An Era of Uncommon Everything
Perhaps unlike other periods in history, we are living in a time where much of the world can pursue their passions and interests freely without the pressure of having to conform to stereotypes or societal norms.
Every day we see new people bucking long-held trends.
We’re seeing a world with more female CEOs, more retirement-age triathletes, and more people than ever toss aside comfortable opportunities to pursue their dreams and desires. Because we’ve been taught to expect certain types of people playing certain roles in society, when we see something different it strikes us as uncommon.
This isn’t to ignore the billions who still live in marginalized situations without the same access to opportunities as those in privileged situations. But we’re still making progress and improving accessibility and acceptance. It’s inspiring to see people challenging the status quo. We have more work to do, but progress is rarely a straight line.
Defining the Term “Uncommon”
Thinking about the number of people who are breaking the mold is one reason why we believe this is an era of uncommon everything. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, things that are unusual or not ordinarily encountered is only one definition for the term “uncommon.” The other definition, and the one we love to lean on, is that “uncommon” also means remarkable and exceptional.
This second definition reminds us that to do something against orthodoxy is not just rare, but also incredible. It feeds the collectives progress of the world, inspiring others to challenge their own preconceptions. While many are quick to note the world is uncommon for all the wrong reasons (society’s inequities, mass shootings, among other events), we choose to celebrate all the ways the world is uncommon for the right ones.
We’re inspired by the young woman who dreams of leading a technology company and the financier who wants to start a community garden. We think about the history teacher who wishes to build a side business and the television journalist who wants to start a non-profit benefiting underserved communities. We get excited by the retiree who strives to run an ultramarathon or the gay high schooler who wants to play American football despite the barriers to entry.
All of these examples are really to say that being “uncommon” comes in many shapes and sizes. Perhaps if more people lived with an uncommon mindset, then the number of people willing to tackle society’s biggest challenges and opportunities will multiply.
Making It Real: The Uncommon Genealogist
You’re probably thinking, “This all sounds very high level and aspirational… what does any of this have to do with genealogy and family history?”
It’s a great question. We started by talking about this ‘era of uncommon everything’ because we wanted our first post on this site to be focused on the bigger picture. This idea of being uncommon and unleashing the potential in others is a fundamental part of our thinking. It’s in our DNA.
Genealogy is our first of what we hope to be many uncommon capability areas we can offer the world. We’re starting here because we know an energetic and passionate community of experienced and could-be genealogists already exists. We also have extensive expertise and material to feed offerings in this topic area.
But consider for a moment the opportunity we have: uncommon can touch nearly any topic or hobby. Perhaps one day we will build communities around “The Uncommon Gardener” or “The Uncommon Non-Profit” or “The Uncommon Architect.” It seems the opportunities are limitless.
As it pertains to The Uncommon Genealogist, we’ve built this site and our offerings to provide easy-to-use resources and templates to help you research, document, and celebrate your family story. When I was pursuing my own family history several years ago I was struck by how few actual helpful resources were out there that gave me step-by-step instructions for making my research meaningful. Sure online ancestry databases and records are helpful, but a clear gap existed—and my next mission was to fill it.
With The Uncommon Genealogist, I hope others can craft meaningful family stories and make this hobby even more impactful for their family and themselves. You have an incredible story to tell and we are dedicated to making it easier to celebrate yours.
Read more about our story and philosophy here. We’re also always an email away—drop us a note anytime.
Welcome to our Community
We’re thrilled you’re here!
By joining this community of uncommon genealogists you’re partaking in something bigger than just this site. You’re putting yourself in the middle of an uncommon era—and we couldn’t be more excited to have you with us for the ride.