As you all know, I love mentoring. This profession has given so much to me that I believe it is only right that I pay it forward. I'm currently mentoring five students (FIVE!) and a few recent graduates as well. I love that my "babies" also become my friends and colleagues.
I've decide to step up my game a bit as a mentor. I'm going to take vocabulary words from my cases - whether it's reporting or proofreading - and develop a weekly list for my mentees. They can add the words to their dictionaries, look them up if they need to, and generally increase their knowledge base so they'll have an even better foundation once they are out in the world of reporting.
I've also thought about adding suggestions for brief forms and theory choices, homophones to be aware of. I do not consider myself to be THE expert on reporting, but I've done enough depositions, hearings, trials, etc, that I have a sound basis in vocabulary (and research thereof!) that I can pass on these things with confidence.
Hopefully the tidbits I share will assist the new reporters-to-be on their journey.
How are you paying it forward?
Monday, March 25, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
I love what I do. All of it. And you can love it too.
Take a deep breath, and then plunge in. The water's chilly at first, but there are life preservers and swimming coaches all around.
Please check out this link for information on careers in the court reporting and captioning field.
http://www.careersincourtreporting.com/
If you have any questions after wading in, let me know and I'll try to answer them; if I can't give you an answer, I'll direct you to someone who can.
Take a deep breath, and then plunge in. The water's chilly at first, but there are life preservers and swimming coaches all around.
Please check out this link for information on careers in the court reporting and captioning field.
http://www.careersincourtreporting.com/
If you have any questions after wading in, let me know and I'll try to answer them; if I can't give you an answer, I'll direct you to someone who can.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
What a difference a year makes
It's been a long time. I'm not excusing myself from not writing; I'm apologizing.
This time last year I was lamenting how quickly tax time approaches; this year I've already got all my tax documentation ready for the accountant, save my medical tallies. (Which were high last year - part of my reason for not writing; I had some issues that needed taking care of)
I'm moving along on with my desired path of scoping for my realtime court reporters. I have developed my business plan and implemented it in that I'm doing more daily copy scoping. Somehow, though, I've also added more reporting. This is a good thing. I'm really enjoying the variety of work. I'm training someone to take over the scoping for MY work that I report; I continue to scope for my reporting clients.
Add to the mix the mentoring that I so love to do. And the training that I need to do (and want to do).
I'm going to try to add the CLVS certificate to my arsenal to make myself more marketable for the international work; many of my reporters work with videographers on their international jobs. Wouldn't it be great to have a CLVS who was also a reporter and scopist along to help the reporters in the evenings? Yeah, I thought so too.
I'm working on making my home a little bit more livable. We've cleared out papers in the garage (450 pounds' worth have been shredded), added to our deck, and we're organizing and purging and decorating our abode.
That's what a busy reporter/scopist does. Gets caught up, sometimes, in the everyday and forgets to blog. I'll get back on the wagon. Have a GREAT Valentine's Day.
This time last year I was lamenting how quickly tax time approaches; this year I've already got all my tax documentation ready for the accountant, save my medical tallies. (Which were high last year - part of my reason for not writing; I had some issues that needed taking care of)
I'm moving along on with my desired path of scoping for my realtime court reporters. I have developed my business plan and implemented it in that I'm doing more daily copy scoping. Somehow, though, I've also added more reporting. This is a good thing. I'm really enjoying the variety of work. I'm training someone to take over the scoping for MY work that I report; I continue to scope for my reporting clients.
Add to the mix the mentoring that I so love to do. And the training that I need to do (and want to do).
I'm going to try to add the CLVS certificate to my arsenal to make myself more marketable for the international work; many of my reporters work with videographers on their international jobs. Wouldn't it be great to have a CLVS who was also a reporter and scopist along to help the reporters in the evenings? Yeah, I thought so too.
I'm working on making my home a little bit more livable. We've cleared out papers in the garage (450 pounds' worth have been shredded), added to our deck, and we're organizing and purging and decorating our abode.
That's what a busy reporter/scopist does. Gets caught up, sometimes, in the everyday and forgets to blog. I'll get back on the wagon. Have a GREAT Valentine's Day.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Facebook-less.
