The Conference Coach™

I’m in sunny Key West right now two days before the Channel Partners Show in Miami.  It’s sunny, 85 degrees and Key West is one of those places you just have to experience.  I got lucky and the 40,000 motorcycle riders just left after a 2-day convention and poker tournament.   As much as I’m enjoying my good fortune, I have to feel for everyone in rain-soaked Atlanta where I just left.

Georgia suffered from a 3-year drought that caused all of us to change our habits.  We bought low-flush toilets, stopped watering our lawns, and road around in dirty cars.  My, how a year has changed our situation.  It’s been raining constantly for 2 weeks.  I’m not talking a little rain, but 6 or so inches a day.  The key source of our drinking water, The Chattahoochee River is overflowing.  Lake Lanier is over full pool.  We no longer are thinking about having to call the National Guard out to fight Florida and Alabama over our water (although we would have enjoyed the fight!)

Our customer service operation in Atlanta had to shut down today.  It rained so hard, that the water came in through the roof, found a channel to run on and started pouring out of the light fixtures in the ceiling.  You don’t want to mess with electricity.  I thought about calling Noah to rent an ark, but he was busy across town helping the car dealerships under water.  Just when I thought this was Wrath of God stuff and we were being “smited” for something we did in the past, I remembered how prepared Copper Conferencing was to go virtual.

I thought it would be the Swine Flu that would take us out – and mind you – we’ve had a good run of it in the South, but it’s that water that just won’t let up.  We closed the office at 3:00 today and fortunately we were able to not miss a beat.  The Voice Over I/P Phone system functioned well, moving all the calls to our Denver location.  Everyone was able to forward their extensions to their cell phones.  We can login to our CRM, Invoicing, and Lead Management system over the Internet, from anywhere.  Everyone has a laptop.

We’re wet, but we’re in business and ready to serve the customer.  It’s been 39 days and 39 nights, so I’m starting to see a trend here.  I still have a standing order for the Ark if it doesn’t dry up soon!