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My last post introduced the “off season” concept, where I made a case that anyone who gets paid for what they do (aka a “professional”) needs to occasionally go away and work on their work. In this post I share my own proven formula for making the most of this time away. I swear by the concept and what it has done for me personally, my businesses, and my family. Treat these ideas as guidelines only; you will find what works best when you get out there on your own.
We need to have a purpose in mind for the off season before we go, otherwise we may squander the opportunity. If your purpose is to relax and re-energize, that’s great: enjoy your holiday. However, a true off season is meant to “sharpen the saw” in
Covey
terms. It’s real work, just of a different sort than usual.
Don’t ruin your time away by using the peace and quiet to tackle your eternal to-do list(s). You would certainly check many items off your list, but you would get there eventually anyway. Instead, treat the off season as special, sacred time. This is not the time to be productive in the normal sense. It is time for getting perspective on your job, its direction, your relationship with it, and the people in it.
In my experience the best off seasons have one or two primary goals from among a few core issues.
To find answers to these deeply meaningful questions, one often needs some distance in time and space to sort them out:
If you’re anything like me, the answers to critically important questions can be elusive in the daily busyness of the business. It often takes considerable time for the mind and spirit to freely express themselves – and they don’t always agree! An off season may be the only time that you have the room to explore these matters fully. What a gift!
I recommend starting out small; perhaps a daylong retreat or a weekend. The huge payoff might not be there right away but you will get a very good taste for the process. Naturally the shorter the off season, the narrower your focus needs to be (for example, identify your single biggest pain or opportunity and wrestle it to the ground).
Each time I go away I discover new truths, unlock new sources of insight, and open new avenues of action that I had simply not faced or seen back in the real world. Add time to future off seasons as you can, provided that you are fruitful and focused on work. My off seasons are now six days each, in March and September. By the end I am always exhausted, satisfied and excited to get back to “work.”
I suggest a simple, natural setting whenever possible. I’ve stayed in various places – from trailers to cabins. Having the ability to walk outdoors or sit by a campfire gives me a peace of mind to face the tough issues of the job and life. A beach, spa or golf resort is fine for a vacation, not an off season! Find the setting that feels like the most comfortable clothes you own.
A special comment on personal safety: if you are uncomfortable with the idea of spending significant time alone in a remote place, then honor yourself and don’t do it. Just don’t sacrifice your off season! Instead, either find a friend to conduct their own off season nearby (limit your interactions), or set up camp in a place with more people (but keep them away).
Since you are taking your job with you, it is vital to restrict the distractions to a bare minimum.
Technology: some people go off-the-grid entirely but every day that gets harder to accomplish on this planet. If you own a smartphone and there’s a signal – you’re already in trouble. I suggest making exactly one brief phone call each day to your spouse or significant other, and eliminating email altogether. Stay off the web unless you are researching an issue. No live TV or media feeds.
Things to leave at home: family members, pets, newspapers, alcohol.
Things to bring with you:
Early on, attack the box of neglected stuff from your desk. Sort it, pitch the less important stuff, and prioritize what’s left. Decide what few things can only be handled when you are free from distraction: handle them, in the order of their importance, not their urgency.
Write your one or two big questions/objectives (see above) on a sticky note. Keep this in front of you the whole time so that your mind is brought back to it often. When the Eureka! moments come, record your thoughts… but don’t force any solutions. Just let it come.
To keep organized as you go along, I suggest keeping three running To-Do Lists, one each for:
In search of a helpful tool to help you prioritize while on your off season? Check out the ODS Personal Priorities Sorting Tool to help give you the confidence you need not only to set personal priorities, but then to use them to set time boundaries and constructive goals.
Bruce loves to help people overcome challenges, particularly in leadership, interpersonal relationships and trust. He’s a noted speaker, author, active church member and community volunteer. Bruce’s day job has been to lead RBB since 2001, becoming Owner in 2007.
Bruce is blessed to share his life with his wife Donna and their three wonderful children: daughters Kelly and Kara, and son Kirk. As time permits he enjoys golf, writing and learning how to live in the country.
Bruce Hendrick founded Building Trust in 2008 to help clients feel less isolated in their careers and lives, allowing them to cut through the distractions, build on unique talents, forge stronger relationships, and work more effectively with less stress.
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