Now is the time of year when many of us are trying to fit a summer vacation into our often overwhelming business schedule and personal lives.  Our kids are out of school but will be returning soon and we feel compelled to take that much needed break so we can reintroduce ourselves to our families.

Like many of you, I have often wondered if my small business will keep running in my absence.  To my chagrin, the answer is “yes”.  It is similar to asking the question “Does a tree falling in a forest make a sound if no one is there to hear it.”  Or, in business terms, am I really that important to my business’ day-to-day functions.

We intuitively know that a tree makes a sound just as our small business will continue to run in our absence.  However, unlike the noise a falling tree makes, we naively believe that we have complete control over our business’ functions but only if we are in the “proverbial forest” personally directing them.  So, does our business make a noise when we are gone?  Of course it does.

I am not suggesting that you are not an integral part of the overall business.  For example, assuming you are a service professional and the only person in your organization licensed to render that particular service – lawyers, doctors, and CPA’s come to mind – those services will not be rendered in your absence.  But the business will continue to operate, phones will be answered, concerns will be allayed, invoices sent out, appointments made, etc.

The real concern that we have is whether our business will continue to operate in the expected fashion when we are not at the helm.  The fact-of-the-matter is that there is no guarantee.  After all, are we not surprised, on an almost daily basis, by unanticipated issues with which we are forced to deal?

My suggestion is that you examine how you currently deal with those surprises and consider how you would want those surprises to be handled in your absence?  The first place you should look is your supporting cast.  Do you have a competent staff that cares about your business, understands its mission and core values, knows what you expect, and whom you trust. 

If the answer is “no”, then perhaps it isn’t your staff’s shortcomings but rather a matter of you not adequately training, informing and trusting them.  We suggest that you endeavor to insure you have competent staff, invest time educating them on your business’ mission and core values, and generally advise them of your business philosophies and expectations.  Without that knowledge, you are essentially setting them adrift in the sea without sail or rudder regardless of whether or not you are personally present to man the wheel.

After all, you may not be available to direct your small business’ day-to-day activities as the result of an entirely involuntary or unanticipated calamity such as an illness or family emergency.  If you have already provided the necessary instruction and training to your staff, then you can remove yourself briefly from the captain’s chair and handle what you must but be comforted with the knowledge your business is being properly run.

As a Managed IT Services Provider, our business must deal with these questions and concerns on a daily basis.  Business owners, IT department heads, and others responsible for the business’ IT functions have a difficult time letting someone else “man the store”. 

We spend a tremendous amount of time and effort gaining and establishing our client’s trust.  Once gained, we must diligently and passionately make sure that the trust is maintained.  This is especially true given the reality that many businesses absolutely rely upon their IT environments and any failure on Catalyst's behalf to live up to our promise to keep it running at peak efficiency can be devistating.

As a Managed It Services Provider, our ability to manage our clients’ IT environments is generally greater than those who internally shoulder that concern for the individual businesses.  We tell them to take a “vacation” from the IT support piece – let us handle it.  They have other, very important functions they can perform for the business.  When they are finally able to let go of the reigns and truly turn over the IT support function to us seasoned experts, they generally comment that they don’t know why they didn’t do it earlier.

Why haven’t you take a vacation from your business earlier?  After all, haven’t your employees demonstrated that they, too, deserve your trust?  Haven’t they proven that they care about the success of your venture?  Haven’t you trained your employees to fulfill your expectations, values, and mission? 

Most of you can answer each of these questions with a firm and confident “yes”.  That awareness should provide you with the necessary comfort of knowing that your clients and business are in good hands.

Now, go and enjoy your summer vacation.  After all, you have earned it!

Phillip Biel/Ed Garay
Catalyst Computer Technologies