My wife and I just took a 5-day, planned-at-the-last-minute, no-kids, get-away vacation to a wonderful resort in West Virginia. We both needed a break from our respective businesses in order to clear our minds, re-charge our batteries, and reconnect with each other. Our moms gave us a wonderful gift by watching our kids.
We had an absolute blast playing and discovering together. We learned how to fly fish and successfully caught rainbow trout in the rain. We learned how to do extreme off-road driving in the mountains and both of us along with the vehicle survived. We took long walks, road horses, had great dinners, and even got treated to a massage. Talk about rejuvenation!
Unlike most business owners, when I take a vacation, I totally escape the business. Though I care deeply about my business, I do not think about The Growth Coach, do not make any work-related calls, nor do I even check email. Heck, I never even take a computer. For me, I draw clear boundaries between my business and my family life. When I'm with family, I focus solely on them. When I'm at work, I'm all business. So when I get away, I really get away. So should all business owners.
When was the last time you had a work-free vacation --no work calls, no computer, no emails, no Blackberry? If not, why not? You need to avoid getting consumed and burnt out by your business. Every now and then you need a break from your business and your business and employees need a break from you.
Part of our proven, powerful and guaranteed coaching process involves helping business owners to put more fun into their lives. To schedule and enjoy more free time. To spend more time with spouse and kids. To participate in hobbies they are passionate about. To take breaks to get rejuvenated. After all, we want our hard-working clients to avoid business owner burnout. One of the best strategies for the health of you, your business, your family, and your employees is for YOU to take regular breaks. If you aren't taking regular vacations, it's not a badge of dedication -- it's a badge of foolishness. You and your business are paying the price for not taking regular breaks.
First, you benefit from vacation breaks. You get to decompress, de-stress and unwind. You get to clear your head, clear your calendar, re-charge your emotions and body, and come back with fresh ideas and new experiences. Vacations also force you to learn to let go and let your employees step up. Also, vacations with your spouse and kids allows you to reconnect with your loved ones.
Second, your business benefits from your vacations. Since you will be away, it forces your team to step up, take on more responsibility, and make decisions in your absence. They learn to get along without you. It also motivates you to put policies and systems in place so your business can work fine while you are gone. If you can never take vacations from your business, that is a huge red flag and buyers will hesitate to buy such a broken business or one that is so owner-centric. Again, as we discussed before, you want to create a business that is systems-dependent and not owner-dependent -- it will be fun to run while you own it and worth a fortune when you sell it.
If you aren't taking vacations now, take at least one week off in the next 12 months. For all others, your goal should be to double your time off each year. If you take a week now, go for two. If you take two weeks now, go for four. Trying to double your time off each year will force you to develop a robust operations manual and put proper policies and systems in place. To eventually get up to 8-12 weeks off per year or more, you must evolve into a strategic leader (not doer) and your business must evolve into auto-pilot mode, no longer depending upon you.
Before you leave on your next vacation, just do some simple planning. A week before your vacation, start preparing for your departure. Don't start any new initiatives, just focus on tying down any important loose ends. Also, announce to your team when you will be out of the office or store. Give them notice several days before you leave so they can get with you to resolve any critical matters on their plate. Emphasize that they should know their roles and responsibilities and will need to execute in your absence. Finally, announce to all that you will not be calling in or checking email. After they faint, announce you will only take emergency calls.
For everyone's sake (you, your family, your business, and your employees), start taking breaks.
Daniel Murphy
The Growth Coach
Business Coaching Franchise System