It’s been about 6 months and I think I can finally talk about this now. No wait, give me a minute as I need to compose myself… OK, I’m ready. About 6 months ago I lost all my computer data, documents, pictures, etc! Goodness, that was hard to say but it feels good. I’m glad I finally was able to say it out loud!
Let me explain. I pride myself on being very particular in how I organize my computer files. I was one of the first ones that I knew in college to get a computer, have an email address, and search websites. Back then we used to call it Surfing the Web. Now it’s really not called anything as it is just a given that we go to the Internet for just about everything.
As I said, all my files are highly organized based on my personal and my professional endeavors. I have my computer partitioned into two separate drives to maximize the efficiency and eliminate space and performance related issues. Like many people, I have documented my entire life on my computer and have digitized just about everything that is important to me.
I am also very diligent about backing up my system and files on a regular basis. Or, so I thought.
The story starts about 6 months ago. I had been working for about 5-6 months in my new business and was just starting to get the hang of things and seeing some results. As I mentioned before, and in other previous posts, I document everything. This is a habit of mine that I carried from my former career in the field of human resources and corporate business.
I remember I had worked on Saturday for most of the day drafting emails and solidifying a project I had been working on to add to my business. As I was closing up for the day, I was notified by my system that an update was required for the optimization of my computer. This was not unusual and I am a big fan of keeping everything updated. Of course, I clicked yes so that it could optimize and update overnight and I would be ready to get to work on my computer in the following days.
Now I typically take Sundays off to spend with my family, attend church and generally relax for the day. But for some reason I decided to log on early in the morning on that fateful Sunday to input an idea that I had for my business.
When I logged on and went to my files everything was…GONE!!! And by gone, I mean nothing was there. I didn’t panic as I knew it was probably an error on my part. Maybe I went to the wrong
files. As I looked again and stared at the emptiness of my files, I started to get a very sick feeling in my stomach. The rest of my computer was working fine and all my other computer programs were there. But all my files, or should I say the documentation of my life in digital format, were no longer there.
As I continued to stare at the computer screen, trying my hardest to will the information to return unharmed, saying a few prayers and just completely terrified I decided to walk away. I got a cup of coffee and came back to my desk knowing that the data would magically appear. I rebooted my computer and the result was the same. Everything was gone!
Then, I remembered I backed up my computer on a portable hard drive that I keep securely locked away as well as the automatic backups that the system supposedly does. The keyword is supposedly. Because I don’t completely trust the automated backups that the system is supposed to do, I manually back up on my hard drive. Unfortunately, I had not done that for about 6 months as I started to trust the system. Big mistake!
I went to the cloud to retrieve my data and download it to my file system and noticed that the data was not there. For some reason the automated system to backup my files was not selected. I have no idea how or why it happened. I can’t say that it was my fault but I also can’t say that it wasn’t my fault. It is a mystery that will probably never be solved.
The next thing that I did was run to my secure area to check to make sure that my portable hard drive was safe. It was! It was at that moment that I realized I had just lost 6 months of data and information That may not seem like a lot when you are talking about a lifetime, but when you are starting out in a new business and have a lot of records it is terrifying to realize you’ve lost it all. In addition, I also lost 6 months of personal data. Fortunately, my pictures and music are backed up on a different system so at least I didn’t lose that information.
To make this long story a little longer… (just kidding, I’ll summarize it now). After I called technical support from my computer operating system, my computer brand technical support, a visit from a technician and finally, taking the physical computer to a data recovery service all came to the same conclusion. The files could be recovered but they were completely corrupted and could not be repaired. It was not a virus nor was I hacked. It was one of those unique situations where the way I had saved my data did not work well with the System Update and Optimization process completed the previous evening.
I have spent the last 6 months trying to recreate as much of this information as I possibly can from what I remember. It has been a difficult and humbling experience for me. For those of you who might be like me, you will understand the sinking feeling of looking at a blank screen knowing that everything you have been working on for 6 months is lost.
That felt so good to get off my chest, and thank you for listening to this sad story of mine. This has been good therapy just to write about it. 😊
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
There are going to be times when things seem hopeless. You lose a lot of data like I did or you just get discouraged because you can’t figure things out. Or, you are possibly not making the income that you had hoped. Or, you may not have the support of family or friends as you venture out into doing something they may not understand. Or, you possibly just start to lose your confidence and give in to that self-negative talk that you are just not meant to do this business.
