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Need a Vacation, but can't stay away?

By David L. Britt

Real Estate Agent with Platinum Realty, LLC KS# BR00012805

July 19, 2007 04:56 PM

Do you take your notebook with you on vacation?

So you've had enough and now it's time to get away for a vacation. What does your family think when you pack the computer? Will you be on vacation and out of touch? If you are like most of us entrepreneurs, we just can't seem to break away from the tether attached to our brain and the office, so we decide to bring along the computer.

If this sounds like you and about 75% of the small business owners today, make it a point to commit to a compromise with your family and stick with it. Spend the quality time with them and either get up a little early or stay up after they go to bed in order to enjoy your time with them.

Avoid any annoyances and disappointments by protecting your commitment to your family and take some precautions against technology failures. A technical problem could leave you feeling guilty on both sides of the equation. So, do take a few precautions and have a great vacation.

Consider these tips while you are away.

1. Protect yourself from unwanted intruders while using a wireless network on vacation. Make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date and you have a firewall installed and functioning on your computer. Most importantly, turn off file sharing on your computer while you are away.

2. Check to see that the settings on your notebook are for power saving mode on your computer while away. Turn off the extra attachments, DVD, external drives, etc.. that could cost you precious battery life. If you have an extra battery, make sure it is charged before you leave.

3. Try to focus on only dealing with email that must be addressed as urgent. Let the rest go until you return. Setup filters to move emails to folder you will view later. If you don't, you will miss out on the opportunities with family. Make the best use of your valuable vacation time. Set up rules in your email to move files into appropriate folders for viewing later. You might even consider setting up a rule to auto respond to email that explains you're out of town and will be responding only to urgent messages.

4. Give your computer a little makeover or tune-up. Defrag your hard drive, get rid of programs that slow down your boot up time or decrease performance. Make sure your computer is performing at its best to help avoid future problems.

5. Make sure you have a phone number and contact available that can access your computer via the internet, if you have a major problem. There are companies that offer services online for a minimal price and are on call should you need them.

6. Store an extra power strip or six way outlet with you so you have any power to plug in your essentials.

7. Take an extra long ethernet cable with you to plug into an internet source for access to the internet. Don't rely on wireless to be available.

What I'm I missing? Do you have any additional items you keep handy?

Enjoy!

David L. Britt, MBA
Olathe, Kansas
David L. Britt Real Estate
Heritage Real Estate
The Heritage Real Estate Team
Olathe Neighbors

Guiding You HOME!

Comments(18)

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Eric Olson

Sky Realty - Austin, TX

Try telling my wife that!!! It doesn't matter how little I access the email on vacation I'm always the bad guy. I try to explain its how we live the lifestyle we do but she would rather be poor I guess than have me check my email on vacation and do any damage control while away from the office.

Jul 19, 2007 05:05 PM

Bob & Carolin Benjamin

Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ

East Phoenix Arizona Homes

All great points. But even with those vacations are still hard. There are deals that come up and need attention. Clients who will be lost if you turn them over to someone else. It's just tough.

Jul 19, 2007 05:37 PM

Marlene Bridges

Village Real Estate Services, Inc. - Laguna Hills, CA

Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate

David - Timely post. Before I began blogging, I tried not to do too much while on vacation. Now, it's a matter of blending the time. Since I'm a single gal it's not as difficult for me. But, I can imagine that it must be troublesome for folks with spouses and families.

Jul 19, 2007 05:40 PM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

I'm ashamed to say ....we haven't been on a vacation in 3 yrs. On second thought...we are there already. We are actually having a vacation from August 1-5 (no office and completely off) and guess where we're going? Right here in our own home.

Jul 19, 2007 05:45 PM

Linda Reynolds

Bradenton Real Estate - Linda Reynolds - Bradenton, FL

Bradenton Real Estate

Yes it is a tough balance for us since we own the business we are thinking about it 24x7. I have tried to find that balance and do the things you suggest like working early and late and that seems to do the trick. Basically it is laying the ground rules of what is acceptable working time so everyone knows up front what to expect. But in the scheme of things family always comes first.

Jul 19, 2007 11:21 PM

David L. Britt

Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS

MBA

Eric, oops! Sounds like she may need a little more attention while you're not on vacation! :-) When my wife starts reacting like that, I know it's a red flag that I'm not paying enough attention to her needs. There's a really great book called, "The Five Love Languages", by Dr. Gary Chapman that helps each of us understand what the primary and secondary love languages are for each other. I just wish I had had the book earlier in my life. It's a really good book! Anyway, I'm sure you were just poking a little fun at this, but someone else out there may need it. Thanks for sharing and giving me an opportunity to respond!

