The 7 Principles of Minimalism Every Early-Stage Business Should Adopt
Noise is a constant in our absurd daily lives. It’s everywhere. Constant notifications, billboards, banners, ads, features, tech. Everyone is trying to sell you something. Sometimes, I feel half of my job is to achieve silence. Even now, I had to switch on Do Not Disturb across my Apple ecosystem just to write this. But you’re a business, you need to sell. You have bills to pay, ambitions to meet. Yet, we all feel guilty sometimes when we pause the engine. So, what’s the answer? Is there an answer?
Minimalism has been around for centuries, mainly associated with art. Its aesthetics are pleasing to the eye, creating a sense of quiet. It clears your brain, making you think more freely and allowing you to focus on what really matters. How can we use it as a framework in business?
Can we apply the key principles of minimalist art to business? This is the question I’ll try to answer. First, let’s define the key elements of minimalism.
Simplicity
Clarity and structure
Ample whitespace
Limited/consistent colours
Attention to detail
Functional and practical design
Harmony and balance
Beautiful, right? So, what’s that got to do with business? Everything. I visualize everything in my head and struggle with chaos. It makes me nervous and anxious. I like to keep my email empty - zero. Null. Every email is a task; once done, it must be archived. It’s wrong on so many levels. It makes me dependent on the noise. For now, my goal is to reduce the noise. The next level would be to ignore it, though I’m still not there.
Implementing these principles of minimalism into your organization and making them core to your strategy can create a team and culture where everyone is aligned and working towards the same objective. This can make you more competitive. It aligns with the strategy of being a design-first company, but that's a topic for another post.
Simplicity - Simplify your offerings to what you do best and improve efficiency, especially for early-stage businesses. Master your core offering. Eliminate inefficiencies and non-essential activities. Almost all of the work we do at Pony runs on software that can be counted on one hand. Reduction of staff is a big topic right now. With companies like Klarna adopting AI rapidly, teams become smaller, faster, more productive than ever. Is it right for humanity? I can’t say, but for an organization, it’s extremely healthy. Better, faster, cheaper, more flexible.
Clarity and structure - Maintain clarity and structure in your business strategy and communication. Clearly define and document processes and roles for better organizational performance. Systemizing these can help with onboarding new members, improving current processes, and optimizing team efficiency.
Ample whitespace - Allow space for innovation and creativity by not overloading your team and yourself with tasks. Encourage breaks and flexible schedules to enhance productivity. I find the most productive times of my day are when I’m not at my desk. Thoughts cross my mind under the shower or while I’m at the gym. Smart strategic decisions with big impact can only be born when you step out of the routine.
Limited/consistent colors - Maintain brand consistency with a clear and recognizable visual identity and messaging. Focus on your style and messaging. Building features is easier than ever. More people are buying brands, not products. You buy what you trust. Patagonia is a perfect example of a company that created a strong brand promise with substantial growth over the years. As of 2024, the company reported approximately $1 billion in annual revenue. Can you find alternative brands with the same quality, mission, and cheaper prices? Absolutely. The game gets crazier in tech. Any SaaS product is straightforward to build nowadays. The real challenge is stealing market equity.
Attention to detail - Invest in quality over quantity. Whether it’s your products, services, or team, prioritize excellence to build a strong reputation and customer loyalty. Mediocrity is more easily replaceable with AI. Strive for craftsmanship in everything you do to set yourself apart in an increasingly automated world.
Functional and practical design - Ensure your business solutions are practical and meet customer needs effectively. Focus on user-friendly products and services to enhance customer satisfaction. Prioritize intuitive design that simplifies the user experience. For instance, when developing a new feature, involve real users early in the process. Conduct usability testing to identify pain points and iterate based on feedback. This ensures that your final product not only functions well but also delights your users. It's not just about solving a problem; it's about doing so in a way that's seamless and enjoyable for your customers.
Harmony and balance - Strive for balance in your business operations. Balance innovation with risk management, and work-life balance for your employees. A harmonious workplace leads to higher employee satisfaction and retention. Encourage a culture where taking time off and pursuing personal interests is seen as a strength, not a weakness. Balanced teams are more resilient, creative, and productive. For innovation, maintain a portfolio approach, balancing high-risk, high-reward projects with steady, incremental improvements. This way, you’re always advancing without betting the farm on any single initiative.
Keep it simple. Stay focused. Embrace minimalism not just as an aesthetic, but as a strategic framework. Businesses and teams thrive in clarity, efficiency, and creativity. In a world full of noise, the quietest voices often make the most profound impact.
Now, let’s enjoy Fred together.