Central Coast carpenter Paul Riley recognises the connection between striking the right work-life balance and being a happy, healthy and well adjusted business owner.
In addition to owning his own high-end residential construction company, Trademark Building, he is also the father of two young children,
so understands the importance of spending time away from his work to re-energise and re-prioritise.
“I feel you earn the break and it’s good for mental health and especially family time,” he says. Yet even with this knowledge, the licensed builder admits he can’t help but check in with his team while he’s on leave to ensure that the work remains on track.
Having started as an apprentice chippy in 2003, Riley says he is only comfortable taking one or two brief holidays a year. But within the demanding construction sector, even that puts him in the minority, with many of his competitors arguing that the demands of clients, staff and day-today operations make stepping away unviable.
The reality of this was highlighted in a December 2004 survey by hipages, which revealed that very few tradies are taking the annual leave they need. Its findings show that one in four believe their business can’t operate without them, and three in 10 worry they will lose clients if they do take time off.
According to the survey, many tradies are risking burnout after sacrificing their annual leave, with 60 per cent feeling physically exhausted, 53 per cent complaining they are missing out on quality time with family and friends, and almost one in two feeling they have a complete lack of work-life balance.
In another survey reveal, 49 per cent of the nation’s tradies have taken more than a week of annual leave in thepast year and one in five haven’t takena single day of leave in the past 12months. Two-thirds of those surveyed say that even if they did take time off, they would still be anxious about workso doubted it was worthwhile.
Tradies who neglect to take holidays often find themselves in a position where they can’t make good decisions, lead their team, or grow their business because they’re constantly running on empty, according to business coach and mentor Mark Vischschoonmaker.
Since 2007, he has worked with hundreds of owners of building, plumbing, electrical, and related trade businesses on gaining clarity, building better systems, and growing a business that doesn’t completely rely on them being there 24/7.
Taking time off isn’t just self-care; it’s good business strategy, he says. When done correctly it gives business owners perspective as well as forces the business to operate without them essential if they ever want to sell, scale or enjoy any freedom.
Top athletes take time off during the year so they can rest, contemplate, recharge and play their best game during game season,” says Vischschoonmaker. “Business is just playing another game, which so happens to be your livelihood. So why would it be any different?
“Business owners often feel like the whole business rests on their shoulders, and stepping away feels risky. There’s guilt, fear of missed
opportunities, and even a bit of ego. But over time, that thinking becomes a trap. The real challenge is learning to trust your team and systems—or building them if they don’t exist yet.”
Vischschoonmaker recommends several things trade business owners can do to ensure their business runs smoothly while they’re away, including identifying potential problems, setting expectations and delegating tasks. He says even just booking a Friday off every six to eight weeks can shift the way you approach your time and priorities.
By far the most important thing to dowhen preparing for time off is to plan.The more advanced planning you do, the more prepared you and your team will be.
He suggests starting small by taking a day or two off to test how things run. Next, you should have a clear plan to communicate to your team and clients in advance.
Assign responsibility, he urges, “even if it’s just a team leader or admin person to triage issues. “Use checklists and systems—especially for quoting, scheduling, and customer follow-up—and set boundaries; avoid the temptation to keep checking your phone or emails. If you can’t take a few days off without things falling apart, that’s a red flag, not a badge of honour.
Instead of waiting until you ‘deserve’ a break, tradies should instead schedule one early and stick to it. Teams should be empowered to step up in your absence. It’s also important to remember you’re building a business, not just creating a job for yourself, Vischschoonmaker stresses.
“Running a trade business is demanding, but the irony is this: the more you step away, the stronger your business becomes if you use it as a chance to build independence into your systems and people. I often say to clients, ‘A real business runs without you.’ Taking holidays isn’t a luxury; it’s part of becoming a better business owner.”
