| Discovering your Family Tree is becoming one of | | | | Third in discovering your family tree or your |
| the fastest growing hobbies as more and more | | | | genealogy research, is to make sure that you |
| of us are inspired to trace our Family Trees. | | | | pursue your stated goal with a broad stroke. |
| Genealogy, or discovering your family tree, can | | | | Meaning that you should avoid the temptation to |
| be a fun and valuable hobby. You will start to | | | | focus your search on a certain site or a certain |
| learn where you come from and what your | | | | library and instead go broad to allow yourself a |
| family history is all about. You may also discover | | | | better chance of success. For instance, if there is |
| that your family played a role in historical events | | | | a very specific relative you want to learn more |
| and you will certainly discover what impact | | | | about, but you only know a name and a place of |
| historical events had on your family. | | | | death. Your temptation might be just search for |
| The hardest part of getting into genealogy for a | | | | his name or on a website with information on the |
| lot of people is getting started. They just don't | | | | city or town where he died. Instead, brush with a |
| seem to have direction or an idea of how to get | | | | broader stroke and begin your search on |
| going with their research. The best way to get | | | | someone in the family you know more about. |
| started is actually by getting four things set so | | | | Perhaps you know a lot more about his son. Begin |
| that the process is easier. Make sure you have a | | | | by searching for more information on the son and |
| plan, keep track of a goal, have wide goals, and | | | | his family to focus you on that section of the |
| develop a set of methods that suits you best. | | | | family. You will be surprised at how often you will |
| The best first step to take in genealogy is to | | | | stumble on clues to what your original focus was |
| make sure you have some sort of idea where | | | | anyway, by using this method. |
| you want to go. You will have to set a goal so | | | | Finally, be prepared to discover your own little |
| that no matter what you do online or in the | | | | way of doing things. That seems simple enough, |
| library you are always focused on your goal. If | | | | however not everyone is so prepared. What you |
| you constantly review your information and goals, | | | | should do is put together strategies that have |
| you will be able to make sure you are always | | | | worked for you in your search so that you can |
| headed in a direction that will aid you in achieving | | | | use them for other genealogy searches. For |
| your genealogy goals. The goal doesn't have to be | | | | instance, many people like to run all of their family |
| complex, just make sure you have something in | | | | members' names through all available search |
| mind that will help you find your way through | | | | engines. You can use this method and even add |
| your family tree and will keep you focused. | | | | other keywords or search terms that might pull |
| Once you have come up with the specific | | | | genealogy or legal record websites to the top of |
| genealogy goal you want to pursue, make sure | | | | your results. No matter what method you use, |
| you have it in front of you all the time. Keep a | | | | try to remember which methods have worked |
| written copy of your goal or your list of goals in | | | | best for you in the past and add them to your |
| front of you as you research. Handwritten or | | | | process so that you become more efficient the |
| even printed index cards, a notebook, or notes on | | | | more you work on genealogy. |
| a desk top calendar all work well to keep your | | | | Discovering your Family Tree can be a lot of fun. |
| goals right in front of you. By having goals in front | | | | With the increasing popularity and broadening of |
| of you at all times, you will be able to stay more | | | | the internet, as I noted at the outset, many |
| focused on what exactly it is that you want. With | | | | more people are beginning to take up genealogy |
| all of the information available on the internet it | | | | as a hobby. If you want to get started in this fun |
| can be easy to get distracted or sidetracked by | | | | hobby, there are four things you should keep in |
| other information and before you know it you are | | | | mind. Make sure you have a plan, set and keep |
| researching other people who may or may not | | | | track of your goals, brush broad strokes in your |
| have a connection to your family! This way, you | | | | searches, and continually develop your own |
| can keep your focus and achieve goals and reach | | | | process for success. Once you are ready, the |
| milestones with more frequency. | | | | process itself will be much more enjoyable. |