A world away

If you thought I was a bit quiet on LinkedIn this week it was because I was taking the first holiday since I started my business just over four years ago. It wasn't easy to do because I had to detach myself from the business and more than that I needed to entrust it to other people for the four days I had planned away.

Anyone who is self-employed will understand the fear of stepping away. It is further complicated for me because I both enjoy and am invested in the work that I do. It is a passion for me and this can make setting boundaries between home and work increasingly challenging.

I have connected back into the work today and although I am a little tired and cold after enjoying the 28 degrees in Rome everything is still there for me to pick up. But the break has done more than show me that I can step away thanks to Dee Cowburn who provided cover support to my clients. It reminded me of the importance of time away to allow me to get a different perspective on what I do and to take a fresh look at the business.

On the first day I had a 'eureka' moment after viewing the Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps and Pantheon. There is work to do on the plan that has emerged but I am quite sure that I wouldn't have had the moment of clarity if I hadn't taken myself away from the day-to-day activity. The four days away have given me a chance to step outside of my normal life and work to come back refreshed and with lots of ideas.

There are some things that we can never leave behind. I carried the loss of my Mum suddenly just over two years ago with me when I was in Rome with my Dad. Today, I am thinking of those who lost loved ones in the Grenfell fire seven years ago. They face the terrible impact of that disaster every day. Above all remember that this is not about 72 people but about every one of the relatives and friends who are missed every day. I am taking time to remember them today.