Posts

As a journalist, do you ever have enough time?

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As a journalist/writer, when you have a project that has been assigned, there are so many steps to get through to be able to develop the perfect article, the perfect end-product, that it’s a wonder you have enough time in the day to even think about them all.

There are phone calls to make. Interviews to set up and then to hold. Outlines to write, and even the final article/chapter/paper to complete. Possibly even photos to choose. Editors to deal with. The list goes on and on. All the while, juggling the business of life that is always there, and quite frankly more important that any article, book, paper you will ever write – your family.

So when you can, it’s nice to know it’s okay to ask for help. Help that will give you that hour, hours, or even days to handle the other aspects of your project and the important parts of your life. And when you can find that help, and it’s within your budget, that is all the more reason to consider asking for it.

CLK Transcription understands the needs of the journalist. We understand their deadlines and we understand their budgets. We have been fortunate to be able to assist many with their audio/video transcription and we have grown to understand that their audio is a valuable tool in their work, but that the transcription of it is time-consuming and cumbersome for them to handle on their own. It, quite frankly, can interfere with the completing the project itself and absolutely interrupts the family time they could have if they just didn’t have to do it themselves.

 

The good news is THEY DON’T!

CLK Transcription can handle their audio/video transcription and develop a quality document, and return it to them in most cases within 36 hours or less. Now they can get on with the project and get on with their enjoyment of a little bit of family time. We even transcribe voice mail. Yes, many can get that service for free, but are the messages usable, understandable, or delivered timely? If it’s free, do you get what you pay for?

We are able to work with any downloadable audio, and yes, we work with cassettes, DVDs and CDs. We even convert white paper to an electronic document. And if you have an audio you want to transcribe yourself, but just need it converted to a different medium – we can do that, too! We even offer a FTP site for those who need the transferability of their files to others. All at a cost that fits within your budget.

So, when you have a project and you need a little or a lot of help with the transcription, why not find out how we can assist? You may just find the time and money you have been looking for.

We are an email away from starting your project today and having it back to you with a day or so. We are US owned and operated and never send anything off shore. We offer a confidentiality agreement to every client. We never use speech recognition, and every project is proofread before delivery.

www.clktranscription.com

CLK Transcription’s clients say we ROCK! Yes we do, and here is why!

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I am always praising my team, and many may think it is just to tout my company.

Many others know nothing could be farther from the truth.

I could easily just continually send accolades about the work my company does, or that I oversee – but I know without my team – nothing is possible.

I have team leaders, team players, and those that sit the bench until called upon.  They all have their responsibility and they always give their best.  And that is exactly what I ask for.

No one is perfect – but we give our best and work hard to be as close to perfect as possible. That is why each team member backs up the other, to assist, critique, backup and advise.

That includes our clients. We want them to advise us on their special likes and dislikes, whether for every file, or for a particular file.  Without that information, we can’t possibly give them what they want.  We also appreciate the positive and negative feedback on our work, so that we can be that much closer to perfect for them the next time.

So when CLK’s clients say “You rock!” – I agree – CLK Rocks because we have one hell of a team – and they give their best everyday.

  • PDF / hard copy conversion to Word Doc
  • Audio transcription
  • Medical transcription
  • audio conversion (tapes, DVD, CD to electronic copy)
  • Audio conversion (electronic format to alternative electronic format)
  • Electronic signature
  • Brochure and flyer development
  • Voice mail transcription…and more

 

We would love to assist you with your transcription needs, and we WILL save you time and money.

 

Check out our recommendations on LinkedIn.  http://www.linkedin.com/in/clktranscription

 

Feel free to follow us on FB ( http://www.facebook.com/CLKTranscription and http://www.facebook.com/pages/CLK-Transcription-Inc/100158850050342) or Twitter (Twitter = @CLK_Shortcake) – we love to share a good story, article, post, link.

www.clktranscription.com

 

What’s new at CLK? I found some time and money!

