| While traveling on the Metroliner from a wonderful | | | | administrative office, speak to a few call centers |
| and relaxing trip seeing friends in Washington, DC, | | | | in your area. If nothing else, your clients will hear a |
| I realized how difficult it is for some many | | | | real voice and know that the message will be |
| business owners and executives to take a | | | | taken.Notify Your ClientsTell your clients in |
| vacation. Is the thought of a relaxing vacation an | | | | advance that you will be traveling. If you normally |
| impossible dream?As a sole practioner, I have | | | | respond to email and phone messages within an |
| learned that if I do not stop and smell the roses, | | | | hour, your clients need to know that you will not |
| enjoy my family and have some fun, I will be | | | | be readily available. If they know when you will be |
| sabotaging not only my career but also my | | | | back and who to contact, emergencies are not as |
| life.Vacations and days off are an important part | | | | drastic and they will be able to gauge the level of |
| of any career plan. They allow you to think a bit | | | | importance. Be sure to give the same information |
| differently and find that balance you need. | | | | on vacation emails and voicemails (office and |
| Colleagues and clients also perceive you as a | | | | cell.)Extra ProtectionIf you are able to schedule a |
| person who not only recognizes a need for | | | | quiet day in the office for yourself, before your |
| balance but also is not a control freak.I believe it's | | | | official return, do so. By telling clients that you will |
| really possible to leave the office both mentally | | | | be back on Tuesday, when you will really be in |
| and physically. It just takes a bit of planning and | | | | the office Monday, allows you to answer those |
| some very deep breathing.Be PreparedLook at | | | | emails and return some of your calls without the |
| your schedule for upcoming projects and | | | | stress of being rushed.Being ConnectedIf you |
| deadlines. Try to take care of as much as you | | | | must be connected and check in with your office, |
| can before your trip and allow for emergencies | | | | either by phone or email, I suggest taking care of |
| when you get back. Schedule upcoming meetings | | | | things every few days and in the morning or |
| and projects on your calendar early, so that you | | | | very late afternoon. Remember, you are on |
| are not rushed when you return. I often create a | | | | vacation and balance is important.Relax & Day |
| To Do List and use different folders so that when | | | | DreamBring books and magazines that are not |
| I return from a trip, things are as organized as | | | | related to your business. Vacations allow us to |
| they can be. By being prepared, you will be able | | | | think about things we never would have dream |
| to put your project's aside and enjoy your | | | | of. Last December, while on vacation sitting in the |
| trip.DelegateDetermine well in advance who will be | | | | sun in Bonaire, I thought of a fabulous idea for |
| taking care of your responsibilities while you are | | | | my business. After a few short minutes of |
| away. Ensure he or she has the information | | | | thought, I decided to give it a try. I credit the |
| needed to answer questions and that if decisions | | | | success of that idea and successes in my |
| must be made, what the appropriate comfort | | | | business to the fact I was on vacation.I wish you |
| level is. For me, I have an administrative office | | | | all a wonderful and relaxing summer vacation!Beth |
| that handles any emergencies for me. It's a | | | | Silver has been providing marketing and business |
| lifesaver. I know that my clients are speaking to | | | | strategies ( to entrepreneurs and small business |
| real people who can help move the issue toward | | | | owner for over 10 years. |
| a successful resolution. If you don't have an | | | | |