I have spent the better part of the last few weeks dealing with my Dad breaking his neck. Between back and forth visits to the hospitals, conversations with surgeons, doctors, nurses, hospital administrators and other medical personnel as well as my Mom it seems like there are not enough hours in the day. It is still touch and go with my Dad but we are praying that he will get better and get out of the ICU by the time you read this article.

What this experience has reminded me of is how little control we have over our life and how important it is to take care of things while they are top of mind rather than say, "I can take care of that tomorrow or next week or next month". It can be something that seems insignificant at the time like typing a letter for your Dad or something a little bigger like depositing money in the bank or even bigger like getting your will updated. If you are a business owner that list may also include an emergency plan for who covers for you if you are injured or ill or even worse, dead.

No one wants to think about "what happens if" but, what happens if . . . Do you have a plan in place if something happens to you? Will your business operate smoothly? Does your staff know what to do if you are unreachable? Is there a succession plan in place? Are the legal documents in order personally and for the business if you are unable to be present for an indefinite time period?

These are all questions that we don't want to think about but you need to ask yourself the tough questions before the answers are needed. Every business needs a business continuity plan that covers the basics like, we cannot get into the building, the building is gone, the server failed, the power is out or the power is going to be out for an extended time period. If you don't have a plan for those types of "disasters" you need to gather your key personnel and start writing that plan right away. If you don't know how to start, let us know and we can help guide you in the process. You can also ask your peers about their plans.

Once you have the basics covered, you need to sit down and answer the bigger, tougher questions. What do I want for my business when I am gone? Who do I want to take over for me if I am incapacitated? Do I have someone who I can trust to handle the financial aspects of the business, to sign payroll, etc while I am unable? What if I am unable to ever return to work? What happens then? Do I even care?

If you don't, then you need to immediately begin planning your exit strategy because it is time to move on. If you do, then sit down and decide who you want in key positions and begin training them to step in if needed. Speak to accountants and attorneys to make sure your interests are protected if you are incapacitated. Make sure your family knows your personal wishes as well as your business ones.

Don't wait until a situation like the one with my Dad to get you to write a personal and business plan for the what if scenarios. Decide today what you want, put it in writing and make sure key people know those plans and agree to abide by them.