You Don’t Have to Earn a Day Off

Many owners were raised to believe that rest comes after the work is done. In a business, the work is never done, so the day off never quite arrives.

Rest is not a reward

A better principle: rest is part of a good life, not a reward for productivity. That is not an argument for doing less good work. Judgment, patience and energy, the things owners need most for big decisions, all depend on rest. Nobody has to earn a day off.

A good day is not measured only by what gets done

Owners tend to measure a day by the checklist. A better measure also counts the hours spent with the people and pursuits that make the work worthwhile: a round of golf, a walk, time with family, a hobby, or simply doing nothing for a while. All of it counts.

The vacation test

There is also a practical business case. Could the company run well for two weeks with the owner completely away? If not, that says something important.

• A buyer will ask the same question, and price the answer into the offer.
• A lender wants to know who runs the business if the owner cannot.
• The next generation needs room to make decisions before inheriting all of them.

The things that let an owner take real time off are the same things that make a business worth more: reliable monthly financials, clear reporting, documented processes and capable people with authority to act.

Start small

If a two-week break feels impossible, start with a long weekend with the phone off, then a full week. Each time, note what broke and fix that process, not the vacation plans. Over a year or two, the business becomes less dependent on the owner, and the owner gets a preview of the next phase.

Next in the series: Practice the Next Phase Now.

Mark M. McCormick, CPA is a fractional CFO for food, agriculture and beverage companies, with 35+ years as a controller, CFO and CEO in the industry. More about Mark