Memories image: sxc.hu

 I consider my aunt, who was divorced and had no children,  my uncle who was a bachelor, my brother who died young, and two other aunts and uncles who had no children.

Who in our family will remember them if I don’t write their stories, collect their memorabilia, and pass this along to my family? 

I thought of this again when I read the following in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency:  “His life [the main character's father] was unrecorded; who is there to write down the lives of ordinary people?” 

Yes, he is a fictional character in a book, but Mma Ramotswe   does write about him and how he helped shape her life and made it possible for her to establish her detective agency. 

Are you recording the lives of the people in your life?  Not necessarily for publication, but for your family.

Now can you think a step further and consider developing this into a business whereby you can do it for other people or at least help them?

Post from: Small Business Boomers

Scrapbooking image: sxc.hu

Many Boomers are at a stage where family memories have great meaning. 

They also are into scrapbooking and journaling.  They often are caregivers for parents or relatives and find themselves saving those persons’ memories for children, grandchildren and future generations.

They realize, as Mma Ramotswe did, in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, about her father:  His life was unrecorded; who is there to write down the lives of ordinary people?

There are members of my family, who have died without children or spouse or anyone to record their lives.  If I don’t do it, who will?  Will they be simply a statistic in future years when I’m not here to share memories about them?

This may occur to other Boomers, who want to preserve family members.  They may desire to preserve memories.  You can help them!

• Sell scrapbooking and journaling supplies
• Conduct classes on scrapbooking and journaling.
• Show them how to record family stories and their memories.
• Assist them with research
• Do research for them.
• Make these memory books for them.

Post from: Small Business Boomers

Image:sxc.hu

My dad and a friend built it and the friend managed the business.  When he had a heart attack, Mother (a former school teacher, who had no storekeeping experience) decided she would operate it.  So during my last year of high school and my college years, I spend weekends and vacations working at the store and on the farm my father owned.

Mother didn’t make a fortune.  In fact, she generally lost money because she was so kindhearted and trusting.  However, she did affect her customers’ lives because so many wrote me after she died, telling me how much she meant to them.

I need to find time to compile her notes and snippets of information, along with photos, into a journal or scrapbook, chronicling her years as a country storekeeper.  This would be an interesting item to have for our family heritage.

Why not journal your business?  Start where your are, then write down the beginnings as you recall them.  If you’re just starting a small business, keep a daily log.  It doesn’t have to be much, but will be a good business information journal and something of interest to family in years to come.

Post from: Small Business Boomers