Minimalism Got Hijacked

Let me tell you a quick story.

It’s my second year of college. 

I was grinding hard, chasing every new thing I could buy, probably overcompensating for being that kid from a tier 2 city.

But no matter how much I stacked up, there was still this nagging emptiness. Then I stumbled onto minimalism, and, ironically, that’s when I actually started to feel like I had everything.

At first, I thought it meant living with no possessions.

Turns out, it’s less about what you own and more about what you let go — the clutter, the noise, the need to keep up.

That was my game-changer. Fewer distractions, fewer pointless projects, more energy for what mattered: building stuff.

That’s honestly how I got half my businesses off the ground.

But fast-forward a few years, and now… minimalism is freakin everywhere. The same brands that once screamed status with gold logos have quietly “rebranded” as minimalist.

Walk into a “minimalist” store in a fancy mall and you'll see a $3,000 blank-slate sofa or a white T-shirt with a price tag that’ll punch you in the stomach.

What started as a way to break out of the rat race has turned into yet another spectrum to compete on.

Suddenly, the folks flashing an empty, spotless desk aren’t rebels — they’re flexing a different kind of wealth.

It’s subtle, but you know it when you see it.

And here’s the bit nobody likes to admit: whether it’s loud luxury or “quiet” luxury, it’s still about showing off.

The game didn’t change, just the uniform. Now people are hustling even harder to look like they don’t need to hustle.

Sound familiar? In business, especially in branding or copywriting, we do this all the damn time. We chase trends, thinking the ‘next big thing’ will finally make everything work.

Spend weeks tweaking, perfecting, stripping things back for the “vibe,” and suddenly your time’s burned up, your offers blurred, and your results… yeah, not great.

Here’s the bit that helped me, and I hope it’ll help you:

Don’t get sucked into the show.

Ruthlessly cut what doesn’t move the needle for your business. That means copy that doesn’t sell, systems that don’t scale, and branding that doesn’t stand for anything. 

Minimalism isn’t about less for the sake of less. It’s about making space for what actually fucking works — for you and your customers.

Truth is, trends will come and go, but profit loves clarity.

The best brands and copywriters I know? They play their own game. They know why they’re cutting, not just what.

So if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain sick of switching up your “aesthetic” — try asking, “What do I actually want to build?”

Forget the show. Get clear, get ruthless, and watch what happens when you give your real work some space.

Want help stripping things back to sharpen your profits (instead of your Pinterest board)? Hit reply and let’s talk specifics.

To results,
— Shashank