"Consider This" - When Life Simply Gets in the Way

After a week out of commission, I was saving this post for tomorrow, but it's sort of the perfect topic for many of you to think about on a Sunday morning. Don't get caught off-guard - it takes so little effort to have a "what-if" plan.

Happy Sunday - wishing everybody a day of peace and time with the people most important in your life! And, don't forget those eleven-second hugs - they're the best when you're working on new ideas and planning.

© sean824

"Consider This,"  is all about things you need to think about in your business and your life. I want to share ideas to help you learn from my mistakes so you can make new ones of your own!  

by Skip Cohen

Over my career and my adult life, or at least the time when I was supposed to act like an adult, I've made more than my fair share of mistakes, but this past week has been a doozy and one I've even written about in the past. This is my first post in a week and here's why.

"Accidents only happen to other people. So all you other people, watch out!"
Anon

I remember seeing a billboard with that message at least twenty years ago and thinking about how true a statement it was. We all believe we're insulated from many of life's challenges. As we grow older, we think we're getting wiser, but so often it's just the opposite.

Here's the scenario - I'm currently battling the kidney stone from hell, which shut down my left kidney and put me in the hospital for a day. It's a 9mm little sucker that will eventually have to be laser-blasted to be removed. For those of you who are good friends or loyal followers - I'm sharing this as a lesson. I'm NOT looking for the sympathy vote. I'm feeling better, in good care and doing everything I'm supposed to be doing. Although a kidney stone is no fun, we all know people battling far more severe challenges.

But, here's the lesson. I've become too comfortable in the routine of my business and the things I do every day. I never anticipated any interruption. I blog post and tweet several times each day. I work with some amazing companies and have built a mountain of content, but when it came to my health - I had absolutely NO BACKUP plan.

I look back on the number of blog posts, articles for Shutter Magazine and workshops I've taught, and how many times I've talked about backup gear, support and the importance of a plan! Like the billboard I saw so many years ago - I honestly had become complacent enough to believe stuff like this would never happen to me!

So, here are some tips this morning, so you hopefully learn from my stupidity and save the time to create your own new challenges. All you have to do is be comfortable with your answers to these five questions:

• Who knows your business well enough to step in for you if you need help?
• Who would you call if you were flat on your back and simply couldn't participate in whatever you had scheduled?
• Where's your calendar and does somebody know how to read it and make the right decisions regarding scheduled events?
• Who knows your banking information along with bill paying, etc.?
• Do you have a call list set up if you're "down for the count?"

No need for me to write more on the topic. In the same way, no professional photographer would ever head to an assignment with just one camera body and lens - put together a backup plan for your business. I'm not talking about the kind of Plan B that suggests failure, but a strategy to keep Plan A alive and well when life gets in the way!

It's so easy to do and will save you time and embarrassment when there's a serious change in plans outside your control!