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J

JBloggs

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Owning and living in your business you begin to become the business. What ways have you found to turn it off? Do you ever get to turn it off?
7 days a week, whether you have guests in-house or not you are always working in the business. The list is endless, things never get done, and then they need to be redone. What is effective for you, other than LEAVING TOWN, if that isn't an option? Is that the only way?
 
Underwear days... definitely no worries about guests if you are wearing no trousers :) We do sometimes go away though.
 
My way will not work for most - I go over to City Hall and work for the City, free. That means there is no increase in my City Clerk compensation for the extra stuff I do. I have Community Band and teach knitting. I have a mini-vacation coming up in 2 weeks - I am taking my City Manager to Municipal Conference (I am chauffeur and Capitol guide). We split up to get the most of the workshops but it is away from B & B (and DH).
But also I only have 3 rooms with a revenue that would not even pay the taxes for some here. So I do not have the same .stress
 
That's a really tough one! Unfortunately, I can't do it unless I leave. One of the big negatives of owning and living where you work for me. I can separate my mind for a few hours, but if I'm at 'home', the business is always there and there's always something to do, think about or feel guilty that I'm not doing it..
 
Due to the stress level of my 'real' job, The B&B is a joy for me. I love it! Very seldom is it stressful. The cooking, guests and the gardening of course are my favorite! But even the daily chores are so 'boring' compared to my real job, that its actually enjoyable.
I have often thought I could write books about my 'real' job, and people wouldn't believe them!
 
Sunshine said:
Due to the stress level of my 'real' job, The B&B is a joy for me. I love it! Very seldom is it stressful. The cooking, guests and the gardening of course are my favorite! But even the daily chores are so 'boring' compared to my real job, that its actually enjoyable.
I have often thought I could write books about my 'real' job, and people wouldn't believe them!.
Click to expand...
Sunshine said:
Due to the stress level of my 'real' job, The B&B is a joy for me. I love it! Very seldom is it stressful. The cooking, guests and the gardening of course are my favorite! But even the daily chores are so 'boring' compared to my real job, that its actually enjoyable.
I have often thought I could write books about my 'real' job, and people wouldn't believe them!
Click to expand...
You always know when I'm having a really difficult client..... my garden just shines!! not a weed to be found!
 
Actually I wasn't even talking about stress, or difficult guests etc. I was talking becoming the business and never turning it off to be who you really are.
 
Ours is a seasonal business -- we're only there 6 months out of the year. The other 6 months we are working -- and living -- somewhere else! Of course, we're still thinking about the business -- most of the marketing and the taking of reservations happens in the "off season" -- -- it is hard to turn it off.
 
Eric Arthur Blair said:
Underwear days... definitely no worries about guests if you are wearing no trousers :) We do sometimes go away though..
Click to expand...
You ROCK !!!!!! However, I had one of my most embarrassing days not so long ago. Huge snow storm. Guest told me he couldn't get here before 8:00 p.m.. At about 11:00 a.m. I'm already on my third shovel. Despite the snow, the sun is out and I'm working up quite a sweat so I've ditched the snow-gear - I'm shovelling in Long Johns ....... and my guest turns up. His first words were "Would you like me to leave?"
Fabulous guest - everything turned out just fine .....but my face matched my hair colour when he first arrived.
 
ukmaineiac said:
Eric Arthur Blair said:
Underwear days... definitely no worries about guests if you are wearing no trousers :) We do sometimes go away though..
Click to expand...
You ROCK !!!!!! However, I had one of my most embarrassing days not so long ago. Huge snow storm. Guest told me he couldn't get here before 8:00 p.m.. At about 11:00 a.m. I'm already on my third shovel. Despite the snow, the sun is out and I'm working up quite a sweat so I've ditched the snow-gear - I'm shovelling in Long Johns ....... and my guest turns up. His first words were "Would you like me to leave?"
Fabulous guest - everything turned out just fine .....but my face matched my hair colour when he first arrived.
.
Click to expand...
ukmaineiac said:
You ROCK !!!!!! However, I had one of my most embarrassing days not so long ago. Huge snow storm. Guest told me he couldn't get here before 8:00 p.m.. At about 11:00 a.m. I'm already on my third shovel. Despite the snow, the sun is out and I'm working up quite a sweat so I've ditched the snow-gear - I'm shovelling in Long Johns ....... and my guest turns up. His first words were "Would you like me to leave?"
Fabulous guest - everything turned out just fine .....but my face matched my hair colour when he first arrived.
Click to expand...
I sometimes keep emergency sweatpants near the door in a heap, in case I have to jump into them. Like the mailman ringing to deliver a package. Nothing says... RELAX like no trousers. Or Natalie Merchant's Tigerlily being played loudly.
 
Even tho we are closed right now, obviously I am still 'working' but I am NOT working as hard. I 'work' for about 2 hours/day and then after that I don't even answer the phone if I can help it.
Otherwise, the only way to turn it off is to leave home. By myself. If we leave together we take the phone. If I go by myself, DH takes the phone and the laptop.
 
