Last week I slipped off the grid. For
two days, I lost access to my business email.
I didn't see it coming. Nor did I have
a recovery plan. If it ever happens to you, I hope you're prepared.
Unfortunately, my email account was
linked to the company that hosted my website. I should have realized
that connection, but I was concentrating on my need to switch to a
hosting company with better website options.
Making the switch was hard. My techie
daughter-in-law needed a half-hour to navigate the obstacles.
Then the old hosting (and email)
company dragged its feet. But after five business days, they threw
the switch.
I discovered the change Tuesday morning
as I checked my business email. No new messages—not even spam.
After a half-hour on hold, my former hosting company told me they'd
made the change—and that I'd have to take up the email issue with
the new company.
After another half-hour on hold, the
new firm said they'd activate my account in twenty-four to
forty-eight hours. But no worry, they'd notify me via email.
Unfortunately I forgot that the address to which they'd send notice
was the one caught in limbo.
Fortunately, I had an alternate email
address. I used it to alert my most important associates and clients
that my main address was down. For everyone else, I hoped my posting
on Facebook would help.
Two days dragged by. Time to work on
other projects—and hope I wasn't missing anything vital.
Yesterday morning I decided to test if
the new connection was available. It was. I improvised a way to check
my emails and began assembling my new website.
A couple of lingering issues remain
that may need my daughter-in-law's help. I can only hope that what I intend as the final round of technical changes don't bring even more
unintended consequences.
