Don’t Drop the Ball
Emergency Plans, do you have one? If not, don’t drop the ball, and make one fast.
For many things in both business and life, it is always good to have a plan and sometimes, a back-up plan. And it is often helpful if it is written down.
There are a number of items to address for your business emergency plan. And let’s start with the obvious. Do you have a will that addresses the business if you are no longer here?
The attorney in your circle of trust advisors can help you plan on this topic. Working with an estate attorney, they can ensure what needs to happen will happen if you suddenly depart. This effort would be your Final Disaster Plan. We should all have one for our business and our lives. As a Solopreneur, a Small Buainess Owner, or a Solo Practioner Professional, we all need the Final Disaster Plan. And it should be written down and in a place that attorneys and your appointees can access.
On the lighter side of this topic, do you have a plan for when you travel or are truly unavailable? Out of office which we have tackled before is the first defense. But, if there is a need for access to your office or your files, is there a backup person to assist? This can be an Administrative Assistant or a family member or one of your circle of trust advisors. Give them a key, literally, and figuratively.
If you are unable to get to your office or your computer fails, do you have a backup file service? Can you access your files on another computer? This is critical and there are some very affordable plans that we identified early on for our business.
This brings us to the home office. It really is the ideal backup plan if your office becomes inaccessible or your main office computer fails. And it is usually easier for you or your appointees to enter and locate items. And whether it is your family or your house cleaner or your contractor or your neighbor, usually someone else has a key to your home other than you.
When you enter dog sports with your furry friend, you almost always do so with a plan. A plan on which toy to throw to maximize the jumping distance or a plan to train with your field decoy since you cannot use anything alive. Your business field is no different. Plan ahead, have a back-up plan, and make sure it is written down and your appointees know where it is.
Access to your business requires a clear path through the forest of obstacles you may encounter, particularly when in times of crises. Make a plan, write it down, share it with your appointees, and your business will have a much better chance to not fall off track or drop the proverbial ball!
Be well.
