Press Release Summary = Call them crazy, but entrepreneurs sometimes think they can do pretty much anything. They take risks the likes of which most of our hearts would not be able to handle. They put it all on the line in a heartbeat on often nothing more than a hunch. They wake up at 4 a.m. to call that potential client in Moscow, and stay up until 11 p.m. to reach another one in Sri Lanka. And, they pour all the money they can scrounge up into getting their babies - their businesses - off the ground and running. But, as much as they might hate to admit it, there is one thing that entrepreneurs do not seem to be very good at, and that is taking vacations.
Press Release Body = May 22, 2007 (Toronto, CA) -- Call them crazy, but entrepreneurs sometimes think they can do pretty much anything. They take risks the likes of which most of our hearts would not be able to handle. They put it all on the line in a heartbeat on often nothing more than a hunch. They wake up at 4 a.m. to call that potential client in Moscow, and stay up until 11 p.m. to reach another one in Sri Lanka. And, they pour all the money they can scrounge up into getting their babies - their businesses - off the ground and running. But, as much as they might hate to admit it, there is one thing that entrepreneurs do not seem to be very good at, and that is taking vacations.
The kids are out of school, restaurant patios are filling with patrons enjoying the warm weather, and summer is almost officially here. But, suggests entrepreneurship expert Evan Carmichael that means little to the entrepreneur. "For better or for worse, small business owners tend to only know one season: the work season," he says. "You would be hard pressed to find an entrepreneur who has taken a real vacation in the past few years."
Whether it is due to a fear of losing ground to their competitors or because there is simply no one else to run the show while they are gone, more and more entrepreneurs are putting their own personal rest and relaxation on the backburner. "It becomes so easy to say, 'Just one more year - I'll just work for one more year and then I'll finally be able to take a break,'" says Carmichael. "But, that year never ends."
A recent study by Expedia.ca and Ipsos Reid found that the number of vacation days that Canadian workers take on average went down from 21 to 19 last year. This puts Canada just behind Australia and the U.S., where workers take an average of 14 vacation days, the fewest in the world. This decline was caused in large part by the growing number of entrepreneurs.
It is a trend that is worrying many like Carmichael, who see it as a bad sign for business as well. "When people take vacations, they come back to their jobs rejuvenated and motivated," he says. "Entrepreneurs need to find creative ways to take a break from their business, or it too will begin to suffer the consequences."
So, just what are some of those creative ways? Carmichael suggests taking short weekend retreats where you make sure to turn off your cell phone and leave your laptop at home. Strike up a deal with a fellow entrepreneur in a similar field to pinch-hit for each other for a few days when the other is away. If you cannot fathom the idea of being gone, try to turn a holiday into a business affair. "Company retreats or weekend barbeques are becoming increasingly popular," says Carmichael. "While they allow for some down time, they are both still great ways to network and keep the ball rolling." Vacations abroad could also be a good opportunity to scout out potential new clients and markets.
But no matter where you decide to go, or what you decide to do, suggests Carmichael, you need to first realize that you are not indispensable. "Get your business in order, have your policies clearly written out, and train your employees so that you will be able to take the time off you need to unwind," he says. "Bringing that balance will, in fact, benefit your business in the end."
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Evan Carmichael is available for an interview. Please contact him at evan@evancarmichael.com.
2022