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After many years of handling the website of CLK myself, I finally realized the best route to go this time was to bring on a professional to review, work with me, and clean up and update everything.

I am not sorry I did it.

They say you have to spend a little to make a little.  They are right.

Yes, I am upgrading my website, and yes, I decided to let the professionals handle it so I had time to do what makes my clients happiest – transcribe, re-record, convert, and develop the best transcription, audio/video, and Excel projects ever.

 

I followed my own advice.

 

I say it all the time – let us save you time and money and allow you to have that extra time to handle your other important aspects of your project or your life.

 

There have been blogs written about it.  There have been posts about it.  There have been Tweets about it.  Many others have found how hiring a transcription company can free up much-needed time, which in the long run, allows more money to be generated when you can promote your business, continue with the current project, or market for a new one.  It can also find you the time to cook that special meal, attend a soccer game, all the really important things – spending time with family and friends.

Now I can be sincere and say I know this firsthand by practicing what I preach.  Now I know even better, how important that time is.  You should too!

 

Whether it is…

  • voice mail transcription so you can shop, meet, or just enjoy a day out,or
  • audio transcription of your interviews, webinars, radio shows for your article, book, or other project, or
  • development of electronic copy of your white paper, or even conversion of your cassettes and DVDs to electronic audio…

… in order to save or share with others, having someone else handle it at a fair price in a reasonable time while maintaining quality, can save you time and money too.

 

CLK Transcription is a US owned and operated transcription company that handles all types of projects; medical and non- medical.  We have a full staff of independent contractors with specialization in areas of banking, brokerage, health, family, education, sex, history, science, relationships – you name it.

We are transcriptionists, not just medical transcriptionists.  We love what we do and we have the experience to do it right, no matter the topic.

We do not use speech recognition and we never off-shore your work. From mere seconds to hours of audio, partial page or pages and pages of white paper – your work is done by professional transcriptionists using their experienced ear…not a machine.

 

If you want to find that time and money everyone is looking for, check us out.  We are just an email away from starting your project and our services will help to increase your productivity.

 

Stay tuned for our new website.  It should be up and completely overhauled shortly.  Until then, I am back to work doing what I love to do now that I have time to do it – transcribing.

 

www.clktranscription.com

 

 

 

At least once in your life you could have used a great transcriptionist! Did you find it at the grocery store?

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I get asked all the time, “who needs transcription services besides doctors and lawyers?’

I am always amazed at the amount of “wow, I hadn’t thought of that” responses that I get when I tell them.

At one time or another everyone needs transcription so they can have an electronic copy to edit, share and save.  Having a transcribed version of their audio or hard copy material allows them to do all of that, plus having someone else handle that part of their project, allows them time to complete the other pressing aspects of their project or life.

I am equally amazed at how many send their work to a medical transcription company when their project is not medically related. 

CLK Transcription is a TRANSCRIPTION company, specializing in medical and non-medical projects of all topics and specialties.   You wouldn’t take your transmission concern to a quick lube joint, or your horse to a pediatrician, or shop for a contractor at a grocery store would you?

Parents:

  • IEPs held for their special needs kids.
  • Their grandma’s diary, recipes, and old love letters to be shared with others.
  • Their grandpa’s stories that made them sit in wonder on his lap while he told them.

 Students:

  • Interviews for your Masters / Doctorate projects
  • Student’s senior projects
  • Reports and presentations

Freelancers / Authors / Ghost Writers:

  • Interviews
  • Hard copy of older articles
  • Notes for the book being written
  • Telephone communications

Physicians:

  • Medical notes / exams, Op reports. H&P, IMEs, procedure notes
  • Telephone communications
  • Letters of medical necessity

Lawyers:

  • IMEs
  • Depositions
  • Telephone communications
  • Meetings

Corporations:

  • Meetings
  • Roundtables
  • Brainstorming sessions
  • Material for office in-services / training / employee handbooks
  • Material for mailers
  • Correspondence
  • Seminars
  • Telephone communications
  • Multi-day events and ceremonies

Trainers / Educators / Mentors

  • Webinars
  • Radio shows
  • Seminars
  • Meetings
  • Telephone communications

Elderly / Physically handicapped

  • Correspondence to our loved ones
  • Things to remember / lists / important items.

