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/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} As I was working on my business plan today, I realized I didn’t know how many selling days there are FOR ME in 2009. Why do I say for me? Well there are variables we all need to take into account when figuring this out, here are the ones that come to mind:
1. What does a business week look like for me – based on when my customers work?
2. How much time off do I want to take to recharge (some people may call this “vacation” and feel guilty about it… I look at it as necessary time for me to be the best at what I do when I am working).
3. When do my customers have holidays scheduled (see below)? Do any of their holidays coincide with when I will be recharging?
4. When I look back at the past 2 years, how much time did I spend on non-work activities UNEXPECTEDLY (illness – mine or others, emergencies, calling hours/funerals, appointments, etc)? Are there any new things that I need to take into consideration (ie: new baby, parents or spouse with health issues, etc)?
5. Skill improvement time – how much time will I use to become better at what I do this year?
6. How many days am I going to spend planning instead of selling (like today I’m working on my business plan, which I do one day every month)?
For easy reference, here are the 2009 Canadian & US Federal Holidays
Thursday, January 1 New Year’s Day both
Monday, January 19 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. US
Tuesday, January 20* Inauguration Day US
Monday, February 16 Washington’s Birthday US
Friday, April 10 Good Friday Canada
Monday, April 13 Easter Monday Canada
Monday, May 18 Victoria Day Canada
Monday, May 25 Memorial Day US
Wednesday, July 1 Canada Day Canada
Friday, July 3** Independence Day US
Monday, September 7 Labor/Labour Day both
Monday, October 12 Thanksgiving Day Canada
Monday, October 12 Columbus Day US
Wednesday, November 11 Veterans Day US
Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving Day US
Friday, December 25 Christmas Day both
Saturday, December 26 Boxing Day Canada
* Some federal workers in the DC area will have the day off
** Independence Day is on Saturday this year so the federal government is giving workers the Friday before off.
If you have a regional focus, don’t forget to check their holidays too, here are some additional dates I found in New England and Canada:
Thursday, February 12 Lincoln’s Birthday CT
Monday, February 16 Family Day AB, ON, SK
Monday, February 16 Town Meeting Day VT
Tuesday, March 17 Evacuation Day MA
Monday, April 20 Patriots’ Day ME and MA
Wednesday, June 17 Bunker Hill Day MA
Monday, August 3 Civic/Provincial Day Many regions in Canada
Monday, August 10 Victory Day RI
Monday, August 17 Bennington Battle Day VT
Wednesday, November 11 Remembrance Day Many regions in Canada
Friday, November 27 Thanksgiving Friday US
