The Blessings Of A "Plan B" For Your Business

I know the last 19 months have been really tough for most of us, but I’m finding something to be thankful for every day. Are you?

I’m thankful to be alive! This time last year I was wondering if I’d live to see my next birthday, because I’d just been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. Thank God I got great treatment, and I’m in remission. It was not easy, especially during a pandemic. But I’m alive!

The miracles that brought me to this moment taught me a lot. I talk briefly about them in this week’s video. I am clearer than ever about the importance of my faith, my wife, my team, and my business practices.

My most powerful business practice is my belief in Plan B. B = Backup. You need a backup plan, because you never know when life is going to hit you with the unexpected. Like a pandemic and cancer sandwich.

Throughout my book Rent-A-Cop Reboot, I wrote about regular practices that support your success, whether you’re a business owner or not. They include keeping your:

• Vehicle in good shape. If you don’t use your own vehicle to get to work, always have more than one way to get there.
• Body in shape. Make time for healthy meals, appropriate exercise, and enough sleep.
• Weapon secured. If you own a firearm, make sure it is properly licensed, locked up when not in use (especially if children are in your home), and you are well trained on how to use it.
• Work ethic. Arrive on time and ready to work, use your best judgement when following policies and procedures, keep up with your training, and provide great customer service. Good customer service gets more valuable every day.

If you are running your own business, or thinking about it, practices that covered my butt over the last year included:

• Do what you love. When cancer treatment drained my energy, I found more strength to keep going because I’m passionate about what I do. If you’re not doing what you love, find a way to add your special energy to your work until you can move on.
• Have insurance. Make time to learn about the types of insurance you should have based on your business. Large, small, or freelance, you need insurances covering everything from liability to health. It can hurt to pay those premiums, but it hurts a lot more to not have coverage when you need it.
• Pay your taxes. And do it on time.
• Stay in touch with your creditors. When you are in the habit of paying your bills and insurance premiums on time, when times are tough your creditors are more likely to work with you. At least for a while. And when you need their help, get in touch with them as soon as possible. Your problems just get bigger when you don’t face them.

The best way to face your problems is to plan for them. You know they’re coming, so be ready with your Plan B.

***

Check out all of our videos on the Leumas Publishing YouTube Channel!