Tripadvisor Cambodia - Travel Agent Business - Is Your Travel Agency Business Hurting You?

You may well be in the grips of a terrible disease - as a travel agent business owner,

"toomanyhoursism"

" How many hours have you averaged per week at work, 1st very important question: "If you looked clearly at your past month at work?

" 2nd very important question to maximize success: "How many hours did you spend per week working on the income producing side of your business?

You are in reality sacrificing other areas of life continuously, but my challenge is if you are consistently working seventy plus hours a week. Short bursts of sustained effort can be just what are needed. There are many great outcomes you can attribute to "hard work". Working sixty or seventy or even eighty hours per week is not necessarily wrong.

And this insidious disease can keep going for years and year and years causing damage to every area except our work. You may be missing sporting or social events. It may be you are missing out on just getting enough rest and relaxation. It maybe relationship or family time you end up sacrificing.

It is something we have to guard against and have a plan of attack to make sure the other important areas of life receive attention. As a business coach I have seen this "disease" create unrest in many business owners lives.

This survey below will give you a dose of reality around where you are right now with your work practices in your travel agent business.

How many hours a week do you work in your travel agent business?

71 or more 51 - 70
e. 41 - 50
d. 26 - 40
c. Less than 25
b. A.

Do you work at all on weekends?

Always Most weekends
e. Once a month
d. A few times a year
c. Never
b. A.

How many holidays (excluding weekends) will you take this year?

None 1 - 4 days
e. 5 - 9 days
d. 10 - 14 days
c. More than fourteen days
b. A.

What is your personal income before tax?

000 less than $40, 999 p/a
e, 000 - $ 79, $40. 999 p/a
d, 000 - $149, $80. 999 p/a
c, 000 - $249, $150. 000 p/a
b, over $250. A.

. . You have missed family/personal events due to work, in the past year.

Always Regularly
e. Occasionally
d. Rarely
c. Never
b. A.

. . You put work ahead of pleasure and relaxation .

Because you're the only one that can do the job properly Or because of price conscious customers
e, to save costs and beat competition. Because you can't afford to employ others at the moment
d. Because you started business within the past year and are still setting up
c. Never
b. A.

. . Includes, now and in the past, the toll your profession has taken on your personal life.

Your marriage or relationship Your physical health
e. Your personal satisfaction
d. Your free time
c. None
b. A.

. . Your tombstone will no doubt say.

Success at any cost Should have stopped and smelled the roses
e. Play
d; achieved a great balance of work &. World's best Parent and/or Partner
c. Party on
b. A.

Now let us check your results

Let us add all your answers up using the following formula:

A = 0 points
B = 1 point
C = 2 points
D = 3 points
E = 4 points

15 to 32 points

Don't be surprised if your house key doesn't open the front door one day soon. . . If you have a family. You're very likely on the brink of some serious trouble health wise and probably on the home front too. Regardless of how often you kid yourself it's only for a few more weeks / months / years; the symptoms won't go away on their own. Professional help is required for you to understand that life and travel agent business are two separate entities and having a plan of attack is crucial.

9 - 14 points

Some simple changes will have a great effect on your time management and stress levels. You need to look at ways to improve each business activity and strategy to make sure your tactics achieve maximum effectiveness. You are on your way to achieving balance but there is still a lot to do.

To do, set a dollar value on your time and be aware of when you are doing tasks you could pay others less, see life after work. Get some help and encouragement to build your vision of the future from positive people such as your coach.

5 - 8 points

And that you only have one life made up of finite time and you want to make it count, you have realised there is more to life than work. You probably have systems in place to give you confidence that your team can complete tasks up to your standard; you are doing well.

Stay focussed and get an outside view of your business now and again as a 'reality check', now is not the time to 'lose the plot'. You have confidence that your clients get a great return on their investment and refuse to sabotage yourself with discounts and write-offs.

0 - 4 points

Good luck. The important thing now is you are aware of where you are on the work/ life scale and can do something about rectifying any imbalance. That is working hard and enjoying all aspects of life and not letting your travel agent business become your only passion. Congratulations: you are a true entrepreneur with an exceptional understanding of balance and what success in life is all about.