My parents have a cabin in northern PA. It’s about 4 hours away from where I live and in the middle of nowhere. Since there is no Wi-Fi or cell service, I always enjoy heading up there to “unplug” for a few days. In the past I haven’t been overly aware of the resource this place has been for me, almost like I was getting refreshed accidentally. But as I’ve processed the affect getting-away has had in my life and in the lives of others, I think this is something we all need to practice a bit more of… myself included.
Let me preface this post by saying that hard work and hustle are the qualities that are going to make you successful. I truly believe (and there is a ton of data out there on this point) that hard work is central to any kind of prolonged success.
Back to the point at hand though:
Getting “burned out” is a real thing. I have been there in the past and it can wreck even the very best of us. For me, my productivity and creativity suffered miserably, and honestly, I was flat useless. For some people it happens much quicker than others. Be aware of where that line is for you and make sure not to cross it — having a strong “EQ” can get you further in life than a high “IQ” (even in business). Be self-aware!
Having time to completely unplug from work needs to be it’s own kind of priority. I’m not saying that you need to take a 3-week vacation and leave your cell phone at home. But I am saying that you need time where you step away from your business or your job. For some, it may be as simple as an hour at the gym a few times a week. By doing this you will be able to re-calibrate, re-prioritize, re-focus, re-energize, and any other positive “re-“ you can think of.
Bottom line, life is hard and people are emotional, don’t be a tough guy (or tough girl) and think you can burn the candle at both ends without getting burnt.
Running a business is holistically consuming. I always feel like I’m working, even when not at work — whether that be checking emails, going through my calendar, confirming meetings, or even thinking about company growth before falling asleep. Yes, these things are good! But not if they dominate your life… So many colleagues have neglected to “get away”, they push and push until they just end up seeing everything as a failure and wondering what the point is… they end up running-away, because all along they refused to simply get-away.
I would love to hear from you all on what “getting away” or “unplugging” looks like in your life. Everyone is different, and there is no magic bullet that works universally. However, it is absolutely critical to figure out what does work for you and make it a priority. Not doing this will negatively affect everything from your income to your family.
Keep working hard but know when it’s time to step back and catch your breath.
Hope your guys are doing well — keep in touch with me (or if you haven’t, please get in touch with me). Business for me is much more than just making money; it’s very much about building relationships.
