Could it happen to YOU? A 56-year-old man died of blunt force chest and abdominal trauma after a large Spanish mackerel jumped into his recreational fishing boat and smacked him.
OK, so you don’t like fishing. How about golfing or boating? Lightning strikes are a leading cause of weather fatalities, but your odds are a slim 1-in-15,000 over the course of your life.
Or do you like vending machine snacks? Did you know that, on average, four people a year die after “fighting” with a vending machine?
On the other hand, some stats are a bit grimmer. One of two women will get cancer, and one in three men will. While we can’t see our future, we can be prepared for it.
Contingency Planning
I recently attended The Photo Managers annual conference. One sobering session was all about contingency plans. And while I’m organized—that was a wake-up call. Especially for solopreneurs. I can assist my clients if something would happen to my team people. But how about a point person who can access your information in an emergency?
The devil is, indeed, in the details. And your life is full of details that must be shared with your emergency contact in case you are incapacitated. Solopreneurs: look out. Without employees, who is your back-up person or emergency contact? I have already agreed to be the emergency contact for another solopreneur.
Have you really thought about who is going to help you? Does your significant other know your business? Who is your point person? Out of concern for our loved ones and clients, contingency plans are vital.
Let’s Get Personal
Let’s start with your personal life. Who has access to your financial information? How about your insurance and agents for health, car, property, liability, or other policies? Who has your second safety deposit box key? The longer you ponder it, the more you realize how much is at stake should a crisis occur.
If you haven’t already, it’s time to build and store a list with information and location of bank account numbers, social security number, pin numbers, credit card numbers, and computer, phone and special account passwords and security questions/answers.
Your Critical Lists
Have you also documented and shared with your emergency contact the locations and related information for your…
Address book
Calendar/schedule
Lawyers
Estate planning
Health Insurance policy and agent
Photos, photo albums, CDs, scrapbooks, etc.
Business:
Financial information
List/location and passwords for critical documents
Computers
Phones
Cloud storage data
Equipment and other assets
Of course, the list is far more extensive. Our May blog will feature more on this, as well as critical business practices. Don’t miss it.
A Godsend Resource
One fantastic resource for business records is the Small Business Administration’s Financial Education Curriculum. It walks business owners through small business record keeping:
https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/PARTICIPANT_GUIDE_RECORD_KEEPING.pdf
How to Store Vital Documents
Once you have gathered the information, I recommend scanning and digitizing it for safe-keeping and easy access—especially when space is at a premium. Now, how do you safely store it?
For those who know me, that answer is easy: FOREVER Storage®. It’s the only cloud storage I know of that you own—not rent. FOREVER® actually guarantees preservation of your digital stored materials for two generations. Yes. While so many cloud-storage services’ fine print mention they are not responsible for lost data, FOREVER® guarantees its preservation for two full generations.
Accessing Your Vital Data
As if that isn’t reason enough, with FOREVER®, you document who has access to your digital documents and treasures. Then you provide easy directions to them, and in a few clicks, everything your emergency contacts need for either your personal life or business is at hand.
Peace-Of-Mind
How’s that for relief? Talk about peace of mind. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you on how to simplify and safeguard your life’s documents, photos, and treasures.
That said, I do recommend that you seek shelter in a lightning storm, and not fight with vending machines. No point in tempting fate, right?