Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The Dilemma of Taking a Vacation

We just returned from a week long vacation. As small business owners taking vacation is hard. Because Eddie and I are married (and like to vacation together!) and the co-founders of Fini Concierge, when we go on vacation it is a greater challenge to the team than if just one of us was gone.

I know that it is hard for a lot of people to take off, leaving their work behind, whether they own the business or not. But for business owners, and especially small business owners, I think there are several additional layers of challenge when they are away from their businesses. Will things run smoothly if you are not there to support your team? What if an emergency happens? How do you account for loss of revenue if you are not there to generate business? Not to mention the loss of control that we feel.

We took our first week long vacation last year when we only had one staff person working with us. It turned out to be one of the best things we ever did. Not only did it give us a break that we really needed but it also gave her the chance to be in control -- to successfully problem solve, deepen her relationships with client’s and instilled a new level of confidence in her own abilities.

And we’re always so pleasantly surprised at how happy our clients are that we’re going away – provided that we’re coming back! You deserve it! Enjoy yourselves! And have fun! are the sorts of responses that we get to our announcement that we’ll be away. Of course, it’s impossible to turn your brain totally off when on vacation. At dinner we’d find ourselves discussing clients or goals for the next year and even when on the beach I find my mind drifting to things I’ll work on when I get back. But that’s not all bad as it does give you a different perspective on things then when you’re bogged down in the thick of it.

We founded Fini Concierge based on the principles that people should have a choice to live life differently – to have help when and if they want it -- to make life easier and less stressful. We strive to help people feel that they have balanced lifestyles and that includes vacation and time off to rejuvenate and focus on themselves and those that are special to them. If we don’t do the same we’re not living what we are trying to help create for others. So this year, with a larger team to bear the burden of our absence, it was that much easier to leave know that they’d do great without us…and we really enjoyed our time away!

Chantal

Buried under Lights, Garland, Gifts and Wrapping Paper!

Soon after excitedly launching our blog in October, we found ourselves in the midst of the holidays. You’ll have to forgive our blog absence.

Thanksgiving through New Years is a very busy time for everyone, which also means that the Fini Concierge team is called upon more than usual by our clients. We find ourselves buried in gifts, wrapping paper, Christmas trees, lights and holiday cards!

Although many of us (me included) make a vow to start our shopping and card addressing early, most of us break our promise to not make the season any more stressful than it needs to be and end up waiting longer than we should to start tackling our holiday lists. This is why I totally sympathize with some of our clients who are still making requests for help with holiday preparations just days (and sometimes even hours!) before their holiday celebrations.

But despite the stress and rush of the season, it’s actually fun and rewarding to help people with all of their holiday tasks. This year we put up nearly a dozen Christmas trees and hung our fair share of wreathes and garland. We bought countless gifts, addressed hundreds of holiday cards and wrapped dozens and dozens of packages. There were many hours spent in lines to send off packages at the post office and UPS. We helped coordinate several corporate outings and festive holiday parties.

Then of course there’s the clean up. The returning of gifts, the break down and storage of holiday decorations and the last minute travel plans to get away for New Years.

It’s a tiring time of year but at the end of the season we feel good about being part of what is a happy and magical time. We get the chance to help people to surprise a loved one with that perfect gift they’ve been dying for or take the hassle out of buying and putting up a Christmas tree when their time is more happily spent decorating it with their kids. Throwing a holiday bash is possible because someone had some help pulling together all the small details and a co-worker gets recognized with a thoughtful gift because they didn’t have to find the time to purchase it.

The details that we take care of during the holiday season are often those tasks that people dread but we’re a part of the spirit and thoughtfulness that makes the season special.

What do you enjoy most about the holidays? How could an “additional” hand help you out during the season?
-Chantal