Growing Your Business in 2025: Unlocking Success Through Addition by Subtraction

As a business coach, I work with everyone from solopreneurs to Fortune 100 leaders. They share a common challenge: they’re stuck. Despite their success, they’ve hit a wall, overwhelmed by complexity or inertia. My role is to get them unstuck—and in 2025, the most transformative tool to do that is adopting the mindset of addition by subtraction.

Whether you’re running a one-person operation or leading a global enterprise, the principle applies universally: success doesn’t come from adding more to your plate. It comes from subtracting what’s unnecessary, inefficient, or unproductive to make space for what truly moves the needle.

Why Addition by Subtraction Works

Getting unstuck starts with clarity. Businesses—and the people behind them—often get bogged down in complexity. When you strip away what’s not essential, you uncover focus, efficiency, and room for real growth. This approach applies to all positions and organizations, from frontline employees to the C-suite.

If you’re ready to make 2025 your breakthrough year, here’s how we’ll apply this game-changing mindset together:

Action Steps to Unlock Impact

1. Unleash Efficiency: Do More in Less Time

Successful people often get stuck because they’re overwhelmed by tasks that consume too much time.

• Identify tasks that could take half the time without losing quality.
• Leverage technology to automate routine work.
• Use focused time-blocking strategies to eliminate distractions.

Big Impact: Freeing up your time allows you to focus on high-value activities that create results.

2. Delegate and Elevate

Many successful professionals struggle with letting go of control. It’s a bottleneck that holds them back.

• Identify what you can delegate to others.
• Trust your team or hire specialists to handle tasks outside your core strengths.
• Focus on the work only you can do.

Big Impact: Delegation frees your mental bandwidth for strategic thinking and leadership.

3. Eliminate the Nonessential

Businesses and individuals alike accumulate “clutter” over time: outdated processes, redundant meetings, unnecessary expenses.

• Conduct a ruthless audit of your operations, calendar, and workload.
• Ask: Is this adding value? If not, eliminate it.
• Remove distractions that sap energy and attention.

Big Impact: Cutting what no longer serves you will bring sharper focus and higher productivity.

4. Work Smarter, Not Harder: Leverage Peak Times

Getting unstuck isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter.

• Identify your peak productivity hours and schedule your most critical work during those times.
• Shift low-impact activities to off-peak hours.
• Protect your prime business hours for revenue-generating and strategic activities.

Big Impact: You’ll make the most of your energy and drive results faster.

5. Shave the Minutes Without Losing the Magic

Efficiency doesn’t mean cutting corners—it’s about making smart adjustments.

• Find small improvements in daily workflows.
• Simplify repetitive processes with templates or tools.
• Streamline communications to reduce back-and-forth.

Big Impact: You save time and energy while maintaining quality and impact.

The Reflect and Plan Framework for 2025

As we prepare for the year ahead, reflection is key. I encourage every client—whether you’re leading a Fortune company or running a solo operation—to ask:

• What worked in 2024?
• What created friction or wasted time?
• What can I let go of in 2025?

Through this reflection, we’ll create a roadmap that eliminates unnecessary complexity and focuses on meaningful growth.

Why This Approach Applies to Everyone

Whether you’re a solopreneur, a mid-level manager, a salesperson, a manager, or a Fortune 100 CEO, addition by subtraction is the great equalizer. Complexity slows everyone down. Clarity propels everyone forward. This mindset has the power to unlock potential at every level of a business, in every industry, and for every role.

Ready to Make Your Big Move in 2025?

The biggest innovation you can make in 2025 isn’t adding more—it’s subtracting what’s holding you back. From simplifying workflows to focusing on what truly matters, this shift will transform your business, your career, and your impact.

Let’s make 2025 the year you get unstuck—and grow in ways you never thought possible.

THINK BIG!

JD