Let me ask you this.
Do you feel you can take a vacation and turn your business “off” – at least in your mind – without your business actually turning off?
In other words, can you take a rejuvenating break, knowing your business (and you) will both be just fine when you return?
Being an entrepreneur, especially a women in business online, is an emotionally invested kind of gig.
In my last article I wrote that having a business is kind of like having a child. You want to see your biz and your kids (or nieces, nephews, etc.) grow up and experience success.
Just like sometimes needing a break from the daily demands of children, you also need a break from the daily demands of your business.
It’s 100% about rejuvenation.
Being rested – physically, mentally and spiritually – leads to better creativity, focus, confidence, and ultimately, better results for your clients and therefore your business.
Who wouldn’t want that? I can guarantee your clients do.
In my mind, a bunch of variables come into play:
- What’s your definition of a REAL vacation?
- Do your services allow for a natural break?
- Do you plan your year so you know the best time to take a break?
- Do you have any flexibility for when you can take a vacation?
- What kind of outsourcing do you have in place?
- What processes have you automated?
- Are you caught up with your invoicing and your expenses?
- What’s your cash flow situation through the remainder of the year?
- Do you have multiple streams of income to rely on?
- How much work can you plan in advance of your vacation?
- Are you able to line up contracts for your return?
- How long is your vacation?
- Do you want to continue to generate income while you’re gone?
- Do you want to shut down your business while you’re away?
- Is your plan to operate your biz while you’re away but at a “light” capacity, covering off the basics?
- Is your goal to continue to run your business but from a different location?
This is quite a list! Of course, my goal is not to create fear so you stay home and never take a break.
If you know me by now, you’ll know it’s quite the opposite.
It’s for you to get rest and rejuvenation so you can be 100% for your clients and your family. It’s about helping your business not miss a beat while you’re away.
Here are my suggestions, hopefully this will make it more tangible for you:
- Book your free time for the entire year. Take out your calendar and book your days off from your business. What are your dedicated days to be with your family and to do things that rejuvenate you? When is a natural time to take your vacations this year? Get those dates in your calendar and double check they work for your family, too.
- Envision your ideal vacation(s). Yup, I mean actually create a vision for it. Ask yourself this question: At the end of my vacation, what has to have happened, both personally and professionally, for me to feel happy with my progress? Write it as though you’ve already accomplished it.
- Reverse engineer your vision. Once you know your vision, you can then work backwards from there to make it real. What do you need to put into place to make it happen? This totally depends on your own vision and your answers to the questions I asked earlier.
Whatever your vision, the point is to be intentional about it and put the pieces into place to allow you to have it.
Now, I’d love to hear from you. In the comments below this article, answer one of these questions or both if you’re in a sharing mood!
- What’s your personal definition of a “real” vacation?
- What tips do you have for taking a vacation without your business turning off?
Thanks for sticking to the end and have a great week!
P.S. My 8-week Survive to Thrive Solopreneur Bootcamp starts in 13 days! Register for the program here: http://nadinenicholson.com/stsb-pilot.
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Welcome back to the three-part series on mining and maximizing a success mindset. I believe this is what makes – and breaks – solopreneur success.
P.S. My 8-week Survive to Thrive Solopreneur Bootcamp is nearly here! Register for the program here:












