We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Susan Shier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Susan below.

Susan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

In my personal experience, I have always prioritized vacations. I’ve learned that time away is not a luxury but a necessity. Our energy and time are our most valuable resources. Energy depletes when we push too hard, and our time gets wasted on ‘busy’ work. Allowing our minds to rest and rejuvenate enables greater insights and creativity.

In the past, I believed my constant presence was necessary for my success. I’d log in ‘to check’ while on vacation, but I learned to set boundaries around this area of my life. My favorite saying is, ‘We are not saving babies here!’ unless you indeed are! Putting yourself first is an act of self-love.

Always being available stifled my creativity and, by extension, slowed the growth of my business. Vacations are now a vital part of my routine. They recharge mental energy and provide fresh perspectives. My best inspiration and creativity come when my mind is away from the buzz of work, and I am free to be inspired by my surroundings – usually out in nature.

Taking a vacation as a business owner can feel daunting, even impossible. Entrepreneurs often fear that everything will fall apart without their constant attention.
When entrenched in to-do lists, your mind gets bogged down and overwhelmed, and procrastination can set in with tasks and deadlines.
Creativity thrives in a state of relaxation and openness. Vacations offer the opportunity to wander, explore, and see things from new perspectives. This downtime is when some of the best, most innovative thoughts emerge.

Here are my strategies:

Delegate and Trust: Find at least one person to help cover you while you are gone. If you have an assistant, ask them to help cover during these periods. If you do not have someone like this in your life now, it is advisable to find someone. Onboard and train them so that when you are ready for a break, they can handle things while you are away.

Establish clear, documented systems and processes for your business. Most business owners I speak to keep.information ‘in their head’. Most do not have many (or sometimes any) processes and procedures written out. This makes it very difficult for someone to step in and help. Document what you do. Today, AI offers many tools to share your screen and record how to do something. These can be great lessons for the assistant you hire and help onboard him or her easily.

An assistant can schedule social media posts, shadow your inbox, and respond to your most urgent emails. This keeps your business active and responsive even when you’re not there.

It’s also important to inform your clients about your planned vacation well in advance and provide them with alternative contacts or solutions for urgent matters.
This shows them that you have personal boundaries and permit them to do the same for themselves. If the idea of a week-long vacation is too overwhelming, start with a long weekend. Extend the duration as you become more comfortable with the process.

Understand that taking time off is not a luxury but a necessity. Your well-being impacts your business. A mind always ‘on’ starts to miss opportunities right before its eyes. We need to engage in vacation, hobbies, or other life areas to disconnect and return to recharge. Avoid checking emails and taking business calls. This will allow you to relax and give your mind a necessary break.

Disconnecting from work is crucial for your creative mind to thrive. Your best ideas come when you’re not working and make time off a non-negotiable part of your life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have had a 30-year career in the C-Suite of Corporate America. This journey has allowed her to work for large companies like Unilever, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard. Being efficient, helpful, and constantly learning has been a staple in my career. Order and clarity plus simplicity is how I like to work.

Organization and order have consistently underscored my personal and professional endeavors. I have a strong passion for creating order from chaos, which is rooted in the belief that everything has its place. I like when things are simple and straightforward, and I have found that others appreciate this as well.
Life is complicated enough – I take pride in making the hard seem easy.

I thrive on structure and believe in the importance of meticulous systems. Your business is as strong as your weakest process or procedure.
I have an insatiable thirst for learning and work to bring clarity, order, and coherence to other business owners. I especially like working with those who struggle with ADHD or procrastination as we discover new ways of approaching work together that feel calm and controlled. This allows for the celebration of small victories because small wins stack up over time and will always produce positive results.

I am bold with my ideas yet empathetic as I guide my clients toward a peaceful approach to their day. We often get too close to our story, and things blur out. Having me by your side will give you the peace of mind to drive your business forward.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2012, I was laid off by Hewlett-Packard. I was completely devastated. I was one of almost 2500 employees affected by this mass layoff.
I had just been given a promotion and a 15% increase! I was hurt, confused, upset, and, quite frankly, lost as to what to do or how to process this loss.
I had NEVER been laid off before, and it was scary. My household needed two incomes to survive.

Within days of getting the news, I traded in my Ford F-150, my second most significant expense after my mortgage. After six months and no work to be found, a business friend hired me for $10 an hour (all she could afford) and a grocery voucher (ok..sure!). I was happy to get to work, but I needed to eat! She said, ‘If you had three or four of me, you’d have your own business!’ That was all the inspiration I needed.

I opened my first business in 2012, offering administrative support for small businesses in my local community in New York. I hired a business coach who helped me to outline and present my offer. It was successful, and I eventually hired seven people to help me with the client work.

I was insanely happy, motivated, and excited about each day. I was busy networking, socializing, and learning. After three years, I decided I wanted to go back to Corporate. I wanted a guaranteed paid check in my hand each Friday without the hustle. I also desperately needed good health benefits and a retirement plan. I was tired and felt this would provide the stability and security I needed and a break from doing everything myself to keep things floating above water.

Fast-forward to 2023, and I faced my second layoff. I once again turn to entrepreneurship, which feels right for me. I spent all of my time and energy building (or should I say re-building) my original business but for today’s needs.

Knowing I can make an income has provided me great security and peace. Knowing I can control how I spend my time and who I allow into my life brings me joy.

It’s not always easy – but it’s always worth it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I spend massive amounts of time on self-development and learn everything that interests me to keep my mind healthy. I’ve struggled with high-functioning depression and anxiety for over 30 years.

Throughout the years, experiencing episodes has taught me greater resilience in the face of challenges. I am passionate about sharing my journey with others through writing so that they can feel seen and heard. I am inspired to write about feelings and emotions, showing it all—the ups and the downs.

Although I know I must wear my oxygen mask first, this work feels meant for me. Time after time, I rise stronger and more adaptable than before. Each depressive episode teaches me an important life lesson. Each episode feels like it crushes my soul. Still, it is rebuilding my foundation, sealing any cracks, and ensuring boundaries are held in place to ensure I feel peaceful and comfortable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.go-simple.me
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanshier