Taking 20 Days Off in Busy Season: What Ireland Taught Me About Balance
After eight years of hustling in business, I finally did it. I packed my bags, kissed my inbox goodbye (well, more like “see ya in 30 minutes”), and went on a 20-day trip to the UK and Ireland with my husband… smack dab in the middle of my busy wedding season.
How did I pull it off? Years of preparation.
1) I put systems and automations in place to make my life and business a breeze to run.
2) I hired Contractors to work alongside me whom I trust.
3) I hired an operational manager to keep the wheels turning.
Delegation shouldn’t be feared.
It’s your golden ticket to living your life while having a thriving business.
Together on the Cliffs of Moher
Spoiler Alert: I Didn’t Exactly “Unplug”
Listen, I wasn’t out here frolicking in castles with zero responsibility. I still answered client and my operations manager’s Q&As, took calls on the side of sheep-filled roads, and had a couple of “welp, there’s nothing I can do now, they’re just going to have to figure it out” moments. The difference is that, instead of being a stress case, those things became background noise.
Systems + Team = Freedom
What This Trip Actually Taught Me
Here’s the thing: stepping away doesn’t mean your business crumbles. It means you’ve built it right. I used to think unplugging during busy season was impossible. Turns out, it’s about creating support systems so you can live your life and grow your business. Adventure, downtime, serendipity, they’re not a distraction. They’re literally the point of why you started your own business.
So, entrepreneurs: if I can do it, you can too. The question is: what would it take for you to give yourself 20 days off? Because spoiler alert, your business can handle it.
Take a Leap in Entrepreneurship!
Being 70% Irish, this trip was so serendipitous to me.
My fav childhood color was yellow. My family crest? Yellow.
My fav number is 3 (or 333). The crest has three lions on it. And, Ireland itself is basically obsessed with threes: shamrock, triple spirals, three provinces.
The motto on my crest: nobilis est ira leonis = “the noble wrath of the lion.” Being a Leo, I loved this because it has a deeper meaning. When a lion gets angry, it’s not petty or trivial; it’s powerful, dignified, and purposeful. In other words, when someone with strength and nobility does finally unleash their fire, it means something.
I’ve always said “hi, love, thanks, love.” etc. Guess what? That’s basically how all the elder Irish people address you. Does that mean I’m getting old? I did just celebrate a very milestone 40th birthday.
My childhood stuffed animal? A sheep! Ireland? Sheep on every hill. In fact, we saw signs that you could face fines up to £5,000, 6 months in prison, and a driving ban for not reporting hitting a sheep. I love how protected and sacred they are to them.
