Bradley continues the Scale Milestones series with episode three, focusing on "Away Time" - one of the most intuitive yet challenging aspects of business ownership. He dives into why taking time away from your business isn't just important for your well-being, but actually critical for growth and profitability.
Key Topics Covered
The Journey from Rainmaker to Architect
Bradley revisits the core concept driving this series - the evolution from being the rainmaker of your business to becoming its architect. This week's milestone focuses on how much time you can step away from day-to-day operations.
The 12-Week Challenge
Bradley encourages business owners to take at least 12 weeks off per year. Before you panic, he breaks it down: Saturdays and Sundays count, plus natural holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, Christmas, and that week between Christmas and New Year's. When you do the math (12 x 7 = 84 days), it's more achievable than it initially sounds.
The Entrepreneurial Paradox
Bradley gets real about the irony many business owners face - we start businesses for freedom and flexibility, but often end up trading "the 9 to 5 for the 5 to 9." He admits this is a personal challenge, acknowledging his own love for business while recognizing the importance of balance.
Personal vs. Professional Balance
Bradley shares his perspective on balancing entrepreneurship with family life, mentioning his kids (ages 14 and 10) and the different seasons of life that affect how much time away becomes important. He respectfully disagrees with some popular business personalities who advocate for all-work approaches, noting the difference in life circumstances.
The Emotional Decision
Rather than citing statistics from Gallup or other research, Bradley frames taking time away as an emotional decision that varies based on where you are in life. He emphasizes that different seasons require different approaches to work-life balance.
Bradley challenges listeners to:
- Define what a day off looks like for you
- Calculate how many days off you took in 2024
- Set intentions for how many days you want to take off in 2025
- Track your progress (since no one else is holding you accountable)
The Bigger Picture
The host reinforces that if you can't accomplish everything you need in a 40-week work year, it's time to question what you're building the business for. The goal isn't just to reach a million in revenue or achieve consistent growth and profitability - it's to create a life where you're not defined solely by your work.
Next Week Preview
Episode four of the Scale Milestones series is coming up next week, continuing the journey through the five milestones that spell out SCALE. Subscribe to catch our biweekly episodes!
The Bottom Line
Getting to $1M is milestone #1 (Sustainable Revenue), but milestone #2 requires that million-dollar business to maintain Consistent Growth & Profitability. It's the balance between these two that separates true business architects from one-time winners.
Next week: Bradley reveals the "A" in the SCALE milestones.
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