Editor’s note: This article was first published in June 2013, as a seasonal piece for summer 2013.
Richard Branson offers entrepreneurs some advice for the summer on his LinkedIn profile. He does it, naturally, from one of his luxurious offices with a view of the sea.
Summer is a good time to take a break and free your mind from everyday worries. You should relax, but with all the free time you usually have from sunrise onward, you’ll also have more time for your business ideas to take shape.
Use some of the time you spend lying in the sun to reflect on the year so far and plan how to improve over the coming months. But above all, take time to rest.
(Read: Richard Branson’s nine tips for entrepreneurs)
If you’re lucky enough to go to a party, try not to spend the whole night checking your smartphone every five minutes; keep your mind open to listening to other people instead. Branson says that on several occasions he has heard an interesting idea while on holiday and, once he got back, turned it into a business for Virgin Group. His advice is to keep your eyes open and pick up creative ideas, because they’re everywhere.
According to Branson, a chat in a bar can spark more ideas than looking for them during the working week. In summer our minds are clearer and therefore more receptive. What’s more, a hammock or a houseboat by the sea creates a relaxed atmosphere that encourages creativity.
(Read: Four things small business owners can do this summer)
Exercise will improve your productivity at work, along with your general fitness. Of course, that’s not something to do only in summer. Branson says that more than once he has taken his company’s creative staff away for several days so they could clear their heads and unwind from their workload. He says that when they came back, their productivity and creativity had improved considerably.
If you own a business or lead a team, Branson advises using this time of year to plan a trip with your team, even if it’s only for a couple of days. He says it strengthens the bonds within teams, helps people get to know one another much better and breaks the monotony along the way. That way your team will come back more relaxed and most likely with more energy and creativity.
Further reading
- Six lessons from sport that apply to business
- Michael Dell’s advice for entrepreneurs: be a little crazier and ask for less advice
- Bill Gates: three things I learned from Warren Buffett
- 69% of US entrepreneurs start their business from home
Featured image: — Legis ( talk – contribs ), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
