Sometimes one of the hardest things to balance is being a business owner. In our society people glorify it, but when you really putting in the work, you know that it’s not always like the cute Instagram pictures we see online where someone is smiling at their laptop and drinking their coffee.
I’ve worked full-time for well over a decade and I’ve been a business owner for the past four years. Running a business is always harder in a lot of ways. Of course, you’re responsible for everything with your business. Generating revenue, ensuring clients are happy, growing your team -- it’s a lot! One of the most challenging parts of being an entrepreneur is taking a vacation. When you work at a job, there are tons of people who can cover for you, which allows you to log off completely (in most cases). But as a business owner, you don’t always have the luxury of completely logging out.
While preparing for my 31st birthday vacation, I worked a lot the week before. My goal was to get as much done as possible. I did complete a lot, but there were some things I still needed to get done on the specific days while I was on vacation.
I remember there was a time when I was so upset when I had to get online on Sundays or had to take my laptop on vacation. But then I had a mental shift.
I believe that life happens in seasons, and some seasons are quieter than others. I had to remind myself that being a business owner allowed me to be able to afford to travel, take care of my family, and do the things that I love. Last year, I decided that I wouldn’t grumble when I had to log on for a bit, but would be grateful for my season of overflow.
This birthday, I had to log in for an hour or less each day. That included making sure campaigns were rolling and answering any urgent client questions. I sat at the desk in my hotel room looking at the beautiful weather and felt grateful for my life, business, and the work that I do.
Have you ever had to work on vacation or your day off? If so, how did you feel?