Building a tiny business might sound counterintuitive in a world obsessed with scaling, but what if staying small was actually your secret weapon?
You know that feeling when your business looks successful on paper, but something feels… off?
That was me in 2015. I’d hit my highest revenue year ever with multiple offers, a growing team, and impressive numbers. But inside? I was completely burned out, working more hours than I ever did in my corporate job (and that’s saying something – I used to work 60+ hour weeks!).
I had left corporate to create freedom, but instead, I’d built myself another cage. I was a minimalist in my personal life but somehow became a maximalist in my business.
Today, I want to challenge the idea that you have to build a massive empire to make an impact. Let’s dive into why a tiny business model might actually be your most powerful move.
The “Bigger is Better” Trap
The narrative in the online business world is constantly about building bigger, more complex businesses:
- Having bigger teams
- Creating more offers
- Marketing on more platforms
- Scaling and doubling revenue year after year
- Building multiple complex revenue streams
- Being visible everywhere and “famous” on social media
We’re told that hiring more people and being responsible for more salaries is the only way to prove business success.
But here’s what happened when I did all those things…
My 2015 Reality Check: When “Success” Led to Burnout
Even with my highest revenue year, eight different offerings, all the clients I could handle, and all the recognition I could dream of – this also led to my biggest burnout.
Bigger than even my initial corporate burnout.
And this time, I was the boss. I was in charge of making these choices.
It took me over three months to recover and recalibrate. That experience taught me something crucial: I wasn’t being intentional about my success metrics.
I was looking at what other people were doing, what mentors were telling me was the “right” way to build a coaching practice. But I wasn’t checking in with myself about what I actually wanted my business experience to feel like.
The Two Questions That Changed Everything
Question 1: What metric matters most to me?
I realized that time freedom was actually a bigger metric than revenue for me. This shift in perspective was huge.
Question 2: What is enough?
- What’s enough clients?
- What’s enough revenue?
- What’s enough work to give me the time freedom I need?
This notion led me to apply the principles of minimalism to my business – the same way I was applying it to my personal life.
The Power of Doing Less, But Better
As a recovering perfectionist and overachiever (hands up if you’re one too!), I always thought doing more, offering more, helping more, giving more was the only way to feel good about my work.
But here’s the thing: my clients weren’t getting the best out of me anyway.
I had to look at where within my work I most enjoyed delivering immense value – and focus there. Instead of trying to solve all the problems for all the clients, I asked:
- Who do I want to focus on?
- What problems do I feel most called to help with?
- How can I lean into that focus and do it really well?
My One Framework Solution
Instead of delivering eight different offers a year, I focused on one master framework – what’s evolved into the Tiny Business Method today.
I packaged all my best thinking, strategies, and expertise into one powerful approach. This took years of evolving and tinkering, but being able to focus on one thing helped me become truly masterful at my craft.
Here’s what happened when I focused on one thing:
✅ People knew exactly what they came to me for – no more confusion about which problems I truly solved
✅ I stopped the endless launch cycle that used to take the wind out of me every time
✅ My work became deeper and more meaningful because of that focus
✅ I got my time and headspace back because I wasn’t pulled in multiple directions
The Benefits of One Clear Framework
When you have one masterful approach:
Your marketing becomes focused
- One clear, focused message
- Everyone knows what you’re known for
- It’s repeatable across podcast interviews, workshops, and content
- You become the go-to person for that specific thing
You get really good at delivery
- All your attention goes to solving that one problem really well
- You become the master of your craft
- Your systems become streamlined, predictable, and efficient
- The client experience becomes refined and polished
What My Tiny Business Model Looks Like Today
My tiny business looks very different from that bigger empire I built before 2015:
Work Schedule: 20-25 hours a week, mostly mornings (because I love reserving afternoons for other interests and hobbies)
Time Off: 6-8 weeks annually to travel and visit family across Malaysia, Canada, and Southeast Asia
Marketing: Only two primary channels – YouTube (because I love filming videos) and my weekly email newsletter
Team: A lean team of specialized contractors on a project basis, rather than full-time staff requiring management and meetings
This tiny business model gave me the freedom to design a schedule that fits my life and the flexibility to prioritize what’s truly important to me.
4 Powerful Questions to Ask Yourself
If this resonates with you, here are some questions to consider:
1. What is truly enough for you?
In terms of money, time, and impact. Figure out what your current and future dream lifestyle actually costs. Every dollar should have a purpose.
2. How can you focus on your genius zone work?
What’s that sweet spot that brings you joy AND delivers the most value to your ideal clients? How could this translate into one master framework?
3. Which marketing activities feel natural and enjoyable?
What feels fun and creative rather than like “marketing”? Remember, marketing doesn’t have to mean social media – it could be partnerships, podcast guesting, or relationship-driven approaches.
4. What would your ideal schedule look like?
How would you design your days around your natural energy and capacity? When do you want client days? Marketing time? Planning sessions?
Your Version of Success is Unique
Remember: your version of success doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
The beauty of entrepreneurship is that we get to say “no thanks” to the narrative that business has to be complicated, overwhelming, and all-consuming.
You didn’t leave your job (or consider leaving it) to recreate the same exhausting hamster wheel with a different name.
What would your business look like if it was perfectly aligned with how you want to live?
Want to dive deeper?
Download my Feel-Good Schedule guide to start designing your ideal work rhythm, or explore how the Tiny Business Method could help you create a tiny business that gives you more freedom.
