The One Mindset Shift That Changed Everything
For years, I believed that working harder was the answer.
If I just put in more hours, tweaked my offer one more time, or found the perfect marketing strategy, everything would click. I was convinced that success was just on the other side of my next hustle.
Spoiler alert: it wasn't.
## The Hustle Trap
Like many of you, I started my business with big dreams and even bigger to-do lists. I was doing *all the things*:
- Posting on social media multiple times a day
- Creating new freebies every month
- Saying yes to every opportunity
- Working until midnight most nights
And you know what? I was exhausted. Burnt out. And honestly? Not making any more money than when I started.
> "I realized that working harder wasn't the solution — it was the problem."
## The Shift
Everything changed when I stopped asking "What else can I do?" and started asking "What can I *stop* doing?"
This was the mindset shift that changed everything for me:
**Success isn't about doing more. It's about doing less, better.**
I know, I know. It sounds almost too simple. But stay with me.
### What This Looks Like in Practice
Here's what happened when I embraced this shift:
1. **I stopped creating new offers** and focused on making my existing one irresistible
2. **I quit most social media** and doubled down on the one platform that actually worked
3. **I said no to 90% of "opportunities"** so I could say yes to the 10% that mattered
4. **I stopped working weekends** and somehow got *more* done during the week
The result? My business tripled in revenue while I worked fewer hours.
## How to Apply This to Your Business
If you're feeling stuck in the hustle trap, here's where to start:
### 1. Audit Your Activities
Make a list of everything you do in a week. Then ask yourself: "If I could only do THREE of these things, which would move the needle most?"
Those are your 3 priorities. Everything else is negotiable.
### 2. Embrace Constraints
Constraints aren't limitations — they're liberation. When you can't do everything, you're forced to do what matters.
Try this: Give yourself half the time you think you need for a project. You'll be surprised at what you can accomplish.
### 3. Measure What Matters
Stop tracking vanity metrics (followers, likes, impressions). Start tracking outcome metrics (clients signed, revenue generated, hours worked).
If an activity doesn't move those numbers, question whether it deserves your time.
## The Bottom Line
Here's the truth that took me years to learn:
You don't need to do more. You need to do less, more intentionally.
The women I work with who see the biggest results aren't the ones who work the hardest. They're the ones who work the *smartest* — who protect their energy, focus on what matters, and give themselves permission to do less.
What would change for you if you embraced this shift? I'd love to know.
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About the Author
Sarah Mitchell
Sarah Mitchell is a business coach who helps ambitious women build businesses that give them freedom, fulfillment, and a really good income. After burning out twice in corporate, she cracked the code on sustainable success.