FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I had some bad things happen in my life. Do I need to talk about them?
The simple answer is no. You talk about what you want to share. However, sometimes it is the tough challenges in life that help create a person’s character. Maybe you don’t need to tell all the details to save face for those who may have done wrong, but to talk about how you handled a situation well so that it made you a stronger person is a good story to tell.
How do I organize this? I’ve lived a long life.
It’s all up to you what your focus will be. The answer is to prepare an outline that seems appropriate, start the interview process and as the stories unfold, the organization of the project will become very clear. One friend focused on their vacations, another focused on raising her children, and another focused on the excitement of her working career.
What am I getting for the price?
Each story is unique and full of variables. In a meeting where we will meet at no charge, we will talk about the major points of the stories you want to be covered. After that first discussion I will prepare an estimate of how many hours I anticipate the project to take and if agreed to be comfortable for the client, we start the project. We will monitor the hours being used and adjust the project to stay within the client’s time and fiscal comfort zones.
How long will this take?
This is another piece of the project that has a lot of variables. I complete projects most quickly when clients are prepared with a list of stories they want to talk about. When the client can recall the memories easily and clearly, and family or friends to help scan pictures or work on the genealogy or other special additions the project can be done in two to three months typically.
The project that take the most amount of time occur when the client may have a health challenge, a distraction from another project that interferes with their availability for interviews, a need to have some time to think about what they want really want to share or find the pictures needed for the stories.
If time is of the essence for you we can make a plan about the turnaround goal you are looking for. It’s a journey we take together toward a goal, and my focus is to make it an enjoyable experience. I will listen to the client’s need for space or for getting the project done. I work to be there to have the project move at the client’s speed.
What if I get caught up in my story telling and when you show me the transcript there are items I don’t want to have printed?
You will be given several opportunities to review and take out anything that makes you uncomfortable.
This sounds like a lot of work.
Yes, it will take some energy to reflect back through your life and touch some of those times that were uncomfortable along with the ones that brought a lot of satisfaction. That is why I do not push too strongly on keeping to a schedule. If we need to take a break while you do some processing and deciding how you want to talk about a certain experience, you have the freedom to take the time that you need.
I don’t know if I want to spend this much energy on a project.
Yes, you will be challenged to recall some facts you may have not thought about for a long time, but, once the project is completed you will feel a range of emotions from elation to pride to self-appreciation and receive gratitude from those you share it with. My experience is that the clients were completely satisfied with the results and felt it was worth the effort that they put into it.
The simple answer is no. You talk about what you want to share. However, sometimes it is the tough challenges in life that help create a person’s character. Maybe you don’t need to tell all the details to save face for those who may have done wrong, but to talk about how you handled a situation well so that it made you a stronger person is a good story to tell.
How do I organize this? I’ve lived a long life.
It’s all up to you what your focus will be. The answer is to prepare an outline that seems appropriate, start the interview process and as the stories unfold, the organization of the project will become very clear. One friend focused on their vacations, another focused on raising her children, and another focused on the excitement of her working career.
What am I getting for the price?
Each story is unique and full of variables. In a meeting where we will meet at no charge, we will talk about the major points of the stories you want to be covered. After that first discussion I will prepare an estimate of how many hours I anticipate the project to take and if agreed to be comfortable for the client, we start the project. We will monitor the hours being used and adjust the project to stay within the client’s time and fiscal comfort zones.
How long will this take?
This is another piece of the project that has a lot of variables. I complete projects most quickly when clients are prepared with a list of stories they want to talk about. When the client can recall the memories easily and clearly, and family or friends to help scan pictures or work on the genealogy or other special additions the project can be done in two to three months typically.
The project that take the most amount of time occur when the client may have a health challenge, a distraction from another project that interferes with their availability for interviews, a need to have some time to think about what they want really want to share or find the pictures needed for the stories.
If time is of the essence for you we can make a plan about the turnaround goal you are looking for. It’s a journey we take together toward a goal, and my focus is to make it an enjoyable experience. I will listen to the client’s need for space or for getting the project done. I work to be there to have the project move at the client’s speed.
What if I get caught up in my story telling and when you show me the transcript there are items I don’t want to have printed?
You will be given several opportunities to review and take out anything that makes you uncomfortable.
This sounds like a lot of work.
Yes, it will take some energy to reflect back through your life and touch some of those times that were uncomfortable along with the ones that brought a lot of satisfaction. That is why I do not push too strongly on keeping to a schedule. If we need to take a break while you do some processing and deciding how you want to talk about a certain experience, you have the freedom to take the time that you need.
I don’t know if I want to spend this much energy on a project.
Yes, you will be challenged to recall some facts you may have not thought about for a long time, but, once the project is completed you will feel a range of emotions from elation to pride to self-appreciation and receive gratitude from those you share it with. My experience is that the clients were completely satisfied with the results and felt it was worth the effort that they put into it.