As creators, we face an incredible pressure for more.

To do more.

To learn more.

To create more.

To increase our input.

To increase our output.

Much of this pressure is inflicted on us by the outside world.

Our culture glorifies the hustler, working themselves to the bone in pursuit of a dream.

It’s a seductive ideal, at least at first.

And in chasing it, we choose to accept and adopt the pressure and accouterments that come with it.

But if we’re truly honest with ourselves, most of the pressure we face is that we heap onto ourselves.

And so we chase every new tool. Every new trend. Every new strategy.

With each addition to our toolset, we’re certain that this will be the thing that helps us achieve our great breakthrough.

At least until the Next Big Thing comes along.

And so the treadmill continues.

Never sticking with any one thing long enough to develop mastery.

But what if the answer to building real momentum wasn’t about adding more?

What if the secret to real progress was not asking “What can I add?” but “What can I subtract?”

What if by eliminating all but the essential, we freed up the time, space, and focus to truly master the few things that matter?

It’s hard to believe that the energy we’re currently scattering across dozens of different ideas, strategies, and tools wouldn’t be more effective when applied to only a chosen few.

No matter how hard you run, it’s impossible to build momentum when you’re on a treadmill.

So when you next ask yourself what you can subtract, start with the treadmill itself.

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