11/ 19/ 2004
by Shannon Scully
When one of Linda Fodrini-Johnson’s employees left her office in tears, the San Francisco small-business owner did a gut check. Sure, the employee deserved to be corrected, but Fodrini-Johnson knew she had snapped—and she didn’t like the qualities she suddenly saw in herself.
“My frustration shouldn’t have been exposed that way—that was my red flag,” says Fodrini-Johnson, owner of Eldercare Services ( http://www.eldercareanswers.com ), a geriatric care management firm with locations in San Francisco and Walnut Creek, Calif. “I knew I was working too much when I forgot what my business was about and what I was about as a person.”
A few weeks later she dropped a bomb on her staff: She was planning a two-month vacation during the upcoming summer. “For two months, I stayed out of the office. I did not talk about work, and at the end I felt so refreshed and energized,” says Fodrini-Johnson, who read, exercised and reconnected with herself during the break.
But the growth during her hiatus wasn’t only personal. Fodrini-Johnson also learned in her absence that her 165 employees could function without her. “I had to practice letting go,” she says. “My staff said they felt so much better about their jobs because I had trusted them.”
Though two-month vacations haven’t become an annual event, she is careful to set aside time for herself. She takes off every Wednesday, and finds time for a water aerobics class three days a week.
For those who say they’re too busy to work in time away, Fodrini-Johnson says for her, it’s a quality-of-life decision. “When we leave this life, we don’t take any of the money with us,” she says. “What do we leave behind? It’s the relationships.”
Simple Pleasures
Maybe you can’t imagine taking two months off like Linda Fodrini-Johnson. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Make time for the things you can do. Try adding one or more of these activities to your schedule in 2005, and then enjoy the break!
* Let yourself sleep 30 extra minutes a few mornings a week.
* Go for a 10-minute walk during lunch. * Leave 30 minutes early one afternoon a week for an exercise class.
* Promise yourself three long-weekend road trips in 2005.
* Take a long lunch with a friend once a week.
* Assign your most mundane task to an employee.
* Plan and book a summer vacation today.
No Strings Attached
Many small-business owners worry their staff can’t function in their absence. But today’s technology allows you to be in the loop without being in the office.
Nokia 9300
The Nokia 9300, a new all-in-one smartphone, combines PDA-like features with a mobile phone. The device has a full keyboard and enough memory to store e-mails (with attachments), documents, presentations, text and multimedia messages, as well as a calendar and to-do list. Available in early 2005, retail price not yet determined. Go to http://www.nokiausa.com for more information.
Dell Latitude X300
At less than 3 lbs., this laptop is the ultimate in portability. With an extra-long battery life and wireless options, you can take your office with you. Prices start at $1,600. Go to http://www.dell.com for more information.
* Stressed out? Learn more in the "Wellness" section of the "Growth, Strategy and Development" section at http://www.nfib.com/toolsandtips