Everyone:

  • Voice mail
  • Poetry written on napkins
  • Recipes only found in our memories
  • Thoughts to be saved for future sharing with loved ones
  • Master Lists for chores, receipts, shopping, auto repairs, home repairs, important insurance inventory lists, etc.
  • Electronic Signatures developed – Go Green and Save a tree

We also proofread items already transcribed. 

All of these things and more can be easily transcribed and saved electronically for editing, burning to disc, sharing, and prep for that very important project.  When you think about the time saved when someone else does the transcribing, and you can get on with every other aspect of your project, or just spend time with loved ones  – you find how very important you time is.

So when you think you don’t need a transcription company, or feel you can do it yourself – I just have to ask “how much is your time worth?  How long does it take you to transcribe those notes, memos, audios – and what else could you be doing?”

CLK Transcription can help you find the time you need and help you meet your deadline and get on with other personal concerns.  Whether it is recorded audio or hard copy (scrap paper, receipts, hand written or old print), we can develop it into an easy to read and edit document for you.

Our rates are competitive, reasonable, and below the national norm – and we work with you on your budgetary concerns.  We offer an easy to read invoice as well as yearly invoice recaps for your tax filing.  Most importantly, every client receives a confidentiality agreement signed by us, and if you have other documentation needed, we have no problem supplying it for your records.  We never off-shore our projects and we do not use speech recognition – have you seen the errors made by use of this program?

Throughout the year we offer savings programs so that tax season and the holidays don’t take a bite of your work, or vice versa, and we offer payment plans for those who may need it.  We truly understand how your project is important to you even when the economy can slow us all down.

Contact us today to find out how we can save you time and money.

www.clktranscription.com

Yes! I Said it. Not everyone is cut out for transcription, but…

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Being able to do transcription, for me, is a joy.  I look forward to work every day.  I enjoy what I do and love the idea that I can continue to expand my skills every day.  I do not know everything, but this is the job that can teach me every day.

I believe honesty is always best.  I don’t pull punches when it comes to my job and the assistance I offer my clients, or what I expect from my team.  I expect their best.  Whatever their best is.  I expect that if they do this job, they want to continue to learn how to do it better.

Not everyone is cut out for transcription.  This may not be a surprise to many, but it is  a surprise to many of those who spent countless hours and unimaginable amounts of money to attend ‘schools’ for training, graduate ‘with honors’, and then find that what they learned in school is not even half the battle.  They may last a day, a week, or a month, but then they realize it isn’t for them.

They can type, yes.  They know medical terminology, yes.  They listened to hours and hours of audio recorded specifically for classes.   And they did well.

What they didn’t learn was that real doctors, or anyone for that matter, do not speak into recorders the same in real life dictation as they do when reading a script for tapes to be used in a class.  They did not learn how to utilize the programs, many, many programs, that are used by hospitals and other companies to receive, play, transcribe, and return audio recordings and reports.  They did not learn that hot keys and templates do not always save time when working on transcripts and yes, sometimes they are a waste of time.

They did not get the whole speech recognition software that they downloaded to be super fast would mean that either they train that software to each and every client or they listen and repeat each and every audio they receive if they work for themselves and not a company as either an IC or an employee.

Now, there are many transcriptionists that are great with all of the programs.  They can do their job without a worry in the world, but they didn’t start that way.  Many, if not all, learned by the seat of their pants AFTER spending time and money in school.  Others, well they are self-taught, and kept their mind open to the many possibilities and challenges that every client gave them.

I have found after working with newbies, that they wanted this so badly they put everything they had into learning the trade through a school, and then have no clue how much more there is to learn.

