Genealogy Space by Sally Romano

10/08/2024

As some of you know I work with Warner Bros. on the Who Do You Think You Are? show.

When working on the Miranda Otto episode, I undertook research at the State Library of Queensland - and they've blogged about it.

Here's a link if you're interested: https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/miranda-ottos-family-tree-surprise-and-how-trace-your-own-history

I still pinch myself that I get paid to do this!

27/06/2024

Are you thinking what I think you're thinking????

That you're too busy to organise your genealogy...

Don't worry, I know how far down the priority list organising your genealogy can fall.

But I want to let you in on a secret!

Organising your genealogy isn't about finding the time - it's about finding the joy.

And I show you how to do this in The Family Archive Project.

I'll actually show you how to LOOOOOVE organising your genealogy!

The truth is... that we're naturally attracted to doing things we enjoy.

You don’t need a huge block of time for organising.

It's about setting yourself up for success and enjoying a quick win that boosts your confidence and inspires you to keep going.

I also have some other tricks that I teach in the course:-.

But I just wanted to give you an idea of what you can achieve when you change your mindset...

And then, imagine all the time you'll save after you've created your own family archive.

Instead of spending hours searching for that one elusive document or that photo that you know you have somewhere...

You'll have everything catalogued and at your fingertips!

The time (and the joy) you invest now will save you countless hours of frustration in the future.

Plus, an organised archive makes sharing your family’s history with loved ones so much easier and more enjoyable.

What’s even better?

As a beta student, you’ll have direct access to me for support and guidance every step of the way.

You can also request additional resources tailored to your specific needs, ensuring you have everything you need to succeed.

This is a one-time opportunity to join The Family Archive Project and with me by your side.

But you need to book your spot NOW because... 🚨 IT STARTS NEXT WEEK!!!! 🚨

Don’t let the fear of not having enough time hold you back - you'll be amazed at how quickly you can make progress.

To join, click here:https://genealogyspace.com/family-archive-project/

Sall 😊

PS. I've made the course FREE if you join my Genie Organisers Inner Circle for only USD $7/month!

25/06/2024

I'm so so excited to present a free copy of the Archive Research Companion to you!

The planner is available for download in my Organise Your Genealogy FB group.

You're welcome! 💖

I've thoroughly enjoyed putting this booklet together for you (and now I'm busting to use it myself!).

I collected all the generous ideas that people shared with me, I added my own tips in and I've also done a ton of research to ensure I haven't missed anything.

I'm really thrilled to include the following tools in the Companion:

CHECKLISTS
Initial Research Before Your Visit
Preparing For Your Visit
During Your Visit

TEMPLATES
Research Inquiry Email
Archive Profile Sheet
Research Plan
Research Log

Sall 😊

07/02/2024

Hey Lovely Genies ✨

We're already in the second week of February, and I'm curious…

How are you going with your genealogy organising plans?

Now's the perfect time for a little review! 📅💻

If you're going well and kicking goals, I’m so so thrilled for you! 🎉

Share what's working for you and how you’re maintaining the momentum.

Your insights might just be the inspiration someone else needs! 💡

Or are you facing a few bumps in the road? 🚵

Are there specific challenges holding you back?

Maybe it's because you don’t know where to start… ❓

You can’t find the time…? 🕰️

You don’t know what organising system to choose/use… ?

Or you’re you just have too much paper and it’s overwhelming…? ♼

Consider this a moment – pivot. ↪️

Sometimes a minor adjustment can make a major difference!

So here are some tips to help you recalibrate and get back on the genealogy organising bandwagon. 🚃

Reevaluate Goals: Are your initial organising objectives the right fit? It's okay to adjust and refine as needed. Ensure your bold goal comes from the heart and the resulting objectives are achievable.

Community Support: Reach out to your fellow genies here. Share your challenges and ask for help. Sometimes an outsider's perspective can offer fresh insights.
Don't

Mindset Reset: Approach organising with a positive mindset. Instead of seeing it as a chore, view it as an opportunity to rediscover all the research you’ve done over the years. A positive attitude can make the process more enjoyable.

Look for the joy when organising – I promise, you’ll very often find it!

