Don't Let Work Ruin Vacation, or Vice Versa

When you run a small business, too often you are the CEO, head of sales and even sometimes, the receptionist, so relaxing in the summertime is no easy task.

I am not saying it is easy for our corporate cousins either, but I would venture that it is at least easier with a secretary, support systems and paid vacation time. For many small-business people, time off means time unpaid, not to mention work undone.

But all is not lost. There are ways to get away and still be productive. Essentially, it is a two-step process:

Delegate, or Learn How to

For the small business person to successfully get away and still have the office be productive, it is crucial that he or she delegate some essential work.

First, you need to train someone to do your essential functions -- not all, of course, but the key ones. This is necessary in any case, so that should you ever miss work unexpectedly, things still get done.

Next, put someone in charge of key info so that they don't call you when the computer crashes -- passwords, that sort of thing.

Finally, assign some projects that need to get done so that when you return, instead of there being more work for you to do, there is actually less.