When One Less Thing Changes Everything
Sometimes the smallest removal makes the biggest difference.
This is a Field Note article — one of the four types you’ll see regularly in Resimplification. Field Notes are short observations from real-world situations that highlight the patterns, pitfalls, and moments when it’s time to reset.
You’ll also see Practice articles (actionable steps), Signals (how to know when it’s time to recalibrate), and Principles (core concepts that anchor the whole idea of Resimplification).
The Scene
Picture a team working through a familiar process. Maybe it’s a workflow for a project, a morning routine, or a checklist for onboarding a client.
Everything looks fine on the surface, yet progress feels slower than it should. No one can quite point to the problem.
Then someone notices one extra step still lingering in the process “just in case.” It isn’t essential anymore. It’s not even particularly useful. But it’s there because it’s always been there.
The Resimplification Moment
The step is removed.
Suddenly, the process moves faster. Decisions are easier. The pace improves without anyone adding more hours or more resources.
Nothing else changes, but removing that single element changes everything.
Reflection
We often assume big results require big changes. But sometimes it’s the smallest piece of clutter — the extra meeting, the redundant form, the outdated tool — that creates the most resistance.
Remove it, and the whole system breathes again.
The Takeaway
You don’t have to do more to get more done. Sometimes you just have to do less.
Closing Thought
Look for the one thing in your process, routine, or environment that no longer pulls its weight — and try removing it. See what changes.
Have you ever dropped one thing and felt the difference immediately? Share your story in the comments — or explore more examples in When Simple Works Better.