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.

Yoko Chow

Absolutely! I believe that taking vacations or exploring new places is crucial for both personal well-being and business success. Stepping away from the daily grind helps recharge mentally and physically, offering a fresh perspective and new inspiration. For me, as an interior designer, travel is especially valuable—it allows me to experience different spaces, structures, and materials, which in turn helps me better understand what clients may want. Design doesn’t have one fixed answer; it’s about feeling and appreciating what resonates with each client. Read more>>

Tina Roper

I absolutely take vacations. It sounds cliché, but the hustle and bustle of everyday life can wear you down, be distracting, and overwhelm you. It is important for me to carve time out to relax and to recharge. Personally, vacation affords me the time to enjoy my family and experience new adventures. The vacation experience and the places I visit also serve as a pallet from which I draw inspiration. From the moment I de-plane, I immerse myself in my surroundings. I take in the art installations at the airport, the trends I see on locals, the taste, texture, and color of the food, the streetscapes, and in the natural environment of whatever country I am visiting. It helps to expand my perspective and, when I return home, I feel completely inspired and extremely grateful. Read more>>

Ryan Fitzpatrick

YES I take vacations. For me, starting my own business was yes to hopefully make more money, but also to have the control over what I do. I thought if I could work half as hard at my corporate job for myself I could shape that company however I wanted, and for me that included controlling my schedule and deciding when I wasn’t going to work. The difference when you take a vacation when you have your own small business is you don’t have PTO days so unless you have a team in place you may loose out on money that you would other wise make if you didn’t take a trip. For me, I believe you have to still take time to have fun for yourself outside of your business. I think it will only help you come back more focused to grow the biz! Read more>>

Nick Starichenko

Vacation is essential for people in the creative industry, as it offers a much-needed escape from the fast-paced, demanding environment they often work in. Taking time away allows creatives to recharge mentally, freeing up space for fresh ideas and new perspectives. Breaks from work help prevent burnout, which can otherwise stifle creativity and productivity over time. Vacation also exposes individuals to new experiences and inspirations, which often fuel creative thinking and innovation. Ultimately, stepping back from daily tasks can lead to more meaningful, impactful work upon the return. Read more>>

Jason Knapp

My life is a vacation. I get to pretend the real world doesn’t exist and live inside the world of whatever we’re shooting. It takes a lot of logistical work to get everything in the same room at the same time but after a while, that part becomes second nature. For example, all I may have to care about on a given day is making a cocktail look irresistibly cold and delicious. Some days, all I care about is making our production studio look and feel like we’re in the woods at sunset. Or a vineyard in the South of France. …But no, unfortunately I don’t have time to take vacations. Read more>>

Jennifer Rives

I believe vacations are vital to continuing to grow a successful business. Running a successful business is very challenging. From dealing with supply chain issues, increased costs, customer satisfaction, and working beyond a 40 hour work week, the demand on a business owner is very hard. Is it worth it? Yes ! However, it is so important to take the time to make sure you are at your best mentally and physically. This is different for every business owner. As a mother and wife I feel it is important for me to take vacations throughout the year with my family. Some vacations are brief and include visiting family that lives far away and other times it is a true disconnect from the business and a vacation away from it all. These vacations allow me, as the business owner, to come back energized and ready to conquer all the stresses of running a business. My advice for entrepreneurs is that you need to surround yourself with friends and family that support your efforts and use them to help you navigate even a weekend vacation. It doesn’t even have to be a trip away from your home! Just taking the time to do something that isn’t work related for a day or two will help you come back energized. Read more>>