Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I was reminded this week of Bill Gates` annual trip to a cabin somewhere in the Puget Sound to plan and think about the future of his business and his industry.  Apparently, it`s pretty primitive (what would be primitive to Bill Gates?  No video phone and a 21 inch TV?) and he spends several days of quiet time just reflecting and writing his vision.

I take an annual 4 day weekend trip with my husband each summer and we spend a large amount of time sitting in the sun talking business.  It`s really energizing and inspiring.  I always come back with new ideas and renewed excitement for my business.

Do you make time time literally just sit and think about your business?  I think entrepreneurs run on over-drive most of the time and don`t have a lot of "down time".  Sometimes we are just re-active rather than being pro-active because we don`t take the time to really sit down and think and plan.  I am a big advocate of business retreats - even if it`s just one night at Embassy Suites sitting at a desk with your laptop. 

~Kim

I`ve definitely been planning to do that....take time for planning.

-------------------------

Ric Willmot
Executive Wisdom Consulting Group
www.ExecutiveWisdom.com
info@executivewisdom.com
Blog: www.ricwillmot.com

Founder of the Society for Executive Wisdom
www.ExecutiveWisdomSociety.com

Strategy for Professionals: www.strategyforprofessionals.com

I do. I spend the time to reflect on my business, the strategy, if what I`m doing make sense, etc ... I`ll do a whole whiteboard session with the dogs or bounce some ideas off a friend or write about it to make me focus and clarify.

One of the interesting questions in another important book I`ve been reading, "Do Penguins have Knees?" asks why dogs tilt their heads when you talk with them. Scientists are divided on this, with many of them thinking it`s to better see the speaker. Others think it`s because dogs can`t translate English.

So my question is whether the dogs tilt their heads when you`re doing a visual presentation? In other words, can they translate pictures better than English?

(Penguins do have knees, by the way: they`re just covered by feathers, and their upper leg is very short.)

I find that my brain gets stale and sunk in ruts after a certain amount of work ( as opposed to time). I`m a binge worker, sorta. Three months intense, a few weeks off.  I do most of my long-term planning on solo canoe trips. No technology at all, no distractions, intense physical output alternating with pure vegetation. I take along a couple of books to provide some stimulus - and the rule is no business books. Last year was neurology and psychology, sci-fi and math (graph theory stuff).
This helps me wake up and re-appraise.

mike


-------------------------

Need help with your bootstrap business?
Check out The Harbour Forum for advice from dedicated staff in a secure environment and fellow entrepreneurs

I definitely take time to plan.  In fact, I do it frequently.  I don`t take lengthy time off specifically for it like many of you say you do - a few days or more.  But it`s not unusual that several times a week, I will sit for an hour or so and strategize.  I have notes upon notes of ideas!  Sometimes I get so wrapped up in planning/strategizing/dreaming that I have to pull myself down to start doing/working/accomplishing.  Planning is one of my favorite things!

The great thing about being an entrepreneur is that my planning trip is totally tax-deductible!  I`m trying to figure out how to convince my husband that Hawaii would be a totally inspirational place to plan.  Oh, did I mention we take our "planning trip" around our anniversary?    I love tax deductions...

~Kim

You know how to work it, Kim!  :)

I do take time to plan as well, but I have never actually left on a trip to do it. With that said I mostly get good ideas on trips, eg. in a plane with nothing else on my mind, so in that sense getting out of the ordinary helps me a lot in getting inspiration and new ideas.

Kind regards,
Malte



-------------------------

My personal blog on strategy, marketing, branding and general topics on business TheBusinessUpdater.com