When you work for yourself the concept of "getting away" can seem impossible. Some of us feel guilty when we try to take time off from work and others just can't find a way to leave all the responsibility behind. And yet, we know that keeping the nose to the grindstone all the time just produces burnout.

If you're feeling fried, burnt, or even just stale, it's time to take off. Here's a simple way to get away without the guilt: take a working retreat. A working retreat gets you out of the office and into a new environment where you can focus your total attention on the one or two major projects that are key to your business success.

I recently returned from a five day working retreat at a friend's house feeling refreshed, organized, and inspired. Here are my requirements for a working retreat:

• A remote location away from the office
• One or at most two major projects to work on
• Often a friend or business associate to brainstorm with
• Lasts 3 to 10 days
• Delegation of most routine tasks and communication to my staff
• A good mix of work and play

During this last retreat I worked on a major website membership program due to be launched in May. With my friend's help, we laid out the major components of the project, identified the major obstacles and opportunities, set priorities, and defined writing styles. I emerged with a complete plan of action and the exact knowledge I needed to proceed.

We worked 4-6 hours each day, and spent the rest of the time taking short day trips and tending to my friend's daily obligation. I also took the opportunity to catch up on my rest. I will reciprocate my friend's efforts later this year during another working retreat here at my house, when we will work on speeches for her upcoming speaking tour.

While I fell slightly behind on some of the routine office tasks that I normally handle, I was able to make a major leap forward on this website project. In the long run, this project will generate more revenue and profit for my business than all of my other projects combined. The working retreat was well worth the time and effort.

If you're not sure whether you can afford to take a working retreat, think again. You can't afford not to. Remember that 50% of all small businesses fail within a year, and 95% fail within 5 years. If you want to avoid becoming one of those statistics, take the time to really clear your mind, set your priorities, and make forward progress on those projects that really matter. Plus, and this is a big plus, working retreats are a great way to bring fun into work and life!