"While business must still be taken care of during these festive times, you can rest easy that just because you're enjoying a night out doesn't mean that you're going to lose all that you've been working towards all year. When you're enjoying dinner and dancing at your company's annual event or that Mojito at your associate's loft you are building something more valuable than your business bank account..."

We are coming up on the Holiday Season and things are beginning to wind down for the year. There are annual gala's for most associations, dinner banquets to honor key players in industry and plain ole' get togethers at your coworker's home just because. While business must still be taken care of during these festive times, you can rest easy that just because you're enjoying a night out doesn't mean that you're going to lose all that you've been working towards all year. When you're enjoying dinner and dancing at your company's annual event or that Mojito at your associate's loft you are building something more valuable than your business bank account - your professional & personal community.

I'm a work-aholic. And not just because our present economy requires me to be but, because I have this passion for developing my company and being successful at what I do. Sometimes, I feel like I've always got business on the brain even when I'm 'out with friends or family, relaxing.' I'm hoping I'm not the only one out there who's always got their business on their mind?

I think most entrepreneurs share this passion and often find themselves 'living' for their business, especially start-ups and indie business owners. Even when I'm not supposed to be working, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking of things that need to get done. And it doesn't make things better since my business is centered around online technology and my computer. I have access to many aspects of my business 24 hours a day, 7days a week which means I can always work on my client's projects as well as my own; but on the other hand it's terrible for an obsessive-compulsive like me who always has some new idea going on in my head that I have to see developed - NOW. So, what do I do? I've got to catch some down time but time is money, right? What's more valuable than that? Well...

While I have great friends who put up with me and a supportive family who keep me balanced - it's a great thing when you can also relax with your professional 'family' too. They have a great sense of the things you go through every day and also understand your need to grab downtime when you can. Sharing a different part of yourself and opening up your personality to those that you do business with or plan to do business with can be invaluable. There's no formula that I can give to you on this topic, just actual observation and experience. This newsletter is for all of those people who feel they have no time to participate in social gatherings related to their industry. They are not a 'waste of time' as they can be dismissed as. They are great opportunities for you to relax and get to know people past your business interest and theirs.

Use this holiday season as a way to learn about others, open your mind to new ideas and, ultimately, celebrate your achievements in your personal or business lives - whether big or small. That means attending those galas, catching that mixer your client is throwing in Midtown and stopping by the company holiday party. Forge new relationships, keep building on the old ones and build your involvement in your business community. Not only can this be one of the more pleasurable benefits of being a part of the working and entrepreneurial force, at the end of the day, your involvement will be more valuable than the deposits you make to your bank. I promise. Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!