Some of you may recall the American television documentary series “This Is Your Life” hosted and produced by Ralph Edwards. In the show that aired from 1952 to 1961, the host surprised a guest and proceeded to take them through their life in front of a live studio audience that included friends and family. This biography was an occasion to celebrate the life’s work of the guest and reunite him or her with old acquaintances from their past.
A few of my senior citizen friends have recorded stories about their lives to share with family and friends. I have been privileged to read these accounts of early childhood, careers, family memories, and the many changes and challenges they have faced. There is something holy about these firsthand tales as they reveal hidden insights about the person’s life, preserve a family heritage, and bestow wisdom through the written word. I hope that someday my own son (and perhaps his family) will view this blog site as a testament to the important ideals I believe in and life lessons I have learned.
In ancient times storytelling was the primary means of recording and transferring family history and memories. Each generation honed its skills in the art of telling stories so the legacy and traditions would remain unbroken. Today we Americans send an estimated 2.5 billion text messages every day. In addition, we also post millions of Facebook status updates, Twitter tweets, and YouTube videos during this same time period. Alas, this endless chatter doesn’t make for a compelling life story. In fact, one could argue that much of our social media communication doesn’t even engage at a storytelling level. It’s more and louder volume with less of what matters most.
Last year at my church our youth paster approached me with an idea to have the youth meet during our Christian education hour with the senior adults who comprise the class I teach each week. The four week format was simple—we chose a topic, like family or church, and asked the older persons to share their memories and stories with the youth. An open mic time encouraged the young people to ask questions about what they had heard. The response was amazing as these two very different generations came to appreciate each other’s stories and perspectives.
Few business leaders do a good job of telling stories. As a result, most employees know little about the values and principles that grounded the organization when it was founded. Many have no appreciation for the sacrifices of the founder or the stories behind the customer loyalty that keeps the company growing. Without written and verbal accounts of the history—both good and bad—there is no context for framing today’s decisions and future planning. Positive stories from the past can be an important ingredient for any organization that is seeking a new direction or trying to make sense of a muddled present.
We need the collective wisdom of our elders if we are to achieve success in our fractured and chaotic world. The guiding principles and values that shaped their lives are just as important for today’s problems. Business and family leaders have an obligation to share their narratives however imperfect and insignificant they might seem. If communication is the new currency of our age then it’s time to pay up by investing more in the power of personal story.
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