Rest to get the Best from Your Small Business
Everyone does it. And no one seems to want to stop.
Too much of a good thing can be wonderful, said Mae West.
Or is it?
An unusual trend among working people, is that people love to work and spend a lot of hours at the work they love. Every small business owner I have ever advised, worked non-stop. And perhaps complained, and would ask me about that work-family balance nonsense, but then would excuse herself to answer an important cell call. (There are no unimportant cell phone calls.)
Non-stop work is bad for your health and bad for your productivity.
Studies show that working 21 continuous hours has the same effect as being drunk. Yes, working too much is a real high.
Among industrialized nations, none work more hours than the US of A. The two-martini lunch has been replaced with jolts of caffeine — to stay awake. Americans don’t drink to escape from work and sleep; we remain at work awake and become drunk. Starbucks has replaced Archie’s Bar.
And no one works harder or more hours than the boss. And you, the small business owner, will openly admit to working harder and more hours than any one.
Martyr.
(No one likes martyrs, that’s why they killed so many of them.)
Your Business Blogger would suggest that business productivity and employee health can be improved by working fewer hours.
Heresy.
I know. I wouldn’t want to stop either. But I have a trick. An answer to those 60-hour work weeks.
Put those hours into 6 days — not 7. Take a day off. Yes, yes, a whole day.
Stay with me now. Businesses actually have this as policy.
Chick-fil-A, with 1,250 restaurants and sales of almost $2 billion, takes a day off.
Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, made the decision to close on Sunday in 1946 when he opened his original restaurant…in Hapeville, Georgia. He has often shared that his decision was as much practical as spiritual. Operating a 24-hour a day business left him exhausted. Being closed on Sunday allowed him time to recover physically, emotionally and spiritually…
It doesn’t have to be a Saturday or a Sunday. When I was working restaurants I took Tuesdays off. It matters not the day.
But pick a day, then don’t work it.
Many business owners have pestered Your Business Blogger for a set of rules on what is work or not. Because work and play are the same for all North Americans. My only suggestion for your weekly day off:
Be Unproductive.
Leave productivity and production and whatever work is to the other six days. On that special day: give it a rest.
Oddly, I would suggest no prohibition on exercise. We should sweat on our day of relaxation. (This is America.) Sweating and exercise are acceptable unless your day job is in the NBA or the Golf Pro Tour.
And to make sure it works, find a friend who will hold you accountable. Which you should be doing for business, anyway.
Be accountable to your private board of directors or mentor.
So. To be more productive. Do nothing, one day a week.
September 20th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Jack! I have found that when I take a break - even if it’s just an afternoon - I feel like my mind has been cleared and the fog lifts. I am then able to sit down at my computer and somehow, I manage to be more productive. I wholeheartedly agree with the particular mention of sweating on your day off. I have found that an afternoon, or even just a few hours, spent tidying up the garden can do wonders for the mind - and for my work. We should always remember that we work to live - not live to work!
September 21st, 2006 at 1:14 am
Anita,
this is great advice. I started doing that myself as well — strictly no biz work on sundays - well, not quite . except (other than your much acknowledged advice of exercising) for some blogging ( writing helps clears up thoughts that bug you - at least for me) reading, and time for the family.
An hour to the church also increases perspective on what life is all about.
September 21st, 2006 at 7:24 pm
I want to add my voice to this: you need to take off. I used to be forced by the needs of my clients to work weekends, so I hit on the bright idea of taking Wednesdays off. I had to fight with them but they eventually accepted my single day.
The key is to discipline yourself to turn off the head inside you that continues to work when you’re not supposed to. Recreation work (rather than recreative loafing) can often accomplish this. But, hey, I’m the kind of guy who studies Latin for fun.
September 25th, 2006 at 11:40 am
Elliot, in a previous generation, physicians were mocked for also taking Wednesdays off, as you wisely do.
But what no one remembered then or now, is than docs are often on call, and often work Sundays. Back in the day, they merely turned off their beepers on Wednesdays on the golf course.
Today’s small business owner believes that non-stop working will overcome a lack of time or money. Which is, of course, wrong.
http://www.yoest.org/archives/2006/02/10_steps_of_marketing_with_no.php
Thanks again for your insights and comment. You are demonstrating genuine acouo in the accusitive case, I believe: to hear/learn with understanding.
No — wait, that was old greek — audire is word I was looking for. Whatever: you got it right in any language.
(Patronizing blogger blows it again.)
Best,
Jack