June 1, 2006
So, I'm at the hotel and I pick up my USA Today to read with breakfast, and there's an article in the business section about how many small business owners and self-employed people are having difficulties taking vacations.

I can relate, actually. I am, I think, both--small businessowner and self-employed person--and it can be very tough to tear yourself away from the e-mail or the work.

I'm in Baltimore on a business trip, and today I spent the morning out doing tourist things--visited the Aquarium, went through a submarine, shopped, took a boat ride, had lunch--and now I'm back in the hotel. I've got about 5 hours until I need to go to the opening thingy for the meeting, and I'm going to spend it working. I want to fit in a workout in there somewhere, probably after my ridiculously large lunch at The Cheesecake Factory digests for a bit (meaning I REALLY need to work out). But I know I need to call my PR person at Midnight Ink this afternoon, and continue outlining and working on a business report and I need to get ready for an author interview--I'm interviewing author Gayle Lynds--tomorrow, as well as try to get most of the way through her book.

I like it, but I do have moments when I think, "I really need to get away from work--no writing, no editing, and for God sakes, no e-mail. It's tough. You're always afraid you're going to miss out on some big assignment, although I'm quite busy right at the moment anyway, thank you very much. I don't think this is something new, although the USA Today article tried to put a current times spin on it, which is BS. All self-employed people get tied to their jobs, and I think it's even worse for those who work out of their house. I remember talking to a guy a few years back who worked for Zeiss as a microscope mechanic who when he wasn't traveling from hospital to hospital and laboratory to laboratory, was otherwise working out of his home. And he told me that the biggest problem was getting away from the job. You just have to close the door and ignore the ringing phone.

So, although I went out and bought a lightweight, inexpensive laptop I could take with me on trips, I think I should probably resist the call of the Blackberry or Treo. I'm drawing the line, dammit!

Best,
Mark Terry