Remember, organising your genealogy isn't about perfection - it's about progress.

What can you do today to move a step closer to your organising goals?

I encourage you to share your thoughts and challenges here. We're a supportive bunch, and there's always valuable advice to be found within our community. 🌐💬

Here's to making great strides in our genealogy organising this year.

Whether you're already rocking it, or taking a moment to reassess, you've got this! 💖💪

Sall 😊

PS. You can grab your free copy here of the 2024 Genealogy Organising Planner from www.genealogyspace.com.

23/01/2024

Hey Lovely Genies! ✨

GENEALOGY CHALLENGES CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO GENEALOGY ORGANISATION OPPORTUNITIES

Much like the dandelion's ingenious method of seed dispersal, genealogy roadblocks are opportunities for innovation and progress. 🌱🌼

I had a recent experience that I learned a lot from - and I thought it might help you too. 💡

Have you ever…

Faced a genealogy roadblock that was so frustrating because the solution seemed to be out of reach? 🛑

You just wanted it fixed!

And then you discover that it held the key 🔑 to a game-changing solution?

Well, that was me two weeks ago!

I wanted a colour copy of my 2024 Genealogy Organising Planner.

Simple right!

Until I researched what the local copy store was going to charge me!

I desperately wanted a printed copy, but the cost was exorbitant! 💵😩💵

And then I was thinking about you lovely genies – you probably experienced the same thing.

So then I started feeling bad. 😢

Because I had created a problem not just for me, but worse, for all of you!

Here was this fabulous planner that was too expensive to print!
❓❓I thought – what’s the point of having it???

(I was not feeling grand at this point).

I didn’t know what to do… 🤔

So here’s the twist – 🎉 necessity sparked innovation.

I wanted to find a way that all you lovely genies could print the planner at a reasonable cost.

Let’s queue_ _ _ online, on-demand printing! (OMG, it’s my new favourite thing!)

And with a bit of 💪 reworking…

Voilà, anyone can now access the planner 📚 (with proper professional covers and binding!) and have it delivered to their house - for less than half the cost!

[Insert HAPPY DANCE here 💃🏻 💃🏻 💃🏻]

* This whole 180° scenario got me thinking – how can we optimise this journey?

* Can our challenges become catalysts for positive change and organisation?

* What are the key elements that help us transform a difficulty into an opportunity?

And this is what I want to share with you…

Here are my ‘Top 5 Tips For Turning Genealogy Challenges into Genealogy Organisation Opportunities’

🔍 Identify The Problem 🔍
* This may not be as easy as it sounds!
* Finding the root problem could involve deeper exploration
* Take your time and really assess where the problem lays
* ‘Where does it start’ and ‘what/who does it affect’ are two really important questions
* Give yourself time to think about it over a few days – perhaps even weeks – so that your subconscious mind has time to work on it too

🧠 Engage A Learning Mindset 🧠
* While the problem may seem overwhelming, take a step back and know that it is not only manageable – but changeable
* Pay attention to your self-talk – that it’s not focused on the problem, but rather the potential solutions/s
* Embrace the situation as a learning opportunity – as a chance to make improvements in your genealogy and its organisation
* Adopting a continuous learning attitude turns setbacks into stepping stones
* Celebrate not only achievements but also moments of learning and improvement - this reinforces the mindset that challenges are valuable experiences

🖼️ Use The Power Of Reframing & Association 🖼️
* Use the power of association to reframe the situation
* Explore connections between seemingly unrelated elements or situations to help spark creative ideas for innovative approaches to genealogy organisation
* Ask yourself ‘what’ questions rather than ‘how’ questions so that the logistics don’t cramp your innovation
* Capture all of your ideas, mix them up, shake them out so that your ideas go beyond traditional thinking and strategies
* These tactics may not prove to the be the final answer, but they may well shine a light on it

🛠️ Turn It Into A Project 🛠️
* Give yourself permission to spend time on this opportunity to overcome this bugbear – it’s an investment in yourself and your genealogy
* Spend time on outlining your desired outcome/s so you know what you’re aiming for
* Be flexible – an innovative solution will require that breadth of scope
* Capture and capitalise on your evolving insights – they may just provide the key
* Gather any resources you may need (including the 2024 Genealogy Organising Planner) so you can map-out action plans – or at least, a sense of direction

