Many of us start new projects, news jobs, or implement changes 
in the spring. The season gives us the "new beginning" feeling. 
In business (after we deal with the tax man) we are ready to 
pursue new challenges. It's the time many take their first steps 
into the business world as the owner/manager of a new venture.
 
These first steps can be exciting, challenging, scary, rewarding 
and sometimes bring forth completely unexpected events! The 
question is "Will you, the entrepreneur, be in control of your 
new endeavor or will it control you?" The answer to this 
question will be a MAJOR factor in determining the outcome 
of your business venture.
 
Most new business owners have planned for the "how to's" and 
"what for's" and "what if's" but many fail to account for time 
away from the business. That "away" time is critical to the 
outcome of the venture. Sure at startup, regardless of how well 
you have planned, the unexpected happens - the parts don't come 
in, the contractor don't finish on time, the whatever doesn't 
work right and the list goes on. Startup is a time-devouring 
monster. It demands 40 hours everyday it seems and rightfully 
so. You will have to give it that extra time if you are to be 
successful. BUT after the startup phase - and that will vary 
depending on the size and complexity of the business - plan 
for "away" time!
 
"Away time" is the time you spend away from the business and I 
don't mean the time between 6:00pm and 7:00am when you aren't 
physically at the business. But, what if it's a home-based 
business? How do you get your "away time"? It's simple but can 
be very difficult to do. You HAVE to make a plan of "X" hours or 
days away from the business and stick to it!  Hard to do, huh?
 
There is no magic formula for amount of time away"! That time 
is determined by you, your family, your friends, and your 
hobbies or manner in which you spend your leisure time. You 
need to know how much time you need to spend "away"  before 
you ever take the first step into your business venture.  And 
you need to plan your schedule around that time. For your own 
well-being (and the well-being of your business), there must be 
no excuse for not scheduling your "away" time and maintaining 
that schedule.

If you are tired and cranky, if you aren't spending enough time 
with your family, or if you become isolated from your friends, 
your business will eventually suffer. The failure rate of new 
businesses is so high that "away" time may be the key to it's 
success!