Most people think about backing up their computer after something goes wrong, not before. This episode is Frank's argument for why backups deserve to be a priority, plus a practical walkthrough of the exact strategy he uses to make sure he never loses a file.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The difference between a backup and an archive, and why treating them the same can cost you files
• The 3-2-1 backup strategy: three copies, two local devices, one off-site location
• How Apple Time Machine works as an automatic, local Mac backup, and how easy it is to set up
• Why Backblaze is Frank's preferred cloud backup and how it runs quietly in the background
• How iCloud fits into the picture and why it isn't a complete backup solution on its own
• How PC users can replicate a similar strategy using Dropbox, Google Drive, or dedicated backup software
• What it actually feels like to need your backup, and why having one makes a hard drive failure just a minor inconvenience

If you don't have a backup plan today, this episode gives you one you can start using this weekend.

Have a topic you'd like Frank to cover? Reach out at [email protected].

Learn more at YourTechMakeover.com.

If your email inbox has hundreds (or thousands) of unread messages, you already know it's a problem, but clearing it out and keeping it that way can feel overwhelming. This episode introduces Inbox Zero: a simple four-step system for handling every email that comes in, so your inbox stays manageable and nothing important gets buried.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Inbox Zero actually is and why it's less about perfection and more about having a system
• The four things you can do with any email: answer it, tag it for later, delegate it, or delete it
• How to use the "flag" feature in your email app to keep track of messages you haven't dealt with yet
• When it makes sense to delegate an email, and the simple question that helps you decide
• Why deleting more emails than you think is completely safe, and how to archive the ones you're not sure about
• How setting up folders for clients, projects, or topics keeps your inbox clean without losing anything important

Frank manages six email inboxes and typically has fewer than 20 messages across all of them. This episode explains exactly how.

Have a topic you'd like Frank to cover? Reach out at [email protected].

Learn more at YourTechMakeover.com.

An introduction to Your Tech Makeover.