make your business better. It just makes you tired. I shifted my focus to doing fewer things, but doing them with intention and excellence.

And guess what? The freedom I was chasing—the reason I started my business—finally appeared. And here’s the kicker: my income didn’t dip.

What Are You Willing to Let Go?

So, let me ask you: What about you? What’s on your plate right now that doesn’t need to be there? What are you craving in your business—time freedom, joy, simplicity?

Give yourself permission to say yes to those things today. Let go of the unnecessary. Take a step back. Because doing less—when done with purpose—can lead to so much more than just another check on your to-do list.

It’s not about working more; it’s about working better, living freer, and building a business that serves you—not the other way around.