Business people crowned with the entrepreneur title unsurprisingly hold great passion for their objective and jump headlong into the challenge of making it happen - paying little regard for the endless hours and sleepless nights ahead.
But even those at the top of the entrepreneurial game need some down-time.
Some of this year’s Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Western Region) candidates have shared their strategies for getting away from work with abandoning technology, dedicating time to sports and family, and embarking on international travel coming out as the most popular tactics.
While advancement in technology has been a great enabler for business, it also means those in demanding roles have to take drastic action to extract themselves from the daily grind.
In chief executive of TFS Corporation Frank Wilson’s case, it’s meant a rebellion against the smartphone invasion.
“That’s why I only carry one of these,” Mr Wilsons says, indicating his somewhat out-dated mobile phone without email capability.
“Because I don’t want to be sitting at dinner with the family or friends and be looking at my emails.”
Founder of Proactiv Payroll Roy Mellon has taken a similar approach in abandoning technology, but to, arguably, a greater extent by having to travel hours to get away.
“If I do get that time to myself I love four-wheel driving and going out into the outback where no one can get me on the phone and where I am, literally, isolated,” Mr Mellon says.
“I’ve found a couple of places in WA; if you go to the Karri Valley down south you can’t get phone reception.”
Gavin Hegney has had to quell his passion for surfing in building his property valuations business Hegney Property Group, but now uses the lure of the waves as an excuse for escape - leaving his phone on dry land.
“I had lots of things I wanted to do yesterday in the business, but the sky opened up, the swell came up, the offshore winds were blowing and it was a perfect surfing day - so I’m off surfing,” Mr Hegney said.
“Then you come back and you’ve got so many voicemails and emails and you’ve got to work your way down the pile again.
“But surfing’s got to win, because I can work any time, whereas surfing only comes along when all the things line up.”
With a 20-month old son Sue Pember has taken the decision to take a day a week off from running her Aussie Orientation Services business to spend with him.
“Yesterday we went to Jungle Gym (children’s gymnastics centre) and I was just a regular Mum like everyone else,” Ms Pember said.
“I can forget about what’s going on at work at that time, but I can’t shut my ideas down - because I’m so excited about it all and engaged with it.”
Other tactics employed include booking international travel years in advance and, like Ms Pember, introducing flexible working to spend time with family and friends.
What do you do to get away from work and do you think it’s possible for someone building a business to ‘switch off’?