For me, the realization that I had lost so much information was heartbreaking and for half a second, I considered that this must be a sign that I need to stop what I was doing. Then, I looked at all that I had already accomplished and realized that it may not be exactly what I wanted or expected, but that I had to face reality. I could either rebuild or walk away.
I’m not a quitter. I’ve preached to my family my entire life that we must finish strong in whatever we start to pursue. What kind of example would I be to my family, more specifically my children and grandchildren, if I gave up now. And even more important, could I live with myself with the knowledge that I just decided to quit?
Now don’t get me wrong, if things aren’t working out the way that they should and I have a strong good feeling to pivot and do something else, I absolutely will. But in this case, that was not the situation. In the big scheme of things, I just needed to rebuild.
We all know that there is going to be discouragement in life and things aren’t always going to be what we hoped they were going to be. When this happens, we need to understand that it’s just a blip and these unfortunate events do not define us unless we allow them to.
Life is hard. I heard something on a TV show I was watching that really summed it up, “It’s hard to be a person.” Business is hard. Success does not always come easy and is not always a lottery win. Someone once told me about business, “If this was easy, everyone would do it.” But not everyone has the stamina or desire to be successful in an online business.
It’s tough, but it is also rewarding. If I think about it a little, it’s also fun most of the time. I am creating something completely new to me and creating it for my family’s security. I have never done anything like this before and it is exciting! I am starting to see success and that is exciting! I am watching others see success and that is exciting!
Yes, there will be difficult times. I will lose my data. Things will not always go my way. People will disappoint. And a whole host of other things that may not be pleasing. But I can prepare for those things as much as possible and I can prepare my attitude in advance should some of these things happen to me.
When times get tough, I implore you to step back and look at the entire situation before you make a decision that cannot be reversed. If you lose your data use it as an opportunity to rebuild and rebuild it better than before.
My computer system is up and running everything is double backed up, and life is good. I will not let this hiccup, even though it was a big one, distract me from doing what I am supposed to be doing. And at this moment in time, it is running an online business.
I’m very curious. How do you recover from major setbacks? What steps do you take to prepare for the unpredictable situations that may come your way?
Thank you for listening to my story. May your data always be intact!
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou
“It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce that counts.” – Zig Ziglar
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
I told my computer I needed a break…So it crashed. I guess it took me too literally!
Why did the computer keep freezing? Because it left its Windows open!
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more. And please continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.
Wow Ernie, what an ordeal!
That is no small issue, and so glad you handled it so well. I had an issue while running a past drop ship flavored coffee biz. My computer crashed and everything on it was gone. I was fortunate to have Dropbox cloud syncing with the laptop regularly so I could get access to the data. After Dropbox was full I stopped using it… didn’t want to pay. then not long ago my laptop went blank, no screen, nothing. I hadn’t backed up for a long time and thought I lost everything. Turns out it was the screen that stopped working and the files were all safe. I decided to buy a usb stick with a lot of memory and now back up on that stick every 1-2 weeks. I don’t even want to imagine loosing all that data. Anyway, so happy you’re back on track now and prepared so it doesn’t happen again! Cheers.
Hi Denny, and thank you for your visit! Yes, it was a pretty traumatic event. I did learn a few things though. Like backing up more often is important and to revisit the important things to make sure that I don’t lose them and then I learned from them. I actually did everything right except the frequency and backing up my data. I will not do that again. In fact, after I hit post comment, I’m gonna go back it up right now again, thank you for your visit and have a great day!
Ernie, my heart sank when I read your post this week. I also revel in your resilience and the excitement you feel while working on efforts in creating security for your family.
Personally I don’t trust Microsoft’s One Drive with saving all my spreadsheets. I don’t like the autosaves and the way I deal with this is to immediately save to my Google drive. And if catastophe does strike, eventually I’d be like you and rebuild what I’ve lost to being better than before.
Carry on my friend. You are doing great!
