We’ve been figuratively and literally snowed in for the past week. Some jackasses hacked into our site and we have had a devil of a time getting back on track.  The problem is stemming from our web hosting provider, not something targeting us specifically. Hey, it’s nice that it isn’t personal, but frustrating because we can’t fix it all on our own.

This would be a good time to remind you to back up your websites and blogs, since this sort of thing is most definitely going around. We actually did back up recently and in the end that is what will save our butts.

That hack has had the Ink Kitchen figuratively snowed in, but I also have been snowed in by record snowfall in New England. I have over six feet in my backyard. The City of Pawtucket where my shop is has run out of money to plow and even run out of salt for the roads.

So what do you do when snow or some type of disaster hits? For your employees, safety comes first. Don’t make people drive in dangerous conditions. Of course also don’t let people make lame excuses for not coming to work either. You also have to be understanding that people with kids might not be able to make arrangements on short notice. Can folks work at home? Can some folks bring their kids with them? Do what you can– small kindnesses and meeting your employees half way is the kind of thing that builds a relationship with your employees that will make them loyal and dedicated in the long run.

You also have to get some things done by hook or by crook. Events still happen, customers still need their goods. Communication is of the essence in these cases. Customers will be understanding to a degree, but they might not know what your problems are, late deliveries, workers unable to come in, etc. For example this week we are bombed with snow but it missed NYC and a couple customers had no idea that we had such troubles. Find out which customers can wait and which ones cannot and mainly let them know what is happening, before the delivery comes and you aren’t ready for them.

Creative problem solving is of the essence as well. You might have to substitute shirts for a customer, give Thursday off and work Sunday, who knows what the answer might be. If you do get your customer their shirts despite the adversity, they will remember how hard you worked and maybe something special will come from it. That top photo is the director Robert Altman. When it snowed heavily at the end of shooting the film McCabe and Mrs. Miller he just rolled with it. His perseverance ended up with him directing one of the classic movie endings of all time. I saw it last week and I’m glad he waded through that snow. So shovel out and see what you can get done.

Nothing to do with the decorating business, but here is a great winter song from the soundtrack of McCabe and Mrs. Miller. It is by Leonard Cohen and it is called Winter Lady.