Happy Friday all! I don’t have much to say in the way of personal finance this morning, but I did want to share a story about an incident that happened yesterday that got me to thinking about goals and overcoming setbacks.
As most of you know I live and work in Atlanta, Georgia. All of the stories you hear about the horrendous traffic are 100% true, and I end up working late at my office in my efforts to not spend an hour out of my day on what would otherwise be a 20 minute commute. I usually spend this extra hour working on my blog or my book.
I came in on Thursday morning and booted up my computer, and about a half hour later everything in my cubicle went dead. KA-POOF! This has been an issue before, no big deal. I take my computer and plug it into another outlet on the other side of the office. Nothing. I even go so far as to switch out the laptop battery with a spare one we had (while still plugged into the wall outlet) and nothing. Nothing!
At this point I am freaking out because I assume its a motherboard issue on my computer since it doesn’t appear to be the battery. The only reason I really care is because the ENTIRE first draft of the book is on my work computer and (like an idiot) I did not back -up my work…or even email a copy to myself.
How do you overcome difficult setbacks like losing your work?
Panic. Panic. Panic. What am I going to do? It’s taken me two months to get this far, and I hadn’t even sent the draft out for edits. It is hard to put into words how upset I was. All of that work! I began thinking about what I’d have to do next; if I wanted to finish the book in time for the contest, there was only one option: allow myself to be upset for a day, and then start over. Either I do this, or I give up. I suppose your choice in the matter depends on how much you want to accomplish your goals.
If you think about it, those are the only two ways to overcome setbacks, and it is shockingly simple. You either move forward, or you give up. There really is no in between or gray area when it comes to taking charge of your life. No one wants to hear about the great book I wrote, but lost, or give me a pat on the back for writing the first draft and then stopping. We either rise to the challenge, or we don’t, it is just that plain and simple. I’ll have to keep this in mind the next time something complicated gets shucked my way.
As for my computer, the end is a happy one! What are the odds that the next outlet I plugged my computer into (in a different part of the office no less!) was also dead. I finally found an outlet that worked, plugged my computer in and voila! You can bet your bippy the first thing I did was back-up my work AND email myself a copy. You know, just in case I happen to misplace a thumb drive, which I have been known to do on more than one occasion.
I think the video below is a perfect example of how disorienting it can be to lose all your work. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!!
Hi, my name is Lauren but I'm known to those nearest and dearest as L. Bee. After twenty-five years on the planet I have worked in a lot of industries, moved to many different cities, and made almost every money mistake you can make.Join me on my journey as I navigate my twenties and try not to pick my "money tree" bare.
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This is a good reminder for me to back up the preliminary exam document I’m working on now. I had the same thoughts as you – all there would be to do is pick myself up and start over! I’m glad it didn’t come to that for you.
L Bee, I have been there and done that. When I used to use desktops, I never really backed up my data, until one day the whole hard drive crashed. That was the worst day I could have encountered. I now backup everything…..
You are right about not dwelling on the issue. You can’t change the outcome now, so either move one or sulk. I choose to move on!
Debt Roundup recently posted..Weekly Personal Finance Blog RoundUp – 1/18/2013
We back up everything at our work onto our server and onto backup drives thankfully!
Michelle recently posted..Are Tablets Worth It?
You live in Atlanta? That’s funny. We are not that far away LOL.
Debt and the Girl recently posted..We Finally Got a New Car!
I remember that episode of SATC. In only takes a second doesn’t it for you to have to many regrets about the simple steps you could have taken to avoid that. I’m totally with you, I do that same thing. Glad you took such a positive perspective on everything though! Also glad nothing was wrong with the computer.
Budget & the Beach recently posted..Link Love/Week in Review 1/17/13
Well that is certainly heart attack inducing! Store things in the cloud
I keep a myriad of things in google docs.
Anne @ Unique Gifter recently posted..Honeymoon Gift Basket Ideas
I’m IT for my organization, so the only thing I could think while watching that video is “no wonder it crashed, it’s a Mac”.
Jesting aside, get Dropbox. You get 2GB of cloud storage for free. It’s easy to use. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! Google Drive gives you 5GB free. Then you can access your stuff wherever you are on any computer. I’m glad everything was okay with your files!
“Everyone’s secretly running home at night and backing up.” That’s what we all do. Secret backup society.
Chris is right on about Dropbox. OG & I use that non-stop….BUT on a better note….I’m so happy to hear you didn’t lose your book. I had a similar situation yesterday. My new MacBook wouldn’t turn on. Would not no matter what. I plugged it in and it was getting juice….no clue. Then I turned up the brightness. Yeah. It was already working before I started pounding on keys. I just couldn’t see it.
AverageJoe recently posted..Joe’s Top Movies of 2012
This happened to me! Still haven’t really gotten a great back up system, just use icloud, but I hear drop box is great! Glad to hear you got your computer working again, it’s such a scary thing!
Janine recently posted..What do you put in your body?
Phew. We’ve had enough power outages at work that I have been there many times before. Backups are priceless. Truly priceless. =)
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted..How We Fought Our Real Estate Tax Appraisal and Won – Part 2
Ahh…so glad you got it all back and that it was an outlet fluke!
My laptop decided to fry itself a few days ago…Needless to say, I learned the very, very hard way to back.up.everything.
And I stay at work late, too to avoid Boston traffic! (here now…shh!)
The Happy Homeowner recently posted..Friday Link Love: Roommates, Gold and Princesses
I know I’m not as good about backing my files up as I should be. I write a lot of my papers and blog posts with google drive to avoid losing them (and because I sometimes work on them at work on my lunchbreak).
KK @ Student Debt Survivor recently posted..Save a Life-Get a Prize
I agree move forward or give up, 2 choices. If you lost is all then you would have those 2 choices to face and although starting over would suck it might not have been as difficult as it was the first time since the content was fresh in your head. Or you could have said, sod it, I’m done, I could care less, but where would that have gotten you, nowhere. Choice, we all have it. Glad it worked out for you. Mr.CBB
Canadianbudgetbinder recently posted..The Saturday Weekend Review #3 January – Are You Really A Mom?
Wow! I think that’s one of the reasons I’m happiest that I work in programs that auto-backup to the cloud now.
I think everyone has had that heart attack at one point. I’m glad you didn’t lose your work!
Alex recently posted..APE the Book (review)
Glad this story has a happy ending Lauren
Savvy Scot recently posted..Planning Our 2013 Holiday to Mexico
That is the worst feeling when you think you lost something. I think worse than when you know you lost it. It’s done at that point but the not knowing for sure is a killer. Glad it worked out.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..How to Retire in Ten Years, Regardless of Your Age
I’m so glad you didn’t lose it but I second (or third or ninth) the Dropbox suggestion. There is NO REASON not to have a Dropbox account and if you want, I’ll send you my link and we’ll both get a little extra space!
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