Hello – Like you, my heart also sink. It was also weird and humbling, recalling the situation and writing about it. But, if it helps someone else, and it was all worth it. I don’t like trusting the cloud either, but that seems to be where the world is going. I still do plan to have two back ups, though just in case. Have a great day, my friend!
I am so sorry, Ernie! Losing all that data is so heartbreaking, especially after pouring so much effort into your new business. It’s inspiring to see how you turned such a setback into a learning opportunity. Your point about the importance of resilience resonates deeply; it’s a reminder that setbacks don’t define us but can lead to stronger foundations.
I can relate to that sinking feeling when technology fails us—I’ve had my fair share of data scares, and it’s taught me to always have multiple backup strategies in place. Your journey of rebuilding sounds like a testament to your determination, and I love your outlook on using adversity as a catalyst for growth.
How are you planning to implement any new backup strategies moving forward? I’d love to hear more about how you’re setting yourself up for success after this experience!
Hi Alison! It is so great to hear from you and thank you for visiting my blog post and for making comments. Technology is either a lifesaver or a crutch, depending on how it chooses to act at any given moment. I thought I was doing the right thing, and I really was, by updating my system to optimize better. However, technology failed me in this case, as it got confused with my files, and just decided to make them corrupted. Boo! In the future, I plan to have my physical backup locked in a safe and still plan to have an electronic back up somewhere on the cloud. It’s not the ideal for me but it’s all I have to work with at the moment. Also, I’m investigating if WordPress can back up my blogs so that I could get to them easier if needed. That is one of the last things that I want to lose is my owned assets. Thanks for your visit to my blog post and I look forward to chatting with you soon!
Hi Ernie,
What a story! Losing six months of work must have been tough! I’m so sorry this happened… I admire how you turned it into an opportunity to rebuild and keep going though. I have to admit, I don’t back everything up on my computer like I should, but after hearing your experience, I’ll definitely be more careful about it!
Setbacks happen to all of us, and your experience is a great reminder that it’s how we handle them that makes the difference. Thanks for sharing!
Meredith
Hi Meredith, yeah, it was an ordeal and it wasn’t a pleasant one to have at the time or to think about it now. But what are you gonna do? I either move forward or you choose to wallow in the past. I do believe it’s important to look at history to evaluate the successes and challenges we’ve had. This is one episode in my history I will truly learn from. I hope your history and your future fares very well! Have a great week!
Hey, Ernie!
I’m sorry you had such a horrible experience! What do I do when life throws such a curveball? I throw it back! I’m not a giver-upper. I seem to face the big challenges with strength and am discouraged for a bit by the little things. A good night’s sleep tends to take care of those. I can’t explain why my mindset can change so entirely from 10 PM to 6 AM, but I’m glad it can! When all else fails, I remember how I have overcome the major curveballs and the little moodiness I’m facing now isn’t going to stop me. In the end, I’m grateful I’ve had some major setbacks. They give me courage I can face whatever comes next. By the way, I will find out how to back up my computer!
Nakina
Hi Nakina – You have such a good outlook on life with never giving up. I agree with you that sometimes a good night’s sleep puts things into perspective. It allows the brain to reset and sometimes think about things from a different angle. I have often told my wife that when I sleep on something I wake up with a better idea of how to do things. That’s what happened in this case. After I slept on it for many, many, many, nights, I decided I would move forward, take the high road and press on. Thank you for your visit to my blog post and your comments and I wish you a wonderful week!
Do you work with a windows computer or a Mac? Just curious! As for me, I get up every morning and plan my you tube video for that day. I refuse to give up. Persistence is my superpower. This means setbacks are inevitable, yes, but dare I say, our community here helps me figure things out much faster than if I decided to go it alone. Losing data? What you did is wonderful guidance for us if the same thing happens to us. I have several Mac devices, including an iPhone. They all communicate with each other, which is interesting. Lol. Thanks for the jokes!!
Hi Kate, I use a Windows PC as well as having an iPad and an iPhone. For the most part, they all work well together. However, I mainly use my Windows PC on my desk as I have two large screens attached to it and it makes life easier. I back up from that device. You are right, when you said we have to prepare for the inevitable because the inevitable will become fact often enough. It sounds like you are doing well and those preparations as I see your business is starting to pick up. You are one that I follow very close, and I’m very appreciative to learn from you! Have a great week and again, thank you for your visit!
