About once a year I write a reminder that every business person MUST have systems to "back-up" their most important files, procedures and operations. Recently, I heard a personal example of that.
My web master set my system up for automatic back up last year, but recently he gave a testimony of his own personal experience for the importance of having your files backed up. He stated that while he was working on a project that his computer crashed, including his hard drive. All of his business related data was completely lost. There had been no warning, nothing to indicate a problem. He tried to re-start his computer several times and nothing happened. Uh-oh!
His hard drive was completely gone, and with it all my files, programs and records for the past several years. A disaster!
Fortunately, he had a solution to his problem because he implemented the same back up procedures for his files just like he did for me:
1. He had back-ups of all my personal work. All his articles, books, customer data and his financial records were backed up on another hard drive (in a separate location). The good news was that his data would live again!
2. He also had a laptop, with copies of his most important software. While checking email and running his business were less convenient, he could still function.
3. He was able to run the restore program to down load the remote backup files to his new computer.
While it cost him some time and money, he is back with only minor disruptions. Lessons learned?
- Have systems that automatically backs-up ALL your key files! Don't count on remembering to do it. Get software that does it automatically.
- Maintain your software so when (not "if" but "when") you have to re-install it, everything is in one place and you can find it.
- Find a tech person you trust and get to know them NOW. Don't wait for a rainy day to start looking for a roofer, and don't wait until your computer crashes to find someone to fix it.
Have You Backed Up Today - To learn more about this author, visit Rodger Blaker's Website.
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Rodger Blaker
(Visit Rodger's Website)
Rodger Blaker Coaching LLC
Phone: 214-485-2238
www.rodgerbla
ker.com
Rodg
er@rodgerblaker.com
Rodger is a Professional Certified Coach
who is an expert at creating positive
change in business behavior, working with
solopreneurs and small business owners.
Through a proven coaching process, Rodger
helps very busy, successful leaders to
slow down, reflect, and map out critical
changes they need to make to significantly
grow their business and improve
personally.
Before opening his coaching business,
Rodger spent 25 years working for fortune
500 companies where he gained valuable
leadership experience by working with
senior and executive management as a
senior project manager.
Rodger is a graduate of the CoachU
Certified Graduate Coaching Program and he
is a member of the International Coaching
Federation where he earned his certificate
as a Professional Certified Coach. He is a
member of the ICF North Texas chapter
where he holds the position of Treasurer.
Rodger also holds a certification as a
Project Management Professional or PMP.
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