Eric knows that taking three weeks off each year is a European concept, yet he believes that it is up to each entrepreneur to decide for themselves when and how they choose to switch off.
In this episode, he explains that it is not just about the time you take off, but rather about being intentional with how you recharge. He also shares the playful out-of-office email message he set up during the three weeks he recently spent in North Carolina.
Decide How You Disconnect
As an entrepreneur, you get to choose how and when you disconnect. Some people prefer complete time off, while others are okay with handling a few urgent tasks here and there. What matters is being intentional about taking breaks and allowing yourself the time to recharge and connect with your loved ones.
No Need to Wait for Holidays
Without regular rest, your creativity, focus, and overall effectiveness will gradually decline. However, there is no need to wait for holidays to recharge. Skipping work on Saturdays, setting aside time to meditate, and taking short breaks during the week can help you stay focused and energized.
You Are Not Always Needed
With the right systems and support in place, your constant presence is not necessary as an entrepreneur. You may feel you need to stay connected initially, but over time, you will see that taking a step back does not mean that everything falls apart. It is also essential to understand that if a client cannot respect the time you take off, they may not be the right client for you.
Protect Your Time
Make a habit of scheduling time for yourself each day and week, and switch off completely during holidays. Spending time with the people you care about and doing the things that energize you while giving your mind a break from business concerns is the best way to recharge.
Out-of-Office Message
During his recent time off, Eric set up a creative and funny out-of-office email response. In it, he explained that he was away, offered a contact for urgent matters, and encouraged senders to imagine where he might be. The message reflected his personality while setting clear boundaries, showing that it is possible to unplug without being dull or overly formal.
Bio: Eric Rozenberg
Eric is a business builder and the founder of Event Business Formula, the only platform exclusively dedicated to helping and supporting business owners in the Meetings & Events Industry. He has helped thousands of entrepreneurs grow and manage their businesses better.
For two decades in a previous life, Eric has consulted with Fortune 500 companies and produced award-winning sales meetings, incentive trips, product launches, and conferences in more than 50 countries across diverse industries.
His podcast “The Business of Meetings” is the first podcast in the Meetings & Events Industry dedicated to business owners and the largest source of free information, with over 240 episodes and fabulous guests.
His first book, Meeting at C-Level, is the first book on the « Why? » of a meeting. It has been endorsed by 20 of the most influential leaders from the corporate and association worlds.
His second book, Before It’s Too Late, A Love Letter to My Daughters and America, is a story of grit, perseverance, and courage. It describes why and how he and his wife brought their daughters to America and why it is the greatest country on Earth.
Eric was the first European to serve as Chairman of the International Board of Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
Connect with Eric Rozenberg
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“Most of the time you’re not needed as an entrepreneur. You can have a team in place.”
Eric Rozenberg
Full transcript of episode 279 of The Business of Meetings podcast, a solo episode with Eric Rozenberg. Lightly edited for readability.
Eric Rozenberg: Hello and welcome to the Business of Meetings podcast. I’m your host, Eric Rozenberg. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of helping businesses in the meetings and events industry grow and succeed. And I’m excited to share that experience with you. If you feel alone and overwhelmed, and if you’re looking to take your business to the next level, improve your strategy and sales, and connect with like-minded professionals, you are in the right place. I invite you to visit eventbusinessformula.com and join our community of event business owners dedicated to exponential growth. Now, let’s dive into today’s episode.
Hello and welcome to a new episode of the Business of Meetings podcast. I just hang up with a friend and I was telling her that I was in North Carolina for 3 weeks, and she said, “Oh yeah, it’s your European side in you.” And my reply was, “Actually no, it’s my entrepreneur side in me.” And it’s true that taking maybe 3 weeks off is a European concept. And I do believe that when you’re an entrepreneur, this is yourself. You decide when you want to switch off and how you want to switch off. For instance, I’m spending those three weeks. Yes, I have an out of office for my email that I will read to you at the end of this short episode, cuz I like to try to have them a little unusual and have fun with it. But the point really is to decide how you’re disconnecting. For me, it’s okay to have one or two hours if needed here and there to do what’s urgent, but also to recharge the batteries, to spend time with my family, to spend time with my friends.
