Friday, July 08, 2005

TV Show looking for a VA to interview!

Hi again!

I'm Diana Ennen the PR Representative for VANetworking. We've been approached for a possible TV show in Boston/ Rhode Island and I'm looking for a qualifed VA they can interview.

If you are close to that area, within 30 minutes, have good experience as a VA, and would be willing to have the camera crew come to your home, please return this to me ASAP with your bio, and client references. I need to send this to them asap.

I'm not sure when the program will aire.

Thanks so much.

If you'd like to contact me I can be reached at (954) 971-4025.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Writing a Business Disaster Recovery Plan

If you are a business owner it is vital to have a Home Office Disaster Recovery Plan

The Home Office Recovery Plan is a vital part of any business start-up. All new business owners, home-based businesses, small businesses and even corporate businesses could benefit with this book.
Many companies don’t realize the importance of protecting their business, your client information, their back-up files, and other vital data until it’s too late. By following the guidelines in this book, businesses could easily get back up and running quickly and also have greater protection with the tips and suggestions provided to protect their family in the event of a disaster.

What is a Disaster Recovery Plan?
A Disaster Recovery Plan is planned and documented procedures to enable your business to get back on track in the event of an emergency.

Proactivity being the key element – You are planning ahead. You are planning for the welfare of you and your business.
It ensures your peace of mind and your clients that business continues.
It details information regarding the internal structure of your business, assets, insurance, so that it’s readily available.


What does it do?
It enables you to identify and keep control of risks which would result in:
The inability to maintain services to your clients
Harm to your reputation – for example not meeting deadlines, losing client’s work and files.
Failure to protect your business assets.
Failure to connect with associates & subcontractors.

It protects your business - clients, subcontractors and your work.

When does it help?
•Natural Disasters – Hurricanes/Storms
•Computer Crashes
•Theft or Loss
•Your Own Health, Hospitalizations, Illnesses, Disability
•Common Events – Everyday Happenings
•The Unknown


So what’s included in your Home Office Recover Plan Book?

This book outlines all the essential elements required to prepare your business in case of an emergency. It provides a workbook that you can easily log all the important information down such as company structure, clients, subcontractors and associates, insurance information, equipment, website information, important contact names.
It not only provides the basics for you to detail all your business information, but provides details on the best means to do so as well. Tips and techniques are offered for securing your business.

Sections in the book include:

Why a Disaster Recovery Plan
How to Use this Guide
Just for Telecommuters
Administrative Information
Associate Information
External Resources
Insurance Information
Supply & Equipment Inventory
Valuable Documents
Backing Up Computer Data
Business Continuity Plan
Meeting Place
Emergency Contacts: (i.e., neighbors or family)
School or Daycare Disaster Response Procedures
Students Away at College
Disaster Response Plan - Putting it All Together
Establish a Call Plan
Safekeeping of Your Plan
Safe Deposit Boxes
Hurricane/Tornado and Storm Preparedness
If You Live in an Earthquake Zone
Leaving at a Moments Notice
Special Needs
Preparing in Advance

Take a look inside

a. First, you will complete all basic information about your company in the Administrative Information. This information is so anyone could walk in and know instantly who you are, what employees you have, where they can find information they need, etc.

b. Next, we’re going to take an entire inventory of your office(s). This includes your supplies, equipment, and contact information. This step is crucial. It involves making a detailed accounting of everything in your home office, whether it be a corner of the bedroom or your entire basement, it is vital to getting back up and running smoothly.

c. Third, you will complete the steps necessary to make sure you have access to vital information in case your home office becomes un-useable.

d. Fourth, you will actually create the Disaster Response Plan. This is what to do if disaster strikes. This includes: Whom to call, how to meet family members, and more.

e. Support Documents and Checklists: We have created a detailed, yet simple checklist plan for you to make sure you have all the necessary documents and lists you need to make this guide. You can print as few or as many as you need.

f. Bonus! We have also included checklists for your personal home information as well. After all, if your business is in your home, then you need to be able to get back on your feet as quickly as possible.

The time to prepare for an emergency is now because there may not be a later.

As you can see, the Home Office Recovery Plan is a very simple step-by-step guide. For less than the price of going to the movies, you can make sure you have a solid plan in place to recover your home office & business in the event of an emergency.

Can you afford to lose your business without this plan?

Go to http://www.HomeOfficeRecoveryPlan.com/order.htm now to get your Home Office Recovery Plan Book.

Ten Supplies to Have Ready

In the event of an emergency, you will need to have certain supplies on hand and ready to go at a moment's notice. Here are 10 supplies that we recommend you have ready.


