Do you find it amusing, as I do, how our employees savor the holidays?  Memorial Day, Labor Day, the Christmas holiday, even the weekends seem to be milestones.  It is as if they come to work for one reason; to make it until they have another day off.

As a business owner, you are different.  Rather than working for a paycheck , you are building something.  That ‘something’ does not go away just because you drive home or have a weekend.  It is always there and it always needs attention.  Frankly, part of the reward of building a business is constantly being in the creation mode.  Some of my best ideas come in the shower (do not think too long on that one), in the car, or on vacation.  The times that our employees look forward to divorcing themselves from work are the very times that we are ‘working’ the hardest.  There is nothing wrong with this, but there is also something to be said about good ‘Ol Rest and Relaxation.

As I write this, I am sitting in a hotel room.  I am currently spending a week with my wife and children on the Oregon coast.  Though some would fault me for even taking the laptop, I have truly been able to separate myself (as much as a business owner can) from the office.  I have a wonderful executive and fabulous employees, so I know things are in good hands.  My stress level has been taken from an 11 to a 2.

Last night, as we were finishing up dinner at a local diner, we were laughing and joking with one another.  My wife turned to me and said, “I like it when you are so fun with the kids and me.”  I protested that surely I was ALWAYS amusing with her and the children, but she informed me that, “No, you always seem to be carrying this burden from work around with you.  When we are on vacation, something changes.”  As much as I wanted to debate her, I was in too good of a mood to do so.  Hmmm, maybe she had a point after all.

Being a producer is a good thing.  No, being a producer is a VERY good thing.  Business owners make the economy work and thus the engine of the world run.  We do not turn off our creative juices just because it is 5 PM.  On the other hand, every engine must be shut down periodically for an oil change.

Take time for yourself.  Take time for your family.  They will thank you.  Your employees will appreciate the renewed you and…well…so will you!

Now, go create some value!

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Dustin Harris is a multi-business owner, but he made his fortune as a self-employed, residential real estate appraiser. He has been appraising for nearly two decades. He is the owner and President of Appraisal Precision and Consulting Group, Inc., and is a popular author, speaker and mentor. He owns and operates The Appraiser Coach (www.theappraisercoach.com) where he personally consults and mentors other appraisers helping them to also run successful appraisal companies and increase their net worth.  He is also the Founder and President of Your Appraisal Office (www.yourappraisaloffice.com) which implements some of the systems he has developed to help lower costs and free up time for real estate business owners.   He and his wife reside in Idaho with their four children. This article may be reproduced and distributed only in its entirety without permission from the author.