There we go, I'm out of the air!

Voor Nederlands https://www.tribes.world/nl/blog/daar-gaan-we-dan-ik-ben-uit-de-lucht

The mind needs to travel to be creative, so yes: this week and next week I'm offline. It will be a bit challenge, but with the right preparations it's going to be all right. Today, the last working day before my holiday, I am scheduling my blogs, so I am writing two of them ahead (it all comes down to a great planning).

Just before my holiday, I often get the question: 'yes, but you'll be answering your phone, right? Or reading your WhatsApp? How else should I update you about certain things?’ A short answer; 'you don’t!’ Just like last year I’ll go 'cold turkey' on the first day of my holiday. Bam, that phone, laptop and tablet will go into the closet and only come out in the end, in 2 weeks.

When you read this, you have now seen my update; through my social media channels I inform my network of my offline weeks. It saves a lot of disappointments if you inform your environment: you don't have to deal with all those people who wanted to reach you. Of course, a good out-of-office does the same, but it saves a lot of overdue e-mails when people know that there is no point in sending you an email or making a call.

For friends and family, I am available on an emergency device, such a real retro 'refrigerator' that can withstand water damage and falls, and well, also hurricane damage. Before I turn off my super trendy smartphone and turn on the fridge, I send a last message to those same friends and family; 'there we go, I'm out of the air, accessible on the emergency number. Speak to you in two weeks'! And then it's time to celebrate my holidays!

I am curious how it will go, last year I had some trouble on the first day, but I finally liked it so much that I adapted my 'online life' to it afterwards. I’ve deleted my email from my phone: I look at fixed times. I also only open my WhatsApp when I want to read the apps, and I scroll through my social media timelines before my first coffee in the morning. Still, it will take some getting used to, because that phone rings quite often when you are CEO of a fast-growing company.

Of course, it makes a difference that you know you have a good business partner. I don't have to worry about anything; that's what Jasper Bekkering will be doing in the coming weeks. He was already eager to get back to work during his holiday, a message here, a message there... But my phone stays off, no matter how much it starts to tickle to get back to work... One advantage: I go on holiday to an area where there is no network at all... So, if I already wanted to cheat, it couldn't even :).