Comments on: 10 things you can do to prepare for vacation

By: Joe, Rockville, MD

Joe, Rockville, MD — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:42:37 +0000

I am taking a short vacation this weekend. My master plan is to make sure my voicemail inbox is full. This way, when I return Monday, there will be no messages. Mwahahaha

By: laurel, Santa Barbara CA

laurel, Santa Barbara CA — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:11:26 +0000

go back to the archives? what if we just tune in as usual and post stuff anyway? i have some favorite
people i like to read almost much as the columns.

i just got back from a trip where the entire town was composed of glenn beck clones and i was at a loss on complimenting their arsenals. hope your trip is a little better. nice to hear from mike, leeroy, jack and all.
have a smashingly good time bing!

By: Danville deepdew, Danville, NH

Danville deepdew, Danville, NH — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:36:50 +0000

Leeroy I like the comment.

Bing Enjoy it, I know the “equity” exists on the company’s side but you earned the right to a vacation…especially after launching a new website with microsoft… Man you must be tired.

By: Bing

Bing — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:22:37 +0000

Let me know your favorites, Mike, if you like.

By: Mike, Spokane, WA

Mike, Spokane, WA — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:11:00 +0000

I may try that. Might be like watching one of those Twilight Zone or Star Trek festivals (back when Shatner had his own hair)…..where you occasionally run across one you’ve never watched before.

By: Bing

Bing — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:13:30 +0000

Actually, Mike, yes. I’m going to try to. I may post a little thing here and there from wherever it is I’m going, but I’m going to try to take a breather. Why not go back into the Bing Archives for the Best of Bing? Leave some comments on the timeless chestnuts of 2007 and 2008? You’d be amazed how fresh and pungent they remain — and relatively uncommented on, too, since those were the days before our current massive army of wise folks and lunatics had assembled. Go for it, Mike!

By: Leeroy

Leeroy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:53:27 +0000

I had the perfect boss, once upon a time. He was, among other things, in charge of handling all disaster responses for a global telecommunications firm … which can be a tall order when a hurricane whacks about a thousand cell towers in Florida or whatever.

When he went on vacation, he was out of the country and out of touch for two weeks. Period. No limited access to email for him.

I was one of the subordinates trusted to take over while he was away. I was expected to sit in his office, make decisions, and live with the consequences … not defer problems until he returned. He demanded that he return to an empty inbox and a one-page status report.

He fully expected that he would not hold his position for eternity, and considered training replacements to be part of his responsibility.

He expected every one of us to manage our staff in the same manner. It was hard filling in for him when he was away, but it was also great to be *expected* to go on vacation without a cell phone or laptop. Oddly enough, the world never ended while any of us were on vacation.

I’ve always considered that man’s approach to his vacation, and his corresponding dedication to ensuring that he was not indespensible to be a yardstick for measuring organizations ever since.

Something to think about for all you bosses out there, as vacations approach. Do you control your environment, or does it control you?

By: Mike, Spokane, WA

Mike, Spokane, WA — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:59:11 +0000

Bing, you’re not going to go on vacation for a couple of weeks, leaving us like poor tiny whinny puppies without the Bing Blog for a couple of weeks, are you?

By: Barb in Hotlanta, GA

Barb in Hotlanta, GA — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:03:35 +0000

Bing! You are a life, er vacation saver! Family is planning a nice Caribbean vacation in late July and I just read #3 “Make sure you have your passport up to date, if you are traveling abroad.” Glad I checked…it expired in September 08. Guess I will be expediting that first thing tomorrow. I miss the old days when all you needed was a drivers license to visit any random island in the Caribbean…..

By: Mike, Spokane, WA

Mike, Spokane, WA — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:48:33 +0000

My problem is that I find it impossible to disengage. Like a motorist who cannot look away from a gruesome car wreck, I must stay tuned on what’s going at work. Insecurity? I don’t think so…I could retire at any time. Goofy enough to think I’m the only one who can do the job? Nope, I have several very competent young pups who’d manage quite well. I think I’m more like an old draft horse that can’t imagine any life out of the harness.

At the end of my Mom’s life she said the worst thing about getting old was not being needed. Maybe this is a remnant of wanting to be useful to a human tribe of some sort (or it’s off to the ice flow!).

By: Robbie P, Endicott NY

Robbie P, Endicott NY — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:56:23 +0000

Joanna, with that attitude, in this job market (hiring employers have the advantage…lotsa people lined up to take your job)…if you worked for me, the key word would be “worked”…past tence…I need people on my team who care…and if the building is on fire…why do you care? You aint there…no worries!

With all due respect…thanks!

By: Joanna, Los Angeles, CA

Joanna, Los Angeles, CA — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:52:19 +0000

Bing…No! You do NOT mention the blackberry working in the mountains. You do NOT mention that you will have your blackberry on you! You are basically saying, “I care. I volunteer to work while I’m away.” That’s a bad example.

What you should say is what I say: Don’t call me unless the building is on fire. Have a great two weeks.

By: Jim, Winston-Salem, NC

Jim, Winston-Salem, NC — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:51:46 +0000

Move everything down a slot and make a new number one:

1- Strangle Bob. Bury him.

Everything goes much easier after that.

By: Robbie P, Endicott NY

Robbie P, Endicott NY — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:17:06 +0000

Bing, this is the kind of prose that makes you a best-selling author. Fabulous stuff!

I agree with the last sentance…the ability to disengage is difficult to attain for some…another “holism” that is hard to shake…

You are the Buhdda of BizZen!!!

By: Jake, Vacationville, USA

Jake, Vacationville, USA — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:01:56 +0000

Don’t forget to turn on your e-mail out of office assistant – with a message that you will have “limited” access to e-mail while you are gone (you can say “no access” if you are feeling brave). Also refer them to someone else who will probably be on vacation whose e-mail will refer them back to you to form the perfect endless loop.