Hi Ernie,
I got sweats just reading your post! I was in the same situation a few years ago, my savings at that time was that I had decided to continue the back-up service offered by a company with whom I had decided not to renew…. the renewal was 2 weeks away and I thought “I didn’t need them”….. boy was I wrong!
I’m sorry to read that for you it didn’t turn out the same way; it is tough to go through and try to continue after situations like this.
Another quick note: don’t forget to save your work! So many times I’d start writing and boom, electricity cuts or something else happens and if you didn’t save your work….it’s lost.
Good of you to have decided to dust yourself off and continue! All the best!
Hi Marc – The sweats is a perfect way to describe it! I know so many people feel my pain when they get that blue screen, or a backup fails, or some type of technology issue forces us to do extra work. You make a really good point about saving your work while you work. I try to do this very often and have set up automatic saved on my Word documents so that I don’t lose the data. Thank you for your visit, my friend, and I wish you a very good week!
You share an experience many of us have had. Your patience and seeing the bright side of this matter is commendable.
Thanks also for the humorous pictures. My fav is “Lost Data”
Hi Scott – Thank you for your visit to my blog and for your comment. It means the world to me that you visit my little blog and you find some appreciation in my humor as well as my pictures. I do make an effort every week to give the best work I possibly can and hope others find value in my product. In short, it’s fun to make and I learn more every week as I create and as I review others’ blogs as well. Hope you’re having a great week and again, thanks for your visit!
Hi Ernie,
Wow, what an intense journey you’ve been through! Thank you for sharing your story with such honesty and resilience. Losing all your data must have been incredibly challenging, but your perseverance and determination to rebuild are truly inspiring. It’s a powerful reminder that setbacks can be a catalyst for growth and innovation.
I deeply admire your commitment to pushing forward despite the hurdles. Your experience is a testament to the importance of backing up data and maintaining a positive mindset in the face of adversity. It’s also a reminder to all of us about the significance of resilience in both personal and professional pursuits.
Your story has given me a fresh perspective on tackling challenges in my own work. Thanks again for sharing, and for the wonderful quotes and jokes—those definitely added a lighter touch! Looking forward to seeing how your journey continues to unfold.
Take care,
All the Best.
Hello – Thank you for your visit and for your comments to my blog post. Yes, it was an interesting and intense journey and it still in progress as I’m still recreating some of the life lost data. I’m not too worried as I get to recreate the data that was lost. It’s like learning it all over again. And, I do like to add the jokes at the end and hope that people find them funny or at least a comical “groan.” Have a great day and a strong finish to the week!
Wow, I can’t imagine how stressful that must have been! Losing months of work would’ve knocked me sideways, but I love how you turned it into a lesson of resilience. You’re so right—these blips don’t define us unless we let them. I’m glad you didn’t give up, and I’m sure your story will inspire others to keep pushing through setbacks. You certainly inspire me on a weekly basis. I’ve found myself lately saying “What would Ernie do?” Thank you for everything you share with us.
Hi Sarah – Yeah, it was pretty nuts and pretty discouraging when it happened. I must say I just sunk in my chair and stared at the computer screen for a good part of the day willing all the data to come back. I was just imagining not only all my business stuff, but photos, music, financial things and all the other life things that could have potentially been lost. Fortunately, I only lost six months worth of material and I was able to re-create and I’m still re-creating much of the data. I think it’s pretty funny and I’m flattered that you would ask yourself that question about what I would do in situations. Ha ha ha ha! After all, it’s probably me that asks that about you often as I try to mimic what you do and see your success, not only through the blogs but your videos. I especially appreciate how the theme of your content seems to be around the areas of kindness, doing the right thing and generally trying to help others. That is pure gold! Thank you for your visit and your comment and I wish you a very good and productive week!
Ernie,
I can so relate to your experience. My computer was hacked in Feb of this year, and I thought I had lost everything. Just like you my heart sank. Thankfully I was able to retrieve all of my information and now I continuously back up my information.
Sherri
Hi Sherri – It’s a terrible and scary feeling, huh? I’m so glad you were able to recover yours and lesson learned. Thanks for your visit to my blog post and for your comment and I hope you have a wonderful week!