When we empower a person, group, or community to tell their story in their voice we help them share and add to their legacy.

An online statistic caught my attention: 93 million times per day people snap a selfie. The same article reported that a study found selfies serve as a “mood and confidence-lowering activity.” And then there is this article on the ten things that will happen when we stop taking selfies. (And the argument that selfies can be beneficial.) Perhaps it would be healthier if we concentrated (at least for a little bit of our time) on Themies. You know, turning the camera so we allow others (them) to share their story.

I have been working with a community group to empower people within their organization, as well as clients they serve, to do such a thing. Lots of details to work out but the short of the project can be summed up in six words: “A Story. A Voice. A Legacy.” (Watch for more to come.)

When we focus our camera, microphone, or interview notes on the person in front of us, we tell them we are listening to them and value what they have to say. When we enable a person, group, or community to tell their story in their voice we help them share and add to their legacy.

It does not have to be histrionic or rise to a “breaking news alert” level. It can just be a remembrance about a mentor, life-changing event, a lesson taught, or a lesson learned. In their voice. The fifty episodes on The Growth and Resilience Network® podcast channel attempt to do that. People from different walks of life with a story to share.

And while technology allows us to save and savor the story of the person in front of us, the themie can come in the form of a true conversation. Asking authentic questions, showing interest, and acknowledging the person speaking.

Stepping outside of ourselves to help someone else share their story. In their voice. How can you turn your selfie into a themie this week? How can we learn by listening?

Video recommendation for the week: Ten steps to listen and converse. And learn.

Make it a great week and HTRB has needed.

My new book has been released. eBook ($2.99) Paperback ($9.99). Click here.

Roxie Looks for Purpose Beyond the Biscuit.

Well, actually, my dog Roxie gets top billing on the author page for this work. Without her, there would be no story. Click here for more information about the book.

In the meantime, check out her blog. (She writes better than I do.)

And you can still order:

My book, Community as a Safe Place to Land (2019), (print and e-book) is available on More information (including seven free podcast episodes that spotlight the seven core values highlighted in the book) at www.stevepiscitelli.com.

Check out my book Stories about Teaching, Learning, and Resilience: No Need to be an Island (2017). It has been adopted for teaching, learning, and coaching purposes. I conducted (September 2019) a half-day workshop for a community college’s new faculty onboarding program using the scenarios in this book. Contact me if you and your team are interested in doing the same. The accompanying videos would serve to stimulate community-building conversations at the beginning of a meeting.

My podcasts can be found at The Growth and Resilience Network®.

You will find more about what I do at www.stevepiscitelli.com.

©2020. Steve Piscitelli The Growth and Resilience Network®