Your Most Important Project to Schedule This Summer: A Vacation!
According to the American Express Monitor, about two-thirds of small business owners in the Midwest plan to take a summer vacation. More than half of those individuals expect to work while away. We’re sure you can sympathize with the fear of leaving your business for a week or so in order to relax and enjoy yourself. But it’s important for you to schedule a break so you can unwind and enjoy that flexibility that comes with running your own business. But how do you go about it? Here are a few tips to help you plan that summer vacation.
It’s for your own good
Keep telling yourself that, because it’s true! You’re not doing yourself or your clients any favors by avoiding time off. In fact, the truth is, you’ll probably experience job burnout if you don’t take a break from your business. Trust that the vacation will rejuvenate you and enable you to rejuvenate your business. In fact, many business owners receive their greatest insights and inspiration when they’re out of the office.
Schedule the vacation
Look at your planner and schedule a time for your vacation, just as you would schedule time for a conference or a client appointment. And don’t just pencil it in. Get your plane tickets, register at a hotel, and order that rental car. Make it official!
Prepare your clients
Once you decide when you’ll be taking a vacation, let your clients know. You’ll probably need to remind them a number of times, ensuring that they note the dates you’ll be gone. Before you leave, take all necessary precautions: leave a voicemail noting your absence, and program your email account to respond to incoming emails with a notification of your absence. The last thing you want to do is leave work associates feeling like you didn’t effectively communicate your intentions.
Create an emergency plan
Whether you have a support staff, or simply work solo, you need to create a plan so that clients who experience emergencies don’t feel abandoned without recourse. Whether these individuals can expect to contact you, a member of your staff, or a fellow accountant or bookkeeper for emergency help, they must know what they can do. Having an emergency plan will also give you peace of mind so you can relax rather than worry.
Set some vacation rules
Before you leave you should decide how much, if any, contact you plan to have with your staff and/or clients while away. If you decide to take work along, determine how many hours you’ll work each day. And then abide by these vacation rules. The last thing you want to do is spend time going on an exciting vacation only to spend half of it working from a boring hotel room.
Let go of control and go on vacation
If you’re going to have fun, at some point you must release control and go on vacation. Leave the stress behind and make a concerted effort to enjoy yourself. You may be surprised at just how self-sufficient your business has become; you may have to schedule even more vacations in the future.ReferencesAmerican Express Monitor
