Do you belong to networking groups where you meet on a regular basis and interact with each other in a facilitated manner?
At a recent networking event, the question was asked of the group, “As we go around the table, and keep it to under two minutes as there are twenty four of us, what will you either do more of or change up to finish out the year with a strong fourth quarter?” One of the members of the group said, “Amazing question, how will I finish the fourth quarter? I don’t want to let go of the summer yet. I am not ready for that. I guess I am just emerging from my summer?”
This comment started me thinking about how others view themselves and their business. The relationship they have with their business, and how this relationship impacts their daily lives. What impact this attitude has on their business results, and how others view them in their business.
My personal view of my business is, to never turn it off. Yes, there is time to relax and give the mind a rest. The business is always on. You never know who you will meet or where you will meet them. In essence, since my business is based upon “adding value to others”, why would it ever be turned off?
If you are in the retail business, where you sell physical products and possibly have a store online, or brick and mortar, or both, chances are you do not hang up a sign that says ‘Gone Fishing’ for a number of weeks during the summer. Although, there are beach towns and communities, where a fair number of small businesses with a brick and mortar location do just that, shortly around mid-October. These retail shops close up for the entire winter and reopen in May. The view they have is, that it is a ‘seasonal business’. Some have another location in a Southern US location or in a ski area. They open up the other location based upon when more of their potential customers will be in that region.
How about a service based business? A lawyer, a CPA, or any other service based business? Do you ever just shut down the business? The person from the networking group is in a service based business. How do you just shut down for weeks or months at a time? What about your current clients? How about meeting with new prospects and keeping your relationships going?
I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.
Mitch Tublin is an advanced certified personal and executive coach who resides in Stamford, CT.
Very interesting post, Mitch. I tend to agree with both views here. You should always have your eye open for opportunities to grow your business, but on the other hand, you have to build and grow your business around the lifestyle that you want to create. I think the key here is to be very intentional about taking the actions that are going to get you the business that you want. The problem emerges when you decide to take the summer off but you don’t have a plan to make up for the time you’ve been away. Most service-based businesses have to have some level of their business running, even if they aren’t the ones running it.
I agree that as a small business owner I’m always “on.” I may be off on vacation somewhere, but I still think about the future and get inspiration from being away. I’ve seen people “shut down” for summer and then wonder why they have no business when autumn comes along.
I do unplug now more than ever. I burnt myself out being business-minded 24/7, however, while I may be unplugged, my business isn’t. When I decided to make the lifestyle change, I put systems in place so my business could run on autopilot. I do check emails (when wifi is available) but I have to say, I am happier, and healthier since making this change and my business and more importantly my clients haven’t been hurt by it.
Mitch, you pose an interesting question. Frankly, I love Jessica’s answer and would like to hear more about her systems. I do know that my work generally slows down a bit during June and July (when my son is off school) and picks up again in early August right as he starts back. Frankly, I really enjoy a schedule like that. Once again I’m extremely busy with new clients and work.
There’s a season for everything, even business but I find Mitch that as the world shrinks and we become more globally oriented that it doesn’t matter if I am in Summer because the other side of the world is in Winter and we still need to be open for business.
As Jessica suggests – the key is then having systems in place to deal with this. As Brad Sugars says “A business is a commercial, profitable enterprise that works without me there.”
I never really thought about this before because I’m always on. If I’m on “vacation” I’m usually reading books in my field or possibly doing some research or even writing. Because I love to do all of those things I don’t see this as a chore or as a detractor to my time off. As a matter of fact because I don’t always have as much uninterrupted time for those activities as I would like vacation turns out to be a perfect time.
I like what Heidi says, just because the US is having summer doesn’t mean the rest of the world is! but we do need vacations and they can be planned, with systems and support in place
Part of the reason to have your own business is to set your own hours. But even if you are on vacation, and you should still be alert for opportunities. You can still make good contacts wherever you are.
Both business and life to me are 24/7 and 365 days per year. I am both always on vacation (because I do what I LOVE to do) and always doing business. My life and businesses are seasonal, too, and all integrated. There’s no ON/OFF switch to life!
Love the life you lead,
Katherine
Katherine C. H. E.
Author, Be True Rich