How long is too long a vacation?

In 2018 I closed a huge deal, largest commission in my company's history, and I treated myself to a three-week vacation. It was freaking awesome, but it killed my momentum. In fact it almost got me into some real trouble. I been too afraid to take anything other than a long weekend ever since, but am itching to do something now that the pandemic is lifting. I have 3 weeks saved up and my busy season isn't till September.


What should I do this summer?

🙏 Mental Wellness
10
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
2
Rolling 20's all day
I find it's easier to take more mini vacations. 4 days is pretty solid. Getting close to 7 days I definitely feel less momentum when I get back.
msp_sales
Opinionated
0
Full Cycle Sales
That's all I've been able to squeak out as well... maybe that's just the way things are. None of my coworkers can get away for more than a week. 
DrunkenArt
Politicker
0
Sales Representative
Our Mantra as well. We'll do a Wednesday-Saturday vacay if we do one at all. 
Beans
Big Shot
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Take advantage of the cheap flights and stays while you can - you've earned it. 

We're planning an 8 day Euro splurge in September. 
LordOfWar
Tycoon
1
Blow it up
I just took 2 weeks to move into our house and pretty much worked through the hole thing. I've tripled revenue since joining the company in 2019, but that doesn't earn me any extra time off since now I run the show.

I think from now on I will stick to 3-4 day weekends, maybe a day or two off in the middle of the week to break things up. Any long vacations will now be stacked around holidays or in the summer when things die down.

In sales you are never really unreachable, so a traditional vacation doesn't really work, at least not for me. 

I tell my office to say I'm on the road whenever I'm away. Customers don't want to think you're sipping drinks on the beach rather than respond to their calls/emails.

I'm hoping this will change as I hire a JR team to take over more direct selling responsibilities and I move into a management role.
msp_sales
Opinionated
1
Full Cycle Sales
Thanks for sharing, and congratulations! I’m really just starting to think this comes with the job, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m happy with the lifestyle choice for now.  Learn ➡️ Earn ➡️ Return. I’m solidly in the Earn stage of my life. 
cw95
Politicker
1
Sales Development Lead
If you have time, take it. Otherwise, you'll regret not doing it! 
friendlyginge
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Worth it! You’ll always have memories of your amazing three week vacation and in the long run you won’t regret missing three weeks of work.

I’m early in my career and I’d be nervous to take off more than a week. In my first SDR role, the company gave unlimited PTO. So I took 10 days off to go to Spain and it was the best trip of my life. I guess I ruined it for everyone because when I got back, they limited SDR PTO to ten days lol. I have no regrets. I work to make money to live my life. 
friendlyginge
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Now that I’m an AE, I feel more ownership over my own business so I wouldn’t do more than a week at time. After I start killing it I’ll absolutely take more time. And I only want to work for companies that don’t guilt trip people for for taking needed time off. 
goose
Politicker
0
Sales Executive
Road trip
Kinonez
Celebrated Contributor
0
War Room Enthusiast
I think a week is the soft spot, anything above that might be to much if taken at the same time!
CaneWolf
Politicker
0
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
Do whatever works for you. If you truly think a 3-week vacation will hurt you to that degree, take two 1.5 week vacations a few weeks apart. But I think 3-weeks is fine. You have to give some heads up though.
msp_sales
Opinionated
0
Full Cycle Sales
Makes sense. Thank you!
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
The longest I’ve taken is a week. But colleagues take 2-4consecutive weeks. Even our CEO takes 3 weeks. 

EU though
4

Vacation. Can you do it?

Question
12
Do you actually stop working?
37% No
63% Yes
41 people voted
20
Members only

Vacation...what vacation?

Question
21
How often do you check your work emails when on vacay?
34% I may as well be back at work I check it that often
47% Probably once a day / every other day
16% Never, this is me time
2% Other (comment)
97 people voted
5

LONG WEEKEND

Question
11
Friday before or Monday after a weekend holiday?
36% Friday before
59% Monday after
5% Something else
75 people voted