How To Take A Week’s Vacation – Even If You’re The Boss!

If you’re a business owner with an Internet-based business you know it can be a lot of work. And most people tend to do too much themselves, so they can’t just leave the office for a week without advanced preparation.

Here are the steps I took before a recent week-long cruise. They should give you ideas on how you can plan to be away for a week – or more!

1. Set up a support desk and made sure it is working properly. Actually, I maintain a support desk year-round, as it’s more efficient than email in being sure you receive your customer’s comments. I use the Kayako software, as do most other online marketing businesses. If you don’t yet have a support desk, set it up now so you’ll be ready for that vacation.

2. Move your email to SpamArrest and turn on the vacation message. Last year I didn’t have to do this, as my assistant was able to scan my email and forward messages I needed to see. But in the past year, the volume of spam has grown so she would have to screen more than 1,000 messages per day. And there are better ways for her – and you – to use your time! So take the leap and use an automated filter.

3. Sent notices to my team giving them details on items to watch for and how to handle situations. I’ve asked each of them to do specific tasks while I’m away. What do you do if you don’t have a team? Set a goal to put together a team before you want to take your next vacation. At a minimum you need someone to check your phone messages, scan the email, and monitor the support desk. It can probably be done in an hour or two per day by an intern.

4. Set up a special email address that only your family and your team know about. Be sure you can reach it via webmail, so you can use the onboard Internet cafe or an Internet cafe in the countries you’re visiting. You can check it once a day or every two days and be confident that you’re only getting the critical things only you can handle.

5. The most important step is to Let Go! If something happened and you were suddenly unconscious for a week, life would go on around you. Your business would operate without you – even if not at the same level of efficiency. But it would survive.

When you’ve done your job and trained your team properly, things will run smoothly. If you’ve provided good customer service to your customers in the past, they will forgive you if some little thing happens that isn’t perfect while you’re done.

If you don’t learn this critical skill of letting go, you will be forever tied to your desk and your business. And what’s the point of building a successful business if you can’t leave? If that’s the case, then you’ve only built yourself a job – without benefits!

Still nervous about letting go for a week? Then practice! Take the week off, but stay within email and phone range in case someone needs you. But don’t check email and don’t pick up messages. And don’t answer your phone! You’ll find things will go more smoothly than you imagined.

So take the time to prepare. Then enjoy your week off!

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Dr. Jeanette Cates is an Internet strategist who works with experts who are ready to leverage their expertise into Online Success. She offers hourly consulting with no long term contracts at BrainDrainSpecial.com