When Taking “Time Off” Can Save Your Business

If you are the sort of business owner who never takes time off, then you may actually be hurting your business! How can this be, you may be wondering. I devote every waking hour to making sure that my business runs smoothly. In fact, I hardly ever leave my office. However, in reality, staying that close to home base can take a serious toll on your business’s growth and expansion because you lose the ability to network when you are inside your own office 24/7.

Fortunately, you can give yourself a break from those same four walls and get some serious work done at the same time.

The key is simple: networking.

No matter what your business, you can benefit from knowing other people in related fields and who work in compatible arenas. However, often business owners neglect their networking responsibilities once their businesses start to grow because they become mired in the responsibilities of running the business from day to day. However, having a good name among your peers and clients can work wonders for the growth of your client base and your sales.

In order to network, you do not have to spend all your time “schmoozing” with potential and current clients and co-workers. Instead, plan your networking strategy just as carefully as you plan the other aspects of your business growth and development. Decide where you want to go, and then determine who may be able to help advise you, assist you or even catapult you there. Those are the people that you need to network with.

Networking does not need to be a “kiss-fest” that lasts for hours. Other people are busy with their businesses too, but they, like you, may welcome the chance to get out of the office for an hour or so. This makes a networking lunch ideal, and will keep you from gluing your nose to the screen all the way through your lunch hour. Of course, the traditional business golf outing can also be popular, and playing a game together can bring you and a potential client, mentor or partner together in a way that a board meeting or office appointment never could.

If you do not feel that you have time for this type of absence, then you may decide to take a more reserved approach. Many people simply dedicate a few 15-minute periods a day to making phone calls or having coffee with people that they need to network with. You can make these interludes more memorable by leaving your coffee partner with an item of promotional merchandise such as a pen or a coffee mug that will bring the meeting back to their mind later when they use it. Just remember, do not be afraid to leave the office. That “time off” or time out could be the key to dramatic business growth and expansion.

And remember, market creatively, carefully and often!