3 Lessons I Learned From Doing Less in My Business (and How It Made Me Happier at Home Too)
There was a season when Hustle & Flow Dance was basically held together by me, coffee, and sheer willpower. During the pandemic, class numbers dwindled and hiring extra teachers or admin support just wasn’t an option. We were a small team of two or three, and anything “extra” - workshops, drop-ins, subbing, extra show numbers - landed on my plate.
I rebuilt Hustle & Flow Dance hour by hour. Teaching, planning shows, ordering costumes, running social media, updating the website…if it needed doing, I did it.
So when I found out I was pregnant at the end of 2021, the thought of stepping back was terrifying. Handing pieces of my business to other people? Trusting them to carry my vision while I learned how to be a mom? Scary. What if they’re not good? What if we lose students? What if they say something that goes against everything Hustle & Flow stands for while they’re teaching?
Dear Reader, I’m happy to report: I was totally wrong.
Letting go didn’t break my business. In fact, it made it stronger. Here’s what I learned:
1. Doing less creates space for others to shine
When I stopped trying to teach all the classes, I made room for new teachers to bring their unique skillset and offer things I could never do myself.
Jessica and Natasha bring contemporary magic I’ll never have.
Heather and Sandra can teach floorwork in a way that is fun and safe
Courtney creates a safe space in class where people are ready to be vulnerable in ways I’ve never seen in a dance class before
The result? Our dancers are growing in ways I never could have offered alone.
2. Delegating lets me focus on what I do best
When I’m not buried in emails, website building, social media, and troubleshooting problems, I finally have the energy to show up as the leader of this community.
I have space for the tough but important conversations.
I have the creativity to design new programs and campaigns.
I get to actually celebrate with our team and dancers - because I’m not running on empty.
Delegating doesn’t make me less involved. It makes me better at the things only I can do.
3. Doing less makes me happier (in every area of life)
In the studio. At home. Alone. With people. Everywhere.
Because I’m less stressed, I’m calmer, more present, and honestly a lot more fun to be around. That initial fear of letting go? It’s been replaced with calm confidence, knowing my business is in the best possible hands.
How doing less at work helped me at home
Watching my business thrive when I stopped trying to do it all gave me the push to bring that same mindset home. With two kids, a growing company, and my own wellbeing to consider, I asked myself: What’s draining me that I don’t actually have to do myself?
The answer: cleaning and cooking. Outsourcing cleaning has been life-changing. And when things get extra busy? Fresh Prep and Inspired Go meals save my sanity.
The Bottom Line: You Don’t Have to Do It All
Doing less doesn’t make you weak, lazy, or less of a leader. Doing less makes space for you to thrive and it allows the people around you to step into their strengths, too.
So the next time you’re tempted to take on everything? Don’t. Try doing less and watch how much more you (and everyone around you) gain.
