Is Less Really More?

Simple and succinct. Two words I wish I could use more often to describe the way I operate in life.

Instead, I lean more towards complex and wordy (my 5 minute video on instagram today is the perfect example of this 😬).

I recently joined a webinar with musician, circus performer, entrepreneur, author and speaker Derek Sivers and found myself both inspired and unsettled.

His dedication to simplicity and succinctness led me to wondering: Is less more?

Derek is the one who said:

“If you’re not saying HELL YEAH about something, then say no.” - Derek Sivers

Simple.

Derek is one of those people who appears to live every part of his life with radical intention. He’s not afraid to do things differently, even if he’s the only one doing it. I’m fascinated by his level of clarity and intentionality. Read his about page for more context.

Listening to him talk about his writing process was mind-blowing. He spends years working full-time on a book, meticulously shaping every sentence until there’s not a wasted word. He’s really proud of that fact.

It left me in awe. And it also left me doubting myself a little, because my own process is more like progress-over-perfection. Verbose. A bit Messy.

I’m not spending years chiselling away at a single project. I’m more likely to be holding multiple things all at once, getting words down when and how I can. Often too many words trying to say what I want to express. Often unpolished.

I’m not a victim in this; I’ve made the choices that brought me here. That rubbed off on me from Derek too: you get to choose, and he has.

Is less more? Derek seems to think so.

I agree that there’s something undeniably powerful about the discipline of stripping away until only the essential remains. I’ll keep striving for this.

In the meantime, I hope there’s something valuable in simply contributing in the here and now. Showing up even when its imperfect. I hope there is value amongst the Substack post written and sent between interruptions from children. That somewhere in a lengthy instagram post there’s a moment that resonates and helps someone feel seen. I certainly believe this of others. Because if we waited for perfect we would never say a thing.

Until I reach simple and succinct my ‘more is more’ is what I can offer, until one day I can circle back and find my own version of less.

News

1. I’m excited to share that I have signed with The Kind Press to bring my book Seen Again into being in early 2026. The photo above is me holding the signed contract! Woohoo 🎉 What makes this even more special is the 18 women joining me on the journey who have contributed their powerful stories. I have a manuscript deadline now so please forgive me if my Substack posts are sporadic in the next few months. 🙏

2. There are 3 spaces remaining to join Katrina Myers and I on retreat 15-17th October at Lost and Found Barham. The retreat will be based at Lost and Found but these spaces are for accommodation at the lovely Hut on The Murray. Click here for the full details and email me if you would like a registration/booking link. Registrations close 1st October! We can’t wait to see who will join us! ❤️

Have a lovely week gorgeous one. Thank you for being here.

Much love,

Benita xx