Rest is part of the job

Summer's almost here.

You work hard. You need the break. Take it.

But if you're a watchmaker running a bench, the thought of leaving for a week probably sounds less like rest and more like coming back to a mountain of unfinished work.

Here's how I handle it:

→ I plan 8-12 weeks out. Every job that lands on the bench gets an estimate, and if that estimate falls inside my vacation window, I pad it by 1-2 weeks.

→ I order parts before I leave. Everything I'll need when I'm back is already sitting on the shelf ready to go.

→ I leave detailed notes for my admin team so they can communicate clearly with customers while I'm gone.

The vacation isn't the problem. The lack of planning is.

Rest is part of the job. Build a system that lets you take it.

— FZ