It was a striking and revealing statement for me by Gary Vaynerchuk. His explanation of documenting your life each day is groundbreaking in the sense of education for future generations. How cool would it be to see:
- The growth of a successful businessman/woman from start to finish
- The rise of a young student to a doctor
- The journey of a youth athlete to elite sport star
- The progression of a kid with a passion for the military, meet their dream of serving as a Marine
- The becoming of a great pastor of a church or ministry
- Etc.
How awesome would it be to hand your children a digital blueprint of what it looked like to become who you are? A playbook if you will. The passing of treasured information from one generation to the next. Stories are no longer just books or journals. I’m not talking about aimlessly capturing your every move. I’m talking about intentionally documenting you in your professional space. The recording is not limited to your job, but extending to passions.
Holy cow, what I would give to see the rise of each of my grandfathers. Passing at an early age, I never saw them operate in their world of expertise. I would love to see James Frederick Prather Jr’s daily habits and his best business practices. I would like to understand why he picked out the Stetson he did for certain occasions. What it looked like to raise two daughters like myself. I would love to see Leland French Colbert on Lake Cumberland. Him leading us to his favorite fishing hole, documenting how to tie the perfect knot and demonstrate the art of bait casting.
For me, my perspective has begun to shift. I have been reluctant to share my life and what it entails. It may not be fascinating to many, but it may teach a few. One day my children will see where I stood as a man, and that is all I need to justify a life of documentation.
What will your digital life tell about you?
