On Dirty Secrets of Small Business this week’s dirty secret is that it’s hard to take a vacation from your business.
Jack Mencini and Adam Sonnhalter, small business coaches with Maximum Value Partners www.maximumvp.com give insight on why it is so difficult for small business owners to take a vacation from their businesses. Often there is the pull and the challenge of keeping the business going and being there for your family and significant others who want to have you be part of the vacation.
You have to learn how to take a vacation. Most owners are thinking about the business 24/7 and even if they are away from the business, they are thinking about others’ businesses and how they might relate aspects of their business.
People on vacation connive ways to make phone calls back to the office secretly while everyone is sleeping or get on line to check orders at 4:00 am. You have to find ways to make it work by getting up early and leave things like the cell phone or laptop in the hotel room while you go to the beach or take a tour with the family.
You may never stop thinking about business and looking for the turn off switch, but it is difficult to do while on vacation. There has to be a balancing act for the owner to check in with the office and then walk away and be with friends and family.
If you can do it, it will refresh and you will have an enlightened perspective on things.
Another great thing about being away from the office is that it gives owners the chance to really see how great their team is without them. You would be surprised that the business won’t crash and burn while you, the owner is away for a week. It could be a great revelation that your team can really handle the day to day and it isn’t that bad to take a vacation from the business from time to time. It is hard, but well worth it!
The phrase: dog days of summer really comes from reference to the stars and the Sirius constellation of the dog’s image in the sky at summer. According to Jack Mencini of Maximum Value Partners, he discusses his HOW question and applies it to the small business owner with his business partner, Adam Sonnhalter.
As a business owner, do you say: “Drink the Kool-Aid”… why can’t you say, let’s just be on the same plan for our success?
“Break down the silos?” What’s a silo said the young employee?
“Do more with less?” What does that mean in terms of which is more and what is less? Try to be more specific.
“OK group take it to the next level.”
What level? Where are we taking it too?
As a leader/owner, be more specific and define what you and the business need to have completed without having the meaningless information or trite phrases, which communicate confusion and not clarity.
If you want to be passionate and empowering, communicate clearly and succinctly without jargon or old age sayings.