Joey Bloggs said:
Actually I wasn't even talking about stress, or difficult guests etc. I was talking becoming the business and never turning it off to be who you really are..
Click to expand...
It does not matter whether I am in the house or not - I ALWAYS have my elevator speech and business cards handy wherever and whenever. I guess for me the B & B IS me. It is something I started from scratch and despite the naysayers, am still here. For me, it is the old story of my life - just tell me I cannot so something and watch me!
However, I am also very good at procrastination and do not feel guilty about spending a day doing nothing of substance or what someone else may define as substance. After puking away the day yesterday (I DID entertain the WVU group that is doing a Shop Local campaign for my City which I have no expectations of inclusion in and because they were coming made the last bed), I realized Monday is City Council and transcribed the January Minutes. Between interruptions from DH it took 3 hours (should have been 2).
 
Eric Arthur Blair said:
ukmaineiac said:
Eric Arthur Blair said:
Underwear days... definitely no worries about guests if you are wearing no trousers :) We do sometimes go away though..
Click to expand...
You ROCK !!!!!! However, I had one of my most embarrassing days not so long ago. Huge snow storm. Guest told me he couldn't get here before 8:00 p.m.. At about 11:00 a.m. I'm already on my third shovel. Despite the snow, the sun is out and I'm working up quite a sweat so I've ditched the snow-gear - I'm shovelling in Long Johns ....... and my guest turns up. His first words were "Would you like me to leave?"
Fabulous guest - everything turned out just fine .....but my face matched my hair colour when he first arrived.
.
Click to expand...
ukmaineiac said:
You ROCK !!!!!! However, I had one of my most embarrassing days not so long ago. Huge snow storm. Guest told me he couldn't get here before 8:00 p.m.. At about 11:00 a.m. I'm already on my third shovel. Despite the snow, the sun is out and I'm working up quite a sweat so I've ditched the snow-gear - I'm shovelling in Long Johns ....... and my guest turns up. His first words were "Would you like me to leave?"
Fabulous guest - everything turned out just fine .....but my face matched my hair colour when he first arrived.
Click to expand...
I sometimes keep emergency sweatpants near the door in a heap, in case I have to jump into them. Like the mailman ringing to deliver a package. Nothing says... RELAX like no trousers. Or Natalie Merchant's Tigerlily being played loudly.
.
Click to expand...
Eric Arthur Blair said:
ukmaineiac said:
You ROCK !!!!!! However, I had one of my most embarrassing days not so long ago. Huge snow storm. Guest told me he couldn't get here before 8:00 p.m.. At about 11:00 a.m. I'm already on my third shovel. Despite the snow, the sun is out and I'm working up quite a sweat so I've ditched the snow-gear - I'm shovelling in Long Johns ....... and my guest turns up. His first words were "Would you like me to leave?"
Fabulous guest - everything turned out just fine .....but my face matched my hair colour when he first arrived.
Click to expand...
I sometimes keep emergency sweatpants near the door in a heap, in case I have to jump into them. Like the mailman ringing to deliver a package. Nothing says... RELAX like no trousers. Or Natalie Merchant's Tigerlily being played loudly.
Click to expand...
I have been hearing remakes of Natalie Merchant/10000Maniacs lately. I guess that is a feather in your cap when your songs are remade.
Long John's, with the button flap and everything UkMaineiac? :)
 
gillumhouse said:
Joey Bloggs said:
Actually I wasn't even talking about stress, or difficult guests etc. I was talking becoming the business and never turning it off to be who you really are..
Click to expand...
It does not matter whether I am in the house or not - I ALWAYS have my elevator speech and business cards handy wherever and whenever. I guess for me the B & B IS me. It is something I started from scratch and despite the naysayers, am still here. For me, it is the old story of my life - just tell me I cannot so something and watch me!
However, I am also very good at procrastination and do not feel guilty about spending a day doing nothing of substance or what someone else may define as substance. After puking away the day yesterday (I DID entertain the WVU group that is doing a Shop Local campaign for my City which I have no expectations of inclusion in and because they were coming made the last bed), I realized Monday is City Council and transcribed the January Minutes. Between interruptions from DH it took 3 hours (should have been 2).
.
Click to expand...
those stomach things are a ruddy nightmare! hope you feel better - I use to have terrible trouble and it turned out im a bit wheat intollerant ie thats why we didn't pick it up ie would have to have 2 or 3 wheat things in a day to set it off - touch wood free and clear for a whole year!
 
I have an allotment up the other end of the village. I go up there for an hour or so whenever I can, and I don't take a phone with me.
It's physical work which is good for me, helps me relax and sleep. Gets me away from the business so I can either switch off, or think things through. I have some of my best ideas up there.
I have a seat up there, I take a flask, it's high up and I sit and look across the Loch with my cup of coffee.
Going up there this afternoon to finish my winter digging if I can get away for a bit, beetroot or winter cabbages anyone? Organically grown!!
 
