Do I Take the Vacation or Not?
WHAT APPEARS TO BE
I’m planning a vacation. But, according to the statistics, there’s a decent chance it won’t be a “real†vacation.
In 2005, 33% of those surveyed reported that they “check in on or do work,†while on vacation. (CareerBuilder.com). I can have one foot in the ocean and another on the beach at the same time, but can I have one foot in the ocean and another foot in the office?
What are your secrets to a “real†vacation?
WHAT MIGHT BE
“But so many people rely on me!†the ego screams. “And they need me to make good decisions!â€
Pure hubris. It’s time to get real: we’re not as important as we think we are. Proof this is true: Last year I had my computer stolen. I had over 200 emails that “had to be responded to,†among countless documents that had not been saved to the server. Upon finding my laptop gone, I quit eating and developed a twitch in my shoulder. Unable to fulfill my responsibilities, the world would end.
It took one week to learn what Columbus discovered hundreds of years ago:
- The world did not end
- No one cared that I was “missing.â€
WHAT CAN BE
I help run a multi-million dollar business and work with leadership teams around the world. And not one person called me and said, “Craig, what about that email?â€
Lesson learned. So for this summer’s vacation, let’s take a real vacation. Here are some questions to help you on this quest:
- What is the cost if I don’t take this time away – mentally and physically?
- What is my vision for how I want to feel at the end of the vacation?
- What two or three things do I want to do during the vacation, so that when I return I am rested and feel satisfied?
- What is my plan to make sure those two or three things happen?
- Bonus question to ask upon your return: What are the things I love about my job?
What is the difference between what “might be†and what “can be� You decide.
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