A Brilliant tip from a New Client.

I love it when  I get new clients, it is a privilege to be invited into someones home and help them get it organised. For many clients it can be a scary and intimidating experience, however they very quickly learn that here at Totally Organised we get it, and it is OK!
Asking for help is often the hardest part, soon followed by letting a stranger (albeit a friendly one) into your space and to handle your stuff. Fortunately the experience ends in a great, fun, positive and upbeat manner.

It is always an experience when I also learn new things and add ideas to my plethora of tips and ideas. Yesterday was one of those days when I was shown the most fantastic idea that my New client had developed and put together since the earthquake. She has said it is OK to share it with you.

We all talk about our disaster kits and grab and go bags etc, everyone has differing ideas and thoughts. Much of the time the question of where to keep your kit is a biggie, and there are various ideas. However "Mary"* (Name changed to protect the brilliant), has hit the nail on the head.

THE WHEELIE BIN:

 Yes, brilliant I know and so, so simple and now we see it obvious as well. Mary has purchased a Wheelie bin that is a different color from the ones used for Rubbish collection (hers is red), and it is stored outside her home.

The wheelie bin is weather proof, large and on wheels. perfect for a disaster kit. In her wheelie bin Mary has, large water containers full with fresh water, first aid kit, blankets, gumboots (anyone who has experienced liquefaction will know why), shovel, torches, batteries, blankets.
Here is a list of other items that will fit:
* Blankets
* Sleeping bag
* Small tent
* Non Perishable food
* Solar Shower
* Wet Weather Gear
* Small gas bottle and cooker

The possibilities are endless.
It is perfect for the following reasons:
* Being able to store outside allows for the event of your home collapsing and your kit not being stuck inside.
* Does not take up valuable storage space inside your home
* Portable, regardless of how heavy it may be - water containers weigh a lot- you can still roll it.
* Large in size so you CAN store a lot in it.

So I am heading to the nearest storage shop and getting me one of those wheelie bins. I will store it close to the home, and fill it with the necessary items that we have come to know and love here in Christchurch, following our recent Earthquakes. I suggest you should go and do the same. Because you just never know when you may needs it.

A huge thanks to MARY* as well for your brilliance and ingenuity.

Is your Business REALLY disaster ready??

The last month has shown many people in both Christchurch  a whole new perspective of what being prepared for a disaster can mean. There is a lot of information out there on having emergency kits ready at home and plans for handling yourself and you family in the immediate days after a disaster.
Yet something that is causing a huge amount of stress, hassle and frustration for many in Christchurch is the impact this disaster is having on businesses.

On the 22nd of February 2011 at 12.51pm everything stopped, 4 weeks later coffee cups still sit on tables in Cashel Mall, food still sits on shop shelves, lap tops and computers lay open, books and files left in place, cars remain parked in parking buildings, luggage still sits in hotel rooms, cash registers still open and handbags sit in Cafes. It is like time stopped as people fled the buildings they had been in when the 6.3 quake struck.

The people who fled these buildings were the customers, tourists, staff and the Business Owners. Most of the tourists have gone home, the customers went home, the staff have no job and the business owners have no access. This is an incredibly damaging situation for a business owner to be in.

There is increasing rage and frustration from the business owners as they wait for the green light to reenter their business premises and contents. There is no money coming in to those businesses, yet suppliers still send invoices and some customers still query for services and product. It is a disaster driven sense of limbo. In Christchurch these businesses are not limited to just the CBD, but many suburban businesses are effected as well.

 Now business owners are blaming the powers that be for ruining their potential to reopen and salvage their businesses. Buildings have been demolished without business owners having the opportunity to reclaim contents, blame is being laid on the powers that be as well. However the true demon in this situation was a natural disaster a devastating earthquake, and measures need to be taken to ensure the future safety of our city and its citizens and visitors.

A natural disaster like and Earthquake, is a mean evil bastard that creeps up on you with no warning and kills indiscriminately. This immediate impact is shocking and destructive, but the longer term effect is what we all need to prepare for.

As a business owner I have made it my responsibility to ensure that if my office were to be inaccessible for any reason I could get myself up and running again with the minimum of inconvenience to myself, staff and customers. By doing so I have worked to protect a valuable asset, my business, however nothing though can prepare or protect anyone from the shock and disbelief that will be part of the process.

These are some of the things I have done:

* INSURANCE - A business must have insurance, this is not a luxury this is essential and not negotiable. Insure your business  premises, stock, assets, business interruption, income protection, equipment. Have it covered or risk losing it. If you cannot afford to insure your business you cannot afford to be in business.

* BACK UP DATA - I use a service in Christchurch NEXUS this is an offsite back up of all my electronic data. If I lose my computers or they get damaged the information is only a phone call away. I have called on this once when my laptop hard drive crashed. It was no hassle and worth he investment.

* CLOUD COMPUTING - Store information in the "cloud", let others know where it is so if you were not available someone else can access it and get things up and running. I use this for simple but important things like a database of who my insurance is with, current customer list, supplier list, how to contact nexus etc. That way someone in another country could begin actioning things for me if I was incapacitated.

These are just three simple, effective and essential business disaster recovery items that everyone should be doing. If you have not got a Disaster Recovery Plan in place for your business, then make it number one on your to-do list. Get onto it because you could need it anytime, yet I sincerely hope you never need it.

Always remember though that lives and people are far more valuable than buildings and contents. Buildings and Contents can be rebuilt and replaced, however lives can never be replaced and the hole left by the loss of a person is far greater that that of losing material things. So prepare for the risk now so that you will not feel the need to take risks when it is too late.

Curveballs - How to dodge them

Be prepared, Be prepared, be prepared.
Life throws curve balls, and we need to be prepared in order to catch them on the fly. I have had an interesting couple of weeks that has demonstrated the importance of this preparedness.
As you know from my post last week I was in geelong with a friend recuperating from surgery. This week I am doing my civic duty in a court case, yep Jury Duty. I can say no more about that except, it was not the type of lottery I would want to win often. This civic duty is likely to last more than 1 week.
So these are two real curveballs. As those of you who know me, also know that I have my business, family and life in general to juggle as well. So was I prepared?
YES, is the answer. here are some things you can have in your life to make sure things run smoothly when you are not where you normally would be.
* Have great childcare lined up, with back up options as well.
* When travelling always print out your confirmations. (take note Mercure Geelong), who claimed I had not booked when I went to check in, I had my email confirmation to show the stroppy receptionist when they questioned me.
* Keep all your mobile devices well charged, Pack your chargers and an adapter if required as well. Mobile mini chargers are great for carry on and handbags.
* use a slow cooker/crock pot - this has made meal preparation a cinch whilst being in court all day. Still having dinner on the table when I get home.
* Do not forget to laugh. there is always someone worse off than you in this world and at least you are not 6 foot under. Take a deep breath and just get on with it.
* hug the ones you love when you can. Every opportunity you get.
These are just a coupe of the things that have served me well over the past 2 weeks. Not so much practical "Organising" tips, but real life helpful things that can make the difference between a great curveball and one that knock your teeth out.
Keep Smiling, I will resume normal service sometime soon. but I am always here if you have a question.
PS: Annette, I will be answering your Organised travel question very soon.
Cheers
W