As a business owner it’s easy to feel like your work is never done – because no matter how much you do, there is always more that could theoretically be done. Many business owners we’ve spoken with also feel that they have a responsibility to be available to their team and that if they step away they are putting an undue burden on their team. So, we wanted to hear from a broad range of business owners on whether they take vacations and we’ve shared some of their responses below.

Stacie Zaan

As a travel advisor, of course I take vacations. I will say most of my vacations are working vacations where I am going solely to experience a resort/area/cruise/experience to sell to my clients. I go in with a plan of what I want to see and do, and think about how it would be as a client and put myself in their shoes. I take notes and ask more questions that usual. Those are my working vacations. I also make sure I take personal vacations too. I don’t always get to turn off my travel advisor role, but I do try to take time to do what I enjoy the most, and not scouting things for clients. Read more>>

Adelmarie Rivera

Yes, I do take vacations. As a business owner, maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal time is essential. While it can be challenging to step away, it’s important to spend quality time with family, decompress, and enjoy some downtime. Taking breaks not only recharges my energy but also helps me return to work with a fresh perspective and renewed focus. Read more>>

Alex Jochim

YES. We build vacations into our annual calendar and try to use them strategically for the benefit of the organization. Travel can be the best educator and source of inspiration! Each spring, we offer all of our staff and volunteers a “Mission Trip,” where we visit a regional city and explore their creative community – visiting museums, creative districts, historical sites, nightlife, live music and performances, etc. Since 2019, we’ve visited Sante Fe, Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Des Moines. Some of our staff haven’t had the opportunity or means to travel to these cities, and it’s a way to open up their perspectives and inspire them. We either get inspiration for things we want to take back to Omaha and see in our programming, or we get validation for things we’re already doing that may seem on par or better :) Read more>>

Ali Hunt

Absolutely I take vacations, I block time from my work schedule for them. Making and taking reservations is important, but so is family time and self care. I can’t take care of guests , if I don’t take care of myself. I can’t take care of my family, if I don’t take care of myself. Family time and down time is extremely important to me and time is limited. I want to enjoy time with my family along with being able to run my operations. I also LOVE travel, adventure and experience, which is why I opened Rather Bee Glamping to begin with! In my case, as of right now, I am a one woman show with some help from family and friends out of the goodness of their hearts! Read more>>

Margie Traxler

Yes, I do take vacations and I love to do so! If you take your business sense, and pulse, from the myriad of people who make a living talking and giving business advice, then you would feel guilty if you even took time to sleep or say hello to your family. This is absurd advice…we ALL become way less effective in our work and brains when we do not take the time to vacation and shut off. Read more>>

Tracey Morrison

Absolutely! I’m a travel guru; I love seeing a world outside of my surroundings and exposing myself to different cultures and environments. As a business owner, work-life balance is the key to not only running a business but to living a holistic life. I can attest that sometimes it is hard to step away from the work, especially when your entrepreneurial juices are flowing. But there’s “six words” that stuck in my head that a former coworker would say when coworkers within our unit would still be working at 4:58 or 4:59 and not getting ready to get out of the building for work. Those words were “The work will be there tomorrow.” Those words stuck with me. Read more>>