“Predicting Rain Doesn’t Count.  Building Arks Does”

-Warren Buffett

Buffett’s quote applies to life as well as to business.  He is referring to preparing for adversity, hiccups in business and in life that can take us out if we’re not prepared.

Often we only begin to build the ark after the rains come.  This is not the best plan.  With some reflection, you can discern what backups you need in preparation for what might happen to seriously stop your business or prevent it from performing at an optimum level.  I am not talking about the major disasters either.  I think it’s better to have backups for the small daily details of your how you effectively run your business.

If you think about what you do in your business daily, and what props you use to perform even the smallest tasks, you will begin to see areas where having backups is vital to be open for the day.  Simple things like, telephone lines, internet connectivity, keys to open the door.  Yes, simple things like that.  Nothing is more frustrating than turning on your computer and the line is dead or picking up the phone and line is hissing.  Then what do you do?  Do you have a backup plan?

Here are some suggestions about what I have and use.  This list is designed as a way to prompt you to think of what is necessary for you to run your business.

• Keys hidden in top secret places in case I lose my key.
• Two land lines, cellular lines and 3 different internet connections.
• I know business people in different areas of the region who will let me use their internet and telephones, if mine go down.
• Two different independent VPN networks.
• Google voice mail and land line voice mail
• Two independent printers
• Passwords I frequently use in a paper list format in two locations.

This is just the short list of ways I have to “build the ark”.  I am sure that you could add to this just by reading through it.

The most important back up is to have relationships with people who you know you can call or go to for support if a system goes down.  We don’t always think of people who we can count on to be there for us if we are in trouble.  It is important to build the relationships before you urgently need them.  For instance, have you built a professional team of people including a lawyer, a business coach, banker, accountant and computer technician?  If not, please do that now.  That team will be there for you when and if you have an urgent challenge.

Please use this blog as stimulus for building your own “ark”.  You will be very happy you did—even if you never need it.