Here's a scary thought: Can your business survive Mother Nature?

We’re laboring under less-than-ideal conditions around Thinks Central this week. Due to what the Twitterverse calls #Snowtober, we’re without power. And since we’re on a well, that means no water or heat to go along with the lack of ‘lectricity. Lucky us.

Happily, while a business like ours can plug along just fine, according to some reports, 25% of businesses never re-open following a major disaster.

In the past, we’ve offered tips to make sure your website stays alive. I also have two mobile phones on two different networks and a Google Voice number to direct calls wherever I am.

Additionally, many organizations offer IT tips for keeping the lights on following some kind of “less-than-ideal” event. You can sum many of these up (whether IT-related or business-related) as follows:

1. Plan ahead. Think about what could happen and how you’d prepare.
2. Assess risks and impacts.
3. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you rely on a single technology, system or individual to make your business run, look for alternatives in case of disaster

Clearly, this ranges fairly far afield from my usual fare. But, if you want to find, nurture and take care of customers, you’ve got to make sure you’re taking care of yourself first.

Got any useful tips for weathering the storm (whether figurative or literal), let us know about ’em in the comments.

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