And I actually don’t wait for the holidays to do that. I try not to work on Saturdays. And I know it’s like a concept for entrepreneurs who say, “Well, you’re supposed to take off the weekends.” Well, yes and no. It’s your business, so you’re just making sure that the things that need to be done are being done. And it’s also up to you to block the time to do something else, to not think about the business, besides meditating every day. And that’s one of my KPI. I have to meditate at least five times a week. But besides doing that, I try not to work on the Saturday and spend time with the family and making sure that I’m recharging the batteries. And when I don’t do that for weeks or months, because yes, I can stay several months without taking a day off, but I’m not proud of it. And at the end of the day, I realize that I’m not as effective, as creative, as energized that when I take some little breaks here and there and making sure that I’m taking time for myself.
And of course, you have the holidays, and when I’m with my family, I have this out of office. I have people helping me with the emails. Things are urgent, and if things can absolutely not wait and need my intervention, then obviously they know how to reach me. But quite frankly, most of the time you’re not needed as an entrepreneur. You can have a team in place.
I remember my very first business when I started it, the first year I went two weeks on holidays with friends and I was working every day. I was checking emails every day. And then the second year, I last for one week without doing that, almost biting my nails, and at the end of the week I check the emails, the world didn’t fall apart. And then starting the third year, I would take two weeks completely off, completely off. And obviously I was building my team, so I didn’t have a large team, but I put things in place. And as I always said, the clients don’t understand that when I’m off, I’m off, and they don’t respect that, quite frankly, they’re not the right clients that I needed to work with, because that time in the summer, there is no incentive program, there is no sales meeting, and you can definitely take those two weeks off.
So my recommendation for you is that as an entrepreneur, you do block the time for yourself. You do make sure that you have those moments for you every day, every week, and certainly that when you are on holidays, you are spending the time with the people you like. You’re doing the things that are energizing you. You’re thinking about things that are completely unrelated to your business. And that’s where, for me at least, I’m recharging my batteries at best.
So, as promised, I’m going to read to you my out of office for this year that can maybe inspire you. So, if you send me an email until the end of July, this is what you’re going to get.
“Dear esteem emailer, you’ve reached the inbox of Eric Rozenberg, fearless business coach, event industry whisperer, and part-time adventurer. Sadly, I’m currently out of the office and not available to marvel at your message in real time. But fear not, if your inquiry is urgent, or if you’ve suddenly realized you must join the world’s greatest coaching program for meetings and event business owners, a decision historians will one day celebrate, please email Anne at [unclear]@eventbusinessformula.com. Anne is not only competent and efficient, but also blessed with the rare gift of responding to emails like a legend. If your message is not urgent, feel free to speculate where I am might be at this very moment.
A, lounging in the Florida Keys watching Love Island and questioning the fabric of modern romance. B, in Tehran filming a Netflix special titled Dead Men Walking: Ayatollah Edition. Spoiler alert, they die at the end. Or C, somewhere in the great United States recharging with family, eating too much barbecue and pretending not to check email.
Rest assure, I shall rise like a phoenix, or a slightly sunburned entrepreneur, and respond upon my glorious return. Until then, stay fabulous, stay productive, and don’t do anything that I wouldn’t post about on LinkedIn. With epic out of office vibes, Eric.”
So, just to be sure, I am not watching Love Island. This is a big trend now, but not for me, thank you very much. But I’m having great time with family and friends and just taking a little break to share those thought with you in the hope that they will inspire you. Whether you’re the European side or an entrepreneur, I do believe that breaking sometimes and having some time off on a regular basis is the best thing for entrepreneurs. Until then, have fun, and if you have any question or need any help for your event business, you know how to reach me. Thank you. Bye-bye.
Thank you for tuning in to the Business of Meetings podcast. I hope you found today’s episode valuable. If you enjoyed the show, the most important thing you can do is leave a review and share it with your colleagues. It really helps spread the word. I truly appreciate your support. And if you’re ready to take your business to the next level, don’t forget to visit eventbusinessformula.com to learn more about how we are helping event business owners like you. Thanks again for listening, and I’ll see you next time.
