I almost lost my phone

Greetings!

Welcome to The Menu Magic - Talent & AI weekly newsletter by Francisco Cordoba

I almost lost my phone

Dear friend,

Imagine this: I’m getting into the bus at Victoria Station in London, sit down, and then see someone using their phone. I think, okay, it's time to check my phone at 7 a.m. Boom, I can't find it. I start searching all around. Within a minute, I get very nervous. What happened? Did someone snatch my phone? Did I lose it on the way to the office?

I take a breath. One, two, and I start to analyze what could have happened. Well, I think, it's too early for pickpockets; they wouldn't be up this early. Plus, I always put my phone in the same place—inside my jacket, a very safe spot. It's unlikely anyone took it, especially since I hadn't used it during the whole tube journey and only when I was getting onto the bus. Then it hits me: what if, for the first time ever, I left my phone at home?

I calm down and think about my strategies. My bank accounts are there, everything I do is on my phone: communications, WhatsApp, Slack, messages. Of course, I have my computer, which I can access later, but even two-factor authentication and all my authenticators are on that phone. So, I decide to wait until I get to the office.

I take a long breath and hope for the best. Once at the office, I find a computer, open it, and fortunately, this time, I remember my email address and password to locate my phone. Yes! Four years ago, when my phone was stolen in Bogota, I didn’t have that, and I couldn't block it fast enough. But this time, I log in, and boom, I find it. It’s at home. I feel relief. My phone is safe.

But then I wonder: what am I going to do all day without my phone? This experience makes me reflect on how important our phones have become. They are like an appendix to our lives. But also, what kind of strategies should we have in place if we’re putting all our information in one device?

So today, I want you to reflect on this: What would you do if you lost your phone tomorrow? Or worse, if it just died? Start thinking and create a strategy. I have to tell you, that day without a phone was not catastrophic. I managed things just fine. Fortunately, I’m not managing a nuclear plant, so my decisions are not so urgent that I can’t just reply to an email or wait until the end of the day when I get back home.

That's what I wanted to share with you. Tell me your experiences. Next time, I will follow my mother’s advice: check your phone, check your keys, but still enjoy London. Thank you very much for listening, my friend.

Catch up soon, and let me know what you think!

I'd love to hear your feedback on today's newsletter! Is there a specific type of content you'd like to see more of in the future? Since I'll be releasing a new edition each week, I welcome any suggestions or requests you may have. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

The Menu Magic is written by Francisco Cordoba Otalora, Founder & CEO at Zote, Leveraging the power of your network to hire great talent where everyone shares in the bounty.