Headed for the ocean. 10 – 4!

In my 12 years of being out on my own, I’ve rarely gone on vacation and actually checked out completely. In a day and age where we are connected via smart phone, tablet, laptop or internet, it takes time and intentionality to check out completely.

This year is different for me. Alex, a bright, amazing employee, has joined my team, and she’ll be checking in for me while I check out. What a treat! My shoulders literally slump when I think about the possibility of truly leaving the office for 10 days. It’s time for this.

While there’s glamour and flexibility in owning one’s own business, the side most people don’t see is the constant bombardment and expectation to do more. My mind rarely truly checks out. Almost everything runs through my business filter. I drive the Beltline and locations trigger thoughts like, “Oh, I need to contact… Oh, I should…, Oh, I was going to…” There’s no escaping it completely, but this year, I’m going to try. My family and I are headed for the beach to simply sit and be. To regroup and enjoy one another’s company (including a few parental meltdowns and sibling squabbles, I’m sure).

So in the words of Smokey and the Bandit, “10 – 4 Big Buddy!” I’ll see you on the other side of vacation.

Keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant, Sarah Gibson, helps organizations leverage the power of communication, teamwork and diversity to improve engagement and transform teams. To buy her book or inquire about her speaking programs, please visit www.sarahjgibson.com.