👥 Seek Guidance & Ideas 👥
* Seek guidance and resources where you can – you don’t have to do this alone
* Collective wisdom can provide fresh perspectives and practical solutions
* The answer may lie in an unexpected quarter – so the more perspectives and experiences you can gather, the better the input, and potentially, the better the solution
* Use genealogy brain trusts such as the Organise Your Genealogy Facebook group – we have more than 17,000 brains in there!
* Referring back to tip three, mix and match the advice you receive because inspiration and the answer may come from a few different sources

I hope this helps give you some motivation and inspiration.

And if you have an example of your own, please share it. 🙏❤️

Sall :)

PS. If you haven't already got your copy...
Here's a link to download the PDF version of the planner: www.genealogyspace.com
And here's a link to buy the printed version of the planner: www.genealogyspace.com/shop

10/01/2024

Hey Lovely Genies! ✨

Firstly, Happy New Year! 🎊

Here’s to a fabulous 2024 for all of us! 🥂

But let me wind the clock back momentarily… ⏰

(And bear with me, this will relate to getting your genealogy organised).

I think we all love Christmas and the festive spirit it engenders… 🎄

We’re with family, eating and drinking to our heart’s content, opening presents, sharing stories, stoking the fire (or the barbeque if you’re here in Australia!) – you can picture it all, can't you?

Generally, we’re having a wonderful time.

And I think that’s because we all give more of ourselves at this particularly special time of the year.

🎁 Not only do we give gifts.

We give our time, attention, and presence to our family and friends.

And often to people we don’t even know.

It could be people we meet in a queue, or people we support through charitable donations...

It seems we are much more giving of ourselves at Christmas.

There’s a waft of kindness in the air.

And my belief is (and I may be completely wrong!) that kindness often stems from gratitude. 🌈

(And here’s the genealogy link…)

I want to say that over the Christmas and New Year period I was inspired by the kindness and gratitude of so many of you! 🌐

(Which is how this ‘practicing gratitude in genealogy’ notion came about).

With the release of my 2024 Genealogy Organising Planner (as well as the delay in its release!), I’ve had so, so many lovely emails and messages from you. 💻

✉️ Here’s a few examples:
"I’ve only skimmed it but it looks great. Thank you for making this available." (Donna) "Got it! Printing it out right now! I’ve done genealogy for about 20 years now and feel like I’m organized to a certain degree but your planner looks like it could take me to the next level!" (Tamara) "Thank you again for all your time and effort, providing these freebies for us." (Joy) "You’re incredible Sally!" (Linda)

Look at all that gorgeousness and kindness flowing from gratitude.

It really demonstrates to me the profound connections we’re making even though most of us have never met in person.

Makes my heart sing. 🎶💖

So, being the ever-practical gal, I was wondering how we might bottle some of this gratitude???

And use it to inspire ourselves while organising our genealogy. 🧐✨

So here some...

🌟**Ideas for Practicing Gratitude as You Organise Your Genealogy** 🌟

APPRECIATE THE JOURNEY (both the ups and the downs) that comes with learning how to organise genealogy and take a moment to reassure yourself that you have the skills and support you need. 🚀🌈

CELEBRATE EVERY SMALL STEP taken towards organising your genealogy. Each effort, no matter how modest, is a step in the right direction. This is about progress - not perfection. 🎉🏆

SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS and offer genealogy organising ideas and tips where you can to your fellow family historians (esp. in the Organise Your Genealogy group) and know that the law of reciprocity will be gloriously generous to you in return – just when you need it. 🔄💡

GIVE YOUR GENEALOGY SPACE A LITTLE TIDY UP (whether it’s a dedicated room or a corner of the kitchen table) to acknowledge how blessed you are that you love genealogy and can share stories between generations past, present and future. 🧹🏡

EMBRACE ‘GENjoyment’ which is 'the enjoyment of organised genealogy' and take notice of the satisfaction you experience when you’re moving towards this goal. 🌈😊

