The Question:
Will you be able to take time off from your business for vacation this summer?
17% - Yes, for at least a week
51% - Yes, but only a couple of days at a time
32% - No. Can’t afford the expense or the time away
My Commentary:
The good news is that two-thirds of our respondents will take some kind of a vacation. The bad news is that more than half will catch time off when they can and one-third think they can’t afford a vacation.
Some of this response is associated with the reality of being a small business owner, which often creates the feeling - if not the reality - that we just can’t leave the business for any extended period, even a few days. But it is very likely that this level of little or no vacation expectation is connected to the lack-luster economic recovery.
Hang in there, small business owners.
#####
On my radio show, The Small Business Advocate, I’ve talked with Walter Kiechel III, former editorial director of Harvard Business Review, former managing editor at Fortune magazine and author of The Lords of Strategy, about the benefits of taking time off, not just for a business owner but also the business itself. Take a few minutes to click on the links below and listen or download.
Do small business owners need more vacations?
June 14th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Interesting stats - though I guess it’s not much of a surprise. We asked the same question in our last survey on business owners and got similar stats. But we actually took it a step further and compared it to see how much vacation business owners of growing companies were taking vs. owners of struggling companies. I think you might find it interesting… http://www.enmast.com/2011/10/23/movers-head-shakers-study-business-owners-growing-struggling-companies/