Running a small business means the buck stops with you. It’s empowering to steer the ship, set your hours, and define your success. But let's be honest, it often feels like you need to be "on" almost 24/7, whether wrapping up client work or brainstorming ways to grow your business.

The downside? When your life orbits solely around your business, everything else takes a backseat—family, friends, downtime. It's a straight path to burnout, and trust me, when you’re burnt out, your work quality dips, and progress stalls. And on top of that, you are not taking care of your #1 client: yourself. Since you are the one who helps bring the company money, you need to be in top condition to help your business succeed.

When you become run down, it's time to press pause, take a break, and do something you love that is not work-related. But you might be asking, how will my business still operate while I am away? One of the solutions is a system.

I recently pressed pause and took my first family vacation in over five years to Washington DC. It was long overdue.

In the past, I would return from vacation to mounds of client work and lead communications, making me dread the idea of taking time off. I’d be exhausted by the end of my first week back and feel like I needed another vacation.

But this time, while I was away, my system handled email campaigns, client communications, and new leads, which were automatically placed into my pipeline with the first few steps already completed. I might have been away, but my system never stopped working.

So when I returned, there were no mounds of work and no added stress waiting for me—I came back with peace of mind, knowing my business was running smoothly in my absence.

I had an amazing time with my family. We made incredible memories exploring the nation's capital, and I had the chance to relax and disconnect.

Coming back, I’ve felt more energized and creative than ever. It felt liberating because I always hesitated to go on vacation, fearing my business would stop when I did. However, this time was different.

That break was also a powerful reminder: I am not my business. It's crucial to make time for life outside work, whether that’s family time, travel, hitting the gym, or just doing something you love. It's not just refreshing—it's essential for sustaining both your personal happiness and professional success. Let’s not forget to recharge, shall we?

If you need help implementing a system, learn more about my team's offerings at Goals To Results.

If you enjoyed that business tip, be sure to download my business tips PDF to get more insights I’ve gained throughout my business journey.