As I’ve said many times…

Organising your genealogy is NOT about finding the time.
It’s about finding the joy.
And if you look for the joy – you’ll very often find it! 🌟🔍

And just thinking about it, I’d suggest one more tip…

6. Use the 2024 Genealogy Organising Planner to help you find the joy. Achieve a genealogy organising goal that is emotionally important to you knowing that you have a tool (and a back-up community in Organise Your Genealogy) that helps guide you every step of the way. 📅💻

Sall 😊

**PS.** If you haven't already, you can download your free 2024 Genealogy Organising Planner from www.genealogyspace.com 📥

11/12/2023

Hello lovely genies ✨

I've got some exciting news…

The 2024 Genealogy Organising Planner is on its way! 🎉

And I can’t wait for you to see it! 👀

I’m just putting the finishing touches on it so that it’s ready in the next couple of days.

In the meantime, I want to continue talking about using the new year to your advantage in terms of planning and organising 📓 your genealogy.

I want to be your cheerleader on this. 📣🎉

Honestly, I think it’s the best time for us to invest in ourselves with these introspective activities… 💚

We can harness the momentum of the new year and new beginnings because it’s an ideal time for thinking about the bigger picture and what we want to achieve in 2024. 🚀🎯

We can give ourselves the gift 🎁 of clarity and focus. 🔍

It’s the ideal time to map out a plan. 🗺️

We can use this opportunity to align our new goals 🔄 with the new year so that we’re in sync with the annual calendar. 📅

I’d encourage you to take a moment (or two or three or more) ☕to sit back, relax, and think about what your organising goal is for 2024.

But I also understand it’s not always as easy as it sounds.

For a whole host of reasons - whether it’s lack of time, having a fear of failure, an overwhelming sense of perfectionism, or an uncertainty of knowing where to start… 😬

But I want you to know there is a secret ingredient to help you overcome this stalling…

And that secret ingredient is… SUPPORT!

It’s often too hard to go it alone when organising your genealogy - and a whole lot less fun!

There are two types of support you need:

1. Having access to the right tools 🛠️- they provide the tangible scaffolding when you’re organising and make the process easier and more enjoyable

2. Having access to assistance 🎓- this can come in many forms from collaboration to coaching, and provides ongoing learning opportunities that help keep you motivated and improving

So know that I’m happy to provide you with free tools where I can like the 2024 Genealogy Organising Planner.

And that we have the Organise Your Genealogy group where we all rally for one another ❤️ sharing mistakes we make, wins we want to celebrate, and everything in between.

We’re all on this wonderous journey 🚶🌏of genealogy together.

Here's to a year of collective growth and achievement! 🌱😍

Sall 😊

PS. The 2024 Genealogy Organising Planner will be available to download via the Organise Your Genealogy group in the next couple of days.

PS. Will give you a tour of the planner in a live this week!

07/12/2023

Start.Me is by far the best bookmarking platform on the market.

And it turns out, I'm their top referrer!

You know why...

Because we genies need to manage A LOT of bookmarks so it's like it was custom made for us!

Anyway, I was recently interviewed by Start.Me for their blog - and here's the post if you'd like to learn more.

Sall 😊

And if you'd like to check out Start.Me, here's the link: https://links.sallyromano.com/startme (this is an affiliate link, so please go direct if you prefer - either way, it's too good not to use!)

Are you interested in learning more about your family history? Genealogist Sally Romano has some practical tips for you! https://blog.start.me/genealogist-sally-romano-start-me/

07/12/2023

Organising your genealogy isn't just about tidying records; it's part of a more significant journey that helps you do better and be better at your family history.

Genealogy organisation is an investment in yourself because being organised empowers you to cultivate skills and practices that elevate your research endeavours.

By embracing organisation, you not only bring order to your physical space, but you also gain mental clarity and focus as well.

😊 PS: If you enjoy content like this, consider following the conversation: https://linktr.ee/genealogysally

01/12/2023

As we land on December 1, it provides a gentle (or not so gentle!) nudge from the calendar that January 1 will usher in 2024 in a mere 31 days! 📅

And given the time I spend with lots of you genies, I can imagine that you wonder why 🤔 organising your genealogy continues to linger on your to do list - despite your best intentions.

