-Jane Halford and ChatGPT

Am I the only one? You know the type...July arrives and now as busy business owners, board members, and executives, we're supposed to become a different version of ourselves. This version runs on "island time" and is so laid-back people wonder if you care. 

The challenge for driven people is that many people in our work, family, and community lives have summer expectations, which include parking your ambition, and we don't fit. If that sounds like you or someone you know, read on!

Your drive doesn't take a vacation and you don't want it to. Now ambition becomes an aloha-shirt-dressed ambition devil muttering, “You can get further ahead while others vacation.”

On one shoulder: a tiny sunhat-wearing vacation angel whispering, “Good leaders need to slow down and rest. It's okay.”

☀️ Summer Angel Says: “You deserve a break.”

You’ve led through a year of global chaos including strategic pivots, staff shortages, and the normal roller coaster of board meetings, people challenges, and trying to stay ahead of a cyber-attack.

You’ve earned some hammock time and an umbrella cocktail. Isn't this what you work so hard for?

The angel encourages you to nap. Stare at the lake from your lawn chair. Read something not written by McKinsey.

The angel wants you to return to your fast-paced life in September feeling whole, energized, and slightly tanned.

The angel even suggests you stop bringing your laptop on your vacation. Make it an electronics-free summer. Wouldn't that be great? 

🔥 Ambition Devil Says: “This is the perfect time to gain an edge.”

While everyone else is slathering on SPF 50, you could be reviewing creating a leading-edge product, figuring out a strategic partnership, of letting your business-savvy mind create the next inspired direction. The sun is bad for you anyway.

Then, there all of those business books that have been collecting dust in the past few months. Wouldn't a compromise to rest be reading those in a comfy chair, outside, and with a beverage? You would learn more that way, right?

☀️ Summer Angel Responds: “Cool it!”

The angel responds with a reminder of what matters most - isn't that your health and your family? Aren't they both encouraging you to slow down. Aren't they worth it to you?

Rest is strategic. Re-energize yourself by getting out of the office

Be inspired by nature. That will drive a new world view for a competitive advantage. Try it!

🔥 Ambition Devil: “Okay, but hear me out…”

You can have it all. Here's how - wake up before your family. Go for a "run" but take your laptop and phone and work for an hour. Then, splash some water on yourself and do some jumping jacks before walking back into the house. Chances are they won't be up, but you don't want them to figure you out.

Then, be present during breakfast and the morning activities.

At some point they will need lunch, a nap, a shower, and you will have another moment to get s*&t done. Now's your moment. Are you doing emails from the bathroom or driving somewhere to "run an errand" to hide business calls or more emails. 

Admit it, we have all secretly used the bathroom as a hideaway office. I confess I once wrote a client document at a laundromat.

If you want the business term for it, you let's call it optimizing your relaxation window.

Sounding good?

☀️ Summer Angel: “Do it all.”

Now the angel is speaking your language, you lean in. What is the win for my ambition, my health, my family and to be even better in the fall?

Use your ambition to its best, and plan the summer.

• Vacation, rest, connect with family and friends - Book the dates, put it in your calendar and show up fully.
• Create some time for thinking. Is this on your own, with a brainstorming buddy or is it reading the business books in your pile? 
• Support yourself along the journey. How can your team and your family support you? For your team, consider delegating while you step away and/or provide clear parameters on how and when to contact you. For your family, help them understand that you are working hard for them and to be present when you have time together.

You want to change the world, and you will. 

Use the next few months to explore other ways to raise your energy, spark ideas, and fuel your drive. It will feel awkward but consider it a productivity experiment.

By the way...when I see you working on the beach, sneaking out of the bathroom with your laptop, or taking calls from a random parking lot, let's just smile at each other and know that you have a kindred spirit who truly understands.