No vacation in 22 years

Two or three years ago an entrepreneur proudly told me that he hadn't taken a vacation in 22 years.  I guess that was supposed to impress me, but it certainly did not.  Entrepreneurs almost to a person put in long hours.  Sixty hours a week or more was the norm for me for a long time.

I always tried to get in some family vacation time every summer.  At the least, it was usually a week at a Minnesota lake fishing, swimming, relaxing, etc.  We tried also to do a family trip every two or three years.  We visited both coasts and points in between.  Later we started doing a run to Cocoa Beach every year or two.

For my family, it meant that I was largely "theirs" during these times.  For me, it was a chance to really back away and recharge my batteries.

We did not have cell phones, let alone smart phones, in those days.  We did not have email.  People accepted that others could not be reached at just any time.  Communication expectations were much lower, so it was easier to "escape" than now.

One of my most unique inventions came during a week in Minnesota when I sat in a chair near the lake early every morning.  From the combination of trees, birds, water, and surrounding sounds of nature the solution to a vexing problem suddenly occurred.

The central core:  your family needs you and you need some time for yourself.  Take some time off Mr. or Ms. Entrepreneur.  Your business will probably benefit too.  The rest of your team, whether it is one person or 40 people will find that they can function without you there all the time.



Check out the new link I added to The Friday Follies by Robert McCusker      "It wouldn't be Friday without The Follies"   ----- Look to the far right on this page.