Take a Vacation... Your Creativity Needs It

I have a confession to make. I've been finding it difficult, the past few weeks, to think of compelling topics for blog posts. As a result, I've been posting less frequently to Dude, It's Marketing which is not my intention but then again I only want to post valuable content. This got me to thinking about whether my recent struggles are because of other priorities, because it's summer, or worse yet that this blog had run its course. My conclusion is that it's mainly because of other priorities but also because I need a vacation. I need to recharge my creative juices.

But, I'm clearly not the only one that needs a vacation and I know many others that just keep pushing themselves to do more and more, especially anyone involved in a start-up. However, you need to ask yourself what impact does going at 110% and not taking time off have on the start-up? Are you jeopardizing the longer-term success of your start-up by pushing too hard in the short-term?

These are important questions that any owner/founder/employee at a start-up needs to ask. Remember that building a start-up takes time and you need to be in it for the longer term. While some of us may not want to admit it, as it is sometimes perceived as a sign of weakness, but we can only push ourselves so long without taking a break. Everyone needs a rest.

If you take a break, even a short one such as an extra long weekend, you would be surprised what you could learn, what new thoughts you can have when you're away from it, and maybe you'll even discover the solution to that unsolved problem in the most unlikely place.

For a number of reasons, there is the culture in many US companies that taking time off is not acceptable and you are given a hard time when you go away for a week. Vacations are an important part of employee morale and we all know a happy employee is a productive one. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised what impact a vacation will have on your own and your employees productivity and creativity.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for working hard and in a start-up environment there are time where you DO have to push yourself and your team beyond its limits. But, don't forget once you've reached a significant milestone to take some time to recharge your creativity. Take a vacation. Give your employees a break. You've earned it and your creativity needs it.

Comments

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