It took the first half of Lisa Girouard’s sabbatical (see yesterday’s post) just to ramp down, she says. “It was about three to four weeks before I felt like I wasn’t just on vacation.”
Once she really disconnected, Lisa found that her thinking process got more creative. “Not doing email everyday was probably the biggest thing that brought me into a creative mindset,” she says.
Think you can experience all the benefits of a sabbatical just by going to a spa in Mexico for two weeks? Highly unlikely. It would be a wonderfully luxurious vacation – but not a sabbatical. Going away on sabbatical involves getting away from your current routine: the never-ending errands; the repetitive tasks; the constant-connectedness through electronic devices.
“Not having email was my favorite thing about being away,” Lisa says. “Email has brought us into a non-communicative way of life.” Even when speaking by telephone, are we really communicating?
In Stanley Bing’s forthcoming book, Executricks: How to Retire While You’re Still Working (Collins), he writes: “Nearly 80 percent of the content of all human cell phone conversations seems to be about where the caller is located… Why do people have to constantly inform other people of their whereabouts at this state of human history? And what are the implications for us as a species? In certain cities around the world, it is impossible to see any person actually walking down the street thinking his or her own thoughts. Don’t we need thoughts? And if not, since when?”
I’ve checked the manual. Indeed, we do need thoughts – our own and those of others – to evolve and grow…or at least function properly. A true sabbatical takes you away and provides the space that’s sometimes needed to think clearly. What previously seemed so complicated becomes simplified. And clarity is pretty powerful. Put that in your iPhone.
What thoughts are you having today?
5 Responses (add yours)
I have spent 25 years getting to a point where I felt I was beating the system by being connected “in orbit” but not in “place” … running a business from a laptop and a cellphone was a goal.
Does this mean I have lost my creativity? Does it mean my creativity is framed by an obsolete definition that I myself created?
I love Bing’s reference to the trivial nature of what we call communivcation but I think that is USA’s culture now — no longer is ours the environment of the hungry achiever but of the fat, lazy self-indulger.
Cedric – running a business from a laptop and a cellphone means you’ve found a way to allow for so many opportunities in your life. Congratulations on achieving what many others want, too. But even though you’re not in a traditional work construct, you still need to disconnect every now and again. Creativity is inspired. What inspires you? Turn off the cell phone and go do it. As for Bing’s reference, I refuse to submit, even if you’re right that it’s now part of our culture. All these conversations about “whereabouts” leave me stuck in one place – boredom.
The other challenge from reading your website is the opportunity companies have to cross-train employees when a key manager takes a sabbatical. My situation doesn’t have that option.
So is a sabbatical only for an employee or for the independently wealthy who can afford “mini-retirements”? How can a one man show / sole proprietor with a growing business that needs nurturing reap the benefits offered by a sabbatical?
You’ve brought up such an important point that it deserves a whole post, Cedric. I plan on writing about it tomorrow, so stay tuned….and thanks for your thoughtful comments.
Continuing the Discussion
[...] Blye commented recently about the challenges of small business owners taking sabbaticals. “How can a [...]