Too much behind the desk...

[MTCInc]

Well, I was supposed to be off all this week, but a few of the guys wanted to work. So, you know what that does. Setting up the jobs, making sure the truck/chipper are fueled up, all the tools needed, job descriptions, etc.. The phone rings... emails... and, its almost the end of the year (1099, W2, tax time, etc....)

Well, why I am at it, might as well catch up in the office. Where does it end? How do you guys shut that door and just forget about it for a week, or even just a few days?

I took the kids to the zoo today, but going through my head was, gee, hope the job is going ok... I better bring my blackberry, just incase they have questions. Or, was I really thinking, wow, I could be missing out on some pretty good calls right now! I am at the zoo with my family, I should at least be feilding my calls from the call service. Well, that kind of put a cloud over the zoo day. Not a good idea to bring the phone because it just made the zoo my office. Now I am in work mode, so when we get home, I am in the room doing stuff I should be holding off on... payroll reports, bills, schedualing...... writing this on tree buzz..

Do you ever just totally shut if off? If you do, how do you do it and not keep thinking about it in the back of your head? I am thinking about the idea of not having my office at home for this reason alone. I cannot walk by my office without walking in there. There is always something to do, someone to call, someway to drum up more work or someway to make the business that much better. I seem to be forgetting about why I am doing this anyway. My kids are growing up, we all have this time off together but I cannot pull away completley from it. I know that I am not the only one in this spot, but how do any of you deal with this yet still plow forward? How do you take a week off and not deal with work issues? Do you just shut it down for a week, crew and all? Do you have your office say you are off for the week? What do you do? How do you seperate your life from your business?

 

[Colin]

If financially you can afford to ignore the phones then do so.

If not, then work.

If you have staff, roster them on!

 

[Steve Connally]

I know what you mean. I usually have to detach when the wife gets really upset at me for marking the buisness #1 and her #2. I have started not answering calls after 6 mon through fri and at all on weekends. eases the burden. I do check voice mails to make sure its not an emergency call. Hey look at it this way, can you call your dr's office 24x7, is he seeing pt's 24x7. NO so why should you. If somebody calls you at 10pm to get an estimate on tree work, they're eithar having an emergency or they're a little strange. Also I get up an hour early each day to check e-mails, book keeping, and payroll ect.

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

McGuire: Nice website by the way! The balance of family life and business life is tough. Sounds like you desire to give your family the priority they need, but it is hard to do so when you are pulled with other responsibilities (tree business).

Fortunately, mother nature decides when I slow down.

Within 7 days, the Denver metro area has been nailed with 30" of snow. So, I am catching up on other stuff and spending lots of time with the family.

It's kind of like the saying, "Don't forget to smell the roses." As you are given a moment to take a break, take it!

I hope you find a break in your business life, and take it.

 

[MTCInc]

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, all the stuff you guys mentioned is what I am trying to do. Work life is so busy, that I never seem to catch up. We are booked out two months in advance, so every little hic up puts more work in the office. The no phone policy is a good one, and that is exactly why I got an answer service. A live person still answers the phone and takes the message for me, and I can get back during normal hours, what ever those are!

Getting up an hour earlier is what I really need to do. Maybe that is my new years resolution?