How to Deal with the Unexpected

It didn’t sound good. It was a scraping sound where nothing should be scraping.

And it was coming from my computer.

What to do? I had deadlines, appointments and workd to get done…and my computer didn’t seem to get the memo.

It’s a sudden, unexpected event that can totally disrupt your life.

It’s like when the electricity goes out in your home, suddenly and without warning, your plans can change.

My computer needed attention, that’s for sure, but so did my business.

Has this ever happened to you? Chances are it has…and it completely screwed up your day, or days.

Stress is a natural result, and the rhythm of the day is disrupted.

Imagine all the files on your computer that you can’t access:

• Contacts (phone numbers, email address
• Calendar
• Files
• Email
• Passwords
• Digital photos

And if your computer information is unrecoverable, you might not be able to access this information again.

Enter “Contingencies”

In the Marines, I truly learned the meaning of this word. It basically means anticipating future events and preparing for them today.

The process of preparing for contingencies is simple:

1. Identify future possible scenarios
2. Identify the best possible response to each scenario
3. Practice your response until it becomes habitual

It’s a simple process, but not always easy to do. You see contingencies used in business all the time. They are apparent in sales training when you’re instructed to practice “responding to objections.”

Identifying objections is simple; “not enough money,” “not enough time,” etc, but actually responding intelligently to them is difficult.

So back to my (your) computer.

Are you prepared for something to happen to your computer – and not have it impact your day or business?

Do you have accessible copies of your vital information?

How would you even address this?

Let’s follow the steps above:

1. Identify Future Possible Scenarios regarding your computer

Worst case: Suddenly unavailable (won’t power up, stolen, left at parents during vacation)

2. Identify Possible Responses:

• Maintain hourly or daily backup of all data (in bootable form for easy install on new computer, or restore)
• Use smartphone (if you have one) for contacts, email, calendar, passwords
• Use iDisk, Google docs or Dropbox (free) to keep critical files

3. Practice Your Response to the Scenario

Technology has become a major part of our lives. Imagine the disruption a power outage could cause. It could be pretty chaotic.

Start with the scenario above and practice accessing your information using a tool like DropBox.

• Do you know how to access the information from another computer?
• Can you work with the files?
• How could you send the files to someone else?

It makes sense to spend a little time now, to prepare your “what if” scenarios. You can even make a habit of thinking through and planning for contingencies that could dramatically impact your life.

Losing your computer is not far-fetched, and it’s loss could cause you considerable stress. But it doesn’t have to.

In the military – and this example – we focused on the negative because not being prepared for certain negative events can have a signficant ‘negative’ impact on your life.

But don’t limit yourself to just negative events, or you won’t feel much like developing your planning muscle.

Imagine some extremely pleasant unexpected events.

For example: Imagine the client you’ve been calling on, wants you to roll out your proposal to his 50 offices throughout the country. Okay, for some of you, you might be stressed by this…but if you think it through…it’s probably easier than you fear.

Contingency planning doesn’t have to be bad or good. It can just be preparation for future success regardless of events, without the stress and urgency poor planning (or lack of planning) creates.

Don’t let that be you.

Are you ready for the unexpected? Can you handle it?