Legacy Workshops are Effective

Along with a different Legacy Consultant at each, I spoke with two different groups at independent senior living residences on Saturday. At both we conducted Legacy Workshops just like we advocate in the training in the Priceless Legacy Resource Center.

Both Executive directors where very happy to have us in to address the groups and both groups where dynamic and engaged. We started with group discussions about the residents' own grandparents and then talked about how life story capture and preservation was critical, if nothing else, out of respect to those ancestors. For once the seniors agreed that they cherished the stories of their own grandparents and parents, they were rhetorically unable to make the case that their own stories were not worthy of preservation. We then talked about how life story preservation was a gift to the subject, the family and the community.

I would predict that at least half of the 25 seniors or so who attended these workshops will do life stories with us and the others will do something on their own. Mission accomplished!

It was time well spent and I suggest that all Legacy Consultants reach out to local senior groups to schedule Legacy Workshops. They work and they are fun.

Obituary Televsion Channel in Quebec

Interesting news from Canada. A Quebec entrepreneur is starting a cable news channel dedicated to broadcasting obituaries. It is nice to see so many novel approaches to memorializing. Of course, I believe that it is far better to capture and celebrate the stories of the living that to wait for their passing.

Pass the Microphone

“Pass the Microphone”
Family Story Sharing Exercise

“Pass the Microphone” is an exercise that can be the centerpiece of a Priceless Legacy “Open Book Gathering.”

Concept:

The Legacy Consultant asks the group a question and then passes the Digital Audio Recorder to each person who answers in a meaningful and personal manner. After the Gathering, the LC will upload the audio file to the Priceless Legacy website where it will be available for listening.

Points to consider:

1. Participation is voluntary
2. Guests may choose not to disclose their names on the recording.
3. Answers should be personal but not too wordy.

Purpose:

1. Icebreaker for guests
2. Put guest in a “thinking about legacy” frame of mind
3. Reinforce importance and universality of the life story preservation mission
4. Make the LC familiar with the Digital Audio Recorder

Process:

1. LC explains ground rules.
a. Recording may be placed on the Internet so they may not want to use their name.
b. Don’t have to answer anything that is uncomfortable.
2. LC asks the first question (and volunteers to “go first”). Speaks into the microphone and then passes it to the next guest. Each guest has an opportunity to answer the question and then the process is repeated. Possible questions are:
a. “One thing I wish I knew about my grandparents is . . .”
b. “I want my children (or grandchildren or nieces and nephews) to remember this about my grandparents or parents . . .”
c. “I am pleased or proud that I have done this to preserve my parents’ or grandparents’ life story . . .” (e.g. genealogy study, scrapbook, photo album, life story book etc.) – Gives LC opportunity to talk about the steps she or he has taken.
d. Ask the group to suggest other questions at this point . . .
3. After the questions and answers have stopped (20-40 minutes) , stop the recorder. Later, upload the audio file to the PLC website for publication per instructions (to be developed).

Talented Legacy Consultants!

Our Legacy Consultants have all sorts of talent. Check out Shane Whalen of Dallas. He is (obviously) an accomplished musician.

Shane has completed one Life Story with two more ordered and in the works. Good job all around Shane!

PRICELESS LEGACY COMPANY OFFERS MISSION, MEANING AND MONEY JUST WHEN WE NEED ALL THREE

This is a press release that we are presenting to selected media outlets to help tell our story:

A new company dedicated to helping older people preserve their life stories seeks to train and deploy up to 700,000 part-time workers throughout the country.

Dallas, Texas – March 12, 2009 - The Priceless Legacy Company launched just as the world was falling apart in the fall of 2008. Far from seeing the economic climate as an impediment to survival and growth, the young company sees much to drive optimism and hope for the future.

Priceless Legacy is dedicated to helping older people preserve their life stories for the benefit of this and future generations. The company publishes beautiful Life Story packages that include hardcover color books and audio/visual DVDs. The company is deploying work-from-home part-time Legacy Consultants who sell the engagements, interview the subjects, organize their photos and manage the draft review process. Priceless Legacy has devised a custom publishing system that creates a one-of-a-kind personal biography that is not dependent on the writing skill or interest of the subject.

With over four people dying in America every minute, we have a need to capture the stories of at least 2.4 million people per year. If we assume three stories per Legacy Consultant, we need to find, train and deploy 700,000 or more!

Consider:

1. Demographics are destiny; the recession is only temporary. 55 million seniors today will grow to 75 million over the next ten years.
2. The harsh economic climate has forced people to focus on the important things in life: family, heritage, love and mutual support. The company says: “Honor now. Remember forever."
3. More people are looking for part-time work from home or moonlighting opportunities to hedge or replace their full-time jobs.
4. While people seek economic security, they also yearn for work with meaning and purpose.
5. The “Silent Generation” has so much to teach younger people about resiliency and staying power.
6. Great companies have been launched in uncertain economic times. Especially those with an enduring social mission.

Almost everyone has had the experience of either regret at not having taken the steps to preserve a life story or the strong sense that it should be done and they don’t know how to get started and finished. Using our process, our Legacy Consultants can help anyone preserve the life stories of their loved ones while there is still time to do it.


About The Priceless Legacy Company (www.pricelesslegacy.com)

Based in Dallas, Texas, The Priceless Legacy Company is a privately held custom book publishing company dedicated to helping people preserve their life legacies for the benefit of future generations. The company connects with people through its fast expanding network of Legacy Consultants. Currently active in twelve states, PLC’s Legacy Consultants help people record their life stories. Services include interviewing, photo organizing and scanning and the production of beautiful heirloom quality Life Story books.

Life Stories: Children Find Meaning in Old Family Stories

There was a great column in today's Wall Street Journal by Sue Shellenbarger entitled Life Stories: Children Find Meaning in Old Family Tales. It very nicely reminded us how children listen and learn from the tales of our family members even when we think they are not paying attention. Shellenbarger cites research from Emory University that children aged 14-16 had a lower rate of depression, anxiety and acting out of frustration or anger when they were able to "retell their parents' stories."

This is a fantastic reminder of the importance of our mission. . . now with research to prove what we already intuitively know.