Today is an episode that has been the most requested one. Every time I put up a poll a minimalist business is the one you come back to again and again.
You’re interested in this concept of minimalism, probably because we all want to know how can we do things more simply while making a bigger impact. As busy mompreneurs, our lives are already crazy enough. And so we really just want to know how can we be more productive so we can go be more present, living our lives, making our impact, etc. And that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about today.
Before I hop into the juice of the episode. I did want to mention that next Monday, January 31st (if you are listening to this live) I will be hosting my Simplify My Biz event. This is a free live coaching event where you can get client-level support from me for FREE.
Not only will you learn where you might be over-complicating your business and where to put your focus next. You’ll also learn more about how a minimalist business could work for you- taking this concept of minimalism in business a step further.
What is Minimalist Business?
According to Gina Lucia at limitbreaker.co a minimalist business is one that makes sure every decision piece of software and process is useful or enjoyable. If not, it’s removed to make room for the things that are.
It’s something akin to the slow business movement. A minimalist business focuses on conscious choices that benefit the business and the people working in it. It’s uncomplicated, intentional and simple in the best sense of the word.
And so really to me a minimalist business is one that doesn’t have all the extra fluff in it.
A Minimalist business is one that focuses on your zone of genius. The way you can make the best impact. It focuses on your vision and your mission and all of these things that fuel you and light you up because that’s the enjoyable piece. Those are the things that get you excited and get you out of bed in the morning. A minimalist business makes sure that you’re being intentional. It’s very simple.
Minimalism as a lifestyle
It reminds me a lot of my personal styling days. Prior to the Mompreneur Guide, I ran my own personal styling business for 10 years.
And the concept of that personal styling business was I would first figure out what is your signature style? What is that style that you love? That you feel good in? That you light up in? AND that shows off your features the best?
Once I would figure that out, then it would be my job to come in your closet, clean it out and tell you what to keep and get rid of based on that style.
No longer did you have all of these random things in your closet, these pieces that you didn’t know how to put together or when you would wear them- they didn’t feel great. Instead, when I left your house, you would have a more simple, less complicated closet with more cohesion.
You’d be able to see clearly what your style was and the best part and how to best leverage the things you have in more than just one way.
So really when we think about what I’m doing now, as minimalist business strategist, it’s all about doing that same thing, but for your business.
How to Have a Minimalist Business
How can we look at our business as a whole, and first and foremost, think to ourselves, what are we doing? What’s our mission, our vision, our legacy? What is the purpose and the driving force of the work that we’re doing here? Why are we even going through all this craziness of mompreneurship?
We need to know our directions. And so that’s the first thing I think about with minimalist businesses. The intentionality and the direction.
And to go back to that comparison between your style, it’s really looking at, okay, now we know what we’re doing. We know our signature style and now how can we take inventory of what we currently have and what we’re currently doing and declutter it. What can we keep, cut and add from our business so it’s more intentional. Like it was mentioned in that definition, we want to make sure every decision piece of software and process is either useful or enjoyable. And if not, it’s removed to make room for the things that are.
Minimalism Quotes
I think minimalism sometimes gets a bad rap of a stark white room. You might think if it’s a minimalist business, it must mean that there’s not a lot in it and maybe there’s not enough substance or meat to it.
“Minimalism isn’t about removing things you love. It’s about removing the things that distract you from the things that you love.” – Joshua Becker from the Minimalist Home
And that’s what I love about this concept of minimalism is that it transcends into everything we do. It’s not just about a minimalist home or a minimalist wardrobe. It’s about a lifestyle, a way we think, how can we stop over-complicating our already complicated lives and start making things more simple.
Gretchen Rubin goes on to say Outer order contributes to inner calm.
When we clear the clutter in our business and in our lives it allows our minds to be free.
Just the other day, I was vacuuming our house and had this aha moment. I didn’t realize how many crumbs were on the ground until I vacuumed them up and saw how clean the floor was. It was an unknown stressor on me that wasn’t cleared until I happened to routinely clean it up.
And that’s what this quote reminds me of. When you have things in order on the outside, you’re going to be calmer on the inside even if you don’t notice there’s a problem to begin with…. another thing I love about a minimalist business.
Francine Jay from Miss Minimalist also says: “My goal is no longer to get more done, but rather to have less to do.”
And I think that plays into this conversation as well. When we have less things in our business- our energy isn’t scattered or spread too thin. When we’re able to really focus on what matters to us, doing those activities that make a bigger impact, then we don’t have to get more done. We can just get the right things done. Which leaves more time to do all the other things we want to do.
Because at the end of the day, Annie Dillard says: “How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives.”
Ask Yourself "Why?"
So, I want to pause, and I want you to ask yourself a question to start putting you in the right space to have a minimalist business- if you so choose.
I want you to hear my voice in your head again and again- every time you go to make a decision now in your business. And I want you to ask yourself (just like your kids do) Why?
Because that’s the basis of a minimalist business.
Everything has a purpose and intention. And so the next time you go to do something, I want you to ask yourself, why am I doing this? Does it give me energy? Or am I doing it because I feel like I should?
How often do we find ourselves on that conveyor belt doing the next thing that is expected of us without having ever asked ourselves WHY we’re doing it or making that decision? Then we get out on the other end and we feel lost or scattered or depleted or unsure of why we’re doing something.
So I want you to start to ask yourself why more.
Minimalism in Business
At the end of the day, like I said, a minimalist business, makes sure every decision, piece of software and process is useful or enjoyable. If not, it’s removed to make room for the things that are.
And also remember, to keep asking yourself the question why.
Why are you doing the things that you’re doing? Are you sure that they’re all enjoyable and have purpose? If not, then a minimalist business might be the right next step.
Start simplifying your biz today for free!
If it does feel like the right next step, then the Simplify My Biz event is where you are going to want to go next. That’s where together we can link our arms, pinpoint where you might be over-complicating your business and where to put your focus next.
Here’s a replay from the last event if you want to check it out.
I would love to see you there!
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