Highlands John said:
I have an allotment up the other end of the village. I go up there for an hour or so whenever I can, and I don't take a phone with me.
It's physical work which is good for me, helps me relax and sleep. Gets me away from the business so I can either switch off, or think things through. I have some of my best ideas up there.
I have a seat up there, I take a flask, it's high up and I sit and look across the Loch with my cup of coffee.
Going up there this afternoon to finish my winter digging if I can get away for a bit, beetroot or winter cabbages anyone? Organically grown!!.
Click to expand...
Highlands John said:
I have an allotment up the other end of the village. I go up there for an hour or so whenever I can, and I don't take a phone with me.
It's physical work which is good for me, helps me relax and sleep. Gets me away from the business so I can either switch off, or think things through. I have some of my best ideas up there.
I have a seat up there, I take a flask, it's high up and I sit and look across the Loch with my cup of coffee.
Going up there this afternoon to finish my winter digging if I can get away for a bit, beetroot or winter cabbages anyone? Organically grown!!
Click to expand...
You know in Oz they put beetroot on the burgers, and fried egg, there is nothing better than having that juice running down to your elbow! Let me find a photo...and of course the Aussie bacon rashers. MMMM!
Photo here.
 
Joey Bloggs said:
Highlands John said:
I have an allotment up the other end of the village. I go up there for an hour or so whenever I can, and I don't take a phone with me.
It's physical work which is good for me, helps me relax and sleep. Gets me away from the business so I can either switch off, or think things through. I have some of my best ideas up there.
I have a seat up there, I take a flask, it's high up and I sit and look across the Loch with my cup of coffee.
Going up there this afternoon to finish my winter digging if I can get away for a bit, beetroot or winter cabbages anyone? Organically grown!!.
Click to expand...
Highlands John said:
I have an allotment up the other end of the village. I go up there for an hour or so whenever I can, and I don't take a phone with me.
It's physical work which is good for me, helps me relax and sleep. Gets me away from the business so I can either switch off, or think things through. I have some of my best ideas up there.
I have a seat up there, I take a flask, it's high up and I sit and look across the Loch with my cup of coffee.
Going up there this afternoon to finish my winter digging if I can get away for a bit, beetroot or winter cabbages anyone? Organically grown!!
Click to expand...
You know in Oz they put beetroot on the burgers, and fried egg, there is nothing better than having that juice running down to your elbow! Let me find a photo...and of course the Aussie bacon rashers. MMMM!
Photo here.
.
Click to expand...
I put beet and horseradish in my potato pancakes. Never put beet on a burger before... I do like green peppers on my burger, though.
 
[email protected] said:
gillumhouse said:
Joey Bloggs said:
Actually I wasn't even talking about stress, or difficult guests etc. I was talking becoming the business and never turning it off to be who you really are..
Click to expand...
It does not matter whether I am in the house or not - I ALWAYS have my elevator speech and business cards handy wherever and whenever. I guess for me the B & B IS me. It is something I started from scratch and despite the naysayers, am still here. For me, it is the old story of my life - just tell me I cannot so something and watch me!
However, I am also very good at procrastination and do not feel guilty about spending a day doing nothing of substance or what someone else may define as substance. After puking away the day yesterday (I DID entertain the WVU group that is doing a Shop Local campaign for my City which I have no expectations of inclusion in and because they were coming made the last bed), I realized Monday is City Council and transcribed the January Minutes. Between interruptions from DH it took 3 hours (should have been 2).
.
Click to expand...
those stomach things are a ruddy nightmare! hope you feel better - I use to have terrible trouble and it turned out im a bit wheat intollerant ie thats why we didn't pick it up ie would have to have 2 or 3 wheat things in a day to set it off - touch wood free and clear for a whole year!
.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your concern - "puking away the day" is terminology here for wasting the day. I, thankfully, was not ill. That would have been worded, puking all day.
Glad ti hear you have not had a flare-up for a year with your problem.
 
JB, for me I have to leave the house. MY DH works out of the house now too and he feels the same. We get cabin fever if we've been cooped up too long working inside. Taking a walk every day really helps and I just started taking a yoga class on Wed. nights that really helps. Some days when we don't have guests and my DH can take a few hours off we'll just get in the car and drive for an hour just to get away. There's a great kitchen shop we love to visit 40 minutes away and that's enough time to unwind, grab a bite to eat, shop and then head back.
 
I never got to turn it off! People still ask me what I miss and don't miss about the biz - miss the guests, don't miss being "on" 24/7. I always felt tense because there was no one to really step in for me.
My best advice is to have someone reliable, with as much knowledge and passion for the biz, that can step in for you even when you sit down for 5 minutes so you don't have to answer some inane question from the person who is providing you with the relief!
 

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