Do you have a plan in place in case you unexpectedly miss a few days in your home business office?
If you have your own business (or if you’re a parent), then you’ve learned by now that the “unexpected” can throw a major wrench into your business plans and deadlines.
When my three daughters were younger, I learned out of necessity to be prepared and plan for the unexpected when we left the house. I stored extra clothes, diapers, toys, band-aids, and blankets in the back of the van just in case we needed them. And there were plenty of times when those things came in handy.
We were recently reminiscing about some fun family outings and the interesting “necessities” stored in our van, and it made me think about how important it is to be prepared and plan ahead in a home business too.
When you are your business, what happens when something unexpected happens?
Whether it’s an unexpected big project or a new client that demands more time than you planned or you come down with the flu, it’s important to take a few steps now to be prepared.
Here are four tips to help you plan for the unexpected:
Tip #1: Designate a backup person if possible
If you were away from your desk for a few days with the flu, who could fill in for you to make sure essential tasks still get done?
Maybe you already have a virtual assistant (or someone you call on an as-needed basis); maybe a family member; maybe it’s a good time to think about hiring someone part-time (or for a few hours a week) to provide some office assistance.
Tip #2: Define your essential tasks
What things have to be done, whether you are sick or not? Client appointments can usually be postponed, but what about invoicing, bill payments, or tax deadlines?
Make a list (monthly or weekly, whatever works best for you) of things that must be done with their deadlines attached.
Tip #3: Create simple systems
Could someone easily step in for a few days to complete essential tasks or would it be impossible for someone else to figure out how you do those tasks?
Create a few simple systems (document the steps involved) for managing the important areas of your business:
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- how to invoice a client
- how to check online accounts
- how to create/post social media updates
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This is a good argument for using some type of tool to schedule social media posts for the week. Some platforms have built-in scheduling tools, but there are also a variety of low-cost third-party tools that allow you to schedule posts in advance.
Want to learn about scheduling social media posts? Contact me and we can go over some budget-friendly options.
Tip #4: Don’t Procrastinate
Do you leave things for the last minute?
Instead of procrastinating, create a buffer zone for important deadlines: if a bill or project is due by a certain date, make your own “done by” deadline a few days earlier, just in case something unexpected happens.
As business owners and solopreneurs, we are very busy with our day-to-day tasks, but it’s worth the time to consider creating an emergency plan now for any future unexpected occurrences that will invariably arise.
Hopefully, these four tips will help you put a plan together for your business.
Need some help with your digital marketing or social media strategy? Set up a free consultation with me to discuss your business and some simple strategies to implement today!
