Covering Your Ass: Planning for the Unexpected with Julee Yokoyama

Have you ever been lying in bed and thought about what would happen to your business if you were unable to work? Or if you suddenly had to take time off? I know I sure have, and whenever I think about it, I don’t always have clear answers to those questions.

That’s why in this episode, we’re talking to Julee Yokoyama about covering your ass in your business and how to plan for the unexpected. 

CW: This episode contains a discussion of death and other sensitive subject matter, please listen with care.

The longer I’ve been in business, the more I’ve come to realize that as much as running a people-powered business and offering services is amazing, there’s a definite downside. What happens when you’re not able to work? Or when you need time off unexpectedly?

Personally, I’ve been through multiple things in recent years that have made me ask the question more and more of “what happens if something happens?”. So when I met Julee Yokoyama this spring and she told me about what she wanted to do for small business owners, I was pumped.

Julee’s approach to the traditional contingency plan makes it doable, and way less scary. As a death doula with an ops background, she brings a practical but very calming approach to questions that most of us would rather ignore. 

Here’s what we discussed:

• Julee’s unique background in ops and project management and as a death doula. 
• Answering the question of “what happens if something happens to you” and what you really need to think about. (And why do we ignore this?). 
• The role of contingency and succession plans, and why you need them even if you’re a solo show. 
• Julee’s approach to making this doable for small business owners, the CYA Plan, and how we can create our own plan. 
• What things do you need to address in your plan?

About Julee Yokoyama

Julee Yokoyama is a small business operations consultant. 

She’s a strategist with certifications as a Director of Ops, Project Manager (PMP), and End-of-Life Doula. Needless to say, she’s a planner who does her homework, and she helps service-based entrepreneurs do the same by organizing and protecting their business operations. The results? Peace of mind, operational efficiency, business growth, and overall life fulfillment. With 15 years of consulting experience in both corporate and small business settings, she guides and supports her clients through the tough conversations around risk assessment and contingency planning so the mission-critical aspects of their businesses are covered in case of emergency or extended leave.

Links For This Show:

• Julee’s Website