Want to Record Your Business and Family History? Five Good Reasons.

There are many blogs and articles that speak of the value of recording your business and family history.  Here are some of the main reasons:

1. To create a unifying culture, with a shared past, shared values, and successes and heroes to celebrate.  It can tie together the various family and non-family members.
2. Related to #1, for multi-generational businesses, it's a way to honour the older adults who passed their business and wealth on.
3. Related to the above, the decisions of the past teach lessons and help guide the new leaders in the midst of bewildering choices.
4. The history can be a very useful marketing tool.
5. In the event of ownership disputes, a recorded history can provide evidence of the intentions of past owners, past agreements, etc., in the way that constitutional arguments are informed by the "Framers' Intent".

I became interested in this area for these reasons:

• I have a Masters degree in history, and nearly got a Ph.D.  I am still involved in local history projects.
• In our family, we routinely do a video of the older adults with their personal history.  When they pass away, we are very thankful to have that connection to them, and the permanence of their stories.  As the one who does the interviews, I am told I do so effectively and make the two hours or so interesting to the speaker and the audience. 
• In a business dispute of my own, the history seemed relevant to how to resolve the matter.  It was a chance for me to learn my own history.
• I think this is a comfortable way for me to become acquainted with a family and business, and fits well with my interest in assisting both to be the best they can be.

What about truth vs. myth?  Should the information be confidential or not?  What form should the recorded history take?  These are issues that the businesses and families should decide, and these are conversations I can facilitate.

These projects can be done affordably.  Contact me to inquire.