You ever notice how the power only seems to go out at the worst possible moment? Like when you’re mid-sentence in a Zoom call and boom, silence.
Blackout.
I checked to see if I had accidentally unplugged my computer. Nope. I got up and flipped the light switch on. Nothing. I also noticed that the time on the microwave was off. So then, I quickly ran to the basement to check the breaker and that was fine.
I then figured that we lost power. I sat there, staring at my black computer screen, feeling completely powerless. The Wi-Fi was down and the lights were out.
Now what?
My only backup plan was jumping on Zoom from my cell phone. Cellular data got me connected quickly and I was able to resume my call. Luckily, the person I was talking to was very understanding of the situation.
Sounds familiar? I thought so.
Because this isn’t just about electricity, it’s exactly how running a business can feel when things stop working. One minute, everything is running smoothly, and the next, I was wondering what went wrong.
Well these “power failures” don’t just happen overnight ( actually they do if you’re connected to the grid, but at least we can put the blame on the Department of Power)
However, when it comes to our businesses, it’s the little things that we neglect that builds up over time. It’s like living on the edge with your business. Being inconsistent with focus, strategy and messaging. You might still be operating, but at the lowest power and barely making an impact, and that is not a good practice, especially if the goal is to create a sustainable business.
It’s like when I’m away from home and didn’t charge my phone and notice that it’s on that last 1%. That’s when I start to make life choices about which apps to close first to try and extend that 1%.
No bueno.
(Just so you know, I ended up getting a portable charger so that doesn’t happen again.)
Solutions, my friends.
So how do we keep the lights on in our businesses before everything turns to complete darkness?
One thing we can certainly do is Reset the Breaker. When things stop working, it’s best to take action and evaluate what’s no longer effective in your business. Don’t just sit in the dark and expect things to correct itself.
Another good practice is to have a Backup. When we have a safety net it keeps our businesses from having a complete shutdown. In that way, our businesses keep running when we step away or experience a blackout.
And of course, Recharge Regularly. Don’t let your phone get to 1%. It’s not healthy to be making life choices at 1% power. We need to always recharge so that we can continue to show up consistently and keep the “lights” on.
The Bottom Line:
There’s no need to panic if our business is experiencing a power failure because it’s always fixable. So when we see the lights flickering it’s important not to ignore it. The point is to take action before it goes dark.
A Better Plan for Solo Professionals
I’ve created a 2025 Content Calendar tailored specifically for solo professionals like you. Those who don’t have the hours to spend figuring out what to post, but still want to show up online in a meaningful way.
What’s Inside?
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Chuckle of the day! 😂
“I told my Wi-Fi we needed to talk…But it just disconnected.”
Shamayne Brown is a virtual assistant and the founder of Camp Virtual Assistance.
She works with solo professionals and small business owners who are ready to invest in their business and need the support that she offers.
She specializes in creating email newsletters as well as other admin and creative design tasks.
Click here to connect on LinkedIn.
Click here to set up a discovery call.
