Have you recovered yet from the amount of gratitude that you have received from the people who either celebrate or recognize the American Thanksgiving Day as a holiday for immense gratitude? I know that I have felt a little woozy just from reading all the emails and Facebook posts about gratefulness. And, I think that it is wonderful given all of the violent horror that we have witnessed in the world, and for some of us, in our own countries, states, neighborhoods and cities.
And now, what we have next is the holiday season. We all are touched by the holiday spirit of celebrating and giving during this last month of the year. Entrepreneurs can be easily distracted from focusing on business when there is so much fun to have and so many to do items to check off our list so that the holidays are bright and shining for our families, beloved friends, colleagues, and customers.
I have a simple suggestion for you to take some of the burden of the holiday season away. Use time this week to look at your calendar and plan to take some well-deserved time off so that you too can enjoy the season. This is not an original suggestion, I know. In fact most large businesses recognize that the last two weeks of year are the slow period of their business and being realistic, they schedule for their staff to take time off. We as entrepreneurs reject this idea because, after all, we are responsible for the success of our businesses. However, I do think you can have it all, business success and quality time off. It is a matter of planning for accomplishing what you want to accomplish this month and planning to be off. How much time off is up to you. You can decide that when you look at past years business cycles and know when during this month, your business is predictably slow or even nonexistent.
I know you will be responsible for making the best choices for your business because that is who you are. If you feel stuck or want to talk out how to plan for taking time off and have your business run smoothly, please give me a call. I am here for you!
Dear Susan,
Take some time to recharge during the holidays? Okay! That’s coaching I will take without reservation, argument or “Yes, But” and maybe it will mark a new pattern for me although decades of hardheadedness are unlikely to evaporate overnight!
Naturally, I have to set myself up for victory during my time off by whipping my technology into shape, changing my telephone answering message and checking messages frequently – I’m gone but I’m not out of business and my clients are counting on me!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!