Erika Jones, CFO, CCTAProfit First Professionals · Certified Fractional CFO and Profit First Professional

Why To Take a Month Vacation? Clockwork | Under The Covers

18 Apr 2021 · 0 min

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In this interview, the speakers discuss the recommendation from the book Clockwork to take a four‑week vacation as a test of whether a business can operate independently of its owner. They explain that if the founder can be completely disconnected for four consecutive weeks and the company continues to run smoothly, it demonstrates that the business has its own legs and can sustain itself without constant owner involvement. The conversation outlines the practical steps needed to achieve this: starting with shorter breaks to identify operational weak points, then systemizing and fixing those issues before attempting the full four‑week hiatus. An example is given of Kelsey, who is being prepared to become the company president; she took an eight‑week leave, during which the owner remained minimally involved, illustrating how extended absences can develop leadership, empower successors, and confirm the business’s independence. The overall message is that a deliberate, well‑planned extended vacation serves both as a proof of business resilience and a catalyst for leadership development and succession planning.

So my question is in your book, Clockwork.
Yeah.
You tell people to take a four week vacation. Why?
Ah. And you did this yourself?
I did.
So Kelsey is in process of becoming the president of our company. We haven't officially signed a title, we gotta actually talk about that. But she runs the show here and this is something we actually did for Kelsey and we've done it for me. As the founder of the business. If you, the owner of the business can be removed from the business for four consecutive weeks, a full disconnection from the business, and not do anything actively to support the business and the business can run without you, you've proven the business can run independently of the owner, that it has its own legs. And that's the goal. Now in practice, you don't just take a four week vacation tomorrow. You have to prepare for this. And we take small vacations and breaks from the business to see where the business needs help while you're gone. Where does it struggle and come back and systemize and fix that. But ultimately the goal is to get away for four weeks so there's no dependency on the owner. If you can go for four weeks without the owner, you probably can go to perpetuity and we've done it for you. So Kelsey went away for eight weeks and I think I texted you with Amy at least once a week like we were so. But they were not.
Work related.
And that's the thing, we were just missing you. But Kelsey set us up to run without her and here's what happens as a result. Kelsey's going to become president of our company because she enabled the rest of our team to level up so she can level up. I've removed myself from the business so I don't need to function as a president as much as someone that works on the vision and then collectively we work on the strategy, she manages the execution and the business is moving forward. Plan your four week vacation now, not for tomorrow, but for a year from now or so and it'll change your mindset from working in the business, doing things, to really designing the outcomes you want and enabling and empowering other people to do the work.