Yesterday, we discussed keeping personal information personal.
If we are working for someone else, we need our own computer.
A place to run our life.
Household papers.
Personal projects.
Professional resume and case studies.
Budgets.
Vision boards.
An email of our own.
Our work computer could disappear in an instant.
Without it, we could feel ungrounded.
Computer Infrastructure
I’m often asked how to set up a computer infrastructure.
What programs to have.
What file structure to use.
Here are a few recommendations to get started:
- Don’t fret over laptop vs. desktop and Apple vs. PC – buy what you are most comfortable with
- Purchase the software you are used to using at work (i.e. Microsoft)
- Get your own email – by purchasing a personal URL or leveraging something like Gmail.
- Sign up for free versions of programs like Zoom and Calendly. You can always upgrade later if you use them beyond the scope of the free version.
- Ensure your contacts are saved on this computer.
- Create folders for various areas of your life such as finances, home improvement receipts or project ideas, photos, tax information, calendars, personal branding, etc.
If money is too tight right now to buy the computer, start organizing files.
Purchase an external drive (or jump drive) and start moving files off the work computer.
Anything personal should be moved and stored on another device until the computer is in place.
Your Turn
Do you have a personal computer separate from your work computer?
If not, can you start to set aside some money each month to save up for the purchase?
How can you begin to move personal information off your work computer?