Take a Break
Living by the beach means June, July and August are crazy months when all the tourists arrive. Our village has just 69 locals. The numbers swell to 10,000+ as the tourists arrive, holiday homes open, camper van arrive in their hundreds and day trippers cosy up in beach bars. Come 31st August, they all go home and we "locals" get our summer vacation. It's heavenly.
When I first started as an entrepreneur, 35 years ago. My first business coach said, work for 6 weeks, take 2 weeks off. You need one week to wind down and the second week you'll get plenty of fresh ideas for your business to put a plan together. Then, you spend 6 weeks implementing the plan by which time you're ready for the next break. And so the cycle continues.
The system worked well when I had a bricks and mortar business but when I went online it was different. Then, I worked in projects. Get this project done and monitor - take a break and create the next project then take the next break.
Today, the system has changed yet again, now I start work at 9:00am and finish at the latest by 2pm. Siesta time, glorious sunsets and just a few nights a month coaching. But, I still enjoy taking a break during September when we practically have the beach to ourselves. Living just 30 metres from the beach has it's benefits.
But back to business - the time taken off in September is the start of the planning process for the coming year. Some of the questions I ask myself
- What have you achieved so far this year
- What goals still need work and how I plan to complete them
- What do I want to achieve next year
- Start putting the plan together - this will be a work in progress for the next few months with a 1st January launch.
In 35 years as an entrepreneur the planning process is still my favourite part of business. I get excited about the prospects for the coming year and it all starts with taking a break.
How do you create your business plans?
Join FREE & Launch Your Business!
Exclusive Bonus - Offer Ends at Midnight Today
00
Hours
:
00
Minutes
:
00
Seconds
2,000 AI Credits Worth $10 USD
Build a Logo + Website That Attracts Customers
400 Credits
Discover Hot Niches with AI Market Research
100 Credits
Create SEO Content That Ranks & Converts
800 Credits
Find Affiliate Offers Up to $500/Sale
10 Credits
Access a Community of 2.9M+ Members
Recent Comments
10
I like the way you ask yourself questions - I did something similar at the beginning of October knowing there are just three months left to the end of the year. I should get better at putting a plan together because then it would just be a matter of following it rather than patching things together week by week or month by month the way I am doing.
Thanks - food for thought.
Isabella
Hi Karen!
Indeed, we all need to take a break from our work! We need to replenish ourselves and reconnect to gain new insights so that we can begin the planning and implementing processes again.
for sure, the beach life is pretty awesome. I miss my country of birth for that beach life. Thanks for sharing your detailed work , break , planning and implementing processes!
Wishing you the very best!
Kind regards,
Nichola
That sounds like such a peaceful rhythm, Karen. I love how you’ve turned the change of seasons into a natural part of your business flow. I usually plan in stages too; first I reflect, then I write down ideas as they come, and finally I shape them into action steps. It’s amazing how clarity shows up once we slow down and breathe a little. Your system makes me want to move closer to the water!
John
See more comments
Join FREE & Launch Your Business!
Exclusive Bonus - Offer Ends at Midnight Today
00
Hours
:
00
Minutes
:
00
Seconds
2,000 AI Credits Worth $10 USD
Build a Logo + Website That Attracts Customers
400 Credits
Discover Hot Niches with AI Market Research
100 Credits
Create SEO Content That Ranks & Converts
800 Credits
Find Affiliate Offers Up to $500/Sale
10 Credits
Access a Community of 2.9M+ Members
My big planning time is between Christmas and New Year and has been for more than a decade, Karen. I use a simple flow cart to measure progress weekly and will adjust some variables at the end of each month if necessary.
I have a major review at the end of each quarter where I plan a full year (four quarters) ahead, with the BIG one at the end of December.
Furthermore, I take at least one week off each quarter, and I've found that works for me.
Great post and, like you, I like to be finished by 14.00 most days and I start early, usually by 07.00.
Rick