When you’re running your own business, there’s no such thing as a Spring Break or a summer vacation. The idea of a holiday away when you’re a small business owner feels impossible. It doesn’t have to be that way (Consider the benefits of a virtual office!). Being accountable to yourself allows you to redefine traditional office hours. The desire to get away from the desk and off of the computer grows exponentially during the warm summer months. Imagine conducting business from the other side of the window – outside the window!
Realistically, if you’ve got your ducks all in a neat row and you’ve created some guidelines, getting out of the office is a good refresher for you and your company. With careful planning you can step away from your business for a few days or hours without returning to a business in total chaos.
If you’re just starting a company, or you’re more settled into a groove and fairly established, sustaining and growing business can still happen in the great outdoors. It’s good to remember some of the reasons you struck out on your own in the first place. You’re no longer working for someone else! You have some different freedoms! Capitalize on all the opportunities you have with that freedom.
And know that the world won’t stop while you’re away. If you set up a system for you and your business, things can carry on smoothly and successfully while you’re off decompressing on that glorious Friday afternoon.
Here are a few critical tips that will make your afternoon trip to the park or your early long weekend be stress free.
1. Hire staff you trust to keep things flowing without your direct supervision.
2. Give vendors the heads up that you will be away -- but that your company is in good hands.
(The Smartphone will not be on vacation.)
3. Delegate deadlines and unfinished work; designate a project manager to liaise.
4. Confirm that the destination you will be traveling to has reliable Wi-Fi access. Plan to check in several times a day. (Remember, your Smartphone is not on vacation.) Just because you are physically out of your office doesn’t mean you don’t still have a presence.
ENJOY!