I can’t tell you how many times I can give a template and be told ‘that’s not how I did it in school’ when I ask why their reports do not look anything like what I asked them to look like.

I do not blame the transcriptionists.  I blame the schools who train only the very basic and make it sound as if they got it covered.

Before you put money out for ‘training’ as a transcriptionist, do your research.

  • Do they train you in different FTP or other transfer programs?
  • Do they train you in different pedal/player programs and options?
  • Do they train you how to set up your spellchecker to properly check your transcription jobs?
  • Do they train you in grammar as well as the medical language?
  • Do they train you in multiple formats and templates?
  • Do they train you to type without the use of templates?
  • Do they train you in proofing your work thoroughly?
  • Do they explain the ‘minimum 2 years experience’ that is required for most medical transcription companies?
  • Do they offer internships with transcription companies to allow you to get the minimum experience other companies require?
  • Do they explain that it is never a bread and butter career choice to start, but can be with hard work and an open mind?

Transcription is a great career if you have the patience to learn.  And when I say learn, I mean every day. I tell my team don’t limit yourself.  Take those difficult audios and do your best, eventually they come easier.  Take the time you can to research.  Blanks are okay, but what you type must be accurate.

And proof, proof, proof. 

For my newbies I suggest they transcribe and then listen and read along to catch their errors, clean up punctuation, and research those blanks to see if they can fill them in.  Give me their best, no matter how bad they think it is.  That’s what makes a great transcriptionist and that’s what gets then the increases, both in workload and in rates.

The flexibility that transcription as an IC offers is a wonderful thing for those who have young children, need extra income, have personal responsibilities and obligations that do not allow them to hold a regular full-time job.  But what many do not learn in school is that many transcription companies ‘hire’ them as an IC, but expect hours of availability, minimum daily or weekly line counts, and that flexibility they thought they would have is out the window.

Many feel that with a typing speed of 80 wpm will make them more money, but in this business speed is not an option, accuracy is.  Your availability and willingness to learn is what makes you the money – not how fast you can type a report that may need more work than it’s worth when complete and returned to the client.  Speed comes with time.  The respect you have for your work – that’s what is priceless, because your work will be respected ten-fold.

The best transcriptionists will tell you, even they reach out to others in this field for help, guidance and support.  (http://www.facebook.com/groups/mtwords/).   No school can even come close to the sisterhood/brotherhood that is transcription.

So, yes, I said it.  Not everyone is cut out for transcription, but if you think you are, know that you belong to a family that is growing and is in great demand.  It is the one career where every day is an education and that graduating with honors is achieved with every report you complete.

www.clktranscription.com  Medical and non-medical transcription services.  We love what we do!

So much work, so little willing workers? I don’t think so.

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Many have heard this and many use this as an excuse to send their work offshore.

It may be true for some industries.  In others, like transcription, it is not.  What may be true is that there are so many workers who have become accustomed to demanding rates and salaries that are no longer feasible.  Now that does not mean they don’t deserve the pay they wish to demand.  So what does it mean?

It means with the economy the way it is and the ability for so many to take the easiest, cheapest way and send their work offshore – even if the American people find the results sub-par – the workers have to adjust their way of thinking about work.  Where five years ago you could charge someone $70 to 100 for an hour of audio, no one is making enough money to be able to pay that now, especially when off-shoring has become an option.

Do you want to work and earn money in one of the fastest growing industries, where you can prove your worth and work up to a level that is doable for both you and the client?  Or do you want to sit at home and be able to view word boards, transcription forums, complaining about no work, low pay, and the demands of the clients that you do have?

In an industry where the majority of the workers are independent contractors, in essence their own business, the fact that many feel they can bash, dismiss, and essentially burn bridges with those clients that are allowing them to earn any kind of income is astonishing.  In an industry where the quality of work is essential to the client, yet the IC transcriptionist will question the work requirements or ignore them totally, is simply not acceptable.  Not to the private client, and not to the small business that utilizes ICs, such as myself.

