Subtract to Succeed: Leading with Purpose, Clarity, and Ease [Podcast]
What if the secret to thriving in work, purpose, and life is not adding more, but subtracting what no longer serves you? In this conversation, Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey [https://substack.com/profile/331271944-nell-derick-debevoise-dewey] shares why leaders often stay stuck in cycles of overwork and overwhelm, and how a simple practice of systematic subtraction can help us reclaim clarity, energy, and impact.
Nell guides us through her signature three step process:
* stop to gather real data about what is working and what is not
* drop the outdated habits, inherited shoulds, and unhelpful assumptions that keep us misaligned
* roll by connecting the dots across everything we already do so that each action moves more than one part of our life forward
We explore her Lead in 3D framework which supports success across three interconnected dimensions: ME for wellbeing, WE for performance and connection, and WORLD for positive impact. Nell shows how true fulfillment comes from aligning all three areas rather than pushing harder in only one.
Throughout the episode, Nell reminds us that humans are systems within systems. Thriving in a time defined by polycrisis, and the emerging polytunity it contains, requires a shift away from linear thinking toward a more connected, systemic approach. When we understand how our choices ripple across our own lives and the lives of others, a more sustainable path to purpose becomes possible.
Nell’s blend of executive expertise, global humanitarian experience, equine wisdom, and sparkle filled storytelling makes this a conversation worth returning to whenever life feels too full, too loud, or too linear.
Connect with Nell:Website: https://www.nell3d.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nell3d/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nell3d/]
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About Nell
Nell 3D (Derick Debevoise Dewey) is a high voltage leadership whisperer with a Harvard brain, a horse guided heart, and unapologetic sparkle that energizes even the highest achieving leaders, especially those still hungry for more impact, purpose, and possibility. Nell is the keynote speaker executives call when they want to do more good without doing more. Her Lead in 3D framework helps leaders close the final gap between success and true fulfillment by aligning how they invest their resources across three dimensions: ME, WE, and WORLD.
Nell brings a uniquely powerful lens. She did not leave corporate to chase purpose. She chased purpose first, working on the front lines of global development, leading humanitarian initiatives in war zones, and giving everything to soul fueled missions. And still it was not enough. That lived insight became the spark for her life’s work. Through decades of leadership across sectors, equine wisdom, nature based transformation, and cutting edge tools like the GC Index, Nell has distilled what actually keeps leaders lit up rather than burnt out. She illuminates what others miss and leaves people forever changed.
About Purpose Beyond The Page
Purpose Beyond The Page is a conversation series for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their impact, influence, and income through their books. Hosted by Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose, the series goes beyond writing and publishing to explore the real strategies, stories, and tools that help authors connect with readers and build lasting platforms.
Each episode features honest discussions, expert insights, and actionable takeaways on everything from marketing and visibility to business models and community-building. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first book or looking to amplify the reach of your next one, Purpose Beyond The Page will help you turn your big idea into a powerful tool for change.
If you are working on a book that matters, you do not have to navigate the path alone. My book Promote Your Purpose will help you build meaningful connections with readers and make the impact you envision. Check it out at PromoteYourPurposeBook.com [http://promoteyourpurposebook.com].
About Jenn
Jenn T. Grace is an author, publisher, and strategist who has hundreds of nonfiction and memoir authors bring their books into the world with clarity and intention. She is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, a purpose driven company that supports authors who want to transform their ideas, expertise, and lived experiences into books that make a meaningful difference. Jenn is the author of Publish Your Purpose and Promote Your Purpose, and she teaches the ASPEN MethodTM, a strategic framework that helps authors grow visibility and impact in sustainable ways. Her work focuses on aligning purpose with action so every book becomes a catalyst for change.
Get full access to Promote Your Purpose at promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe [https://promoteyourpurpose.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]