Anecdotes of a so-called "Power User"

At my job, I've acquired a bit of a reputation for being a tech-head. I built a machine for a co-worker's son last year, and they were quite pleased with it. Apparently, because of this, word spread that I know a little bit about PCs and how they're put together and how they work.

So imagine the (good-natured) ribbing I took when, whilst working on some proprietary purchasing software, I lost a huge (90+ line item) purchase order and had to redo everything.

(Doing the job originally took the better part of two hours; redoing it, another near-two hours.)

"Joe, I thought you were a computer wiz!"

"Joe, why didn't you back up as you were going along?"

"Joe, you numbskull!"

Okay, I said I was a numbskull.

I guess here's my point: Backups are your best friend! Seems a rather obvious point, I guess, but sometimes even someone who has acquired a reputation for being tech-savvy forgets the basics and lets his/her guard down.

Experience ought to eliminate a tendency for arrogance, I guess. But life has a funny way of humbling you, even if you may not want to be. Just take your medicine, and be better for it.

So, like SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for most law enforcement agencies: Call for back up! Your life depends on it!