So for the moment I’m going to be a little more myself and go with the “Captain Kirk” method – more of a “punch-in-the-gut” perspective why you should take some action to prepare your business for minor disruptions and major disasters.

• It can save your business.  Something major will happen and if you aren’t prepared to deal with whatever it is, your business may never reopen.  I have plenty of examples, but the bottom line is that you have no bottom line if your company is shut down.

• It will reduce loss.  A small disruption may only cost you around 10-25% of your daily revenue for a few days. Planning for those disruptions will give you options to reduce that impact.  Reducing that potential loss from 25% of your revenue to 5% or less requires action. 

• It can save you a major pain in the “posterior” and cost in court.  You are required to do what is considered reasonable to provide a safe workplace for employees and customers.  If you don’t take action you can be found negligent and that usually translates to big penalties in court.    

• It can save lives.  This may sound fantastic but it’s not an exaggeration.  Whether an employee who has a stroke or heart attack in your break room (and precious seconds are ticking away till help arrives) or the evacuation plan you practice and your employees get out safely from a fire or explosion (ask the 1300 Morgan Stanley employees who had to evacuate from the WTC on 9-11) - it all matters and can make a real difference in the lives of people you see every work day.    

It doesn’t matter which perspective you prefer, the logical, reasoned Spock or the impassioned, shoot from the hip Kirk, both perspectives end the same – you damn well should do something to make your business prepared.  If you don’t do something your company is really like one of the red-shirted crew members that never make it when things start to go wrong.

As always – Be Aware, Be Prepared, Be Safe.