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I am an American, but live with a European attitude. I learned how to live life, while working in Spain. I learned how to relax and not worrying about lurking at the screen past 5:00 PM, while working in England.

I am now co-owner of a design studio located in Italy, while working in the New England sister studio. I follow the American and Italian holiday schedule and take a vacation whenever I want. I think it is a matter of budgeting business time to do what really matters: live life and spending time with family and friends.

Am I worried about creating more work for myself, because I am bored? No! Do I work late hours, because I am trying to impress my boss? No! Am I as stressed out as my co-workers, because I am in fear of losing my job? No! I am not someone else's robot that makes them profits, while my annual increase is 2.5%. I am not going to put in time and love for a company that is not my own.

Vacation time cannot possibly be calculated a year in advance. How can a family coordinate it, so they are all together at once? Americans do not even appreciate the concept of vacation/holiday time! A week is not enough to release stress and enjoy the air.

In short, I laughed at other comments about profits lost, competitive markets, same vacation time for positions not equal to others etc. Wake up people! Have a doughnut, before you jump out the window. Road rage and blank faces will diminish when we are all on a mandatory twenty-day paid vacation. This will allow us to visit the doctor and put our failing medical coverage to work.

Learn more about this author, Salvatore Oliva.
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