Where once an IC could charge X amount for transcription, it just isn’t possible anymore.  You are dealing with physicians who are being bled dry by their own economic drama and journalists, educators and other persons who may develop audio for transcription that are a cog in the economic wheel that turns slowly as well.

I have heard the IC blame clients for the lack of pay and lack of work, but in reality it is the idea that no matter what the economic situation on the world, some in the transcription industry feel they can demand a rate and have no understanding of what clients must do to stay within their budgets – and when I say clients, I mean the smaller transcription companies, the journalists, the educators, the students, and the doctors.  Those that have the potential to work with us to bring back and keep the transcription jobs here in the US.

No one should work for peanuts.  But when a newbie, someone just starting out, or a seasoned transcriptionist wants to keep working and earning money – taking a dip in the rate they may have asked for years ago while maintaining the quality they demand, is one way to insure you will remain working and the transcription needs of the client kept here in the US.

As a company that could easily offshore every bit of work I get and probably make more money than I do by not, I prefer to work with my clients to meet their budget demands, and as we prove ourselves, when the situation turns around, those rates will pick up – but until then, we are working, we are honing our skills, and we are growing.  Sure my rates are a bit lower than the national norm to my clients, but they are on point with the national norm to the IC – even if on the lower level of that norm, and there is work to be done.  It is the ICs that look back to even just five years ago, and think those rates are still obtainable.

I know that by being true, honest, and accommodating to the clients I have, they will be appreciative and be around a while.  I find the same can be said about the ICs I utilize.  I also know that without clients there is no work, and without the assistance of some absolutely wonderful ICs, I have no business.  Being able to juggle the needs of both can be difficult.  I do my best.

Having work today, in my opinion, is much better than having time to sit on web forum boards complaining about having no work, or the rate of pay you can garner from doing it.

Here at CLK Transcription, I would like to think that the respect I give my clients and those ICs that assist me with the workflow would come back to me two-fold – and it does.  I love what I do and helping others find their way to loving it too, is a wonderful feeling.

There is lots of work, and there are lots of wonderfully talented, capable US transcriptionists willing to handle it.

Check us out.  Find out why we come highly recommended.  You will not be disappointed.

www.clktranscription.com

From Transcriptionists, to Transcriptionists, about CLK and the general task at hand…

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From Patricia J.
We partner with the authors and journalists to provide them with a written transcript.  We work to make them look good and to make the transition from verbal communication to written word as seamless and clean as possible.
We are language specialists who enjoy the opportunity to learn about new fields, other people’s life experience, et cetera.  We enjoy the opportunity to research things we don’t know so that we can return a polished, professional product to the clients.  We’re committed to being available to get the job done.  It’s important to follow-through and to be a good communicator with the “Home office”  to make sure that what we do represents them well and helps to establish client loyalty.      The more work the home office gets, the more work we get.  It’s a team effort, and we all have a part to play.

We may be anonymous to the home office clients, but we’re essential in getting the work out in a timely, professional, and polished way.

From Ruth C.

Patience, Determination, Willingness, Self-discipline, Curiosity, Teachable, Cooperative

These words come to mind immediately when I think about the work I do.

I’m supposed to be retired.  How do you retire when you’ve only known work your entire life?  Working with CLK gives me the opportunity to work even though my body tells me “not any more.”

It isn’t easy work.  It is worthwhile work.  It is on-going education paying while you learn. 

Research is an important part of our job.  If you don’t have a great curiosity about anything and everything…well, you probably want to choose another profession.

If you are flighty and can’t sit still, if you are easily bored…find some other way to earn a living.

If you don’t want to accept constructive criticism…this isn’t the job for you.

If you like to play alone…well, we are a team at CLK.

I have typed files that I found to be objectionable material.  Because I had committed to the files I completed them.  A discussion with CarolLee assured me that any subject that wore on my conscience should have been brought to her attention immediately and the file would have been reassigned.  CLK is all about fairness to the IT, not just the client.

