The Startup Sessions: How To Grow Your Business by Doing Less

I’m out of the studio this week, so we took Episode 173 on the road to a cafe in Northern California. Certified Life Coach, mother of two spirited little girls, and simplification expert, Ashley Gartland, joins me to explore why saying “yes” to too much slows your business down, how & why to focus on less, not more, and why progress is more important than perfection.

How can delegation can help you achieve more? Ashley believes if you want your business to grow, you have to learn how to simplify it. A lot!

Highlights of This Episode

  • Why business design and simplification are so important (5:36)
  • Ashley’s greatest challenge in business (8:10)
  •  Why consuming content is usually a bad idea (13:00)
  • How to decide WHAT gets delegated (18:15)
  • Truly appreciating the benefit of having ‘focus’ (23:30)
  • The idea of having a Project Parking Lot (32:01)
  • How perfection impedes progress (33:08)
  • Designing business without “busy-ness” (43:05)
  • How team support looks in business (48:58)
  • Ashley’s favorite tools (53:40)

“What are the areas that are taking so much time to do…
that you have no business doing?” – Ashley Gartland

Insights from Ashley

What was your first-ever job?

  • My sisters and I ran a business named Cookies & Clean!

What’s a must-read for impact entrepreneurs?

What’s the single-most important trait for entrepreneurs?

  • Trust

Who’s the most interesting person you’ve ever met?

  • My daughters

What are you better at than anyone else?

  • Simplifying

What idea or belief do very few people agree with you about?

  • You can have freedom, fulfillment and a sustainable living.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

  • Just start!

Do you have any ‘asks’ or request of the audience?

Mentioned in This Episode

About Ashley Gartland

Ashley Gartland helps entrepreneurs stop over-complicating things and learn to simplify their business so they can find their focus, grow sustainably and experience more fulfillment and freedom in their life. An entrepreneur since 22, Ashley got her start as a food writer. After doing everything from event planning to public relations to working as an editor at a digital media startup, Ashley launched her coaching practice to show other entrepreneurs how to bring more ease to building their businesses. Ashley’s work has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, The Huffington Post and Being Boss. She lives for rainy days, prefers kombucha over coffee and can be found hanging out inside her free community, The Simplified Entrepreneur.

 

“Simplifying doesn’t need to be a big grandiose thing.
You can start taking steps today.”
-Ashley Gartland

Challenge of the Week: Simplicity is the sure path to a more profitable business! Evaluate your systems and allow yourself the space to delegate those things which are not in your Zone of Genius.