What do you want to say today?

I am really going to do it. I’m really taking the kids and taking some time off from work this summer. I haven’t had a real vacation since I started my own business 12 years ago. I’m so excited….and more than a little nervous. Letting go, even for a couple of weeks, when you are a solo entrepreneur is a scary thing. You just hope your clients understand.

This story in the Wall Street Journal says it’s because I think I’m too important. Well, since I’m a one-man shop, doesn’t it sort of follow that if I’m not around work won’t get done?

Not necessarily true: an epiphany, thanks to San Antonio organizer Shana Prichard of realign, inc. Shana offered to come into my home office and get me ready for vacation. I was a bit skeptical, but she managed to turn me around.

She and her cohort Donna (yes, it took two of them to tackle me) started by reorganizing my de facto office downstairs. That meant emptying out my buffet of stored dishes and filling it with used-daily office supplies like my printer, laptop and files. It also included a to-be-filed box that Shana said I’d better clear out once a week…or else.

We weren’t quite sure how my better half would react to my moving things around, but he took it all in good humor. Especially since the paperwork and hardware are out of sight and no longer cluttering the kitchen table or the floor around the kitchen table.

I feel better already. I remember my husband once telling me that his internal world is more ordered when his external world is in order. I see now what he means.  For Shana, that means taking the processes for organization that are in your head and making them work in the physical world.

Shana also helped me organize a chain of command for handling incoming client calls and emails. She also emphasized the importance of actually letting my clients know I’ll be out of communication *entirely* for the duration of my vacation. Now, while that’s kind of a scary thought, the escalation flow chart we put together makes me feel a little more comfortable.

In other words…if you are one of my clients and you are reading this…no worries. Shana has me all prepared to handle whatever comes your way during my brief – but necessary – absence.  And I’ll come back all relaxed…brain cleared…and ready to get down to work.

Oh, and for the record. Check out this pic.

Yes. It’s my email inbox. Cleared out. Emails caught up on, answered and filed away.

I feel like doing a Snoopy dance.