6 Steps To Getting New Business When You're On Holiday

CREATED BY JACKY SHERMAN Published: 11/06/2025 @ 09:00AM #ItalianVacay #RemoteWork #FamilyBalance #LaptopLounging #DaddysWorking

Years ago, we were on holiday in Italy. Every day, when I sat by the pool, I'd see a man on a lounger deeply engrossed in his laptop. Every quarter of an hour or so, two children tried to attract his attention, only to be fobbed off with ''go and play, Daddy's working'' ...

Wouldn't you rather be having fun and making memories on your holiday, instead of working?

I got to wondering what they wrote in the inevitable post-holiday school assignment entitled "What did you do on your holidays?" and at what point their dad would regret not planning time with his children while they were away.

I'm not going to write about the benefits to you, your family and your business of having a complete break. It's obvious, surely? I suspect there will be loads of blogs advocating it doing the circuit over the coming month or so.

The reality of running a business (or being employed with an awful boss) is that it is really difficult to switch off completely. However, you can keep the amount you do down to the bare minimum with some good planning and delegation.

And the one area where this will really pay
dividends is in your referral marketing!

• Build and maintain strong referral relationships
  You should search for key people to work with throughout the year. Your aim should be to establish an agreement that you will generate business for each other on a continuous basis. These people then become your referral partners.

• Have an annual referral marketing plan
  This will include all the activities that you will do to help your partners gain new business. Make sure you're honouring what you say you will do for them so this will motivate them to do the same for you whilst you're away.

• Schedule your holiday into your plan, book it and pay for it
  Then you're more likely to actually go!

• Before you go, brief your referral partners on your plans
  Let them know what you'll do for them when you return, and agree with them on what they can do for you whilst you're away. This may be identifying key people you want to meet, or promoting an event or product launch you're planning for the autumn.

• Send your referral partners a message or buy them a small gift whilst you're away
  Resist talking about business on it, as the purpose is just to acknowledge your relationship, and most people love to receive something personal to them. Posting your holiday snaps on Facebook is just not the same.

• When you get back refreshed and ready for action, return the favour
  As soon as you can, find them some great opportunities ready for when they return from their holiday trip.

I always remember meeting the wife of one of my clients for the first time. She clutched my hand and said, "Thank you for giving me my husband back". For the first time in years, he hadn't worked constantly while away.

This also means that when the kids get back to school and write their essay, it will talk about how embarrassing you were doing the limbo at the beach BBQ. Far into the future, your family get-togethers include great tales starting, "Hey Dad, remember when we went to ... ?"

Wherever you are in your referral marketing plan, check these 6 steps and have a great summer.

Until next time ...

JACKY SHERMAN
Join my mailing list! Click here and be one of the first to know when I publish a new blog post!

Share the blog love ...

Buffer Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pinterest WhatsApp #ItalianVacay #RemoteWork #FamilyBalance #LaptopLounging #DaddysWorking

More blog posts for you to enjoy ...
		Preparing to retire: practical advice for small business owners Thinking about retiring from your business can feel a bit surreal. For many small business owners in the UK, the line between 'work' and 'life' has been blurry for years - so stepping back takes more than just choosing a date...
		Rethinking Added Value: Beyond more clients or your day rate 'Added value' - it's a phrase we hear all the time, isn't it? And almost always, when consultants talk about it, they're thinking about their pricing or their Unique Sales Proposition. Then they can't differentiate their serv...
		Discovering Happiness: What It Means to be Self Employed Are you self-employed and trying to navigate the pathway to happiness? Understanding the dynamics of success and self-perception can significantly enhance your well-being and fulfilment as an entrepreneur ......
		So, Why This Business? Why Are You Starting It? And Why Now? In June, I published this blog post, which started out asking the question, Why are you in the business you're in? Then it went on to list everything that needs to be done. It's a pretty daunting list. I'm pleased to say life...
		Networking Skills: The Benefits Of Focus In Your Networking Once again this week, I was drawn into a debate about whether to appeal to a wide range of clients or focus on a tight target market. It's a fundamental networking skill to know what you want ......
		What keeps you going in your business? Over the weekend, someone shared with me a poster that compared running a business with an iceberg. The author wanted to make the point that all other people saw was the success ......
		The art of saying thank you in a festive, yet growth-minded way Here's a fresh look at saying thank you as a strategic habit. It's festive, human, and surprisingly profitable. Make gratitude your consultancy's quiet advantage ......
		The loneliness of the independent consultant After the initial hype of starting your own consultancy, the weirdest thing can happen. It may creep up on you gradually or hit you all of a sudden: You feel disconnected from others ......

Other bloggers you may like ...
		Chatbots for web designers and marketing agencies Posted by Steffi Lewis on https://www.yourbot.uk If you run a web design studio or a marketing agency, you already know what your clients want. They don't care about tokens, APIs, or the number of la ...
		The real costs of starting a bookkeeping business: Part 1 Posted by Alison Mead on https://blog.siliconbullet.com Here's what you'll actually pay for when you're new. I'll walk through the real costs of starting a bookkeeping business, focusing on the non-negotiab ...
		Cybersecurity tips for protecting your business, family and personal data Posted by Roger Eddowes on https://blog.essendonaccounts.co.uk Here are some cybersecurity tips you can actually use day to day, without getting overwhelmed. Learn how to spot common scams, verify requests safely, ...
		Renovating your home in Milton Keynes? Come and stay with us! Posted by Emily Freeman on https://blog.shortstay-mk.co.uk Renovating your home can be loud, messy, and surprisingly draining. You can sidestep the chaos by staying somewhere local that feels settled, private, ...