The case for doing less: What Leslie Bailey taught me about subtracting to thrive
by Gayle Kalvert
If you’ve ever felt like you were carrying too much, saying yes too often, or just silently drowning under the pressure of your own ambition, this one’s for you.
Recently on Work in Progress, I sat down with Leslie Bailey—entrepreneur, writer, mom, and woman in the messy middle of navigating life, loss, and letting go. After logging off, this conversation stayed with me. Not just because of Leslie’s honesty, but because she said out loud what so many of us feel: Sometimes doing more isn’t the answer. Subtracting is.
Leslie’s story isn’t a neat little LinkedIn highlight reel. She’s built and closed businesses. She’s navigated unexpected debt, supported a partner through cancer, and somehow emerged clearer and more grounded than ever.
So how?
She subtracted.
No, really. That was the theme running through everything: subtract the chaos, subtract the shame, subtract the clutter, both digital and emotional. And maybe the most powerful? Subtract the pressure to keep adding just because that’s what we’re told success looks like.
Leslie shared a moment that hit hard. She had signed a lease for a new coworking space. On paper, it looked like the next great thing to do. But the costs were mounting, the landlord wasn’t keeping their promises, and something felt… off. She had a choice: double down and push through, or walk away.
She walked. And then, right after, her husband was diagnosed with cancer.
That timing wasn’t lost on either of us. Saying no to that business venture didn’t just protect her financially (though yes, the debt still lingers). It gave her the space to be there. For her partner. For her family. For herself.
This isn’t just about work. It’s about everything. Leslie has a literal list of things she’s subtracted from her life. Phone notifications? Gone. Social obligations she dreaded? Canceled. Tiny plastic toys in the kids’ playroom? Tossed (and guess what, no one noticed).
There’s a lesson here for all of us:
Before you add anything to your life, ask—what can I take away?
It reminded me of a Lego experiment Leslie mentioned. Participants were asked to make two towers equal in height. Almost everyone instinctively added bricks. Only a few saw that they could just remove one.
We are wired to add. But sometimes, the magic is in the edit.
The other thing I loved?
Leslie doesn’t pretend this is easy. She keeps a script on her phone for how to say no—literally copy/paste language she uses when turning things down. She's also fiercely protective of her time, her fees, and her value. If a meeting turns into a consulting session? She’s got the words to kindly shift the tone: “Here’s what I can offer, but if you want to go deeper, here’s what that looks like.”
I don’t know about you, but I needed that permission. To charge what we’re worth. To protect our energy. To stop apologizing for not being everything to everyone, all the time.
A few practical takeaways Leslie left me with:
Practice saying no. Keep a script. Edit it. Use it.
Audit your finances and your time. What’s draining you? What’s essential?
You don’t owe free labor to anyone. And you definitely wouldn’t ask your utility company to comp your electricity. So why do it in business?
Outsource when you can. Leslie no longer owns a lawn mower. Enough said.
Subtract before you add. Always.
And maybe most importantly… ask yourself the hard question: Does this really need to be a business? Or can it just be a joyful hobby?
As someone who has built a business from the ground up (and is still building), I found so much freedom in this conversation. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t have to mean going harder. Sometimes, it’s about choosing more wisely. Protecting the space we do have, and making room for what actually matters.
Thank you, Leslie. I’ll be over here cleaning out my inbox and my pantry.This is Work in Progress, after all. Let’s keep doing the work—together.
Much love,
Gayle
