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Small Business Articles from Make-it-Fly®
 Taking
Time Away Can Be Good for Business
By Victoria Munro
Printable version
Small business
owners are very good at a lot of things, but taking
time off isn’t one of them. Americans
in general put in longer hours than workers in any other
industrialized nation, but for many entrepreneurs there’s
no such thing as a 40-hour work week, and taking a vacation
can seem like a far-fetched fantasy.
Why Such
Crazy Workaholics?
Most entrepreneurs choose a business
they’re passionate about, and doing what you love
can become addictive!
When you’ve grown and nurtured that business
from the ground up, it’s easy to act like an over-protective
parent. In addition, there’s the fear that things
will fall apart if you leave town, clients won’t
understand if you’re not there to respond personally
and immediately to their needs, or you might miss new
business opportunities.
We may have needed to work crazy hours without taking
vacations during the start-up phase of the business,
now overwork has become a lifestyle.
Take Care of Your Company’s
Most Valuable Asset
Remember, your business’s biggest asset is you!
And you need down time. Getting out of town occasionally
will re-charge your entrepreneurial batteries and give
you a truer perspective—a chance to step back
and look at the big picture. You’ll return refreshed,
rejuvenated and able to give your best. Regard your
vacation as an important long-term investment in yourself
and the success of your business.
10 Tips to Help You Take Time Off
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Make a decision,
set a date and mark it on your calendar. (It makes
sense to select the slowest time of year in your
business.) |
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Plan
where you’ll go, and make reservations. |
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Let
clients know you’ll be gone, but will return
revitalized to take excellent care of them. |
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Document
everything you do, so that someone else
can easily step in and help if needed. |
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Have
a backup person take care of client emergencies. |
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If
a week or two is out of the question, start with
mini-vacations—three-day weekends. We find
it takes the first couple of days just to unwind. |
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Don’t
take work with you—focus on the business of
relaxing. |
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If
you have to take your laptop and cell phone, arrange
to be “disconnected” most of the time. |
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Plan
your re-entry—schedule some catch up time
when you come back. |
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Relax
and enjoy! |
(401 words)
© 2007 Victoria Munro.
Click here
for printable version.
About the Author: Victoria Munro is
co-founder (along with husband Dave Block) of Make-it-Fly®
LLC, a company dedicated to creating success for
small-business owners through creatively designed programs
and tools. Victoria has started and run nine different
businesses. To receive FREE business success articles
with tips to help you with your business, sign up for
their award-winning ezine, “In-Flight Refueling,”
at: www.Make-it-Fly.com,
and receive a free copy of the eBook, Get
More Done in Less Time: 101 Quick and Easy Time Tactics
& Tips.
You’re welcome to “reprint”
this article in your ezine, print publication
or on your website, as long as it remains complete and
unaltered (including the “about the author”
info at the end). Please send a copy of your reprint
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