CarolLee and CLK have seen me through some physically and emotionally critical times in the last three years.  When I’ve told her of a situation her response was, “Keep me posted.”  Just be honest and forthcoming with CarolLee and CLK and she will work with you (and pray for you) all the way.

If you’ve never owned a headset or operated a foot pedal, well, just be honestly willing to learn and CarolLee will guide you every keystroke of the way.

Although few of us have met face to face, at CLK we are more than a team.  We are a family …sometimes dysfunctional but a family none-the-less.  When one of us decides to try our talents in business for ourselves, that sibling is encouraged and wished great success by all.

So, if you are willing to work hard, determined to learn, curious about all the things you didn’t know were out there in the world, crave the joy of being responsible or your own welfare and not worrying about going to work and finding the doors chained, need flexibility to accommodate life’s demands, well, please join us at CLK.

E-mails can be overwhelming, but they don’t always have to be.

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Okay. Fun with emails is fun with emails, and we all joke about the spam – you know the Viagra, the “send me money and I send you millions’, etc – but lots of times they get us all a bit crazy, or if we are lucky, the e-mails giving us work information and contacts overwhelm us but are welcomed.

In my business, email is 90 percent of the communication I have with clients and potential clients, and organizing my email is important as a backup of sorts of their important information.

Accordingly, I have mastered a method where I never have more than 25 emails at one time, and it never takes me more than ten minutes four times a day to keep up with the nonessential, non urgent, family oriented, friendly “non-spam spam’.

I do check my e-mail throughout the day, all day, every day for my professional, business email.  I have to. I have clients who send me work constantly and consistently all day every day, and they all need immediate attention, whether I find the subject important or not.  Every email I receive is usually responded to within 15 minute without interrupting or interfering with my day-to-day business chores.  Because, to me, email is a day-to-day business chore.

Have you ever checked your email at night and seen that “can you do this by end of day’ and missed the opportunity for a business project or professional connection?

The method I have developed for myself has helped others I have worked with in the past keep up with their professional and personal email and  still get “everyday’ work done on time and professionally.

I chuckle sometimes when I hear people say they have hundreds of emails to sort through when they wake up or even worse, when they are trying to wind down for the evening. They find themselves up for hours sorting and responding to the email making their day longer than it should be.

It wasn’t easy for me to figure it all out, but now I go to bed with an empty email box and wake up and within 20 minutes of opening email, my in-box is empty, every email responded to, sorted, saved or deleted. And my deleted items is empty and most often, my sent folder is empty.

It drives me crazy when others ask me to sort and organize their email and everything they have ever done is sitting in sent or deleted items folders.

How do you ever find anything?

Yes, I get about 500 emails a day to just one email address and I have 7 I use daily for both personal and professional business. No, I do not just delete them, I read every one and sort accordingly.

It is not that difficult.  It does take some discipline and some great organizational skills that for some must be learned – the same skills we use every day to organize the other aspects of our life.  I give email the same ‘respect’ I give my clients work, and in the end, it respects me back.

I call it ADHD OCD email procedures. 

I think of it as being like an exercise. You have to want to really commit, but once the routine is established, it is just that routine. And when you think about it, your email is just as important as your weight, your health, your clients, and your projects. So why treat it as a secondhand, unwanted, terrible thing?

Of course it can be a headache, more like a migraine, if you let it go and put it off, or don’t use the email programs in the best way possible.  No one ever teaches us how to do anything but set up to receive, read and delete.  That is what the problem is.  We began using this great tool thinking it is just a means of receiving/sending electronically what we would have mailed by way of snail mail.

It is so much more than that. It is a social networking tool that allows us that in, that even the best social networks sometimes cannot give – but they do allow you to inform others of your email address.  So what would they be without email?

And think about this…the better you are with handling your email, the more likely your email will be read and handled quicker by others when they receive it. 

It’s all in the organization.

