Dynamic Business

OVERLOAD
An unvarying routine can sap your energy just as much as a busy schedule. If this is you, reinvigorate yourself by stepping outside your comfort zone. Whether you choose to seek your thrills on an expedition somewhere or just want to get active, the natural high of adrenaline-pumping holidays will inject some verve back into your life-energy you can use to freshen up your business.

Thrillseekers will be enamoured with places like New Zealand, which has marketed itself as an adventure destination. From bungee jumping and falling out of planes to white water rafting, caving and snow sports, New Zealand has thrills, spills and natural wonders packaged up. If you fancy a bit of a challenge, perhaps gear up for mountain-climbing in the Himalayas, location of the world’s highest mountains, where summiting provides its own special rush, or gear down for a hair-raising bike ride from La Cumbre to Coroico on Bolivia’s ‘Death Road’-don’t forget to buy the ‘I survived’ t-shirt at the end.

100% Pure New Zealand: www.newzealand.com
Explore Himalaya: www.explore-himalaya.com
Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking: www.gravitybolivia.com

For activities of a less heart-thumping nature, hiking holidays have special appeal. If you’re not too keen on the risk of getting lost in the bush, there are plenty of guided tours to suit different comfort levels, as well as different interests. How about a gastronomic cycling tour through France taking in vineyards and chateaux? Or you might like to put up your feet but still enjoy a rollicking ride on the back of a safari vehicle while wildlife populations go about their fascinating daily lives.

Into the Blue Creative Walks: www.intotheblue.com.au
DuVine: www.duvine.com
Africa Uncovered: www.africauncovered.com

If you’re okay with aching feet and a sense of achievement but you don’t want to get too dirty, consider holidays centred on shopping excursions. The shopping destinations for high end fashion include the big four-London, Paris, Milan and New York-but depending on what you want to buy, you shouldn’t discount places like Dubai, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Did I mention discount? If you’re savvy, you can plan trips around seasonal sales such as the Great Singapore Sale, where the whole country goes on sale from mid-May to mid-July every year.

Worldwide Shopping Tours: www.worldwideshoppingtours.com.au
Chic Inspiration: www.chicshoppingtoursny.com
Great Singapore Sale: www.greatsingaporesale.com.sg

SHORT CIRCUIT
It’s nice to dream of a few weeks off, but sometimes it’s just easier to book a weekend getaway and work around these islands of rest. If you like being in the driver’s seat, Australia has some of the most astonishing drives in the world, whether you prefer coastal routes, mountain escapes or desert landscapes. Book yourself into a quiet B’ n’B somewhere and enjoy the serenity.

If you frequently travel for business, consider taking a couple of days off before or after the ‘business’ part of your trip. Most business trips consist of constant meetings or conference sessions and no time to actually enjoy the location, so taking time out to enjoy your surroundings can help you feel as if you’re there are a traveller as well as a business person.

Luckily, conference destinations are starting to get a bit more exotic-even Darwin wants a share of the action, recently opening its new convention centre as part of the grand waterfront development underway in the city. But even if you’re stuck in the same city for the ninth time, treat it like you might a weekend getaway, hire a car or hop on a train and get out of town for a few days. And don’t forget that hub cities are great for short breaks to more holiday-friendly locations: if you’ve already seen Hong Kong, you could try a slice of mainland China for something different, for example.

NRMA Travel Planner: www.mynrma.com.au
FCm Travel Solutions: www.au.fcm.travel

Running smoothly
A good break is one where you don’t have to worry about a thing, so make sure you have everything in order before you go.
* Inform your clients that you will be away and name who will be in charge until you return.
* Give responsibility of the business to someone you can trust to manage your clients and your staff.
* Ensure that you have your finances in check, including paying bills and chasing debts, so your cash flow cycle is sustainable in your absence
* If you really must stay in contact with the office, give staff or clients windows of your availability via phone or let them know you will check emails periodically.