It seems another year has slipped through our fingers - much like the mass of documentation you have crowding your desk - or worse, crowding your mind. 📚

But here's the truth…

It's never too late to embark on the organising journey.

There's no expiration date on starting to get organised.

So here’s a few thoughts I’d like to share with you to help you get inspired:-

Find the Joy: 😊 Amidst the paperwork and digital clutter, remember that joy can be found in each step of the organising journey. Organising is not just about tidying up; it's about investing in yourself and your family’s history.

Small Steps, Big Impact: 🚶Don't be overwhelmed. Start small, perhaps with one drawer or a set of digital folders. Those small, consistent steps will create a ripple effect of order throughout your genealogy research.

Celebrate Progress: 🎉 Take a moment to celebrate each organisational achievement. Whether it's finding a long-lost document or successfully digitising some family photos. Acknowledge and relish the progress you make.

Connect with Fellow Genies: 💌 Share your wins and challenges with the members of the ‘Organise Your Genealogy’ group. Your journey inspires others, and their insights can spark fresh ideas for your own organisation process.

As January 1 approaches, let's set an intention to make 2024 the year of organised genealogy.

Sall 😊

15/11/2023

I want to talk about fresh starts. 🌻🌻🌻

With 2023 nearing its end – it got me thinking about 2024.

One of the things I love about the end of the year, is not only the celebrations 🎉 that we get to enjoy with family and friends… 👩‍👧‍👦

But I also like to start pondering 💡📝 about how the new year might look for me.

I wonder how I can turn the fresh year into a fresh start. 😃
Do you do the same?

🗓️ We can use this annual turning point to start thinking about how we would like to do things differently – how we can build on what we know… 🗓️

Of course this time of year is famous for its resolutions, 🙏 and for us, that often is a question around what we want to achieve with our genealogy – and in particular, how we’re going to organise it better.

Yet often we have a lot of avoidance when it comes to organising our genealogy – and it comes from many directions.

"I don’t know where to start" ❓
"I’m not good at organising" ❓
"I can’t do it on my own" ❓

And the list goes on and on…

These thoughts lead us to procrastinate further – 🔊 which in turn seems to increase the volume on the conversations we have in our minds.
It seems to me we’re procrastinating at best, and self-sabotaging at worst. 😱

We know we want the results, yet can’t bring ourselves to take the action.

How does this work?

How can we change our internal dialogue?

How can we stop this cycle?

One of the ways is to ensure we have some quick wins so that we have a chance to change our mindset.

To have an opportunity to prove that you can in fact organise your genealogy.

😊 And even enjoy the process! 😊

A quick win fosters confidence 🤠 because if you can do it once, you can do it again and again.

A quick win fosters motivation ✊ too because you have discovered some proof in your pudding that you can in fact organise.

And with a touch of confidence and motivation, so builds momentum. 🎿

Take opportunities to create quick wins so that you can create a fresh approach to organising your genealogy.

(This is a picture of my husband and I celebrating my birthday - a new year with a new age!) 🥰

13/11/2023

5 Quick Wins For Genealogy Organising

Join me as we explore practical tips to kickstart your organisational journey (again).

Are you struggling with overwhelm knowing you need to get your genealogy organised...

But you just don't know where to begin?

Would you like to find relief and clarity with my quick wins so you have a clear direction and focus - AND CONFIDENCE.

This livestream is for you if you're experiencing: Procrastination & lack of progress Disorganisation & frustration Time management challenges Loss of motivation Difficulty in establishing consistent habits Isolation in the journey

Join me for this insightful livestream in the ‘Organise Your Genealogy’ Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/organiseyourgenealogy

Times
USA PST: 14 Nov @ 3pm
USA MST: 14 Nov @ 4pm
USA CST: 14 Nov @ 5pm
USA EST: 14 Nov @ 6pm
UK & IRL: 14 Nov @ 11pm
AUS AEST: 15 Nov @ 9am (Brisbane)
AUS AEDT: 15 Nov @ 10am (Sydney)

And here's a direct link to the event: https://fb.me/e/3k3WjU9NB