What happens to your business when you take a vacation? Be honest. Does the gym fall apart without you? Are you glued to your phone the entire time, making sure nothing goes wrong?
I get it. Most strength entrepreneurs jump into this business with big dreams, only to find themselves trapped in a never-ending grind: 12–14-hour days, six or seven days a week. Sound familiar?
I’ve been there. When we started scaling Varsity House, we made all the classic mistakes. We added more clients, brought Big Mike into the fold, and just kept working harder. What we didn’t do was build the structure and accountability needed to truly share the workload.
The result? Burnout, frustration, and near extinction as a business.
The Litmus Test for Your Business
Here’s how you can tell if your business is truly built to thrive without you: schedule a trip.
Yes, really. Plan a getaway and see what happens when you’re not there to hold everything together.
- Does the gym go uncleaned for 24 hours?
- Is no one available to train your clients?
- Do client communications grind to a halt unless you’re glued to your phone?
- Does the sales pipeline shut down completely?
When you step away, any cracks in your systems become glaringly obvious. But that’s not a bad thing. Just like training a client, once you find the problem, you can fix it.
Awareness precedes change.
Why Taking a Vacation Is Good for Business
At Varsity House, we prioritize stepping away from the facility for extended periods each year. Here’s why:
1. It Shows You Who Your A-Players Are
Who steps up when the “boss” isn’t around? Who owns their role and goes above and beyond? Taking time away reveals the people on your team who truly shine.
2. It Forces Independence
Your team learns to think critically and make decisions without you micromanaging every move. This is how you empower them to grow and thrive.
3. It Tests Your Systems
More often than not, you are the chokehold on your business’s efficiency. When you’re out of the picture, you’ll quickly learn whether your systems are simple and strong enough to function without constant oversight.
4. It Provides Clarity
Time away clears your head and allows you to focus on the bigger picture. Where’s the next opportunity for growth? What’s the next strategic move for your business?
The Real Problem
If you haven’t had the time or money to take a trip in months—or even years—that’s not your team’s fault. It’s not your client’s fault, either. It’s on you.
Leadership isn’t just about technical skills or certifications. It’s about building systems, empowering your team, and creating space to think and act like a business owner, not just a trainer.
Here are two books that made a huge impact on me and the Varsity House team:
- The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni
- Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman
These books will help you understand how to build a team and structure your business for long-term success.
It’s time to take back your time, build a business that works for you, and yes—finally take that vacation.
If this resonates with you, don’t just nod and move on. Schedule the trip. Your business will thank you for it.
Dan Goodman is the co-owner of Varsity House Gym, a strength and conditioning facility catering to elite athletes and weekend warriors alike. His passion for entrepreneurialism and business transformed itself into the internationally recognized Business of Strength seminars and podcasts. Dan is a proud family man and lover of traditional Italian Sunday dinners who currently resides in Bergen County, New Jersey, with his wife, Dana.
