We were thrilled to get a call from Deseret News reporter Trent Toone last month, who had seen us speak at Rootstech and wanted to interview us for an article on the "thriving business of family history." (You can see the resulting article here on the Deseret News site.) Trent referred to us in the article as "Team Taylor." I liked that so much I'm having team jerseys made.
Unlike some of the other family history businesses highlighted in the article, Tom and I haven't made tens of millions of dollars of revenue. (Even one would be nice, and we're not even in the neighborhood. Not even on the same planet, in fact.) Are we "thriving?" By our own standards, yes. We count ourselves blessed to be able to pay the bills and live a quiet life doing something we love: helping people tell and preserve their life stories.
Evangelists of story
In a sense we are "evangelists of story." We spend a good deal of our time persuading people of the value of their own life stories and what those stories could mean to others. It's our passion as well as our business. We think that everyone has an interesting story to tell, and that it's something everyone should do (whether you hire us or not).
We live in a time with unprecedented technology available to accomplish this. Blogs, family history websites, genealogy sharing sites, countless software programs and social media platforms can make it easier to share the important stories of your life. Short-run printing methods make printing a small quantity of books easy and affordable.
Over- or under-sharing? The modern story dilemma
The technology, however, can complicate the issue. There is a divide between those who overshare the everyday -- the "here's what I had for breakfast" syndrome -- and those who are overwhelmed by the technology to the point where they don't share anything. Neither approach gets to the heart of what's most meaningful about your life that will inspire others.
Finding the meaning
Perhaps the most important part of what we do is to help people find what is most meaningful, most share-worthy, about their lives. Once that is established, then it's just a matter of how.
The good news is that there are now truly options for everyone. High-tech or low (and we are advocates of both), there is a solution. Whether you are telling your own stories, or helping a parent, or putting together a history of your family, we can help you navigate the easiest, least expensive, and most rewarding way to do it.
Alison works with client Fay Miles on her personal history, "Riches of His Grace." On the right is the final product.
What are your options?
We offer a free consultation to anyone who wants one. We can sit down with you in our studio, or talk over the phone, to discuss your goals and give you some ideas to get you started in the right direction. Whether you decide to work with us or not, we want you to share your most meaningful life stories.
Questions? Contact us here. We look forward to hearing your stories.
