While a bit later than I’d like, Heroic Technical Writing is back in action after a 30-mile relocation. Last week I talked about my process for shutting down my business in preparation for moving. Today (tonight) I’ll be writing about getting things back up to speed, personally and professionally.
Inverting the process of shutting down, the getting-back-to-work effort starts with the basics and moves up from there. Before I’d even moved, I had to call the various utility companies to ensure water, power, and cable would be available when I moved in, plus a moving company to handle the logistics of moving my furniture.
In the two weeks between closing on the condominium transaction and moving in, I was bringing over small, light items such as books and winter-weather clothing–items I wouldn’t need in the near future. Books I didn’t plan to read could also be packed. The valuable, useful work items such as my computers and current research materials, stayed in the apartment until moving day. On that day, those high-priority, high-value items went with me in my personal vehicle rather than on the moving truck.
The move itself moved along more quickly than I’d expected: 4 hours instead of 5 to 7. That was good. The bad news was: I was in a condominium full of furniture and packed boxes that needed to be accessed in some semblance of order. I decided to take care of myself first: unpack the clothes, put linens on the bed, and clear enough space so that I could set up the computer and the internet/cable guy could get me back online. By the second day (today), I had a plumber fix series of plumbing items while I cleared my office area so I could work and conduct business. Putting the library in order took longer than I thought because the boxes were scattered around the room, but eventually, I got things where I wanted them.
The connection to technical writing here is simply that you need to take care of yourself first when settling into a new location. Take care of the basics for yourself and your operation before you resume regular operations. Once the basics have been taken care of, you have the opportunity to thrive in your new place. It’s worth taking the time to get things right for your operation before you start taking care of others.
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