After the post on how I lost the original draft of my book titled: 21 Keys to Financial Success, I thought of sharing the lessons I learnt from that experience but Malaria struck. I thank God I’m okay now to pen my thoughts, so, here we go. These lessons also apply to the world of business.

1. While computers have come to make life easier, one needs to tread carefully with them. Back up every single document you have on your computer either in a External Hard Disk, Cd , Flash Drive or attach it to your email. Every material you attach to your email will forever be there except your Yahoo or Gmail Server crashes. You can always download it whenever you want. I however have some reservations about using flash drives to save as many of them have been known to go corrupt destroying all the files on it. I have really not had much success with using flash drives but if you, then good luck to you.

Talking about backing up your data, in business, you also have to back up your plans because things don’t always go the way you want them. Always have a fall-back plan. Like when I wanted to quit my day job, my fall back plan was to invest in stocks and property so I could sell them to sustain myself if my business wasn’t going as planned. Did I have a negative mindset? No. I knew I was going to succeed but life is full of uncertainties and the only way you can pull through such is to expect it. Be on the lookout for that thing you did not plan and anticipate want you will do if it crops up.

If writing in long hand before typing suits you, please go for it as it save you from computer headaches. I was doing that before but now, I prefer to type as the ideas occur to me. This is because I personally prefer typing my books as against giving someone to type. This erases the huge work of proofreading which I am usually subjected to after the person might have finished typing.

2. I know one question you want to ask me at this point was: did I not have an anti-virus? I had an Anti-Virus with the licence but I honestly can’t fathom how the malicious software got into my system. The lesson there is protect your computer from malicious attacks with an Anti-Virus that comes with a licence. Most of these Anti Viruses have websites where you can order and download them.

The lesson for you in business is? Protect your business from threats from any quarters: competitors, government regulation, market forces, etc. Handle your business with care, just like you handle an egg, after all, it’s the bird that will hatch and produce your chicks in future.

3. For any business to survive, you must be resilient. Resilience is being able to bounce back after a major crisis. I like the way the American Psychological Association puts it.

“Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors. It means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences.
Research has shown that resilience is ordinary, not extraordinary. People commonly demonstrate resilience. One example is the response of many Americans to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and individuals’ efforts to rebuild their lives.

Being resilient does not mean that a person doesn’t experience difficulty or distress. Emotional pain and sadness are common in people who have suffered major adversity or trauma in their lives. In fact, the road to resilience is likely to involve considerable emotional distress.
Resilience is not a trait that people either have or do not have. It involves behaviors, thoughts, and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone.”

This means, you can become resilient just like I was in re-writing the book after the first draft was wiped off my system. Your ability to bounce back after any major crisis is really key at this point because there is no business venture that does not run into hitches at one point or the other.

I will continue with the lessons I have learnt from 2 years of running a business in another post. Please keep a date with me.

Popularity: 9% [?]