What if I just...stopped working for a month?
In late 2024, I had the opportunity to interview Jillian Johnsrud, author of Retire Often, on my Consultants + Money podcast. (Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube) We talked about “mini retirements” (or sabbaticals, as they’re commonly called), but specifically about sabbaticals for solo entrepreneurs.
What intrigued me the most about our discussion, was that from her experience, she sees entrepreneurs take sabbaticals and come back to better running, more efficient businesses – because it takes a lot of work, forethought, and planning to step away from a business that relies on you for 4+ weeks.
Earlier that same year, I read Cal Newport’s then-new book Slow Productivity, where I was fascinated to learn that James Bond (yes, the fictional character) only exists because author, Ian Fleming, spent each winter away from his normal work in London writing in Jamaica (his house there was named Goldeneye). I’m guessing had he not spent that time in Jamaica, we would not have Moonraker and diamonds would not be forever.
All that to say, the idea of stepping away from my business for an extended period of time has been on my mind the past 2 years.
I’m not burnt out. I’m not sick or pregnant. I’m not going through divorce. My kids aren’t going through anything tragic. My parents are healthy.
I’ve simply decided to go on a 4 week sabbatical, or mini retirement, as Jillian would call it.
I’ve communicated and overcommunicated with my clients. I’ve timed it perfectly so that no one misses any reporting. I’ve set the out of office responder.
I’m also completely uncomfortable and uneasy about the idea, but I’m going to do it anyways.
Erica - Are you going to do something AMAZING during your time off?
No – ha! I don’t even have a plan for what I’m going to do, outside of visiting my parents for a week (which I do every summer). I’ll hang out with my kids and do all the fun summer things. I’ll read. Maybe sleep in the forest one night. I’ll take up a hobby that I had during my pre-teen summers (too embarrassed to admit what it is right now).
The point of my sabbatical is not to travel to Europe for a month or build a shed or hike the Appalachian Trail – all worthy things to do during a break from work.
The point of my sabbatical is to prove to myself that I can step away from work and that neither I, as a person, nor the business I’ve built will crumble as a result.
Sometimes we do things just to prove to ourselves we can do them, right?
Or maybe I’ll write the next James Bond.
No idea. But I won’t know until I try.
So you’ll get a few less emails from me between June 19 and July 19, but you won’t get zero. I’ve scheduled out some newsletters for you to read while I’m gone. If you hit reply to any of those emails (please do 😊), you’ll meet my Out of Office reply and you’ll hear back from me after I return.
Wishing you all the summer vibes,
Erica
What’s Happening in Aligned
Recently Added to the Video Library:
Tax Scheduling: Panel Discussion [5.26.26](3 solo firm owners share how they scheduled their clients this past tax season)
Tax Season Scheduling Playbook(same content as above, but in case you’d rather read than watch)
AI Show & Tell [6.8.26](See what solo & small small firm owners are using Claude for)
Double Demo [6.16.26](lots of new AI feature; lots of side discussion on running an efficient accounting firm)
🤔 Question of the Week > How overwhelmed do you currently feel about AI?
💬 Current Discussions On > new fractional CFO tool, financial independence / “building a better Tuesday”, multi-state nexus, drowning in email questions, local firm owner on hospice sending over clients, marketing for next tax season, and more!
Join the discussion with 170+ like-minded, non-scaling accountants / really cool humans in the link below. $75/mo, no commitment - come and go as you please :o)
Money back guarantee, if you get in there and don’t see the value. No questions asked.
More details in the link above.