As business minded young entrepreneurs we all want to make a success. We want the big paycheck, the high paying client, the office on the corner. We want to know that all our hard work has paid off and that we are winning in the game of life. But at what cost?

Here is the question I want to ask you this morning, is your business causing you unnecessary stress? Do you feel like you have no time to enjoy life and are constantly worried about something or someone?

Maybe it’s time to take a minimalist look at your business and adjust some of your mindsets around what makes for a successful career, and what doesn’t.

Is more better?

We often see growth as an indicator of success. But is this really the case? More customers often mean more support, higher staff payments, higher overheads and more management required. Sometimes enough is better. More money brings more responsibility, more stress and more work.

Maybe for a while you need to cut back on some of the costs and overheads in your business and make sure your core product and team are effective. Many businesses that produce quality products and services are not run with a huge team but with a few focused individuals.

Enough means you can optimize for more freedom, not blind growth.

Don’t say yes to every opportunity

Experiment to see what you can and can’t live with – maybe one strong product is better than 3 weaker ones. Maybe less staff is better. Maybe you don’t need a fax machine. Maybe you don’t need an office.

If we say yes to every opportunity then we often end up spread too thin. The product of this is long nights at the office, missed details, and a loss of flair and quality. If cutting back is going to make you better, then consider having some hard conversations with yourself and your staff.

Work with the tools that you have

What makes a great business isn’t great tools, it’s great people who know their tools well. You don’t need every new tool on the market. In fact, many new tools haven’t been tried and tested and may not support you as well as they claim to. Be hesitant before you launch into new tools.

Make sure that you have done your research. That you are able to use your current tool to the best of your ability and that you aren’t just buying for the sake of buying. A few wise choices are far, far better than a thousand average ones.

Get to the point

Boil down your business idea to as small a point as possible, and then launch quickly. So many times as a business owner what you think you know about the market isn’t accurate. You may have an idea about what is the best option but until you put that idea into practice you won’t receive feedback and be able to grow and shape what you are producing.

Adjust, iterate and improve

By starting small and adapting to changes you aren’t investing loads of time and effort into something which may not succeed. Don’t throw away your money on a guess but rather think about what the smallest possible investment is to make something significant happen and obtain enough information to go forward to the next decision.

Minimalism is a mindset, not a blind purge. It doesn’t mean staying small, it means remaining focused and taking in the bigger picture cuts which a more expansive business will require.

Remember a life lived well is a balanced life. This means you have to say no to some things in order to say yes to others (like time with your family). Growth doesn’t always account for a better work life and size doesn’t always equate to success or growth. Quality over quantity wins every time so if it’s time to get minimal as a business owner don’t be afraid to cut back.