I have organized many client’s email and once organized they have stated it is easy to keep up. When they slip up due to vacation or other personal or professional dramas, they call me in and I clean it up again. I don’t even have to be involved in they day-to-day operations of the business to know how to do it, the clients just have to know their day-to-day business – how easy is that?

I consider e-mail an important part of any business.

It is the first social network ever developed. It is also the first electronic filing system, in my opinion, and a great backup system to some pretty important information.

If you don’t keep it organized, you can and will miss something.

I am working on putting my personal system down step by step.  It is a bit hard for me to do because every person’s email is in need of personalized organization, and well, as you can tell by the name of my blog, I have kind of random thoughts and not as great a writer as many of my clients, but as a self-proclaimed organizational freak, I will get it done and be sure to post.

If you are interested in having a bit of electronic organization done – or your office organized specifically for you – let me know. I enjoy a challenge that at the end of the task, you see a difference not just in the space but on the face of the client.

How do you handle your email?

www.clktranscription.com

Random thought of the day: Some words are overused. Here are some of my pet peeves.

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I have watched and listened to many people over the last few days that has led me to form the opinion that certain words are overused, and used with no sincerity or knowledge of meaning behind them.

Innocent:  People use this word to describe others or their own actions.  If an action is questionable, which is the only reason someone would have to use ‘innocent’ to describe it, it is hardly innocent.  It may be harmless, asinine, thoughtless, or sometimes even more sinister – but hardly innocent.

Juvenile:  I am sorry but when someone over the age of 18 does something incredibly stupid, it is just that – incredibly stupid.  Many juveniles don’t act that way until they see adults being stupid.  let’s stop using a term to describe adolescents to describe adults behaving badly.

Handicapped:  Just because an individual has alternative ways of capably accomplishing something does not make them handicapped.   However, there are some who may be considered juvenile (see above) that are just incredibly stupid, which in my mind, makes them more handicapped than some who must use alternative ways to achieve a means to and end.

Difficult:  All things are difficult until you learn them.  We learned to sit, eat, walk and talk – we can learn just about anything.  It is the wanting to learn and do the best we can that is difficult.  Everything else is just work.

Income: I keep hearing this word, but have not seen an ‘income’ without the ‘outgo’ that goes with it, starting with a large percentage of my ‘income’ outgoing to the IRS.  We should probably call it, residuals.

Insurance:  Now here is a word that throws me.  It should really be called ‘assurance’, because if you don’t have it you are assured to feel screwed (especially with the new laws) when you need it, and if you have it, you can be assured that you will be more stressed than you were before you needed it for health, home, or vehicle reasons.  I believe big Pharma loves this mechanism that happens to keep our blood pressure raised and minds confused because it allows them more government funding for research.  Funding of course that comes out of our ‘residuals’ (see above).

Respect:  Some people say they deserve this, but have never earned it.  This is, in my mind, one right you are not born with.  Sometimes you can earn it quickly, but most times it takes work and if you have it, you should never get comfortable with it, because if you act juvenile (see above) you can lose it faster than you got it.  I also believe you must have it yourself ,for yourself before someone else can share theirs with you.

Employment:  I can’t tell you how many times I personally have heard people say they want a job, but then don’t ‘show up’ to do the job.  By showing up, I do mean physically and mentally showing up.  I have also personally heard people, even in this economy, say things like ‘that’s not my job’.  I believe, that if you want to work and you receive a paycheck for legitimate tasks, and you happen not to appreciate the tasks assigned to you, you have three basic choices.  Everyone does.  One – do it with a smile.  Two – do it and ask for a raise.  Three – move on and allow someone who appreciates the opportunity to earn a paycheck to earn it.  Sitting at your job, not doing your job, hurts everyone.  Not just you and your employer, not their clients, but also the person who could be there, earning a wage and taking responsibility for their lives.  So it is not employment, but work.  Employment is using your abilities to get the task done in your job, which you do get a paycheck to do.

Love:  This word most of all is over used.  People, especially the young, use the phrase ‘I Love You’ so easily and freely, they lose the whole idea behind the words.

