stenotraveler

[stenotraveler]

Hiring a Local Court Reporter

I think one of my best assets as a court reporter managing a small agency is my ability to serve my clients locally. Yes, you could call a big agency somewhere not here, but could they cover your deposition if you changed the start time? could they bring the exhibits from last week’s deposition to you? could they take someone to the airport? See, the thing for me is I want to be small and exclusive. I don’t want to be a big clearinghouse with a whole bunch of reporters. I want to be the reporter you call when you want it just so, the one who understands the ins and outs of this business (I’ve been doing it for a little while). My clients know I personally interview and mentor the reporters I work with. I’m a hands-on managing reporter, and since I’m local, I can make things happen here, in your town.  Now, I may not be everyone’s cup of tea - and that’s fine! I believe in being the best court reporter that I can be and doing everything I can so that YOUR depositions/hearings go smoothly. I’d love to be a part of your call list when you need a reporter to take down your record.

#courtreporter workhardplayhard customerservice shoplocal

[stenotraveler]

A little revamp

You know when you have a chance to rethink your direction? Yeah, that’s what’s been going on here. I love to teach. I love to travel. I love to report. I love to edit. And so I’m reworking my work style to reflect these things. A new web site for my “stenotraveler” persona and an updated web site for the business site of things. It’s a work in progress, but then aren’t we all?  #courtreporter #stenotraveler #lovemyjob

[stenotraveler]

The Long Night

Any Game of Thrones fans out there?  Yeah, it’s been a good long while. The Long Night is hopefully over for me and blogging. It’s going to be hard work getting back into the swing of things, but I have a great new resource in my hosting company. They will be helping me revamp my personal site, my business site (www.pittmanstenography.com), and develop a new site that will focus on traveling. They’ll help with social media content until I can spread my wings and fly on my own. I’m getting a Macbook Pro to go along with my new GoPro camera that my husband bought me on our cruise so that I can take lots of awesome video and hopefully create excellent content.   I’m taking our smaller guest room and turning it into a place where I can record. And I’m going to make content both on YouTube and on Facebook.  Scary. Exciting. And hopefully something that will be going live this summer in Sardinia. Yes, the 2019 Intersteno is in Cagliari. I’m looking forward to becoming someone who produces good, reliable, and entertaining content.

#courtreporter #stenotraveler #newbeginnings

[stenotraveler]

It’s almost time! I’ve been down for a bit since I broke my arm in May/surgery in June, but I will be competing in three different events! I’m so excited to see my friends from all over the world. Business travel that builds in some great excursions? Count me in!

#intersteno2017 #courtreporting #travel

[stenotraveler]

Winning Strategies

I didn’t watch the Carolina-Gonzaga game. I couldn’t (physically couldn’t b/c we don’t have cable) and I can’t (because I can’t handle the stress), but I am a proud Tar Heel! What I take home from the two Final Four games that UNC played is that a winning strategy can sometimes be hang on until the buzzer sounds. Free throws were the bane of Carolina’s existence both games. Scrappy teams who had big hearts and great talents were basically outlasted.The team NEVER gave up. Roy didn’t take his win for granted even though there were only 7 seconds left on the clock. More good strategy here - NEVER take your good fortune for granted. For court reporters, having a winning strategy is important too. Building strong marketing platforms and programs (I’m working on it) and constantly striving to let your clients and your team know you appreciate them are critical to maintaining and growing your business. My company is making the transition in 2017: we’re not just a solo practitioner but a small, service-oriented team. Watch us grow on our blog, on Twitter, on our new and improved Web page; meet us at events sponsored by the Raleigh Chamber and the NC Bar Association.  We want to be YOUR choice for reporting professionalism.

#UNC #Business #courtreporting

[stenotraveler]

2017: ”A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...”

We’ve all bought into the “new year, new you” hype of resolutions and making changes in January. I don’t know that I like the term “resolution” because it seems harsh, and yet a “wish” is too soft. Somewhere between the two lies what can be done without putting too high of expectations on yourself (and the inevitable internal beat-down when you falter), but still forcing yourself to be accountable. In my business, 2017 is a transition year. I’ve got some plans and some helpers to aid me in getting those plans off the ground. Then it’s up to me to do the hard work to turn those dreams/wishes into a viable reality. My plan is to be more focused in my marketing campaign, to use subcontractors to assist me, and to redifine my realtime skills such that passing that elusive certification becomes reality.  The trick is going to be doing a little bit for each of these goals every day and to recognize that the results may not be seen for quite a while. But if you stick to it - as with any “resolution” you make at New Year’s - odds are better that you’ll meet your intended outcome. May your “wishes” for 2017 come true... with a little sweat and elbow grease.

