« Treasure or Clutter? | Main | A crisp breeze in the home office »
One man’s trash…
By Jeff Zbar | November 12, 2007
Reading Christina’s blog from yesterday - as well as hearing the tales of wildfire survivors - got me to thinking about what’s important in my household. With a wife, three kids and a dog, we certainly have a few possessions that register as “important.” But considering that my office is in my home, should anything from that space rank higher or be on our “must save” list in the event of a catastrophe? This is no idle chat. Living in an area prone to hurricanes, the “Emergency Escape Kit,” or the list of vital must-take possessions that cannot be left behind, is a very real document. For some, it includes medications or personal health items. For home officers, though, without a computer and cell phone, business literally could grind to a halt.
The key to surviving a quick escape is knowing in advance what you need to take with you. In my case, backing up my PC’s contents to my Maxtor OneTouch portable hard drive - which, like Christina’s data - includes family pictures and music, as well as a decade’s worth of work - ensures my work, and record of my work, goes with me anywhere. Since my laptop already is in my Logitech laptop backpack, I’d just stash the hard drive in the same satchel. When grabbing the cell phone, you cannot forget the charger (ditto for the back-up drive’s power cord, as well).
The thing is, preparing for a fast escape is never so simple as remembering what you’ll need to take. Things get forgotten. So make a list. Keep it handy. Return to it often to make sure nothing’s changed. And, above all, be prepared. Hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and other natural catastrophes strike quickly. Preparation comes with planning.
Topics: Family Life, Office Organization |