Have you ever left your business for an extended period of time - anywhere from a couple weeks to a few months? This could be due to any number of reasons like personal leave for helping a family member, to resting and recovering from a medical procedure. Once you returned, what did you do?
I'm faced with that same question as I return from 10 weeks of leave after giving birth to my first son, Everett. (See sidebar for the mandatory baby photo.)
Now, I know distributors are notorious for not taking leave very often - if at all. I can assure you while I don't have quite the same demanding, over-the-road schedule, I also tend to forgo vacations or leave from work to focus on my job. Even if you're returning from a week's vacation, it takes extra effort to get back on track once you've been away.
Prepare in advance
While there are some instances where you may have a medical emergency that requires an immediate hiatus, oftentimes you have the chance to gather your bearings before you take a break from your business. Either way, it's important to have a back-up plan in place in the event that you cannot run your route for awhile. Think about some key areas:
Decide how you'll handle day-to-day tasks while away. Weekly collections can certainly add up, and if there's no one there to collect, you won't get paid. If you know you'll be on leave, consider asking for a larger payment the week prior, or explain your absence and request your customers pay more on their balance the week you return.
Plan your inventory. Don't order more than you have to if you know you'll be away. Placing a large order means you're responsible for that tool bill, even when you're not collecting money from your customers to repay it.
Set your customers' expectations. Let your shops know you'll be away, and what they can do for service and tools while you're gone. Do you have a spouse that can maintain your route while you're out? Or, a trusted colleague from your district that can deliver tools on an as-needed basis? If not, still let your customers know when you're leaving and when you'll be back.
Re-evaluate your process
Stepping away from work for awhile can give you a chance to re-evaluate the procedures you've previously adopted. A fresh perspective allows you to look at certain processes or think of different ways to accomplish something. Have you always wanted to add or drop a few stops, or streamline your route stops during the week? Is there a display on your truck you'd like to move or adjust?
It may take a few days to get back into the swing of things. Consider taking this opportunity to make adjustments to your daily routine. Since you've already been gone for an extended amount of time, it offers a chance for a smooth transition to something new.
Recognize your support
I cannot stress this enough; get help from others. Whether it's assistance from your family members to help out at home, or if you have other employees or co-workers that can help ease you back into your daily grind (think: corporate contacts and sales), don't hesitate to reach out and get the help you need.
That being said, I have to give a public and sincere shout-out to the rest of the Professional Distributor staff - especially my editorial staff - for helping to keep the magazine running while I was gone.
(Did I mention it also helps to show your appreciation?)
