ON VACATION! A Must for Small Business Owners
We deserve it. Everyone else gets one, why not us? My husband, who works a ‘straight’ job gets three weeks of vacation a year. My boss (me!) told myself for several years, “no vacation.” We’re too busy. We can’t afford it. Who will help our clients?
So I sat down with my boss (me!) and set her straight. I want four weeks of vacation a year. My company name is Good Life Financial and I should practice what I preach. So there!
Why take a vacation? Personally, I love to travel. I don't like the airplane part, but I love seeing other countries, their cities and natural wonders. The shear freedom of no schedule is my reward for working so hard for years and years. Also, the time away provides my nonstop brain with create ways of improving my business.
Help Getting Ready? — Hundreds of phone calls, emails, projects and processes get done every week in most businesses, mine is no different. Grooming a second-in-command who can take over for several days is a must. When I had my software company, I was on the phone constantly while on vacation and never felt like I left work.
What season? Many of us have strong hobbies that dictate our vacations. Right now it’s hunting season. My business owner friends love being self-employed because what other boss is going to let them take off 30 days out of the last three months of the year? Obviously, it’s usually better to schedule your vacation in the slowest part of your year, as your income will suffer less (think CPA’s who shouldn’t take vacation the first week of April). If you’re an airplane enthusiast and you’ve just got to go to Oshkosh, a fly-in week in August in Wisconsin, it doesn’t matter that that’s the middle of construction season.
How far is far enough? With the omnipresence of phone, internet, email and other communications devices; going on vacation to a place with easy internet access can feel like you never left. If you only wanted a ‘working’ vacation, that may be a good thing. But if you (or your spouse) want true downtime, you may need to go where the internet is insanely expensive (like a cruise ship) so that no one expects you to check in. Hiking in the rain forest also works if you enjoy places too wet for phones.
How will the work get done? Particularly for the micro shop this can be a hard choice. The family-run diner near my house simply closes its doors twice a year to go on vacation. Personally, I have a customer service manager who knows how to handle most situations. She has a backup to call when she needs help.
Too busy to schedule a vacation? My husband and I routinely schedule our next vacation while we’re on vacation! We’re scheduling four, six, or 12 months out. That way we know our schedule is free and we can avoid scheduling projects, media campaigns, or client meetings during that time?
Do I answer phones and emails? Forward your voicemail using an outgoing message. Forward your emails to that second-in-charge. It will dramatically cut down the messages and you may need to only check in once a day.
On a budget? My next vacation to Florida coincides with a business trip where the airfare is covered, cutting my out of pocket expense. We also love to travel where we stay in a condo so we are not eating out for every meal and better enjoy the local specialties when we do. Last summer a bunch of us girls went to the beach. Sharing meals and condo expenses was not only inexpensive but awesomely fun! You can be creative on a budget; you’re a business owner.
Practice, practice, practice. Sweden and three other countries are required by law to give 25 vacation days per year. Americans take less than 10 days on average! Clearly, we need more practice vacationing. Some people feel they are so busy they can only take three or four day weekends. Just start. I can’t think of a more worthwhile exercise!
Merra Lee spends all day every day helping small business owners build a life, not just making a living. If you share that desire, start today, call, click, or come in: 610.488.7353, merralee.moffitt@lpl.com, 30 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610.