As winter came roaring into Toronto over the past few weeks, many Torontonians -- close to 228,000 to be more exact -- were left in the dark and without power for up to a week as a result of the freezing rain that blanketed the city. In total, the damage and cleanup is estimated to cost the city $106 million. It has been a punishing start to what could be a very long, bitter winter.

Like others in Ontario, the ice storm caught us by surprise and we spent a very chilly few days without power and, living in the country, without water too. To be honest we weren't that prepared. We are now, I can tell you. But as business owners, we also have some lessons to learn from those tough few days that we can use in our business lives.