Ever have one of ‘those days’? The computer hard drive crashes and dies – right before your very eyes. Painful!
It has been my first experience with this and, let me tell you, everything comes to a standstill. We have come to rely very heavily on technology for getting through our days and I am no exception – from on-line banking, business activities, recipes for dinner, finding directions, researching travel, SKYPE conversations, video creation – and the list goes on and on.
One thing about having a crisis like this is that there are always lessons to be learned. That is the purpose of the article this week – Lessons From a Dead Hard Drive!
Lesson No. 1 – Back it up!
No joking around here. All you who procrastinate – pay attention! Get that done now, today. I use Carbonite services and they have been extraordinary. I am grateful, as an entrepreneur who must still operate and provide client services on a daily basis, that I do have everything backed up and I can still function somewhat. It’s the time it is taking to restore all the files to the new hard drive that is testing my patience and creativity.
Lesson No. 2 – Back to Basics!
What to do when you do not have access to technology? Get back to basics. There is still the telephone. Remember that? People still like to hear your voice – even though you may get lots of voicemail – and you can be creative! Leave interesting and compelling messages so people will want to return your call. I also spend the time cleaning my office, getting organized, making lists (of people to call, LOL), creating flipchart pages for projects and so much more.
Lesson No. 3 – Get a Great Team!
There is no way I could have managed over the past week without a superb group of talented individuals on my team. I have recruited well! Their knowledge of technology far surpasses mine and I rely on them and their expertise. For those of you who continue to function as the lone ranger and believe you can still do it all yourself – get real! To run a real business, make money, work with great clients- you need a great team. Because bad stuff happens when you least expect it and having a talented team makes it all that much easier.
Lesson No. 4– Give it up!
Some things are just beyond our control. As entrepreneurs, many of us are control freaks – plain and simple. Guilty! When technology fails, give it up. I made time to go for a bike ride – enjoy the scenery, breathe the fresh air, give thanks for all that I do have – and move on.
Lesson No. 5 – Learn the Lesson.
Bad things happen to good people – that’s how I’m feeling about the dead hard drive situation – smack in the middle of 2 major projects. I always make a conscious effort to stop, reflect and think about what happened. What is the lesson in all of this. I have a few take-aways from this particular experience – one of which is to pay attention to all the great feedback and insights I have received from colleagues and follow through. So, I will be getting an external hard drive and using Dropbox for a few of the very important folders, at a minimum. I am running a business – a serious business – and I intend to keep it going!
What about you? What are you waiting for? Where have you been procrastinating, especially when it comes to backing up your information?
Which of the 5 Lessons will you implement today?
Let me know your thoughts – I’d love to hear from you!
