Entrepreneurship and Holidays: Balancing Business
and Family Time

As an entrepreneur, there’s an almost inevitable clash when trying to mix business responsibilities with family holidays. During a recent October half-term holiday in Mellieħa, Malta, this struggle hit home once again, and I felt compelled to delve into it deeper in today's diary entry.

The Constant Balancing Act

Entrepreneurship is a world full of systems and processes, automations, and delegations. In my various companies, I’ve built robust systems and have entrusted many responsibilities to capable individuals. This structured approach generally minimises my daily hands-on involvement. However, even with all these measures in place, the role of an entrepreneur is fundamentally about problem-solving. So, while away on holiday, it's not uncommon to encounter issues that require my immediate attention.

One of my business mentors, Rob Moore, is an expert in wealth management and has always advocated for merging passion with profession. His belief is that entrepreneurship should align with your life so that work and personal life become indistinguishably integrated. Initially, I prioritised the notion of work-life balance, but I’ve come to realise that, as Rob pointed out, problems will arise regardless of how well you’ve systemised your business. This thought rings truer than ever during holidays.

The Impact on Mood and Family

While in Malta, I had to carve out time to handle business-related issues. I’ve had several phone calls and countless WhatsApp messages addressing varying situations that cropped up. The hard part is how these sudden interruptions can affect my mood. Imagine having a wonderful time with family, only to be pulled out of that moment by a pressing business matter. My mood invariably dips during these moments, and it’s challenging to lift it back up quickly so that it doesn’t affect my family's holiday experience.

Interestingly, these business interruptions don't always go unnoticed by my family, particularly my children. My eldest son, Leo, joined me on a run and acknowledged that he does notice my work-related activities during our holidays. Although he understands that this is merely part of what I do, he feels that it often means I’m missing out on family moments.

Understanding Through a Child’s Eyes

Speaking with Leo was eye-opening. He understands that my calls and messages mean I’m solving something work-related, and while he hasn’t seen the early, grinding phases of my entrepreneurial journey, he often witnesses the comparative lighter, more systemised phase I’m in now. His perception has been shaped by seeing me balance work with personal time relatively seamlessly.

Leo perceives entrepreneurship as somewhat easier than other jobs, mainly because he hasn’t experienced the early-stage struggles and relentless hustle I endured to get to this point. Back when Leo was little, we were financially strapped, and I often worked long, gruelling hours. The fruits of that labour are what we now enjoy, but it’s crucial to remember that this phase took monumental effort and sacrifice to attain.

A Reflection on Entrepreneurship and Work-Life

The dialogue with Leo also made me realise the importance of asking our children for their perspectives on our work and lives. They often offer unfiltered, honest insights that can be quite revealing. From Leo’s perspective, my work interruptions are just a routine part of life that he’s got used to, although he still feels I miss out on some special moments.

In conclusion, as an entrepreneur, completely switching off during holidays might be a far-fetched dream, but it remains essential to find ways to manage these interruptions without letting them overly impact family time. For me, accepting that holidays won’t be entirely work-free and finding joy in the flexible, yet demanding nature of entrepreneurship is a balancing act I'm continually learning to master.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. If you share my mission of saving the lives of children through my ultimate ultra-marathon of run vlogging, do give this blog a share, like, or comment. The more people we engage, the more lives we can transform. Stay positive, stay happy, and see you next time.

Best, Kevin Brittain