DO LESS, BUT BETTER

THE SIMPLE NEWSLETTER - ISSUE # 002

Welcome to another edition of The Simple Newsletter! This space is all about sharing thoughts and lessons that can inspire, challenge, and empower you to “Do The Thing.” There’s no catch, no hidden agenda—just honest reflections that I hope bring you value. Let's get into it.

ADAM'S THOUGHT

I’ve been thinking a lot about this simple but profound idea lately: “Do less, but better.”

I recently heard this phrase in Greg McKeown’s book Essentialism, and it struck a chord. It’s a sentiment I’ve shared in different ways over the years, whether it’s about keeping priorities aligned with purpose or avoiding shiny object syndrome. But the clarity of this phrase—Do less, but better—has stayed with me.

Over the past week, I’ve started using it as a mantra. Whether I’m pausing for a moment of rest or tackling a task, I find myself repeating it. Here’s what I’ve noticed.

Last weekend, I was making brunch for my family. Instead of trying to whip up every dish under the sun, I focused on just a few. I did less, but better. The result? I made half the dishes I normally would, and the quality was top-notch. My family couldn’t stop complimenting the meal.

Later, I spent some time with my daughter. She wanted to do karaoke. Instead of filling the whole day with activities, we spent just 15 minutes singing two songs together—but we sang them with all our energy and had an amazing time.

Even right now, as I write this newsletter, I’m living it. I could have stressed about posting content on multiple platforms. Instead, I decided to focus on this one newsletter—and to write it with intention.

How often, in business or in life, do we try to juggle too many things? We stay busy, sure, but are we doing anything well? If we dared to do less, but better, what could we achieve?

Do we have the courage to find out?

ADAM'S LESSON

That’s the thing—this idea takes courage.

To truly do less, but better, you have to make hard decisions. It means letting go of things you’ve invested time, effort, and energy into. It means stepping back to assess everything you’re doing and asking yourself honestly, “What’s actually helping me achieve my goals, make an impact, and stay focused on my mission?”

Here’s an experiment I’d like you to try. Instead of writing a to-do list today, write a “to-don’t list.”

Yep, you read that right. List the things you won’t do. You’ll be surprised how much clarity this brings. Suddenly, the things you should focus on will stand out, cutting through the noise of your days, months, and life like a clear signal.

I heard a powerful quote recently that frames this idea perfectly. “Wisdom is predominantly not something that you do.”

Think about it. If you study wisdom writings, they spend less time telling you what to start doing. Instead, they focus on what you should stop doing. It’s not about adding more to your plate. It’s about trimming the excess.

They often say - If you’re wise, you don’t do this.

What if we allowed that mindset to guide us? What if, instead of cramming more into our days, we became intentional about doing less—and doing it better?

This week, I challenge you to try the “to-don’t list.” Write down the things you won’t do, free yourself from distractions, and see how it changes the way you approach your goals.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s Simple Newsletter. I hope this message resonates with you and inspires you to think differently about how you approach your days.

Remember, the best lessons in life aren’t about piling on more—they’re about removing what doesn’t serve us. You don’t have to do it all. Just do less, but better.

Take care,

- Adam

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