Congratulations! I hope you kicked a** this season. Almost universally, reports from the season have ranged from good to exceptional and I hope the report is good with you as well. Once you have closed for the season, celebrate! You deserve it.
Now before you forget... I know the temptation is to run away, I know I feel it! But before you forget, spend some purposeful time remembering.
What should you remember? Write down your thoughts from the season. Here are some brain kickers:
What worked / What didn't?
What questions did customer repeatedly ask you and the staff?
What coupons did you get back?
What advertising campaign was referenced the most?
What soda/candy/bakery/jam/apple flavors sold?
What tour booked heaviest?
When did your systems breakdown?
What was your staff to guest ratio on a big day / slow day?
Where did you save money?
Where did you flush money?
What attractions were busy? Slow?
What food sold?
Which employees worked hard or not?
When did you have a breakdown/meltdown (mentally)?
You will never know it like you do now. Recall works better, sooner. Don't wait to collect the knowledge from this great season. Particularly if you had good traffic through the door, your numbers will be more informative than in a slow year - you have a better statistical sample.
They won't all be like this. I am an eternal optimist, but I know that the seasons will not all be like this one. Take some of your profits and put yourself in a better position for the future. It might mean paying yourself or saving for the future. It might mean paying down debt. It might mean investing in infrastructure.
We're investing in a big renovation of our indoor playground, because we've got parties booked from Dec 5th on - and we've been waiting years to do it. Whatever it is, make sure you take the opportunity to prepare a better future for yourself.
Decompress. We are all in 'firefighter mode' right now. make sure to give yourself a little space to readjust to a more normal pace. You'll drive yourself into the ground, and your staff too, if you pound away in 'panic mode' toward the next project. They need space, and a break from you, just like you need space and a break from them! You need to consciously take time away to decompress before you have a meltdown.
(Just as an aside, you have unconscious coping mechanisms you may not recognize. If you are burning out, there are things your body and mind do to try to help you survive. Can you spot them? For me, when I find myself making excuses to 'go for parts/supplies', I know I'm hitting the wall - I HATE shopping, but it gives me time in the car, in the quiet of my vehicle without the music playing and a change of scenery that I need mentally to survive. You have something you do unconsciously, too. I know you do. Do you know it?)
Replay your victories. Take some time to mentally playback the great moments of the season. Hauling your deposits to the bank. Enjoying time with guests. Paying off bills. That super party you hosted for a great group of kids. That perfect school tour.
This is a joyful activity that recharges your batteries. It's OK to take 1/2 a day to do this. I like to write my favorite parts of the season down. I'm so future focused I often forget to relive past victories.
You NEED to do this. You need to remember all the good that you did for the community, your guests, and people in general by opening your farm to the general public and providing such a great place for families to be together.
YOU ROCK! You deserve some time to store that in your memory banks to use as fuel for next year. We work in the best industry in the world. Be proud of what you bring to your guests, your community, and the world.
Take some time to remember all that was 2010 and all the lives upon which you had a positive impact. Well done, you. I'm proud of you.
Have a great week.
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