I have had my Facebook account turned off for about five days now. In that time I've been tweeting, I've signed up for Foursquare (see what I mean about addictive personality?), and I updated my LinkedIn profile. I've also driven to an RV center to do a test-drive of the rig that my husband and I want to purchase. I've done all kinds of housework (purging). I've even made dinner.
But I really do miss my friends. I've had a couple contact me and ask what happened; some knew, and others were informed by a few close friends what's going on. I may - may - decide to log back in this weekend. I have a fantastic girls' weekend planned with some reporters from Ohio and Illinois, and I may need to post pictures, etc.
What I can say is that I was productive - though I didn't have quite the page volume to really say SHUT IT DOWN - and I did find things to distract myself when I needed a work break. I watched a movie with my husband and basically shared time with him that I might have spent listlessly reviewing my Facebook page.
Politics isn't going anywhere, nor is religion. But I have a sense that I'll be revamping my privacy sections a lot in the future. For now, I'll be offline, possibly checking in on Foursquare. And I'll be working on my backlog pages too.
But I really do miss my friends. I've had a couple contact me and ask what happened; some knew, and others were informed by a few close friends what's going on. I may - may - decide to log back in this weekend. I have a fantastic girls' weekend planned with some reporters from Ohio and Illinois, and I may need to post pictures, etc.
What I can say is that I was productive - though I didn't have quite the page volume to really say SHUT IT DOWN - and I did find things to distract myself when I needed a work break. I watched a movie with my husband and basically shared time with him that I might have spent listlessly reviewing my Facebook page.
Politics isn't going anywhere, nor is religion. But I have a sense that I'll be revamping my privacy sections a lot in the future. For now, I'll be offline, possibly checking in on Foursquare. And I'll be working on my backlog pages too.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Facebook and Work
I know many of us are now using social networks to keep connected with our family, friends, and colleagues. One of the things I've been learning about myself is that I LOVE to share. After cancer, you tend to really focus on the positives of life and try not to dwell on the negative. For me, I have enjoyed sharing my travels and my foodie adventures, quoting movies with friends and finding out who shares my quirky movie preferences, and even sharing some of my working life with friends and colleagues.
One of the OTHER things I've learned about myself is that I really believe in the old maxim about keeping your opinions about politics and religion private. It's not just that it really is a private thing, though I strongly believe this, it's also that if you are using social media, you never know how your friends will interpret your posts. Some people who may see your posts may have a differing opinion and may decide to take their work elsewhere, may end your friendly relationship. Is it worth it? I don't think so.
Then there's the third thing I've learned. I have an addictive personality. I love being on Facebook. I love seeing what my friends post and learning what's going on in their lives. Most of the time my Facebook page is open in the background and when I get to a break point in my work, I can escape and touch base with my friends.
After a day filled with political commentary that filled my wall, I decided to call a halt to my Facebook usage. I deactivated my account. I did it with little to no warning. It's been about 12 hours or so now, and I miss my friends. But I'm trying to think about the work that I need to get done, the things I can do AWAY from my computer (a bike ride? a deposition assignment? time out with my husband?) and I'm hoping that I can wean myself from my addiction. And get a lot more pages churned out.
One of the OTHER things I've learned about myself is that I really believe in the old maxim about keeping your opinions about politics and religion private. It's not just that it really is a private thing, though I strongly believe this, it's also that if you are using social media, you never know how your friends will interpret your posts. Some people who may see your posts may have a differing opinion and may decide to take their work elsewhere, may end your friendly relationship. Is it worth it? I don't think so.
Then there's the third thing I've learned. I have an addictive personality. I love being on Facebook. I love seeing what my friends post and learning what's going on in their lives. Most of the time my Facebook page is open in the background and when I get to a break point in my work, I can escape and touch base with my friends.
