Getting excited, staying motivated and making money

An insightful piece from the Success Factory. I assume it was written by Theresa Garrison.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with a lady who was a relatively new party plan consultant. I listened as she spoke flatly and unenthusiastically about her new business venture that was not going as well as expected. Her initial efforts to book parties seemed fruitless. Add to that the initial out-of-pocket expenses required for purchasing her kit and a few business supplies and her initial excitement at the prospect of being her own boss was quickly waning. Frankly, she really sounded as though she was ready to throw in the towel… already.

In the past several decades, we have morphed into a society that expects instant gratification. By just the push of a button we have the ability to instantly communicate with family and friends via our PC’s and cell phones, we can have a ready-to-eat delicious meal in just seconds with the help of our microwave. We can shop online and put together a great outfit or order that book we just heard about on Oprah this morning and it will be on our doorstep tomorrow.

So, it is no wonder that to some, cash outflow plus hard work with no immediate return equals drudgery and frustration.

Do you have what it takes to be a smart business person – one who can manage her finances in a way that makes you truly profitable? Are you a natural born leader, someone with vision who can see past the challenges in order to achieve their goal?

Did you know that only 3% of people write down their goals? Interestingly enough, 3% of the population are millionaires. Hmmm, do you see the correlation?

I think that it is safe to say that there are some people who are natural born leaders and naturally good at the details of finances and managing their business in a cost effective way. This is how God wired them from the time they were first created. For the majority of us, however, this is learned behavior

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.

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).

The Legacy Preservation Workshop

We just added this video to the Resource Center at Priceless Legacy.

The video explains how a Legacy Consultant might use the Legacy Preservation Workshop Presentation at a community gathering to explain the urgent need for life story preservation. The Powerpoint itself is also available in the Resource Center.