What’s driving results and what’s just stuff?

There was a time when I had a downtown office, a dedicated desk, and so much stuff. Stacks of paper files, drawers full of swag for events, a collection of sticky notes with reminders and journals full of meeting notes.

During one office move I took a carry on sized suitcase to work and loaded it up with the things I didn’t need to move to the next desk – I filled it with papers, desk clutter, things I had pinned on the wall, and shoes, so many pairs of shoes.

Hybrid work is where I first realized what I didn’t need to be effective. At home, I just had my laptop, mouse, and monitor. But at the office I had a desk full of things, and jam packed drawers.

The cloud has been a game changer, making it so much easier to access files anywhere and keep digital records instead of paper.

These days, my office is wherever I open my laptop. A wireless keyboard and mouse, a second monitor, and a good chair make things better, but functionally? All I need is my laptop and my phone with internet.

In business, we do the same thing. We add complexity, more services, more steps, more stuff because it feels like growth. But what if growth comes from cutting back?

The best businesses I’ve seen aren’t drowning in extras—they’re built on clarity. They know what works, and they double down on it.

So, here’s your challenge: Take a look at your desk. Your to-do list. Your business.

What’s actually driving results? What’s just stuff? What’s working so well that it’s worth a rinse and repeat—even if it feels a little boring? Find time to focus there. Double down on what’s getting results.

And let go (or hit pause) on the projects, strategies, or tactics that aren’t pulling their weight right now.

Simplified growth wins. When you free up time by relaunching or promoting what’s already working, then you can revisit those other projects—starting with the one that has the greatest potential.

By that point, you might also realize which ones are worth walking away from for good.

Because the lighter you travel, the further you can go. Agree?