__Flashlight and extra batteries (at least one per family member)

__NOAA Weather radio

__Lanterns

__Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries (Check that it works and that batteries are the right kind.)

__Portable, battery-operated TV/extra batteries. You can find these for $20.00. (Optional)

__First Aid Kit

__Food (non-perishable) -- See Below

__Water (one gallon of water per person per day) – a 2-week supply. (Many say 3 days, in Florida they say 2 weeks. So, get what you’re comfortable with.

__Water -- Also fill your bathtub with extra water for additional purposes. Water is so important. You can’t have too much!

__Don’t forget the fondue!

Yes, this old standby from the 1970’s has made a comeback and will definitely come in handy. When the lights go out and there’s no power, take out the fondue!

It can be easily used to:

* Melt cheese, chocolate (my favorite)

* Heat up water, not enough to boil noodles but hot enough to make soup, coffee or tea.

These are just some items necessary for effective disaster planning.

Visit our site at
http://www.HomeOfficeRecoveryPlan.com to learn more.

© Copyright 2004 – Home Office Recovery Plan – All Rights Reserved

Hurricane Season is Coming....Are you ready?

Be Prepared -- Be Safe -- Be Smart -- Prepare a Disaster Recovery Plan


Margate, Florida, May 2005. The hurricane season is not even officially started here in Florida and already the all too familiar news alerts are coming in. Fears of death, destruction, and loss of livelihood are but some of the headlines we hear resulting from the forces of nature that have Florida and the East Coast preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best. This year as we all anxiously awaited the reports from the experts and our worst fears were confirmed, Government forecasters predicted the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season would be worse than average along the East and Gulf coasts calling for 12-15 tropical storms, with 7-9 becoming hurricanes, and 3-5 of these becoming major hurricanes. The likely range of ACE index is 120%-190% of the median. Colorado State University forecasting seven hurricanes, with three of them severe. Only one important fact remains ... ARE YOU READY?

Author Diana Ennen lives in Margate Florida and like many Floridians witnessed four hurricanes last year. With a son in college in Gainesville, a sister in West Palm, and her family in Margate, her experience felt similar to that of the hurricanes, they covered the entire state of Florida. As a home-based business owner, she too worried about the loss of her business with each passing storm. Fear, anxiety, extreme stress and facing the unknown seemed a way of life for months on end. The only comfort was the fact that she had taken the time to prepare. She did what all the experts had recommended and even before the warnings and watches were raised, “She was READY.”

Not knowing that Florida would experience the worst year ever in history, she accepted an offer from another author to help co-write a book on Disaster Planning. The book was barely complete when the first hurricane hit, yet, Ennen was able to utilize it to provide her the peace of mind and security she needed in this time of utter panic and uncertainty.

Ennen contends, “Before the storm, I was racing trying to keep in touch with family members, making sure my college son was okay in a campus far away from home; trying desperately to secure my home and my home business; quickly making back-ups of everything and getting important documents and client information to a different location, and all the while remaining calm in front of my other two children. I didn’t have the time to write down my insurance information, computer and equipment serial numbers, business contacts, family and friend contacts, medical needs and medications, credit card info, and gather up all my vital information. Fortunately, I had already done that vital step. It was just a matter of looking it over and making sure it was still up-to-date.

Patty Gale’s vision for this book for home-based businesses on disaster recovery and contingency planning came after she had prepared a similar one following 9/11.for a company she was working with at the time. As Patty suggests, “Many companies don’t realize the need to write the plan so that someone would be able to come right in and recreate your entire business utilizing the information you have provided. You need to include key personnel, contact and client information, web information, and so forth. Computer back-ups are vital, as well as where they are located onsite and off.”

Their book, Home Office Recovery Plan: The Disaster Predpardness Guide for Your Home Business is essential for all living in the eastern states and all home-based businesses. It is formatted in a workbook setting enabling you to write down all your vital information on your business and personal information. Since your business is your home, protect both at one time. This book helps home business owners prepare a comprehensive disaster-preparedness plan for their home business and their home.
The evidence from last year storms show that the difference between being prepared and waiting until the last minute is more than just the inconvenience of waiting in lines at grocery stores and Home Depot. It can mean the loss of life, the loss of your business and earnings, and even the loss of being able to connect with family after a crisis. Take the time. Do it now. And together ... we all will survive the season with hopefully a “Gee it wasn’t as bad as we thought it was going to be.” That’s would be a great end to this hurricane season.

For a free sample chapter of our Home Office Recovery Guide go to Home Office Recovery Plan and also get tips and suggestions there as well for hurricane and storm preparations.

***************************
About the authors: Diana Ennen and Patty Gale are both successful home-business owners. Diana Ennen is the author of several books including Virtual Assistant the Series, Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA http://www.VA-TheSeries.com and others. The Home Office Recovery Plan is available at http://www.HomeOfficeRecoveryPlan.com. You can contact Patty at Patty@HomeOfficeRecovery.com and Diana at Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com

Do you have a Disaster Recovery Plan?

