If we’re friends on Facebook or you follow me there, you saw me share this post yesterday:
Other than the fact that I emphasize my need for a break by misspelling my own last name, notice how many likes this post received? As you can see, I’m definitely not going to compete for the role of entrepreneur poster child in the category of balance because that just wouldn’t be true.
I love what I do and I think that view is shared by entrepreneurs regardless of their area of expertise. It’s fun to be your own boss! It’s liberating to create your own schedule and run a business the way you think is best. It’s empowering to forge ahead and scale a business. Every day is different and fresh and new.
I don’t think I will ever get enough of being an entrepreneur.
Do we really need a ‘break’?
Is it bad that I’ve waited a year to take a vacation?
Maybe.
OK probably. On the other hand, I’m sure many entrepreneurs have waited longer and perhaps some really never do take a real break. After all, it’s extremely difficult (if not impossible) to turn our brains off. I’m serious and if you’re an entrepreneur you know exactly what I mean.
As entrepreneurs, we’re always thinking about how to grow the business, tweak a process, pitch a new client, make a revision, improve a system … and the thoughts just don’t stop.
But is the inability to shutdown completely really a bad thing?
Perhaps it’s just how we’re wired as entrepreneurs. Regardless of a week off or a month off, maybe we just can’t turn off that internal drive to create. I’m not sure on the answer to that question but I’m curious to hear from others on this topic and will be looking into it further. I’m especially interested to reflect after my first week-long vacation, as an entrepreneur, in June.
Balance is in the eye of the beholder: Living your passion.
We’ve all read articles on the secret to a balanced life and “having it all”, regardless of occupation.
Life-balance seems to be an ideal we collectively strive to obtain but rarely (if ever) do. I heard a really great talk by Heather Whaling last year at the Ohio Growth Summit about how life balance (aka “having it all”) is actually possible, it just varies based on your version of “life”.
Family, friends, hobbies, service, recreation, fitness, health … these are all pieces of the pie that make up life.
And you know what?
Work is a big part of life.
That fact is one of the reasons it’s vital to find what you’re passionate about and do THAT thing. The fact that I do what I’m passionate about every day makes it acceptable and even desirable for me to think about my business most of the time.
I love it and I can’t get enough of it.
Take a break and do what you love.
I do think rest is important and I’m sure I will be singing the praises of my week off and how much energy, creativity and motivation I feel coming back from that break. Regardless of whether they’re technically needed or not, there’s something refreshing about spending a designated amount of time focused solely on yourself, recreation and rest.
I also think it’s OK to push through and get things done without a designated “vacation” if you love what you do. After all, if you love something, do you really need to remove it from your life for weeks at a time?
~ Kate
