Hi Reader!

Today, I completed a task that I do every week: backing up all my files onto an external hard drive. (Of course, I also back up into the cloud daily.)

While this might seem like overkill, it came in handy a few years back when my laptop died.

If you don’t know, I live in my RV full-time. About a week later, I was near Tucson and able to get a new laptop.

But, even with a speedy download, it would have taken HOURS to restore my data from the cloud. Enter my handy SSD drive, which allowed me to do it all offline. (Even if yes, it also took some time.)

That experience drilled in the value of the SSD drive for my lifestyle. But I originally started using it for my legal obligations.

As an attorney, I’m expected to keep a copy of all client files for a minimum of five years after my work for that client ends.

I’ve had clients that I’ve worked with since my law firm opened in 2011. This means for these clients, I need to keep their files back to 2011, because I’m still working with them. (And even if we stopped working together today, I’d have to hang onto all of their files until 2030.)

Depending on what you do, you might need to keep your important files longer or shorter than I do.

For example, if you are a wedding photographer, you can spell out in your contract that you’ll only keep the deliverables for a year. And then you can delete those that you don’t plan on using in your marketing/portfolio after that.

But if you create surface pattern designs, you’ll want to keep your designs for your entire life because your copyright in them lasts for longer than your lifetime.

Of course, certain items in your important Legal Document folder need to be kept for 5-7 years.

So it’s important to have a backup system that works for you.

👉 Your action item: Assess if your current backup system is robust enough for your needs. And if you don't regularly back up, do it, today.

Did you complete this task? Come share your thoughts about your backup system on LinkedIn or Facebook.

That's all for this week Reader! When you signed up, my promise was to add ease to the legalese of running your creative business. I'd love to know your thoughts or challenges with this week's task. Reply to this email and let me know.

Chat soon,

P.S. I’m working on making some tweaks to the artist’s Courtyard. And I’m doing a little research. Any chance you’d be up for an interview? It’d be an easy 20-minute phone chat. No trick questions :) Hit reply and let me know if you're game, and I'll let you know the next step.

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