If you’re new to me, you wouldn’t know that for close to two decades, I’ve taken a yearly sabbatical, and removed myself from the day-to-day work involved in leading and running AssistU for the entirety of Q4 each year. This year, it begins at the end of the day today, and I am so stinkin’ excited.
By far, this is my favorite thing to model for other business owners, especially those who think they can’t even let go of working evenings and weekends. I love to share the fact that not only can you let go of working evenings and weekends, but also full days at your whim, whole weeks, and even an entire quarter of the year without having everything collapse around you.
I admit that I built AssistU smartly. I always meant for it to be bigger than me, and to be able to stand without me. And to that end, my team and I built it with those ideals in mind. So systems and processes can include me, but also can run without including me. And that’s really the key to making this work; well, that, and having team members I trust 100% to show up.
When I go on sabbatical, the standing “order” if you will is to only reach out to me if someone dies, something is (literally) on fire, or the media wants to talk with me. Otherwise, I’m away from the day-to-day from the beginning of October through the New Year.
In Q4, I sleep, travel, read, take walks, visit with friends, have adventures, spend far more introspective quiet time (and I already have a lot of that), dream, envision our next year—you get the idea. I come back refreshed and renewed, which I think is so very important. I also believe it can only really be found in a lengthy absence. At least for me, I need to get some distance between me and the biz to get better and different perspective.
And when I come back, everything’s better. Everything.
Before I run off this year, I wanted to share this with you and also let you know that while I’m gone we have a treat for you! I’ve asked some of the AssistU VAs to guest blog, and I hope you’ll enjoy their perspectives!
And if you’d like to learn more about walking away from your own business feel free to get in touch–but after January 3, please, when I’m back!
I wish you and those you love a very happy and prosperous year-end, and New Year!
