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The Check is in the Mail Economy

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I am tired of this “check is in the mail” economy struggle.

My clients have work.  I have plenty of work.  My IC’s have plenty of work, and we are diligent in our invoicing and billing.  We work hard and generate the income.  But when the check is in the mail economy rears its ugly head every month, it makes taking care of our own very difficult.

That money we had saved has been used to cover expenses.  That 401K has become grocery money for many.  The only market we check out is the grocery market.

All because of the check is in the mail economy.

If all of the checks in the mail were to show up tomorrow, we all may just be able to pay our mortgage, buy our groceries, take care of our utilities and other bills, and possibly put a little back into our 401K or other retirement plan.

Until then, when the phone rings and it is our credit card company or other bill calling us – we just tell them that we are working hard, we are cutting costs, we are eating macaroni and cheese five nights a week and the other two its eggs (they come in bulk you know – 12 in a carton) and that because of our wonderful economy we have a legitimate excuse – the check is in the mail and we are waiting for it too!!

www.clktranscription.com

Things I Love About Being a Transcriptionist

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Just a few of the fun things that make others go “why?” and me go “why not?”

1.  The audio sent at 9 a.m. and need back by 10 a.m. – of course it is a 50 minute file.

2.  The audio sent that has only the interviewer (oops).

3.  The audio recorded outside in a crowded restaurant and the recorder is placed on the table next to the clinking glasses.  (not to mention the full mouths or the recorder taken to the bathroom by the doctor taking a moment to handle more than one business matter.)

4.  The audio with so many false starts, you can’t figure out what is being said at all.  You know, I mean, but, yes, just like that.

5. The speaker who says one thing so often you can auto-text it –  pick one – Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Right, right, right.  You know.  Okay, okay, okay.  I mean.  UHM,

6.  The doctor that starts out with the right hand, goes on to the left hand, comes back to the right hand and then says “transcriptionist please fix” without noting which is correct.

7.  The audio recorded on cell phone while driving through a tunnel so that every other word sounds like “OLIKEALHED”.

8.  The audio with ESL (English Second Language), which is usually fine, except that this time they speak in half-broken English and half whatever language is native.  Something like, “Hello.  Yes ja razumijem što si rekao very clearly.”

9.  The speaker who thinks we can SEE what they are pointing at.  “This here is what we call this column here.”

10.  The speaker who truly believes sounds can be transcribed understandably and uses them throughout their speech. Swoosh, Whoot, Whrrr whrrr.

Seriously…all very treasured moments in my line of business, especially when we can produce the best possible document in spite of it all.

We learn about things – random things through our work.  Ask me about cloud computing, real estate, foods, benchmarks, loan rates, pension plans, student savings plans, the stock market, parenting, any medical illness, drugs, LGBT and the military, credit scores, the movies, empowerment, the economy, and yes – the best new sex secrets and gadgets too.   (Actually you can ask, but unless its published, we take  our confidentiality of all work we do very, very seriously, so we may not answer – but you can ask.)

From seminars, to one on one interviews, to multiple speaker interviews (where everyone speaks at once), to presentations, coaching calls (no not the sex topic) to website material for posting, celebrity interviews, round table discussions, educational reports, and even voice mails.  If it is in any audio format or even written form – we can convert it into a document that will knock your socks off most times.  (Sex topic especially).

My career choice is an ongoing education with many, many educators.   They are not our words.  They are not our stories – we just make it a bit easier for you to get yours out there.

Learning is part of my job.  Transcribing is my career.  Loving what I do makes being a transcriptionist so much fun and worthwhile.

https://www.clktranscription.com

Why I Am Not Journalist!

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I love to write.  I love to do research.  I love to read.  So, why am I not a journalist?  Because I love to write, but I read much better.

Seriously, though –

Because your job is harder than mine.

You are given or come up with a topic.  You work hard to find the right resources and work out a schedule to interview those resources and gather all the necessary information and make a powerful,  informative article that people will want to read.  Sounds easy to some, but I know better.

The topic must be something that you are familiar with, interested in, or can at least relate to.  Or for those who just have wonderful skills, be able to KNOW how to sponge the information from various research for use in a fabulous paper for print.

Resources can be anyone.  Can ramble so badly that you want to shout – GET TO THE POINT, or worse, could answer your questions without really answering your questions. Occasionally the smooth, precise, clear speaker is found, but it is a rarity. (trust me, this I do know.)

Scheduling the interviews – Resources can schedule the interview and change ten minutes before it was to begin, as if their time is the only time to consider, or can start the interview and have to go due to some conflicting appointment after just 5 minutes, or even want to do the interview so early in the morning or middle of the night – just because they can.  Others just want to talk to hear themselves talk and can go on and on and on.  For these however, many of you have your interview stopping statement to bring it to a close, and are so charming when you use it.

