LNB #038: When the $%#! Hits the Fan (Disaster Preparedness)

Do you have a disaster plan? Given that we in the Northern Hemisphere are just entering hurricane and tornado season, we would do well to know what to do. Write a brief (you know how much I love working from one page) plan, including medical other disasters, give it to a trusted party and then practice.

However, there are those disasters that are entirely personal, like a very sick parent, partner or child. Do you know how to keep your business running or will your business run out of gas?

Some tips for your consideration:

Use an office service. I love Intelligent Office. Give them a ring.

Forward your land line to your cellphone (Note: You don't need to have a subscription to the Call Forwarding service to use this. You can use it and pay a single use fee. Check with your carrier).

Back up your calendar to your website (I'll post how to do with with some screenshots in a bit)

Create an away message (see your ISP or Outlook manual to learn how to do this)

Back up your contacts to the web. I use Cardscan, so I can synchronize my contacts to both Outlook and the web.

Put your accounting system on the web (I used Quickbooks Pro, which allows me to create an online account).

Consider take-it-with-you Internet service. This I didn't do. Instead I learned where the free wireless hotspots were in town and signed on there when I wasn't at the hospital.

Don't wait, hoping that everything will be a box of kittens the rest of your business days. This is something to get on top of.

Cheers!