If you’re thinking of hiring a personal historian, keep reading. If you’re a practicing personal historian, remember that potential clients don’t really care what you do. What they care about are the benefits they’ll get from hiring you. I must admit that I sometimes forget this fact. So as a reminder to myself and to anyone else who needs a prompt about the benefits - here are five important ones. Can you think of more? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
- Your story will get told. This is the most important benefit of all. Countless times people have told me that they started working on their life story or that of a family member but never seemed to be able to get it finished. Hiring a personal historian means the work will get done on time and in a professional manner.
- It’s more fun. Let’s face it, sitting alone with a blank computer screen or piece of paper and waiting for inspiration to strike can be daunting. We are by nature conversationalists. Sitting with a personal historian who is a skilled interviewer and empathetic listener makes telling your story an enjoyable experience.
- Your story will be richer in detail. Because of the familiarity with your own story, you can easily miss details that others would find fascinating. You need a personal historian who is fresh to your story and has the skill to bring out the richness of your life’s journey.
- A personal historian relieves you of the burden of producing your book. Putting together a life story is an overwhelming undertaking for most people. From start to finish it requires a set of skills that include – interviewing, editing, research, photo enhancement, design and layout, and printing. A personal historian takes on these production tasks and ensures that all are handled professionally.
- A personal historian has the time. Are you someone who simply can’t find enough hours in a day to devote to working on your own story or that of a family member? Hiring a personal historian relieves you of the guilt of not putting in the time you need to get your life story or that of a family member told.
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Dan,
I think your five reasons are right on! You’ve been able to verbalize beautifully what I tend to stumble over when I give presentations.
Is it possible to get permission to use them on an information flyer I use for presentations–with credit to you as the author and the URL to your website and blog, of course.
Please let me know. I have some presentations lined up after conference.
Thanks.
@Rose Marie Morrell. Thanks, Rose. Please feel free to use this information on your flyer with the appropriate attribution. I’m pleased that you’ve found my post useful.
Hey Dan, Thanks for this great article. An inspiration, whether you are looking for a personal historian or you ARE a personal historian. Write on!
@Jan Schochet. Thank you for your comments. I’m glad you’ve found my post useful.
Oh, PS, could I put this as a link on my website?
@Jan Schochet. I’d be very happy to have you put this as a link.
Dan, you have such a way with words. Thanks for the opportunity to quote you with a reference to your authorship. Stumbling doesn’t quite describe it when I’m trying to explain what I do to people. Pretty soon their eyes glaze over and I know I’ve lost them. So every bit helps. Thanks again!
Yvonne
@Yvonne Charnesky. Thanks for your very supportive comments. Much appreciated!