Shop Owners Need R and R

[Joe Marconi]

All of us work hard, maybe too hard at times. But we all need to stop and smell the roses once and while. Let me tell you the best remedy for burnout: Plan a day off for absolutely no reason. And if you feel guilty being away from the shop, I say Great! Slow down and take care of yourself, everyone around you will benefit.

[autoguy]

All of us work hard, maybe too hard at times. But we all need to stop and smell the roses once and while. Let me tell you the best remedy for burnout: Plan a day off for absolutely no reason. And if you feel guilty being away from the shop, I say Great! Slow down and take care of yourself, everyone around you will benefit.

 

I'm closing the day after Thanksgiving!!!!

[Joe Marconi]

Good for you, I'm not that brave yet.

[ROBK]

All of us work hard, maybe too hard at times. But we all need to stop and smell the roses once and while. Let me tell you the best remedy for burnout: Plan a day off for absolutely no reason. And if you feel guilty being away from the shop, I say Great! Slow down and take care of yourself, everyone around you will benefit.

 

What is this thing you speak off called "a day off"? I'm not sure I understand this concept

 

Actually I agree. Having been working 7days a week most of the time I can see the difference in my productivity and motivation throughout the week even if it's just getting out a couple hours early on a Saturday and Sunday. Now that the weather is getting nice I'm gonna try to work in staying closed every other Sunday and going for a bike ride.

[xrac]

What is this thing you speak off called "a day off"? I'm not sure I understand this concept

 

Actually I agree. Having been working 7days a week most of the time I can see the difference in my productivity and motivation throughout the week even if it's just getting out a couple hours early on a Saturday and Sunday. Now that the weather is getting nice I'm gonna try to work in staying closed every other Sunday and going for a bike ride.

 

Seven days a week is not good. Your personal relationships and family life suffer. It is not good for you mentally or physically. One can do this type of thing in short spurts but eventually you will burn out and you and everyone you are connected with suffer but you didn't need me to tell you that did you?

[ROBK]

Seven days a week is not good. Your personal relationships and family life suffer. It is not good for you mentally or physically. One can do this type of thing in short spurts but eventually you will burn out and you and everyone you are connected with suffer but you didn't need me to tell you that did you?

 

yeah, I kind of noticed. I guess it helps that I'm single but at this pace I gonna stay single for awhile. The advantage of being open on Sunday while it isn't very busy or profitable is the visibility I get from people pulling in to get gas at the pumps in front of me and people stopping at the sandwich shop next to me(separate business in the same parking lot) and seeing my garage doors open. A lot of these people are local but work during the week so I feel I reached people that might not have otherwise given me a second glance. I always seem to get somebody that walks in asking for an estimate and have scheduled work that I might not have had if I wasn't there. The tire repairs and oil changes I typically generate on a sunday might not be much, but every penny counts when trying to keep the bills paid while trying to get established. It's kind of a fine line between necessity and burn out.

[Joe Marconi]

yeah, I kind of noticed. I guess it helps that I'm single but at this pace I gonna stay single for awhile. The advantage of being open on Sunday while it isn't very busy or profitable is the visibility I get from people pulling in to get gas at the pumps in front of me and people stopping at the sandwich shop next to me(separate business in the same parking lot) and seeing my garage doors open. A lot of these people are local but work during the week so I feel I reached people that might not have otherwise given me a second glance. I always seem to get somebody that walks in asking for an estimate and have scheduled work that I might not have had if I wasn't there. The tire repairs and oil changes I typically generate on a sunday might not be much, but every penny counts when trying to keep the bills paid while trying to get established. It's kind of a fine line between necessity and burn out.

 

Being single is a big advantage and I do agree that the exposure of being there on Sundays can give you a competitive advantage. Eventually you must build the business so that you do not have to wear all the hats. You need down time and time to work on the business. You can only run that marathon for so long.

 

Trust me, when I started I worked 7 days a week until I reached burnout and got to a point where I hated the business. My life, family and business were suffering and I didn't know how to get out the depression I was in.

 

Slowly I learned that I needed to be a better business person and I started to grow the business. Since that time my business has grown year after year and I am much happier. As I am writing this I am planning on leaving a little early today and get a jump on the weekend.

 

Let's face it, we all work very hard. We need time away to recharge our batteries.