1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,640 In building a life and a business that defies the odds, the most important lesson I learned 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:07,980 was this, embrace the value of subtraction. 3 00:00:07,980 --> 00:00:13,920 The world constantly preaches a more is better philosophy, more features in your product, 4 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:18,840 more hours at the office, more social media followers, but my experience has taught me 5 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:23,320 that success often comes from what you choose not to do. 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,799 Early in my entrepreneurial journey, I thought I needed to outwork everyone. 7 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:32,540 I wore the 100-Hour Work Week as a badge of honor but it nearly broke me. 8 00:00:32,540 --> 00:00:38,040 It wasn't until I reduced my working hours and focused intensely on high impact tasks 9 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,080 that I saw true progress. 10 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,900 This isn't about being lazy, it's about being strategic. 11 00:00:43,900 --> 00:00:50,040 Cut out the noise and prioritize what actually moves the needle for you and your business. 12 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,040 Consider also your offerings. 13 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:56,240 In the beginning, I wanted to provide every service that my customers might need. 14 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:01,060 But I spread myself too thin and none of our products were best in their class. 15 00:01:01,060 --> 00:01:06,059 When I had the courage to strip away the excess and double down on our core competency, that's 16 00:01:06,059 --> 00:01:08,599 when we started to dominate the market. 17 00:01:08,599 --> 00:01:11,120 There's also the matter of network. 18 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,559 Everyone tells you to network aggressively. 19 00:01:13,559 --> 00:01:16,260 Well I selectively networked. 20 00:01:16,260 --> 00:01:19,120 Time is your most precious resource. 21 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,940 Invest it only in relationships that are mutually beneficial and aligned with your values and 22 00:01:23,940 --> 00:01:24,940 goals. 23 00:01:25,540 --> 00:01:28,580 The depth of the connections often outweighs the breadth. 24 00:01:28,580 --> 00:01:31,440 Now, let's talk about learning. 25 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:36,660 We live in an age where information is abundant and there seems to be a drive to learn everything 26 00:01:36,660 --> 00:01:40,540 immediately, to hustle, to be a growth hacker. 27 00:01:40,540 --> 00:01:45,320 But true depth of understanding in a field comes from focused study and from learning 28 00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:47,900 from your own trials above all. 29 00:01:47,900 --> 00:01:50,879 You don't need to read every book or attend every seminar. 30 00:01:51,139 --> 00:01:55,540 Focus on targeted learning and acquiring wisdom through action. 31 00:01:55,540 --> 00:02:00,260 You may find these suggestions to be less about adding to your life and more about stripping 32 00:02:00,260 --> 00:02:02,040 it down to the essentials. 33 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,099 This isn't common advice. 34 00:02:04,099 --> 00:02:08,460 Many will tell you to seize every opportunity, but I've found that saying no is often more 35 00:02:08,460 --> 00:02:11,080 powerful than saying yes. 36 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,619 This is not an excuse to be complacent, but rather an acknowledgment that in simplicity 37 00:02:15,699 --> 00:02:21,820 There is clarity, focus, and often a path to success that others overlook because it's 38 00:02:21,820 --> 00:02:24,179 not draped in complexity. 39 00:02:24,179 --> 00:02:26,179 So here's what I urge you to do. 40 00:02:26,179 --> 00:02:28,539 Evaluate your life and your business. 41 00:02:28,539 --> 00:02:33,059 Identify the elements that don't contribute to your fundamental goals and have the courage 42 00:02:33,059 --> 00:02:35,320 to let them go. 43 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,919 Experiment with subtraction and notice the immense value it brings. 44 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:45,419 If what I've shared today resonates with you, consider subscribing for more insights. 45 00:02:45,419 --> 00:02:50,220 Share this with peers, who might spend too much time getting caught up in the noise. 46 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:54,279 There's power in simplicity and there are more lessons to uncover together.