Get outta town.

If the economy has you down, if you’re severely challenged by your design business, if you’re burnt out, get outta town.

If you’re uncertain where to go from here, go there.

“There” can be a mountain resort, or a sandy beach, or a nice town a few hours away.

Get away for a few weeks, a few days, or a even a few hours. Just…get outta of town.

Nothing can give you more clarity about your business than time away from your business.

That means time away from your cellphone and email and blackberry and every other link to your workaday world.

A recent bicycle trip to Jackson Hole, WY reminded me how renewing and energizing time away can be.

I was so busy enjoying myself on the 579-mile, week-long ride — and the subsequent week I spent with Ellen and Zach in Yellowstone and Teton national parks — that I didn’t have much time to think about business.

Nevertheless, I came back filled with fresh perspectives and exciting ideas about my speaking and coaching business.

And I returned with solutions to some challenges which had perplexed me for some time.

Time away is great for your mind, body and soul. And it’s great for your business, too.

What you don’t do in the second half of 2009 could have a huge impact. 

Want to finish this challenging year with a flourish? Then make sure you DON’T…

…meet your customers needs. Exceed them. Good service isn’t good enough anymore.

… wait for customers to come to you. Go to them. In-home selling is hot.

…wait for customers to call. Call them. “Smile and dial” at every opportunity.

…assume your job is secure. The client — or design firm — that hires you today can fire you tomorrow.

…freeze your fees. Raise them. You can set and get any price if you differentiate yourself from competitors who charge less.

…give away your time. Bill for consultation, installation, travel time and everything else.

…advertise. Dare to be different: do articles and news releases instead. Free publicity is the best advertising you can’t buy.

…just think locally. Think globally. Use your website, social networking sites and your blog to position yourself in the international market.

…just be a “store.” Be an event center. HGTV- hungry customers want programs on do-it-yourself furnishing projects, what’s hot and what’s not, color trends, etc.

…compete with big box stores. You offer service and expertise. They don’t.

….fear price objections. Embrace them. They’re buying signals.

…fear “no.” It may just mean “not yet.”

…hold on to hardship. Underachieving employees and unprofitable product lines bring you down. Get rid of them.

…work harder. Work smarter. Make better use of your working time, and you’ll have more time for family, friends and fun.

…work for jerks. Your time is too precious. Life is too short.

Fred Berns is a business coach and trainer for interior design professionals worldwide.