Coach's Corner: Get Off the Grid Next Year?

J.D. “Jim” Fox, Head Coach, Next Act CoachingI just finished a coaching course taught by Ken Abrams https://www.kenabrams.com/, and heard a line I hope to never forget:   "Don't plan your vacations around work; plan work around your vacations."Let's pause to let everyone roll their eyes and think, "You don't know MY world, Coach."  Ah, but I do know a number of worlds, and their talk on work/life balance versus their walk.Academia (I ran PR at Columbia Law and taught writing at NYU) gets top honors.   The semester structure helps, and you are expected to take time off.   Caveat:  there's often a big difference between faculty and staff;  it's all about the faculty.  A friend in a senior staff slot at a New York university works longer hours than anyone I know -- and leaves vacation time on the table.Nonprofits (I've worked in several, mostly health care) used to promote their great benefits over their substandard pay, but I think that's evened out some.Government and politics?  I did press on Capitol Hill, and the "District Work Periods" used to be pretty dependable.   Nothing in that world is dependable now.Consulting firms?  The boutique PR firm that brought me to New York -- Cooney Waters Unlimited https://www.cooneywatersunlimited.com/- was and is well-regarded, but it's not hard to find others known as sweatshops.Television news?  Like working next to a vacuum cleaner; producers and writers get followed to the bathroom.  Much different for anchors; but I'm currently working with one who also produces and who laps the Energizer Bunny -- in a good way -- every day.Startups?   What, you mean leave the building?   Why?   How about a pool table instead?   Entrepreneurs are notoriously challenged on work/life balance.  Their businesses are their babies; though some understand that parents function better when they're rested.Financial services?  50-hour workweeks are standard at many New York firms, but I know several analysts with enough mid-day flexibility to get to the gym.Notice that I ended up disproving my own starting point? There may be some sector influences, but every workplace is different.  Those at the top of individual org charts often set the tone, but not always.So when it comes to quality of life issues, you've got to gauge what you can do within your job's often-unspoken cultural guidelines -- shhh, even what you can get away with.How?  I'm suggesting that advance 2018 vacation planning goes on your radar NOW.  Can it be included on the top tier of your personal agenda, along with all those projects and goals?   Where would you like to go?  What would be cool to do?  Dream it up; you'll think of the practical considerations (cost) soon enough.By the way, I've observed that those who do international trips usually end up really getting off the grid -- they have it planned way in advance, and part of that advance planning is lining up their back-up.  And, two-plus weeks out isn't seen as professional sacrilege but what it takes to do it right.The flip side is that annoying colleague who comes in January 2 with a complete list of every day he wants off -- which just happens to include every major holiday.   Yuck.A mindful, yet courteous approach won't ensure that you really get away -- I was in corporate law when they firmed up phone contact for clients from partners on luxury cruise ships; talk about asking for it.  But, unless you're truly chained down and willing to live that way, why not increase your odds of great 2018 vacations?Full disclosure:  I'm going to start with me.   2017's work revolved around a new television program ("Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien" https://matteroffact.tv/ ) and building a coaching practice.   I didn't get away much at all; just some family stuff.But, "Vacations 2018" is on my Big List ... the one I really use.   I'm determined to keep it there, and achieve my dream of a month on a lake.  Details TBD. How about you?   Share a sunset next summer?