Planning for Disaster – Big & Small

Please do not think “it will NOT happen to me!” because let’s face it, it happens to us all at one time or another. Backing up your data is a common one I see – I say it over and over and yet come across clients regularly who have lost everything. Disaster might be something big, like a fire in your premise, or you lose the internet for 3 weeks (happens more often than it should!), you get hit by a bus and in hospital for 3 months (I really hope never), or it may be small like you are sick for a few days.

You and your business coach can prepare in planning for disaster.

How about the scenario – your best friend has won lotto in a big way, and insists you join them for 10 weeks around the world all expenses paid holiday? How could you turn that down? Would you say “I’d love to but I have a business to run and I can’t possibly get away”. In this scenario, you might actually have some planning time, but that doesn’t always happen.

Here are some thoughts in planning for disaster:

What’s the “Plan B” for small things, like opening up your premises or closing up at night? I had a flat tyre the other morning, what if my team were all standing at the office door for an hour because I was late?

Think about the worse thing which could happen – it might be losing power, or your computer dying, or the internet at your premises going down – how can you mitigate those scenarios? Taking your laptop to McDonalds for free wifi might work one afternoon but for 3 weeks?

What if you were incredibly sick for 3 weeks? Who would step up and run your business? Have you trained them in what to do? Does someone (totally trustworthy) have your bank details to your payroll account to pay your staff at least for a few weeks? Is there someone else trained in your business to handle your leads and new enquiries? They can be delayed for a few days, but not weeks.

Is your insurance up to date? Do you have business insurance so that your bills will continue to be paid whilst you’re not working? How about your Wills and Enduring Power of Attorney?

If you don’t have staff, consider a friend who is also in business and could be your ‘disaster partner’ where you both agree to look after the other person.

What about your personal life? Who will pick up the kids from school or feed your pets?

Whilst we all hope for a happy and disaster free life, reality happens and quite often people are not prepared. With most of the above, to work best (and if you’re in a coma then it’s crucial) you have to pre-plan, organise, possibly train and give people information (or even keys) to do what they need to do. Remember, in your phone, have a contact ICE (In Case of Emergency) with a person’s name and number. Emergency services will contact that person and they can put your plans into place. Also put that name and number on a card in a prominent place in your wallet (perhaps next to your driver’s licence) as most of us have our phone and wallets on us at all times.