What is your idea of a vacation? Two weeks at the beach? Perhaps a weekend getaway to the mountains? If you are a freelancer, sole-proprietor or solo entrepreneur, chances are that your idea of a vacation mirrors Frank Natoli’s. Natoli makes up one half of the two-person show LanternLegal.com and his idea of a vacation is a Sunday where he only works a few hours in the morning. And, according to the recent Wall Street Journal article, “For the Self-Employed, It’s an Endless Workweek,” Natoli is far from alone.
The WSJ spoke with Natoli and several other entrepreneurs about their vacationing habits, and the picture wasn’t pretty. In other words, if you are a travel agent, don’t go specializing in trips for entrepreneurs any time soon.
Most of the business people interviewed said that they felt that their business would decline or fail if they weren’t there to provide a public face for their company, usher in a deal, or simply handle the business’s day to day operations.
One interviewee, Laurie Halter of Charisma Communications Inc. in Portland, OR crystallized many entrepreneurs’ fears when she said: "It's almost seen as a weakness if you're going to be out. You want to be that go-to person for your clients."
No one who owns a business will disagree that running a small operation is hard. Competing in this economy requires heroic measures, fortitude and a willingness to put in superhuman hours. But there are actions that you can take to make sure you get the rest you need. After all, working too much can lead to burnout and mistakes, while taking a vacation from time to time can actually help your business by allowing you down time to refresh your mind and formulate new ideas.
In the WSJ article, Sara Horowitz, Executive Director of the Freelancer’s Union, suggested cultivating a network of close associates who can take over your business while you get away. That’s great advice, and also has an added benefit. When you have to explain the vagaries and nuances of your business to someone else, you often end up learning more about your operations yourself.
One business owner in the WSJ article mentioned taking her Blackberry on vacation. While a working vacation is sometimes a necessity (or at least seems like one), try to be disciplined about how you work on vacation. Set aside a certain window of time to work and stick to it.
The number of vacation-deprived entrepreneurs has reached such epic proportions that life coach Alex Fayle has created a free “Freelancer Vacation Clinic” to help freelancers and sole-proprietors cut through their excuses and take the time they need to recharge. Sign up for Alex Fayle’s tips and learn how to relax again.
What do you think?
As a business owner, do you find the time to take vacations?
How do you do it?
0
Yes, especially now that everything can be done from my handheld device. I have sooooo many applications on my iPhone that have allowed me to take my business anywhere in the world with me.
Posted Mar 3, 2010 1:06:40 PM by: JT Business Services