I believe that when you love someone those words should come from the heart and from the knowing.    It comes from wanting to be with that person, caring for that person, being there in times of need for that person, and them there for you, yet being able to be apart without a suspicious thought rolling around your head when you are.  Loving someone for who they are, beyond that ‘honeymoon’ stage that young couples have.

An extension of  overuse of ‘I love you” is  ‘I want to share my life with you‘.  When in that honeymoon stage of ‘love”, people do not share lives, they share time.  They forget, or do not know, or do not realize that sharing a life together means sharing the work, the play, the bills, the responsibilities, the friends, and even the time alone, apart from each other.  When you can do that and still lose your breath when thinking about the other person, that is love.

 

I do believe that when you love someone, truly love someone, those words should come freely.  It should never be something that you can hold back.  It should just overwhelm you to where the words come out, at the most peculiar times.  I believe that if you love someone, it is the first thing you want to say in the morning and the last thing you say at night – just because, if you lose the next moment to say it, you are fully aware that they knew exactly how you felt.  But it should not be something that is given to every person you know so easily.  It takes away from the meaning.

 

These are just a few of my pet peeves of overused / misused words.  Do you have any?  Who knows, maybe others share them with you.  I would love to hear them.

 

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In my opinion, here is what makes a good businessperson…

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In the past several weeks I have been met with some professionals (and I use that term because they use it only) that I was giving my business to.  I was their client, their customer, their money in the drawer during this sucky economy.

 

The first was a professional who did construction, maintenance – you know the ‘all around handy guy.’  When asked to do emergency work that was being paid for by me, it ended up being a four-day job with no work and no communication.  I moved on.

 

Then it was the mechanic who floored me in a number of ways.  First I asked if the job could be done in two days, because well, I needed my vehicle back in two days, and I told him politely that if he couldn’t, I would have to find someone else to do the job, if possible, in two days.  (just a tire rod replacement and inspection, which I know only takes a couple of hours).

He was offended and told me I should show him more respect. What?  Am I not paying him?

Oh and the second way he floored me.  He called me to tell me it was done, and then said I am going to lunch at 12 so be here before then or wait for it.  Now I was on my way, about 20 minutes out, and it was 11:30.  You would think rather than putting me out, and making me wait to PAY him, he would hang around for a few minutes IF I were late – he does own the shop after all.

After paying, I was then harangued about how I should show respect for the good work that is done and not threaten to take the work elsewhere.  Well, I am a customer.  I pay for what I want.  If you can’t give it to me, then I will find someone who can.  That is the price you pay for calling yourself a professional.

I should respect him even though he can talk to me, a paying customer that way?  I think not.

 

Here’s how I treat my clients.  When they need something I either deliver it, or they go elsewhere.  I certainly wouldn’t tell them take it or leave it.  I certainly wouldn’t go to lunch and not accept a payment, making them wait to pay.  i wouldn’t put their work on the back burner because they had a rush job.  I work harder to show them I can do it, and do it the way they want.

 

Has this become a primitive way of thinking?

 

 

In this economy, I think the best way to maintain clients – not just get them and move on – is to treat them like paying clients.  because well, they are.  If I can’t give them what they want, why waste their time.  By being honest, they may just come back next time to me when I can give them exactly what they want.

They may just spread the word about how wonderful their interaction is.  They may even refer others tome. And I have found they do.

 

Now, I firmly believe that when you get crappy service, you should mention it.  And many will repeat the information about the crappy service over and over and over again.

But let’s not forget the good service.  As a client myself, when I like something, I share and share often.  I refer and promote and recommend all the time.  That is the respect they EARNED when I do business as a paying customer.  Notice, I haven’t shared the name of the crappy customer service companies.  I won’t give them weight!

 

That is the respect I try to earn as a business owner/operator for my clients.

 

So, if it is primitive thinking that gets me here, then so be it.  It works for me.

 
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