After a day filled with political commentary that filled my wall, I decided to call a halt to my Facebook usage. I deactivated my account. I did it with little to no warning. It's been about 12 hours or so now, and I miss my friends. But I'm trying to think about the work that I need to get done, the things I can do AWAY from my computer (a bike ride? a deposition assignment? time out with my husband?) and I'm hoping that I can wean myself from my addiction. And get a lot more pages churned out.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
To the Students
I was at the convention in Philadelphia earlier this summer (August) and was interviewed by Marc SSteno Greenberg for his documentary called a Year in the Life (of a court reporter) - he's following Mark Kislingbury and other intrepid reporters who are on the quest to master 450 words per minute and firmly plant themselves in the Guiness Book of World Records.
Marc had me sit down and do the interview in his suite and asked me to tell about my special story - you have heard it before, about the NC Innocence Inquiry Commission - and then to give a message to students.
Here is the message:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/VMg64pzC_60
Marc had me sit down and do the interview in his suite and asked me to tell about my special story - you have heard it before, about the NC Innocence Inquiry Commission - and then to give a message to students.
Here is the message:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/VMg64pzC_60
Friday, September 21, 2012
Oops, I did it again
I got caught up in my life again. I was going to try and do better, and I let myself (and you?) down. I'm human. Fallible. Distractible. (able?) SQUIRREL!
It's been an even more interesting summer than spring, but in a better way. We've figured out most of my health issues and taken care of them surgically. Of course now I'm on the other side of the surgery dealing with hot flashes, poor sleep, and Vitamin D insufficiency. As Gilda Radner used to say (as Roseann Roseannadanna) "It's always somethin'."
My recovery period was a full eight weeks, which culminated in a trip to the NCRA annual convention in Philadelphia. Had a good time - only did the social events - shared a room with three friends, ate at GREAT restaurants, explored a little, and got my 'mojo' back with regard to volunteering.
Dove right back in with my big workload (my clients were glad I was back, I guess) and I started to prep for the voice realtime test. Apparently, however, my prep was insufficient, as I did NOT pass the exam. Not only did I not pass, I actually did WORSE than I had the last time (w/out practicing?! How does THAT happen?).
The next test is in October. I've gotten my Dragon 12 upgrade. I've set a RealtimeCoach practice schedule. And I've got some depositions in which I can start to really practice in 'real' mode. I want this. it can be done - this I know; three people have passed the realtime test this year. This is a good sign. I wanna be one of the next group to do so.
So I'm back in the saddle with not only this project, but others: working with the professor at Campbell Law School to have a 90-minute class with his 3L students on making a good record and working with court reporters; committee work for NCRA and NVRA; travel plans; and just all-round living and keeping up with my friends.
First things first, though; gotta get my Vitamin D today, so I'm going to sit on my deck and edit for a few hours. One of the great benefits of my particular job within the profession.
I'll be better. I will. See you soon.
It's been an even more interesting summer than spring, but in a better way. We've figured out most of my health issues and taken care of them surgically. Of course now I'm on the other side of the surgery dealing with hot flashes, poor sleep, and Vitamin D insufficiency. As Gilda Radner used to say (as Roseann Roseannadanna) "It's always somethin'."
My recovery period was a full eight weeks, which culminated in a trip to the NCRA annual convention in Philadelphia. Had a good time - only did the social events - shared a room with three friends, ate at GREAT restaurants, explored a little, and got my 'mojo' back with regard to volunteering.
Dove right back in with my big workload (my clients were glad I was back, I guess) and I started to prep for the voice realtime test. Apparently, however, my prep was insufficient, as I did NOT pass the exam. Not only did I not pass, I actually did WORSE than I had the last time (w/out practicing?! How does THAT happen?).
The next test is in October. I've gotten my Dragon 12 upgrade. I've set a RealtimeCoach practice schedule. And I've got some depositions in which I can start to really practice in 'real' mode. I want this. it can be done - this I know; three people have passed the realtime test this year. This is a good sign. I wanna be one of the next group to do so.
So I'm back in the saddle with not only this project, but others: working with the professor at Campbell Law School to have a 90-minute class with his 3L students on making a good record and working with court reporters; committee work for NCRA and NVRA; travel plans; and just all-round living and keeping up with my friends.
First things first, though; gotta get my Vitamin D today, so I'm going to sit on my deck and edit for a few hours. One of the great benefits of my particular job within the profession.
I'll be better. I will. See you soon.
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