“Cut it in half.”
I first heard a version of that idea years ago, when I stumbled into minimalism. It started with my closet. First my shoes, then my shirts, then my pants. Then paper. Eventually, an empty dresser.
The second time it hit me was in a course with Katie Selvidge. This time, it was about my business.
Her question: Can you cut the work you do in half without sacrificing the result?
I thought I’d already simplified. I hadn’t. There was still a lot I could streamline, especially in how my clients moved through my process.
Where to cut
Start with everything your client sees and touches:
- Emails and proposals: Can they be shorter?
- Pricing: Can you streamline how you present your packages?
- Client emails: Can clients get fewer messages over the course of the project?
- Forms: Can you combine and condense what clients need to fill out?
- Check-ins: Can you reach out less often and still keep them informed?
I couldn’t quite cut everything in half. But I got close.
Where to add
There’s a flip side. Sometimes adding a little up front saves you a lot of repeat work later.
- Policies and procedures: Can you share them during onboarding so clients aren’t asking later?
- Service offerings: Can you simplify them so they’re easier to choose from?
- FAQ page: Do potential clients know what to expect before they reach out?
- Blog posts and case studies: Can they answer the in-depth questions you keep explaining one client at a time?
Every question you answer once is a question you stop answering over and over.
How your CRM does the cutting
This is where HoneyBook, Dubsado, and Aisle Planner earn their keep:
- One proposal flow instead of three separate documents. Your packages, contract, and invoice live in a single flow the client moves through in one sitting.
- One questionnaire instead of a stack of forms. Combine what you need and only ask what you’ll actually use.
- Automated emails instead of manual check-ins. The right message goes out at the right time without you remembering to send it.
- Policies built into onboarding. Clients see your boundaries before the work starts, not after a problem comes up.
Fewer touchpoints. Same result. Usually a better one.
Cut yours in half
If your client process feels heavier than it should, start with these done-in-a-day builds. You pick a build, fill out a prep form, and we build it in a day. No calls, no back and forth.
Now ask yourself: what could you cut in half this week?