Jul 20, 2007 01:01 AM

David L. Britt

Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS

MBA

Bob & Carolin, yeah that is true. However, we can't beat ourselves up, we still need the time away and the enjoyment for balance. But you are right, it is very tough! Thanks for commenting!

Jul 20, 2007 01:02 AM

David L. Britt

Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS

MBA

Marlene, not sure how to respond to this one, but balance is important and learning it takes a lifetime! Enjoy every moment of it! Thanks for sharing!

Jul 20, 2007 01:05 AM

David L. Britt

Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS

MBA

Sally, even in the wonderful state of Hawaii, you still need to get away from the work side of things. You just have an advantage of not having to go very far to have all the beauties God has provided! Enjoy a moment for me! Have a GREAT vacation!!

Jul 20, 2007 01:07 AM

David L. Britt

Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS

MBA

Linda, absolutely right, laying the ground rules is so important! And as you have said, Family always comes first! Thanks for sharing!

Jul 20, 2007 01:08 AM

Sherry Nachman

Resource Real Estate Services, LLC - Owings Mills, MD

Taking a vacation is very important in this industry, but for some reason your clients always manage to track you down. Whether its by cell phone or by email. I find it almost impossible to travel longer than a weekend without taking a laptop with me so I can stay up on my emails and be in the know of what is going on in the office.

I was skiing in vail and my client called me while on a chair lift and I felt like saying "Please, tell me how i can possibly be of any assistance to you from where I am right now and how I can fix any problem you might be having from a chair lift" It isnt that I dont have good help working on your files while you are gone, but when you have a customer relationship - you are the reason the business is there! I just cant seem to allow myself to neglect that.

Jul 20, 2007 01:12 AM

David L. Britt

Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS

MBA

Sherry, yea, but sometimes you just need to let the answering service answer the call. Either that or take a photo on the lift and send it to your client so they know you are REALLY out of the office! Remember, you have to have a life as well! Enjoy the time you have, you never know when it will end! Thanks for sharing!

Jul 20, 2007 01:21 AM

Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375

Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI

Real Estate Services You can Trust!

David, great post and great reminders, but at the same time hard to do.

Jul 28, 2007 10:51 AM

Chris Molina

Cooper & Associates Real Estate - Elk Grove, CA

Realtor, Elk Grove CA

David,

My family and I love Disneyland. We got annual passes just so we can sneak away for a weekend a month. I have found that no matter what, I seem to never be fully on vacation mode. My phone rings, it's a client. I get an email, it's a client. I get a text message, it's a client. Now although I fully believe I can do without my laptop, I bring it anyways. Just so that I can handle business when in the hotel room. But in the parks, I have my trusty Treo. One trip, I was able to submit an offer right before leaving for the airport. I got the counter offer the next day via eFax as a PDF file. I reviewed the counter on Docs2Go. Called my client and forwarded the counter offer to her. She signed it, faxed it back to me and I then forwarded it to the listing agent all from my Treo and all while standing in line for Splash Mountain! It was great. I agree with you, we can't break free from the tether between our office and our brains but the laptop/notebook isn't our only option!

Jul 28, 2007 05:23 PM

Arina Hanciulescu

RealtyPros - Las Vegas, NV

RealtyPros

Vacation? It is a luxury I could not afford for a long time. Even going out of town for few days will be extremely complicated for me. Let's face it! We can't take vacations...

Jul 28, 2007 07:18 PM

David L. Britt

Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS

MBA

Gary, awful hard, but I think that comes from our passion and our commitment to be the best for our clients. Even so, I believe our clients will understand if we communicate well enough for them to understand our need. Thanks for posting your comments!

Jul 29, 2007 05:53 AM

David L. Britt

Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS

MBA

Arina, I sure hope you are able to take a vacation. It is difficult, but it can be attained. Thanks for commenting!

Jul 29, 2007 05:57 AM

David L. Britt

Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS

MBA

Chris, sounds like you found a very convenient way to go on vacation and still do business. You must have very good eyesight, because when I look at my treo the print is pretty small. I never thought about trying to zoom on it though. That might be an option. Thanks for sharing your tip!

Jul 29, 2007 06:15 AM