Organize Your Family History

Stay focused and happy while exploring your roots

Help me decide…

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I’ve been thinking that my next Orderly Roots Guide would be The Imperfect Genealogist, based on the talk of the same name I’ve given at RootsTech and various genealogy societies. I’m the co-host of the podcast Getting to Good Enough, all about letting go of perfectionism so you can do more of what you love, so it’s a topic that’s near and dear to my heart. But the other day I started having doubts about whether it’s something people would be interested in buying. So I figured I’d ask my blog readers.

I’m thinking that the guide would cover the following:

  • Why perfectionism can be a problem for genealogists
  • Areas of your research that can benefit from a “good enough” approach
  • Areas where good enough isn’t actually good enough
  • Some ideas for letting go of perfectionism

Like my three other shorter guides, this downloadable pdf would probably be about 10 to 12 pages and sell for $8.99.

Please let me know in the comments if you think that The Imperfect Genealogist is a good topic for a guide. And, please, if you have other ideas for guides you’d like to see, let me know in the comments! I appreciate any input you have.

P.S. If you’re going to the Spring Seminar at the Midwest Genealogy Conference in Independence, Missouri, on Saturday, let’s meet up!

Summer posting schedule

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As you may have noticed, I try to post new content here twice a week. My typical posting schedule is Tuesdays and Fridays. (I try to post Mondays and Thursdays on my business’s organizing blog.)

But my summer is shaping up to be very busy with work and travel and I realized that in order to take the pressure off myself, I am going to adjust my schedule for July and August to one post per week. I’m not going to commit to the day, but I will do my level best to post once each week.

I just made that decision and already feel lighter and less burdened. I love writing these posts but sometimes it’s hard to be inspired when I’m so busy with other parts of my life.

Keep an eye out on Thursday or Friday this week for a 30 x 30 wrap-up post and then, starting next week, look for a new post every week. After Labor Day, I expect to get back to twice-weekly posting.

Photo by Valerian KOo on Unsplash

Who Do You Think You Are? returns to NBC this summer

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I was very excited to learn that NBC is bringing back the docuseries Who Do You Think You Are. According to this article in the Hollywood Reporter, it will make its premiere on July 10. The subjects for the upcoming season season are Allison Janney, Zachary Levi, Nick Offerman, Billy Porter, Zachary Quinto and Bradley Whitford.

Co-produced by Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky, the show aired on NBC from 2010 to 2012 before moving to the cable network TLC, where it aired from 2013 until 2018. I don’t have cable, so I wasn’t really able watch it on TLC. I’m delighted that it’s back and easy to find on NBC.

One thing I like about WDYTYA is that the celebrity subjects whose family histories are traced are more involved in the research process (as compared with, say, Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.) I feel that approach makes doing genealogy on your own feel more possible. The very first episode I watched, in 2011, featured Ashley Judd. It was a thrill for me because she and I shared a Mayflower ancestor, William Brewster (at least I’d been told I was descended from him–I still need to verify that). I was just starting with genealogy back then and that episode opened my eyes to the fun possibilities of genealogy research.

I look forward to the return and I hope it sparks passion and curiosity in other beginner genealogists as it did in me!

What would you like to hear about?

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I’ve been asked by MyHeritage to do a Facebook Live presentation on their Facebook Page about organizing your family history. When I asked them for a specific topics they’d like me talk about, they said that they’re open to any ideas I might have. The presentation will be 40 minutes of Powerpoint, followed by 20 minutes of Q&A. I have some ideas, but I thought I’d turn to you smart people, since I know you are interested in genealogy organizing, to see what you think would be a good topic for this presentation.

In case you want to attend and ask questions, the Facebook Live will be on Monday, February 7, at 12 noon Central Standard Time. I’m pretty sure the recording of it will remain available. I’ll be sure and post again about that.

I’m excited by this opportunity to reach MyHeritage’s huge audience and I thank you in advance for your input!