Summer is HERE! In fact, tomorrow is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year!

I remember as a kid, having a countdown to the end of school, the first real day of summer, etc. I would have my whole summer planned out. All the things I wanted to, places I wanted to go, people I wanted to visit.

Now as a business owner, mom and GrAMY, I still plan and make countdowns and my best tip for both business and personal planning is do your research and look at all your options.

A great example is the trip I am taking this summer to Portugal! I am meeting my daughter, her wife and my grandson to spend a few days together. They will be coming from another trip when they meet me and I will head to Paris after meeting them.

This Paris trip was originally planned for June 2020. We all know why that didn’t work out, but because my friends and I stayed on top of that vision and worked to make it happen, here we are three years later, ready to go!

By taking one trip on top of another, I am maximizing my time, traveling in the most efficient way and staying in the vacation mindset, instead of splitting it all up.

In business, if you are planning a big launch or giving a big presentation, plan around it. You wouldn’t want to onboard a brand new client the same week as your speech, but you might want to schedule a rehearsal with your team or set aside some calendar time to go look at the venue.

Stay in action! As my business coach always tells me, there is always something you CAN do. So in business, if the pandemic has slowed down your process, keep moving forward. Your goals probably adjusted and you might be on a different timeline than expected, but you can still get there. Keep dreaming.

After Paris, we are headed to England by train, where we plan a private tour of Stonehenge, just a few days after the summer solstice – how cool is that!!!. I can’t even tell you how excited I am about that!

In looking for a flight back to Philly, I realized flying back on a Sunday into Newark and taking the train back to Philly instead would save me hundreds of dollars.

In business, the first option, or even the most convenient one, doesn’t have to be the one you choose. Find what fits into your finances and your values.

You don’t go on vacation without a plan, so keep that same mindset in your business planning for the second part of 2023. And, a plan is great, but keep an eye out for those spontaneous adventures, too.

I met a woman at a book signing years ago and we ended up rooming together for a bike trip through Hungary and Slovakia!

Stay connected to the people you meet in business and in life. You never know what relationships will flourish.

What are you doing this summer in your business? What research and options can you review when it comes to your team, your leaders, your clients, your vendors, your software, etc?

And delegate! Don’t forget that one.

I love fresh fruits and vegetables, but I am not a gardener. My brother is, though! And he happily shares his harvest. You have excellent people on your team that can help with their specialized skills. Ensure you are working smart and allowing your team to support you.

I am here, as always, if you want to chat about finances!