This newsletter edition is more about life than business. But I figure that’s OK since most people in business also have a life (or recall when they once had one). This is a story about stories. Life stories. Your life story.

Your personal life story is far more important than you might think at first. If you want to tell me that your life story lacks adventure, fame or fortune, that’s alright with me. Because so does mine, just like about everyone else on the planet. In much of the world, if you aren’t an entertainer, a professional athlete or self made multi-multi- millionaire you won’t consider your life story of any significance.

But you shouldn’t think that way. Your life story is all that you leave behind as your legacy. Think about it. Your cash and hard assets will flow into your estate and over time, find their way for another temporary stay on others’ balance sheets.

Your clothes wear out, your vehicles rust away and your furniture is destined for eventual landfill. Other than a few keepsakes that remain in the family, the essence of you is vaporized by the time the next generation is born.

With the ease of writing offered by personal computers, putting your life story in writing for your family and friends is a gift from you to the world. The stories of how men and women lived their lives are what accurately record history. Textbook versions of history written by historians are no match to personal journals.

I’ve begun writing a book for my children and my children’s children to come. I was first inspired with a life story journal (ick, call it an autobiography only if you must) by my wife’s grandmother who wrote her life story in her 80’s and my father-in-law who wrote his life story in his 70’s. Neither book will be a bestseller or win literary awards. But, both books will be a treasured piece of family history for future generations of readers the authors will never know. The important thing is that the readers will get to know the authors by their words. They’ll know what their joys hopes and fears were, what lessons they learned and what was important to them. The journal is a literary treasure chest available to the curious reader be it family, friend or stranger.

Now that’s a legacy anyone should be proud to leave behind. So start writing your story and don’t stop writing until you’re done. It’s the greatest asset you’ll ever create.

"For the sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories and it is a pity that you use it so little." -- Rachel Carson

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." -- Jane Howard

"Memory feeds imagination." -- Amy Tan

I’d been thinking for a while about a dinner conversation I had this summer with a woman I’d just met. We got on the subject of writing and she said she liked to write but never made time for it. She hadn’t mastered personal computers but her handwriting was still pure Palmer Method. I encouraged her to write her life story for her children, grandchildren and their children because it’s important for them to understand the past and know more about her.

I’m not sure if she started writing or placed it on the “someday I’ll. . .” list. I thought about sending her a longhand note via snail mail to give her a nudge on the project, but decided to use that energy to expand the message in a newsletter.

I hope a printed version finds its way to her to remind her to get started.

Business is a balancing act every day.

When things are out of balance, it's usually because your don't have enough time, money or enough of the right people working for you.

If you've had enough of being out of balance, I can help. It starts with a phone call or e-mail.

(716) 434-5371 or email here.

Thanks for reading. Please forward this newsletter to anyone that you think might enjoy it. The subscriber list continues to grow thanks to your efforts.

Newsletter topic ideas and comments are always welcome. Send me an e-note.