PopUP! Series ✈️ Part 5/5:The One Thing You Must Do if You Want Your Business to Run Independently.

Let's finish this series strong and make the one decision that will catapult you towards a business that runs independently of you.

Apply to work with me here and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU.

Apply to work with me here, and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU.

Link to Music Credits
Track: Positive Motivation
Author: AShamaluevMusic (ASM)
Publisher: CD Baby (IPI 700570289)

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Transcript

Ilonka Ras (00:00.066)
This is episode four, the last episode in this series, take a vacation, your laptop isn't invited to. In this episode, we're talking about the one critical decision you need to make if you are serious about growing your business while working less. Let's go. Welcome to the Effortless CEO podcast. The only show that teaches South African business owners how to improve their operations.

and design a business that can run without them. If you're interested in leading your team more effectively, creating more operational efficiency, delivering with excellence while getting some of your life back, then you're in the right place. Here's your host, strategic intervention coach and operations specialist, Ilonka Ras.

Ilonka Ras (00:51.202)
The number one thing I coach on the most often when it comes to taking an unplugged vacation is that my clients think that there is a perfect time. The perfect time when things will be less busy, when they've hired the right people, when cashflow feels stronger and when they feel more ready. But here's the truth. The perfect time never comes. In fact,

It doesn't exist. Waiting is what keeps you stuck. It's the thing that keeps you in these cycles of overworking, feeling overwhelmed. Waiting for things to be perfect is what's keeping the business stuck too. And here's how this typically shows up for my clients. They tell themselves things like, I'll take a break soon, but then they never actually commit. They're always moving the deadline. They're always moving the dates.

that they wanted to go on a vacation. They actually obsess and fixate on getting everything perfect before they step away. They take fake vacations or vacations as we like to call them, where they are checking emails from the beach, calling in on projects, still mentally carrying the work wherever they go, very unintentionally. They think that they are resting, but really they're just working in a different location.

Now the downside here isn't just that you're not actually taking a real vacation. It's also that the business never learns how to survive without you. And this happens because the vacation is seen as a luxury, something that you earn after everything is running perfectly or as a reward for getting through a crazy year, or maybe because your spouse is threatening you with divorce if you don't make the time to go away. In reality, a real

unplugged vacation isn't just going to happen because you want it, because it sounds nice. You need to actually commit to creating it. You need to see the unplugged vacation as a tool for growth, for a stronger business. Now we've all heard the cheesy cliche that goals are dreams without a deadline. Mark Battison actually says dreams without deadlines are dead in the water. The reality is

Ilonka Ras (03:12.866)
that if we're always waiting for things to be perfect, if we hold off on committing to creating the business that can grow while we're away, we're simply never going to do it. There will always be more important, more pressing, urgent things fighting for our attention. So here's what we're going to do. We're going to take this dream that you have of a business that fuels the life you want, the dream of a business that works for you,

that you actually enjoy waking up to that energizes you, that ignites your passion. And we're going to put a deadline on it. We're going to set a date for your very first unplugged vacation. This is the one decision that you must make if you are serious about turning your dreams into reality and being able to step away without everything falling apart. The decision is to actually decide on the date.

to set the date, not someday, a real day on the calendar, block it out today. And then I want you to take it a step further and go and book the accommodation or tell someone that's going to keep you accountable, declare it, and then get to work to get the business and yourself ready. Let that date be the deadline that motivates the changes that need to happen to extract your systems, to empower your team.

to streamline your delivery, to solve the problems, the gaps before you step away. Now, I typically suggest setting a date 12 months from now. This is enough time to do the work necessary for you to step away and it's not too far off into the future that it's going to fade into the abyss. But here's the important thing. Make your vacation non-negotiable. Setting the date does what no amount of thinking, planning or waiting can do.

It turns your intentions into action. It creates healthy pressure that's going to help accelerate growth. It's going to give you clear motivation to fix what's broken and to trust what is working. Give yourself, your team and your business the gift of rising to this challenge. And I promise you, when you come back from this vacation, you will not be the same person. You will not be the same business owner.

Ilonka Ras (05:39.554)
Your business will be different. You will be different. And as you know, by being a business owner, being an entrepreneur, growth never comes from comfort. It comes from commitment. When you set the date and stick to it, you will build a business that proves it can operate without you. Your team will step up and grow in capability and confidence. And when you return, you will have more energy

more creativity and clarity than you ever thought possible. So let's stop waiting for freedom and let's start living it. If you want to fast track your way to a business that gives you energy, grows sustainably, and that won't fall apart when you're not there, I want to invite you to apply to work with me. Head over to ilongaraz.com forward slash apply. The link is also in the show notes and let's get started. Thank you so much for joining me in this series. I'll see you in the next one.