Taken from the summit of Wildcat Ski Resort of Mt. Washington around 11AM today.

Whenever I get ready to go on vacation, I always have second thoughts. "Maybe I shouldn't leave the office… maybe I should bring everything with me that needs to get done so I can work on it while I'm gone," etc.

Today, on our third day away, I'm slipping into vacation mode. As I sit gazing at the huge mountain before me, I realize that time out of the office enables me to clear my head.

I haven't touched my briefcase (packed to the hilt with things to be done), but instead have used this time to focus on the "big" picture. Where do I want (my company) to be in five years, are we on track with our marketing objectives for 2007 and what new initiatives can we try that we haven't before.

Technically, yes, I'm still working, but this kind of working is actually relaxing, and it's something I never have time for in the office, when deadlines are looming.

I hope that you'll be able to take a break this summer to get away from the office, clear your head and think of where you're going in the future.