Minimalism helps businesses keep the focus they need to be successful.

“Less is more” is definitely the slogan for the minimalist’s community.

And the people who write about it, talk about it and even specialise in it want to stop the nightmare of our generation’s consumerism descent.

They go against the typical “go big or go home” vision that many CEOs have for their company that isn’t always a positive choice.

Joël Repko, who studies strategic management at Tilburg University in Netherlands, believes in “minimalisness” which is a set of principles that enable firms and employers to concentrate on their core products and strategies.

Start-ups and small businesses don’t need to spend money on a full-time web developer or marketer when they can outsource or collaborate with other firms.

Entrepreneurs need to have multiple skill sets to run their business and should adopt a mindset of bringing the strongest parties with the right skills together to maximise to value for the customers first.

“A minimalist lifestyle for an individual reflects on the firm. A person should keep themselves constraint with a just as sufficient budget to live,” says the MA student.

“Becoming minimalist in business is easier said than done because it is a lifestyle or a culture that can be formalised in norms and values,” he added.

It started as a philosophy on how any type of firm, corporate, start-up, public or non-profit could profit from internalising a culture which focuses on multidisciplinary skill set.

“Every employee is required to become more entrepreneurial within these type of companies,” according to Repko.

As Pol Baladas, a 19-year-old self-proclaimed hacker and entrepreneur obsessed, wrote: “Don’t praise being busy. Fewer appointments will bring space, fresh air and clarity to your thoughts.”

He also added that for a successful business, owners should be simpler and clearer to get their point across.

Applying minimalist principles will allow them to discover what they really need and spend time and money on what matter.

Fewer things mean there are fewer decisions to make, less spending on items already owned and one of the keys for success is to deal with things as they come first.

For student entrepreneur Celeste Cavaliere, minimalism in business “means being conscious of the products a company offers and how it goes about marketing them. Making products that last, that are of high quality and that will improve people’s lives.”

She also believes that minimalism helps focus and have discipline which can be an asset to a growing business.

Something that comes back in people’s statements is that an essential part of the minimalism process is to understand what brings joy.

Knowing the business’s priority, not becoming driven for the money and having a declutter mind is essential for start-ups and companies that want to redirect their focus.