Make Sure You Recharge Your Batteries This Summer
by Steve Strauss on July 16th, 2008
Summer is halfway over and if you haven’t taken a vacation yet, you better get going! As one of our expert contributers, Steve Strauss, highlights below, it’s a must for any entrepreneur.
Q: Steve – I would like to get away with my family this summer, but I just don’t see how I can do it. I own a one-man business and when I don’t work, I don’t get paid. What can I do if I can’t afford to get away?
Tony
A: Amigo, I hate to sound like a cliché, but you can’t afford not to get away.
If you are like most of us, you went into business for yourself because
- You wanted more freedom, or
- You wanted a better boss or work situation, or
- You wanted more creativity at work, or
- All of the above
I once worked for a law firm that, I thought originally, was quite generous with their time-off policy: Three paid weeks a year. Woo-hoo! But it was only after I started that I “got” the fine print. I was allowed the time off, sure, but only if I still billed my requisite 90 hours for the time I was gone. I got three weeks of, but only if I worked an extra three weeks later in the year.
Man, I hated that job.
So, if you are the boss now, be a good one. Give yourself a break. Even better, give yourself a long break. You deserve it. And you are not alone, according a recent American Express Open survey, almost 2/3 of all small business owners are going to take a week off this summer.
Here’s how the solopreneur can do it too:
Plan ahead: This can mean many things:
- Saving up enough money so you can get away without it being stressful
- Telling clients and customers that you will be gone
- Making a list of essential things that you normally do that must be done while you are gone, and then
Hiring a temp or virtual assistant: If in fact you cannot get away without closing the office or shop, then consider hiring part-time help, a temp, or a virtual assistant who can man the essential functions while you are gone.
No, they cannot do everything you do, but you just might be surprised how much they can do. The key is proper training, and good communication. Consider having a pow-wow every few days over the phone. In the meantime,
Turn the Blackberry off : It’s a blasphemous thought, I know. But the point of getting away is to get away. Constantly checking emails and making calls not only defeats the purpose, it ticks off people who you are supposed to be relaxing with.
Call and check in a bit, sure, but there is no need to do it constantly. That same AmEx survey found that 81% of small business owners intend to check in with their business either by phone or email while on vacation. (Note:19% will not check in at all!)
Get more done early : Get extra work done before you go. By getting ahead, you make getting away much more doable.
Schedule extra time when you get back: Don’t tell everyone you will be back in the office Tuesday, tell them Thursday. Then, when you get back in Tuesday you can have a few days of uninterrupted time to catch up.
Combine business and pleasure: If getting away from it all still seems too difficult, consider making a business trip a family trip. It will save you money, allow you to still work a bit, but also have some needed R&R.
Have more 3 days weekends: Finally, if a week away is not your thing, for whatever reason, then this is the time of year to have more long weekends. You will rejuvenate your batteries, yet still get work done.
Today’s Tip : If business with your traditional customers is slowing down, then guess what? It may be time to investigate areas and customers that can be more productive and profitable, and begin to target those.