#courtreporting #newyear

[stenotraveler]

My Profession in Mourning

There’s a saying that if you find something that you love to do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I must say, that’s how I feel about court reporting. Our profession has many dedicated and passionate souls within it, and one of our bright lights for many years has been Anita Paul. She was a pioneer in the field and was doing realtime when realtime was in its infancy. She created a training program that was attended by many court reporters all across the country and she taught us how to improve our skill to become confident court reporters and how to attack realtime with a vengeance. Sadly, Anita passed away recently from pancreatic cancer. In the days before her death, she posted on Facebook (with her phone number) asking people to contact her because her health was failing. So many people called her and talked to her while she was in hospice. The outpouring of love for this wonderful woman was a joy to behold and I hope it was a comfort to her; she was truly loved. Anita was the embodiment of the powerful woman who empowered others, and she did it through the passion she felt for her (our) chosen profession. I have to wonder if ever SHE felt that she was working. I kinda doubt it.Godspeed, Anita, and may you forever shine your passion down on us.

#courtreporting #dowhatyoulove

[stenotraveler]

I’m so excited to be a part of Team USA again this year. Also, I have been named chair of the NCRA Intersteno Committee. If you have questions about attending, participating in, or competing at Intersteno next summer, please let me know!

#intersteno #courtreporting #worldtravel

[stenotraveler]

Convention Recovery Mode #1

I’ve just returned from a week in South Carolina and the National Verbatim Reporters Association annual meeting. We actually took our camper and spent some time in the lovely Paris (”Pearis”) Mountain state park on the front and back ends; a business trip with perks.  I love conventions. Even if I’m working as a vendor, I get so much out of them. The energy is amazing - speakers sharing information, colleagues reconnecting - it is inspiring.  When you get home, of course, it’s very easy to lose some of the momentum you started to build but it’s imperative to hang on to it! If you brought just one thing back with you that you wish to build on, please make the effort to incorporate it into your daily work routine. For me, it’s a renewed desire to tweak my realtime and maybe - just maybe - compete in the realtime competition in Kansas City next year.  I’ve got about eight days before I hit the next convention (NCRA in Chicago) but I hope to get myself caught up on paperwork and the business of my business AND to start implementing those few changes that I want to embrace. Cheers to conventions: New friends, “old” friends, new technology, and inspirational moments!

[stenotraveler]

So proud of my colleagues - those on the committee and the superbly qualified crew who interviewed to become a part of the official leadership of the association. Whether you make it on the ballot or not, that you WANT to give back is so inspiring. Thank you.

#courtreporting #crtakenote #lovemyjob #volunteer

[stenotraveler]

Keyboarding is fun for all!

#Intersteno #keyboarding #typing #challengeyourself

[stenotraveler]

On Giving Back

I love what I do. This profession that I found “by accident” has given me more opportunities, brought me more incredible experiences, and introduced me to more wonderful people than I ever could have imagined. I’ve always found that my joy is in teaching, and that is how I give back to my profession. I’m a mentor. I do this to help new reporters find their sea legs. And my “babies” turn into my colleagues and friends. I also offer training to people on the reporting software that we use; I don’t charge an arm and a leg, but a reasonable amount for my time and passion. It pays off in light bulb moments. One of my clients does pro bono work. He has found a group of people who can benefit from his expertise. I’ve decided to emulate him. I’ve offered this client four hours of deposition reporting time (and the attendant production) in his next pro bono case.  It just feels like the right thing to do. Giving back to a profession that has been so good to me is my way of paying it forward.

#courtreporting #payitforward #givingback #professionalism #ilovemyjob

[stenotraveler]

I love this logo designed my my super web mistress. 

[stenotraveler]

Anyone who uses a keyboard, please consider! TEAM USA would love you to be a part of this fun experience.

#courtreporting #keyboarding #typing #international

[stenotraveler]

[stenotraveler]

Taking Advantage of Opportunity

Opportunities. They’re out there. You just have to take advantage of them. Recently, there was a posting for a federal official reporter position - in my town! How can you NOT at least try for something like this? After all, it’s IN YOUR TOWN!  The exercise of putting together a resume/curriculum vitae is a challenging one, but especially helpful if you’ve not DONE it in a while. Copies of certifications, cover letter, references... and then you wait. This time, I was not one of the individuals interviewed; but that is okay. That just means I wasn’t what they were looking for. But I was able to really think about the opportunity and also to get my professional paperwork in order for the NEXT opportunity that is surely right around the corner. 

#courtreporter #courtreporting #lovemyjob

[stenotraveler]

Rethinking How You Test

I’ve taken the realtime certification tests more times than I can count. Each time I think, “I do this every day. My output is pretty darn good.” Which, of course, is my main problem. I do it every day but I don’t analyze it every day.  This next time (in March) will be different. I’m changing how I prepare for the test. I’m working on more voice codes (high frequency words/phrases to start with). And I’m changing how I DO the test experience. I’m flying down the day before and staying at the test hotel. (Many of my previous times have included a visit with a friend and staying at their house; NOT testing mode!) And then I plan to stay a couple of days after to decompress. I’ve got my new plan already up and running - I’ve been working on my “Dragon food” and my voice codes and using them in practice. I have a “sticky note” on my laptop so I can really pay attention to those voice codes (= brief forms in steno) and I have three weeks to make the changes happen. 21 days make a habit; right? I’m going to “habit” myself into better recognition and maybe ... just maybe ... the elusive certification.