Funerals have a way of sharpening your perspective on
everything. The father of friend died unexpectedly this week. He had
also become our friend over the years, helping us with legal and corporate
issues in our small company. I also worked for him, providing computer
assistance. As I talked with his wife after the services, she related
how I would need to stop by soon to help her sort out all the information
that was stored in their computers and help her put things in order.
What’s even more striking is, this is not the first time I have
had this discussion with someone.
Working in high-tech often means working very closely with people and
developing relationships that go far beyond the usual situation of employer
and employee. Over the course of your career, many people will become
family. You need to be prepared for the eventualities of life, in both
your own life and the lives of those around you.
As we grow older, we all prepare for the day when we die. We create
our wills, buy insurance, and create Trusts, all in an effort to make
it easier for our family and friends when we pass. In addition to all
the usual arrangements, though, all of us need to consider the new,
computerized world in which we live. In the past, our children may have
sorted through paper documentation, but now, more and more, of our lives
are bound up in our computers, our email and many other personal and
business-related documents.
Computer issues might seem a shallow thought compared to the other issues
surrounding a funeral, but in today’s world, it is very important.
In the last 2 years, I have faced this issue with several clients and,
as I work with many older people in my consulting work, I am sure to
face it more as the years pass. To that end, I am developing plans for
all of my clients that can help make computer issues less of a concern
when the time comes.
First, every member of the family should have some concept of where
family data is stored, passwords needed for access and backups in the
event that anything happens to the family home. Too often, I find myself
digging for passwords or even attempting to crack passwords in an effort
to access data. Data could be scattered among several directories or
even several computers. None of us likes to think about death, but I
try to keep, in the back of mind, the old adage, “I could get
hit by a bus tomorrow.” We never know what is coming and the only
way to insure that our families can continue with as little trouble
as possible is to prepare today.
Next, insure that backups of data, even if they are relatively old,
are placed in several locations. Family members should share backups
with other family members and friends. You may never need this information,
but if you do, it will be extremely important to access it easily.
Clean out your paper files and label everything religiously. It should
be obvious where to find a variety of information no matter who might
be searching. If your son or daughter can’t find the deeds to
property, life insurance policies and more, get to work today. They
won’t need further difficulties at an already difficult time.
Have I prepared enough myself? Probably not, but each passing funeral
brings more urgency to the task. My own wife jokes of how she will have
to call in a close friend to sort out my hard drive when I am gone.
In making my own preparations, though, I can learn to develop systems
and advice for my clients.
As I see others struggle through their times of loss, and how our computerized
lives can make it more difficult, I am re-dedicating myself to removing
as many obstacles as I can, both for my clients and myself. I hope you
will use these guidelines as a start for your own preparations. No matter
what your age, you need to consider how your high-tech work impacts
those around you at one of the most stressful times in their lives.
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