Let’s begin this article with some thought-provoking humor, shall we?

A wealthy businessman was opening the door of his new BMW when a truck came along and hit the door, ripping it off completely. When the police arrived at the scene, the businessman cried out, “Look what they’ve done to my expensive car!”

“You businesspeople are so materialistic,” retorted the officer. “You’re so worried about your silly car, you didn’t even notice that your left arm was ripped off.”

“Oh, my goodness!” screamed the frantic businessman, finally noticing that his left arm was gone. “Where’s my Rolex?!

As a businessman, I can relate to this joke – and it’s not a laughing matter.

Often, we are so focused on the monetary issues of everyday life that we fail to take note of the things that are most important in life: our families.

If we take a moment to pause and reflect, it becomes readily apparent that the primary reason for us working is to support those who are close to us. So why is it that we get sidetracked by our work and, in the process, practically ignore the very ones whom we are actually working to support?

Let’s take a step back and look at the big picture. Family should come first. Work should come second. And we should always keep that in mind.

Spending quality time with your family helps bring peace and serenity into the home. The meaningful moments spent together as a family allow your children to feel secure and nurtured.

Most importantly, the many enjoyable memories that families remember for years to come take place during those tranquil walks in the park, in the midst of a relaxing picnic and while riding bicycles along the boardwalk.

Don’t your loved ones deserve to enjoy these wonderful experiences? I know that mine do.

Which is why I’m utilizing the upcoming holiday of Pesach (Passover) to close up shop for a few days and spend time with my wife and children, as we relax in a calming environment – without being interrupted by buzzing Blackberries and singing SmartPhones.

Keep in mind though, while it’s very important to designate time to spend with your family, it is also very important to keep clients in the loop as well. Here are a few Ptex Practical Pointers that can help you accomplish that:
Let Them Know – Keep your clients informed by sending out an email a few days before leaving the office notifying everybody that you’ll be out of the workplace along with the date that you’ll be returning.
Pay It Up – The last thing you need is coming back to an office that has no electricity or running water. Be sure to pay up all outstanding utility bills (or any other time-sensitive bills such as credit card statements) so you don’t encounter any unpleasant surprises the first day back at work.
Give A Greeting – Update your voicemail greeting with a message letting callers know that you’re currently out of the office and when they can expect you back. Likewise, create an auto-reply email that will instantly inform those who’ve emailed you about your temporary absence.

In all, whatever you choose to do together with your loved ones and wherever you decide to go, keep in mind that these moments are infinitely more valuable than a Rolex…because they’re made of priceless memories.

Onwards and upwards,

Meny Hoffman
P.S. I’d love to hear your comments about this article. Simply comment below.

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