VACATION TIME

ALWAYS LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

Just returned from a great week in Napa Valley! I enjoyed traveling with a group of good friends, not only did we enjoy the beautiful country side and awesome wine tasting opportunities, but we had a chance to learn more about our neighboring state of California.

There are always lessons to be learned. Customer service and follow-up once again made an impression on me as I received thank you e-mails from several of the wineries we visited. I could also distinguish between the people who enjoyed their jobs and those that were working a job. In the hospitality industry where people contact is often the deciding factor in purchasing a product (perhaps even more so than the wine tasting itself) it is important to convey a warm welcome to visitors. Unfortunately not everywhere we visited was that the case.

The results of the fires and drought were visible in our travels. Water is a precious commodity and we heard about a lot of different possible solutions, including taking some of the water away from the vineyards.

I don’t want to talk about the politics in California; sufficient to say, I am very happy to be living in Arizona.

As a business owner, I was not able to completely keep my thoughts from returning to my business. The only business material I brought with me was my BizQuack Idea Book, and even though I only spent a few minutes a day jotting down some thoughts, I felt that I gained a new energy to help me take my business to the next level. I am sure you will see a few of my thoughts incorporated as we grow and learn to better service our members.

The bottom line: Take some time to get away and let your mind and body relax and rejuvenate itself. I am sure that, just like I did, you will comeback with some new energy.

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Tips and Advice by Nick Petra, CFP – Founder of BizQuack and StrategicDuck