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I am passionate about history -- as a source of information, inspiration, AND ways to benefit your business or organization.
That's what we do at History Smiths: We help you find meaningful ways to embed history into your marketing and PR to benefit you AND the communities you serve.
Check us out, be inspired, and be in touch!
-Bonnie Hurd Smith, CEO
   
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How do you "do" your business history? I give you easy steps to follow -- and ideas about what to do next!
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If your business or organization is about to celebrate an anniversary, please don't just throw a party! We'll show you how
to really leverage this important event.
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Can a history trail benefit your business economically?
Absolutely! And it will
also benefit your historical nonprofits, community,
and everyone involved. Here's a "done for you" process to follow.
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Greetings!
We all love stories, don't we? Books, movies, talks, walking tours, stand-up comics, conversations with family and friends....And in business, any good marketer will tell you that you HAVE to tell stories to draw people to you. As many of you know, women's history is a real passion of mine, so I've shared some thoughts about how and why you should tell the women's stories in your business or organization. I know they are there! The others kinds of stories we MUST tell before we lose them are family stories and the stories of veterans. Two friends of mine recently shared some wonderful ideas with me, and I happily share them with you below! This Memorial Day I took the time to call a dear friend of mine who recently returned from Afghanistan to thank him for his service. I hope you were able to do the same for someone in your life. It just can't be said enough (yes, I am also a military groupie, as many of you also know, and with good reason!). So now, I am off to find a spot in the sun to read and be grateful for living in a safe, beautiful, well defended place.
Be well, and be in touch!
Bonnie P.S. Have you listened to my FREE audio report on how history can benefit your business? Just fill in the opt-in box, and it's all yours! |
Why and How You Should Tell the
Women's Stories in Your Business
 | | Madame C. J. Walker, one of the most successful African American business owners in history |
by Bonnie Hurd Smith
No matter how old (or new) your business or organization is, there are women's stories to be found and told.
As a historian, here are some of the questions I would normally ask if you and I were to have a conversation.
· Was your founder a woman? If so, what motivated her (or you) to start the business or organization? Was she the first woman to start that kind of business? What obstacles did she encounter and how did she overcome them? What kinds of "firsts" did she achieve in her business? What key decisions did she make to get from Point A to today? Did she also play a role in her community (or family) as a mentor to other women? How would you describe her impact on her industry? (I think it goes without saying the impact Oprah has had in all of these areas.)
· If your founder wasn't a woman, what can you find out about his wife, mother, or daughters? Did any of them play a role in the business? How were they affected by the business? Did a daughter inherit the business? (In the case of one of my clients, his grandmother led the family business through the Great Depression after inheriting the company from her father because her brothers weren't interested. What a terrific story! And we had her picture.) (Continued here)
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Veterans' History and Family History -- Please Tell the Stories Now Before We Lose Them!
 | | Do we know this gentleman's story? I hope so! |
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by Bonnie Hurd Smith
I wanted to share two quick stories with you - and two wonderful ideas from two friends!
Story and Idea #1
I attended the Memorial Day ceremonies in Ipswich, Massachusetts, this year, and I was very moved by the lengthy, small-town tribute to those who have served. I was particularly struck by the speech delivered by the veterans agent.
As you probably know, this year begins the commemoration of the American Civil War, and he talked about how much of the story we have lost over time - the stories of ordinary people who served or who managed daily life back home. We only have what was written down or photographed, and it's a tiny fraction of what could have been documented.
Fast forward to today. We have the ability to document anything and everything instantaneously and in multiple formats. Are we capturing the stories of veterans and their families? Not enough. The World War II service men and women are almost all gone. Korean War veterans are getting up there. If you know someone, if you are related to someone, or if you feel motivated to contact your Council on Aging (or your equivalent), please do! (Continued here)
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Do you have a question about how history can benefit your business, organization, or you personally? I would love to hear it, and I would love to answer it!
I might even feature your business or organization here, because others could benefit from the information!
If you're a nonprofit, you are also a business. Ask away! And if you're a historical nonprofit, do you have questions about how what we do can provide you with new revenue streams?
Please be in touch with your question!
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