Disaster Preparedness

NOT be one of those that never reopen. Plan your recovery before its needed. To see the supplies that Ready.gov recommends please visit http://www.ready.gov/business/plan/emersupply.html Common sense tells us, that businesses should keep copies of their most important files offsite. Personally, I use several methods but most notably, I use Carbonite’s online backup service. For about $50 per year, I’m assured of complete recovery of my files in the case of disaster – or if I reformat my PC (as I did recently) and need to restore my files. Also, dvd’s of my information is stored in fireproof safes, and the really urgent information is easily grabbed as I’m running out the door. Be prepared. Your equipment should be insured. Don’t use a rider on your homeowner’s policy, you should have business insurance that covers your equipment. All of it. Make an inventory of all the software you have, whether its installed or not, list your peripherals List your books. If you have a radio in your office, list that! List EVERYTHING! Take pictures of your equipment, store your receipts with your inventory, OFF SITE. My Office inventory is electronic, and is stored offsite, AND backed up regularly. Keep your inventory up to date. When you prepare your inventory, don’t forget about your various logins and account access codes and passwords. I have a book of keycodes, kept in my fireproof safe. For my more sensitive logins, those are encrypted on a flashdrive in the safe. Keep this list as up to date as possible. During severe weather, surges often cripple your equipment, which is why it is vital your equipment be protected with high quality surge protection, and if you lose power suddenly, having an uninteruptable power supply (UPS) can give you the time you need to save what you’re working on and shut your equipment down. High quality UPS systems also include surge protection. Include your PHONES on the surge protection. Often, your telephone is one piece of equipment that is forgotten about when it comes to equipment protection. Visit Ready.gov for more information about disaster preparedness for your home and your business. Become familiar with what you need to do, and what needs to be on hand. Stay alert to the news, and be prepared. Wishing you safe, Kathy Ritchie]]>

Working on the Fly

Update: Just this week I was able to get a really good deal on a new PDA/phone (next to nothing!) when my wireless contract was up. Now Im using an HTC Wing, which has all the bells I could have hoped for. My only hint of an issue is that the integrated keyboard is a bit small – but that could also be that it’s new to me. Main thing is that I’m able to be “connected” one of several different ways. (GPRS, wifi, bluetooth) So the above article, while it doesn’t apply specifically to me now, I still believe it. Have a great May! Kathy Ritchie, Editor]]>

Image Refresh Code

Simply edit the parameters, such as the image name, width, height, and how often you’d like it refreshed. Neat little snippet of code that solves loads of issues…. Have a great day! Kathy Ritchie www.thebestva.com]]>

Turning Hobbies into Careers

Do you have a hobby you would like to make money with? I think many of us have thought about turning a hobby into a money-making venture at some point. My hobbies include fishing (although I don’t have a chance to fish often enough!), genealogy, photography, reading, writing, graphic design, and so on. Fishing isn’t something I would ever try to make money with-its just for fun. I began my genealogical research years ago, honing my skills by finding long lost relatives, from the past to the present. I cultivated this skill and began offering research services as part of my business. Its proven profitable and very interesting. Through genealogy, I learned heraldic designs, then added that skill to my repertoire. Recently, my passion for photography became an income generator when several of my photos sold unexpectedly. Also, for holiday presents, I designed several journals and a calendar featuring my photos, and my family went crazy for them. One of my sisters urged me to start offering my photos for sale, and after much thought, I did! The latest venture for me is my very own online gallery, Kathy Ritchie Photography, at www.krpgallery.com. It’s a work in progress but I’m very excited! My point is, don’t discount your hobbies as money making ventures. Countless activities exist that could be a great niche service to your clients, or a brand new career for you. Take inventory of your hobbies, crafts, and fun projects. Do research on what product or services are already available and go from there. You may find the next BIG TICKET service or product that sells like hotcakes, and was spawned from something you already love. The main thing is to have fun, be creative, and have an open mind to all the possibilities. Have a great March! Kathy Ritchie Editor, RSS Herald (Go to URL)]]>

Resolving Disputes to get what you want

I went back to the ad and re-read it carefully. I discovered that the lenses I received were not as described in the eBay ad, nor were they fully compatible with my camera as stated. I contacted the seller, and after showing her a couple shots, she agreed that the quality was poor.

We discussed options for a little while, then finally, agreed to have her ship out the correct lenses, and I would return the filters, the adapter and incorrect lenses. I would only pay for my shipping of the lenses back to her. My bottom line is: Don’t settle! If you’re not satisfied, and you know it should be different, speak up. Then you’ll get the clarity you deserve. Photos by Kathy Ritchie, Leaves and Landscape shots are after the new (correct) lenses were delivered. Thanks! Kathy Ritchie]]>