The Russell Brunson Show
Episode: Why Are Vacations So Hard For Entrepreneurs?
Date: July 13, 2017
Host: Russell Brunson

Episode Overview

In this episode, Russell Brunson delves into the unique struggles entrepreneurs face when it comes to taking vacations. Rather than providing tactical business advice, Russell gets personal, exploring the psychological patterns that make it difficult for high-achievers to genuinely relax. The conversation centers around momentum, how entrepreneurs are wired, and why the traditional advice to "just relax" on vacation doesn’t always work for this personality type.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Entrepreneur's Dilemma With Vacation

• Anticipation vs. Anxiety:
  Russell shares how, despite looking forward to time off, vacation often brings him stress and anxiety rather than relaxation.

  • "Today I'm going on vacation for a week. I'm actually looking forward to it, but at the same time, it really stresses me out." [01:10]

• Work as Flow:
  Being immersed in business activities provides energy and flow, not stress, for Russell. Ironically, downtime feels more stressful than a packed schedule.

  • "When I'm at the office and working and doing my thing… I never feel stressed… I feel like I'm kind of like in my flow." [01:41]
  • When you stop, that's when the anxiety and struggle really start to hit.

The Entrepreneurial Personality Type (EPT)

• Shoutout to Alex Charfen:
  Russell mentions working with Alex Charfen, creator of the "Entrepreneur Personality Type" (EPT) concept, highlighting its resonance with the way entrepreneurs function.

  • "He talks about the different traits of entrepreneurs… and I've heard him give the presentation three times." [04:47]

• Not Happy or Sad… But in Momentum or Stagnation:
  A key insight from Charfen's EPT work is that entrepreneurs don’t identify much with "happy" or "sad", but with "momentum" or "lack of momentum."

  • "Entrepreneurs don't feel happy or sad. What they feel is either momentum or lack of momentum." [07:18]
  • Russell gets chills acknowledging, "That's what I do." [07:30]

Personal Anecdotes: Why Still Motivated Despite "Low" Testosterone

• Russell relates a story about his doctor being perplexed by his low testosterone but high motivation—attributable to his entrepreneurial drive and excitement.
  • "The doctor literally told me, 'Your grandma's got higher testosterone than you do right now.'" [05:33]
  • Despite lacking normal "energy indicators," excitement and momentum in his business keep him going strong.

Rest vs. Progression

• Productivity Spike Before Vacation:
  Russell notes that the time before leaving on vacation is one of his most productive periods, fueled by the urgency to wrap things up.

  • "I almost enjoy the process right before vacation. I get so much stuff done because I'm freaking out…" [09:00]

• Inability to “Just Sit”:
  For many entrepreneurs, simply relaxing (like sitting on a beach) is not fulfilling—there’s a need to be learning, reading, or creating.

  • "Sitting at a beach is not… it doesn't do anything for me." [10:14]

• Secret Strategies for Coping:
  Russell plans out reading material and courses for vacations just to maintain a sense of movement and progress.

  • "The most exciting thing for me is planning what I'm going to do when I'm not doing anything. Such a nerd." [13:08]

Family Dynamics and Social Perception

• Business Taboo:
  His wife insists he not talk about business on vacation, but suppressing business talk or activity makes him feel stagnant and even sad.

  • "If I don't talk about business then like everything halts and stops progressing in my life." [11:00]

• Entrepreneurial “Freakiness”:
  Russell reassures fellow entrepreneurs that feeling this way is not wrong—it's simply how the most productive people are wired.

  • "A lot of people think we're freaks because of it. There's nothing bad with it… It's why businesses are created, why there's momentum in the world." [11:48]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Momentum vs. Happiness:
  • "The entrepreneurs don't feel happy or sad. What they feel is either momentum or lack of momentum." (Alex Charfen insight, [07:18])
• On Pre-Vacation Rush:
  • "I almost enjoy the process right before vacation. I get so much stuff done because I'm freaking out because I gotta leave at this time." [09:00]
• On Family Perception:
  • "My wife will be like, you know, on vacation you're not allowed to talk about business. I'm like, if I don't talk about business then like everything halts and stops progressing in my life." [11:00]
• On the Value of Entrepreneurial Drive:
  • "It's why businesses are created, why there's momentum in the world. I think it's because entrepreneurs who drive—the entire soul drive is momentum towards moving." [11:50]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 02:30: Russell introduces the stress of taking vacations and confesses it's harder for him to relax than to work.
• 04:00 – 08:00: Discussion of Alex Charfen’s "Entrepreneur Personality Type" framework and its personal impact.
• 05:10 – 07:00: Russell's anecdote about low testosterone and unstoppable motivation.
• 09:00 – 10:40: The pre-vacation productivity surge and struggle to relax during downtime.
• 11:00 – 13:00: Dealing with family expectations on vacation and the stigma of being “different” as an entrepreneur.
• 13:08 – End: Russell's “vacation nerdiness”—how planning for self-education during downtime keeps him sane.

Takeaway

Russell normalizes the entrepreneurial need for momentum and movement, shedding light on why downtime feels so uncomfortable for many in the business world. He encourages fellow entrepreneurs not to feel broken, but to embrace their drive and find ways—even during vacations—to channel their natural energy into inspiration, visioning, and personal growth.

Summary in Russell’s words:
"If you're an entrepreneur and you don't relate with happy or sad, but you do relate with momentum and movement and you stress out about [lacking that], that's where I'm at. And I relate with you." [13:38]