Summertime, especially August, used to be the time for easy living. We used to take vacations in August because, “business was slow.”
While working on a deal with a tie to France we learned it’s still that way there. Almost everybody (except critical services, including hospitality) takes off in August. Then, I read Jason Gay’s column in the WSJ, which I quote:
The other day, I reached out to a large Europe-based company for a comment on a story, and I was met with a very polite but noncommittal response:
Basically, We’ll see what we can do, but doubtful. Headquarters is already on August holiday.
Not “on holiday for the first two weeks of August.” Or even the first three weeks. They’re on holiday for August. As in all of August. See you suckers in September.
We deal with corporate employees burned out on being corporate employees. We deal with burned out business owners, most of whom don’t know how to delegate, which leads to working too hard and added stress.
There’s a reason some firms are requiring people to take their vacation/PTO time, unplug at night, and why I leave my mobile phone in my (home) office at night.
“Nothing is ever as good as it is in the beginning.” Lauren Bacall
“The more you learn about the dignity of the gorilla, the more you want to avoid people.” Dian Fossey
* Thanks to George Gershwin for the title and one of the best songs ever written
