Beverlee Rasmussen CEC PCC Like many of you, I’m a small business owner, and yesterday I called in sick. Well I actually didn’t “call” in, I just decided that seeing as I felt dizzy and had the flu that I would take the day off. The only person I needed to convince that it was OK to not work was myself.
Entrepreneurs building and running companies remind me of machines. They are powerful, strong and always on. That is until their batteries run out or they break down. They go 24/7 for months, years even decades working harder than anyone I know that has a “job”.
Sickness is not in their vocabulary, it’s not something they do.
Taking the day off was not easy. I had to cancel meetings, let others do things for me and then rest. Employees are generally good with taking the day off when they don’t feel well. Why is it that we the owners don’t allow ourselves the same?
I want to remind you loved small business owner that you are not a machine and that you too deserve time off to rest and play. I encourage you to listen to your body and respect its power.
Allow me to just rant here for a moment about systems and how when they are in place it makes it WAY easier to take a day off.
When I owned my travel agency I was completely free to come and go as I pleased. I could take a much needed day, week or even month off. I encourage you to document your most critical company processes and have them available for someone else to follow so that you too can enjoy a sick day, or better yet a health day!
When was the last time you called in sick and took a day off?
Even if you are the ONLY one working in your company I encourage you to think about what your business would be like if it ran independent of you. Think about how you could earn the same income and either have someone else following your system or have your work set up so that you don’t need to physically be there 365 days a year.
If you don’t take care of yourself who will?
