Guard your vacation

Posted on October 5th, 2005 by Keith Ferrazzi

My good friend Bob, who worked “in the market,” used to tell
me to guard my vacations. He would schedule a 2-week vacation every year, and
no matter how much the market was tanking or booming or whatever, he would wipe
his hands clean of the office chaos for a full two weeks.

I’m so happy I’ve been taking his advice. Nowadays I try to
take 7 to 10 days each quarter to just to sit and read and think and write. I
did a 10-day retreat in August, and in the midst of reading and writing pretty
much nonstop, I think I got a great start on my next book that I’m very excited
about. Plus, when I returned, I felt so energized and was much more
productive. My Ferrazzi Greenlight team even commented on the increased creativity,
comfort, and lack of stress they noticed…they’ll probably want me to take another vacation
soon!

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9 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. I think that piece of advice is like pure gold. Far too often I find myself checking email on my pda or another form of "work" when I should be concerned about rejuvinating the mind and spirit. Work will always be there, our health, family, and friends may not.

  2. That's a great idea Keith. I'd love to know your thoughts on these questions:

    Do you have others answer you correspondence while you're away, or do you just let things wait until you return? How do you ensure your customers know you'll be gone for 2 weeks and won't be able to respond to them for some time?

  3. Great advice! I leave tomorrow for Toronto for a 4-day vacation. Granted it's not 2-weeks, but this is the first vacation I have had in over 2 years.

  4. Keith,

    Glad to hear you're working on your second book! Your first one was invaluable; I look forward to your second. Will you record both on CD's too? I think you'll reach more people this way. I like to "re-read" invaluable books with golden lessons by listening to them on CD's while on the elliptical and stairmaster at the gym. That's a winsome combination - a tandem workout for the body and mind.

  5. Take Time Off & Grow Your Business

    Great post at the Never Eat Alone Blog: Never Eat Alone Blog: Guard your vacation "Nowadays I try to take...

  6. Hi,You have given very useful sugestion.Please comment on the issues/questions raised by Phil Gerbyshak.

  7. Just passing by. Been to many blogs, some have even good blog design but lack the necessary contents for me to stay and read it but yours is impressive. Maybe because you are a writer and Author of a book. Guard your vacation post rings a bell. We really need some time off if value our sanity. Too much stress from work can dull the sense's in the long run. Traveling to other places refreshes us and makes us grow more as a person.

  9. I would love to hear more about turkey.

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