Results! 3 Keys to Enjoying Summer AND Growing Your Biz

Michele PW
June 26, 2012 — 1,312 views  

Who says you can't do it at all?

Now that summer is here, the lure of playing hokey is warring with the responsibility of getting something done in your business.

But what if it didn't have to be that way? What if you could do it ALL -- make money, grow your business AND have time to play?

Here are 3 keys to having your cake and eating it too:

1. Plan your time off. Now I'm sure you already have your vacations blocked off, but what about afternoons off? Long weekends? Go ahead and plan those as well and get them on the calendar (because you know if you don't plan your time off it's not going to happen). Plus if you have time blocked off in your calendar then you can relax and focus during work time because you know you have your "play" dates already accounted for.

Not sure how much time off to block off? Well, there are a couple of things you can do. Do you have a big launch coming up this summer? You may not be able to take as much time off as you'd like, but schedule what you can and see what happens. Have you decided you're going to "coast" this summer? Then definitely block off more time.

Or just ask your gut. How much time is your gut telling you to take off? That might be the easiest and more reliable way to figure it out.

2. Plan to WORK on your work days. No screwing around here. You have your time off planned, so on the days where you're scheduled to get things done, get things done. Because if you don't, you're going to be tempted to not take your time off, which means you've in effect "lied" to yourself, the Universe, etc. And how much time off are you really going to end up with if the message you're sending is you're not honoring your time off?

3. Change up your energy if you're really feeling stuck or sluggish. I get it. Just because the calendar says you must work doesn't mean you'll actually feel like working. So what do you do on those days where you find that pure willpower isn't enough?

On those days take a break. Go for a walk. Visit a Starbucks. Blast a song on your iPod and dance around the house. Go outside and lay in the sun for 10 minutes.

The best thing you can do is move your energy around, either by exercising or a change of location or both. It doesn't have to last long -- even 10 minutes is enough. Just do SOMETHING. Chances are when you sit back down you'll be able to focus on your work.

Above all, keep in mind why you have a business in the first place. Yes there will be times you have to put in long hours but you also need to balance that with time off. Chances are you didn't start a business so you could work all the time but so you could work when you CHOSE to. Summer is a great time to remind yourself you have the power to arrange your work schedule to suit yourself, your family and your life.

Michele PW

Creative Concepts and Copywriting, LLC

Michele PW is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist & owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost biz.