If your tombstone says any of the below on it, you have made a GRAVE mistake.
Never used all her vacation days.
FILO (first in, last out)
Ate lunch at his desk every single day
I am afraid much of the above described me. Then came COVID, and my battery went from red to dead, and I had to look myself in the mirror and make some changes.
Dedication to your job is critical, but if you never stop and take a break, just like your phone or laptop, you will lose your charge.
Or, as famed bad-boy Chef & Writer Anthony Bourdain said—
Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you. Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a Negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways. Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check-in on your friends. Check-in on yourself. Enjoy the ride.”
Time off helps you relax but also grow.
Taking time off makes you a better fundraiser—opening your mind and giving you a new experience to share and bond with your Donors.
Taking time off makes you nicer - at least, it makes me nicer.
My criteria is to see something I have never seen before—This could be 10 minutes or 10 hours away from where you live.
You might have different criteria…sleeping late, seeing family, eating a Chicago-style pizza—-In Chicago! It’s all GOOD!
I just came back from a cruise to Alaska. My husband and I have spoken about this trip since our wedding. We were married in 1989.
The kids we imagined were now 20-somethings, and it was finally time to take the trip.
So, for 8 days (and 7 nights), all four Kitrosers explored the last frontier. We saw Fjords and Glaciers. We saw a swimming deer and a jumping baby whale. And as fantastic as all this was, the fact that I was unplugged (mostly) and had a trusted colleague to back me (thank you, Ben) was so amazing I could not tell you.
Summer is here. Make your plan so you can spend time with your family and BREATHE.
Sharon’s Sanity rules for vacation.
Plan early. Put in for your time off and mark it in your calendar in INK.
Find your “Ben”—I mean, find a vacation buddy.
Try and work in advance so your buddy does not get overloaded.
Brief them in advance on what is going on with your donors
Coordinate your vacation times so that you don’t overlap and can be their vacation buddy in return
Alert all support staff and management on your buddy agreement so they
Leave an out-of-office voicemail and email for your donors and partners with the contact information for your buddy.
Then take your adventure, relax, and drop us a note at Team Kat & Mouse when you get back and tell us all about it!
Read Our Other Blog : Transparency is Your Friend!