Business Writing, Website Writing, and Other Writing Services by a Professional Writer

Vacations

By Dan Furman

I just got back from vacation. My wife and I really didn't go anywhere, instead choosing to stay around the house and do some landscaping and such. I also caught up on some home fix-it projects I've been meaning to do. It was a nice, relaxing time. I didn't check my business e-mail once all week.

And that's a good thing.

Before taking the time off, I wrote a vacation message for my e-mail. As I'm writing it, it got me thinking about vacation messages and what other people say. I subscribe to several e-mail business discussion lists, so I get a lot of these vacation messages when someone on the list goes on vacation and their vacation message bounces to everyone.

So I decided to look in my "discussion list" folder and read a few of the recent ones to see what others had to say:

This one is from "Kevin" (name changed to protect the guilty).

I will be on vacation from March 9th to March 17th. However, I will be checking e-mail and voicemail twice daily, and I will keep my cell phone on. My assistant has the number of the hotel we are staying at as well.

It doesn't sound like Kevin is taking much of a vacation, does it?

You would think that this level of dedication means his job involves saving lives, right? Where someone would scream "We're losing the pulse - quick, CALL KEVIN". However, I know for a fact his job isn't like that, and instead involves spreadsheets (which hardly ever need reviving.)

But at least Kevin admitted to going on vacation. His was the only one (out of maybe sixteen different messages) that actually used the word "vacation". Everyone else said they'd be "out of the office" or "unavailable". Which are fine terms (don't get me wrong), but I suspect they don't tell the entire story.

See, to me, "out of the office" is a day or two. Perhaps three for the big trade show. But very few people actually go "out of the office" on business for more than three days. When it's more than three days, it's almost always a "vacation".

So why the fear of saying so?

I think it's because to some narrow minds, there's still some stigma attached to taking time off. I know at some of my old jobs, there were some type-A people that would actually be proud of the fact that they worked through their vacations. They called themselves "dedicated" and "focused". I called them "idiots".

Call me crazy (or not), but I think people being reluctant to admit they are going on vacation reeks of insecurity. I'm sure they are thinking "It's nobody's business why I'm away". While this is technically true, why are they reluctant to admit they are taking a vacation? Why do they think "out of the office" is better received than "I'm on vacation"?

Know what? It's not.

So how does this fit into an article on writing and marketing? Simply - if you appear confident enough to admit you take a vacation, you're probably someone people want to do business with.

I've been around the block a few times, and I know I personally have a lot more respect for someone who is secure enough in their abilities and standing to admit they are taking a vacation. It makes me want to do business with them MORE, not less. A vacation is an essential part of working - it allows us to relax, reflect, and recharge.

In my view, people who take vacations are better workers. I take 4 weeks a year myself (usually in April, August, Oct, and the end of Dec).

And the rest of the time I'm available to deliver you the best writing around.

Back

Professional writing services for all of your important business writing needs.

Professional Websites by Webeze