Tips on running your small business while recovering your health

By Mark G. Auerbach

An accident, surgery, and a long ongoing stint in rehab has been a challenge for me. If you’re self-employed, or better yet, a solopreneur, it’s tough to run your business as you heal. Some words of advice learned the hard way.

-If you’re recovering away from home, or if you’re not recovering but at away from home, maybe at a second home, make sure you have online banking. Many banks will have a program for bill paying online, and some allow you to deposit your checks via a cell phone app.

I use two banks for my business, one a local bank that knows me, an one a national one because I have overseas clients. The local bank, where I’m known, provides better service, and arranged for me the same services the other bank provided. Plus, banking locally is good for your community.

-Invest in speech recognition software for your devices. They basically convert your speech to text, like a modern-day dictaphone. One word of caution: They write what they think they heard, so you’ll need time to edit and format.

My Samsung tablet came with a program pre-installed. I had to find a program for my MacBook. Many smart phones already have the feature. Allow time for double editing–fixing what speak-text spelled wrong, and time to edit and format as you usually would.

-Get a power strip with a surge protector, so you can charge multiple appliances. My room in rehab has several outlets, but I was moved to a general unit in an older unit for two days that had wifi, but no cell service or landline phones. You can find power strips in office supply stores and online.

-Allow more time for work. When I’m having teleconferences with clients, or deep in thought writing or recording, everything takes a bit longer, because I’m not fully mobile…or a lab technician or nurse interrupts my train of thought. Build time into the schedule to heal.

-Most important of all, you are your product and the face of your business. Let your vendors and clients know how you’re progressing. When they’re in the loop, they feel more connected.

And, for those of you who might think, “this won’t ever happen to me,” make note. Although I’m nowhere near 75, falls are dangerous and life threatening. The New York Times just published an article about fall prevention.

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Mark G. Auerbach is principal at Mark G. Auerbach Public Relations, a Springfield, MA, based marketing, public relations, development and events consultancy. Mark is also the ArtsBeat reporter for The Westfield News Group and producer of ArtsBeat Radio on 89.5fm-WKSB. You can find more information about Mark G. Auerbach Public Relations on Facebook, and Mark G.

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