How prepared are you? If you don't already have a disaster recovery plan in place, you need to visit http://www.homeofficerecoveryplan.com

Hi everyone!

Well as you know the hurricane season is upon us. In fact, experts are stating that this is the most active season so far with 4 tropical depressions already before July 5th. Now we have our first hurricane taking aim and expected to turn into a Category 3 hurricane. Are you ready?

If you own a home-based business, you face unique challenges. Not only is your home at risk, but so is your business. In fact, the June 27th issue of the Sun Sentinel Newspaper a column by Robyn Friedman, states:

The impact of a disasters, such as hurricanes, can be staggering to a small business. According to the Financial Planning Association, 40 percent of all businesses hit by a natural disaster fail to reopen, and 25 percent that reopen close within a year. That's why complete and early preparation for disasters, whether hurricanes, fires; earthquakes or floods -is essential for the survival of a small business.

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable because they don't have the resources of a larger company," quoted Carol Chastang, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Small Business Administration, in Washington D.C. The sooner a small business owner prepares, the more ready he or she will be when disaster hits. Chasten also said that Florida business owners have no excuse for being unprepared for a hurricane. Every year there's a hurricane season.

Here are some tips for small businesses

Protect your data – Many times if there is a pending hurricane, FedEx will back-up their files out of state.

Back-up all your files and keep a copy off site. Pay special attention to client files. They are depending on you.

Write down all your company information, insurance information, attorney and accountant information, personal and family information and have a designated person who knows where it is. Don't forget your web information and hosting company.

Write an inventory of all your business assets, equipment, take pictures, etc.

Keep client contracts, wills, important papers, etc., in a safe location.

Be safe!! You'll also find our Home Office Recovery Guide to be a valuable tool to prepare your home and business for a hurricane. Be ready! Hi

Well as you know the hurricane season is upon us. In fact, experts are stating that this is the most active season so far with 4 tropical depressions already before July 5th. Now we have our first hurricane taking aim and expected to turn into a Category 3 hurricane. Are you ready?

If you own a home-based business, you face unique challenges. Not only is your home at risk, but so is your business. In fact, the June 27th issue of the Sun Sentinel Newspaper a column by Robyn Friedman, states:

The impact of a disasters, such as hurricanes, can be staggering to a small business. According to the Financial Planning Association, 40 percent of all businesses hit by a natural disaster fail to reopen, and 25 percent that reopen close within a year. That's why complete and early preparation for disasters, whether hurricanes, fires; earthquakes or floods -is essential for the survival of a small business.

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable because they don't have the resources of a larger company," quoted Carol Chastang, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Small Business Administration, in Washington D.C. The sooner a small business owner prepares, the more ready he or she will be when disaster hits. Chasten also said that Florida business owners have no excuse for being unprepared for a hurricane. Every year there's a hurricane season.

Here are some tips for small businesses

Protect your data – Many times if there is a pending hurricane, FedEx will back-up their files out of state.

Back-up all your files and keep a copy off site. Pay special attention to client files. They are depending on you.

Write down all your company information, insurance information, attorney and accountant information, personal and family information and have a designated person who knows where it is. Don't forget your web information and hosting company.

Write an inventory of all your business assets, equipment, take pictures, etc.

Keep client contracts, wills, important papers, etc., in a safe location.

Be safe!! You'll also find our Home Office Recovery Guide to be a valuable tool to prepare your home and business for a hurricane. Be ready! http://www.homeofficerecoveryplan.com

Simple Tips to Keep Children Calm during an Emergency

1. Whether a stuffed animal or a “blankie”, make sure to have their favorite security item readily available to take along.

2. Make sure you give children information about the situation that is age appropriate.

3. If old enough, let them help you prepare. Children as young as 4 are capable of gathering some of their own personal items to take along such as books, crayons or extra clothes.

4. Practice drills several times per year and make sure to explain that it’s because we want them to be safe. For example, if you live in an earthquake zone, make sure children know what to do. For tornados and severe storms, explain that there will be sirens and what they mean.

5. If you have a pet(s), make sure your child will know that “Fido” or “Fluffy” will be safe in the event you have to evacuate and can’t take your pet with you. Young children can become very emotionally attached to their pets and need to know that they will be safe.

6. During an event such as preparing for a hurricane, there may be terminology on the radio or television that children may not understand. Be prepared for lots of questions and explain things to them in terms that they can understand.

7. Encourage children to talk. Younger children may not know quite how to express their fears and feelings verbally, so it is extremely important for adults to listen attentively.

8. Try to remain as calm as possible yourself. Children are very in tune with their parents’ emotions and they can tell whether they are scared or not.

9. Most of all; make sure to give lots of hugs and verbal reassurance.

Visit our site: http://www.HomeOfficeRecoveryPlan.com for more information

© Copyright 2004 – Home Office Recovery Plan – All Rights Reserved