Two thoughts to shake off the summer doldrums

I think that the summer months are the best time to shift into research and development mode, to prepare a new service or product launch, or to meet new people that could refer contacts or become customers.

However, when sharing this with fellow solopreneurs, I come face to face with deeply held beliefs like "summer is time to relax" or "I need a vacation".

I agree, enjoy the nice weather. But also take time each day to keep in touch with your project, to move it forward a bit... If you love what you do, why would you want to stay away from it for long?

The masters in the art of living make little distinction between their work and their play, their labor and their leisure, their minds and their bodies, their information, their recreation, their love and their religion. They hardly know which is which, they simply pursue their vision of excellence at whatever they do, leaving others to decide whether they are working or playing.
- James Michener

But what is work and what is not work? Is it work to dig, to carpenter, to plant trees, to fell trees, to ride, to fish, to hunt, to feed chickens, to play the piano, to take photographs, to build a house, to cook, to sew, to trim hats, to mend motor bicycles? All of these things are work to somebody, and all of them are play to somebody. There are in fact very few activities which cannot be classed either as work or play according as you choose to regard them.
- George Orwell (1903 - 1950), The Road to Wigan Pier.