Those items can be tough enough, but what’s worse is when you are interviewing someone who is so arrogant, uninteresting, incoherent, or a double talker.  Someone who assumes you know nothing at all, questions your abilities and knowledge and lets you know it.  Or someone who said they could help you in your mission for a really good story and you find out they really have nothing at all. For example, you asked about really great marble to use in a bathroom remodel and they talk about port-a-potties.  You know what I mean.  And many of you are so diplomatic that you find something – anything – this person has talked about in order to say it was not a wasted appointment.

And then there are times the interview goes well.  You have what you need and you find that you did the entire 50 minute interview and forgot to turn on your recorder, or it malfunctions during the interview (or after), or your computer crashes and you lose the entire kit and caboodle.

All of this is just the items I can decipher from transcribing your interviews.  All of this is what amazes me when I see your final product after publication and am amazed how wonderful it is.  Your job is much harder than mine.

I just transcribe the interviews and other material.  If I had to deal with just that kind of “stuff” I would probably be unemployed from saying something like “hey, Buddy, do me a favor and just answer the damn question.  And while you’re at it, can you pay attention to what you are responding to and stop eating or calling out to your friends who are walking by as you talk to me,  and hey buddy – the phone works better when you talk into it.  Can you get any closer to the man yelling in the background, I am not hearing what he is so mad about.  I was ready yesterday for our 10 a.m. appointment and you changed it to 3 a.m. so how about pay attention to the questions so I can go back to bed.”

Me, I can sit here, transcribe your audio, and smile…better you than me.  I will just wait for you to go to print and see how amazing you made the information into something that others can understand and draw from.

That is why I am not a journalist.  I am just a transcriptionist, here to type your audio, help you meet your deadlines and watch you take all that hard work you do and make an article worth reading, sharing, and discussing for months and months.

Better you than me.   I will stick to reading your articles thus remaining employed.

Make plans to attend the ASJA 2012.   Conference in NYC.  There you can share other wonderful stories and find ways to deal with the stresses and absurdities of your profession that you love so much.

https://www.clktranscription.com

A 100 Watt Light Bulb Moment – Voice Mail – No Problem

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Have your voice mail transcribe by a US owned and operated transcription company for the same cost as other companies (Service starts 4/1/2010).  Contact me now to set up your account!

I have spent a lot of time marketing my transcription company and all the possibilities we can do for you.  I have added programs and system to allow me to accept just about every type of audio file out there at any time day or night – and get them transcribed for you with quality in a timely fashion.  I thought I had it covered, then a client/friend gave me a light bulb moment.

This light bulb moment allows me to expand my business and features I currently offer clients.  Will I make a fortune – probably not.  But if it helps my clients, and new clients, get on with their day and meet their own goals – then I have a win-win situation going all the way around.

I researched and found that YES, I can do this too.  I can offer the service to those who have their voice files transcribed for a comparable rate and return the transcripts to them in a comparable time frame as those other companies that do it, and with any luck, with better quality.

So I had a light bulb moment.  As of April 1, 2010, CLK Transcription, Inc. will in fact offer transcription of voice mail as a separate feature from the everyday transcription of seminars, conferences, interviews, phone conversations, webinars, and everything else audio that we handle.

For existing clients, the voice mail would be noted on your regular invoice with the number of calls and total billed in addition to the usual transcription we do for you.  For new clients, if you choose to only have your voice mail transcribed, your invoice will show the number of calls transcribed and the total billed in an easy to read format.

Contact me to set up your account today.  This service will begin April 1, 2010.   And yes, if you refer a friend to CLK Transcription during March 2010, there is still a $5.00 reward for both you and your referral (for their first over $15.00 and your next invoice period.)

And finally, thanks to flipping the light switch for me – you know who you are!!!!

Yes, it will be a new undertaking and a new path on my journey, but one I look forward to taking.

If interested in this new service  provided by CLK Transcription effective 4/1/2010, contact me at CarolLee@clktranscription.com.

Confidentiality. If you abuse it, are you willing to pay the price?

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This is an important topic for me, as in my business, it means everything.  We transcribe what we hear, and generate a fine report for our clients, but if we were to take that information and announce it to the world, what would be the sense in bothering with returning to and billing the client at all

Our client’s work would be a waste of time.

Some think the word and the meaning behind it is a legal play to cover-up whatever they are not entitled to know.  Some hear the word confidential and think it makes what they know worth more to others and are willing to sell it for a price. Others hear the word and find ways to turn information into rumors, using it to personally sway the thoughts of others to one side or another, not allowing a fair opinion be developed on the issues.  And then, well, some just don’t think at all.

If taking a position where confidentiality is expected, even without a document stating so, use common sense that the information is confidential due to the consequences of incomplete, inaccurate information being leaked, or the leakage of confidential material being the destruction of someone else’s work – just to get started.

Just because you know something, doesn’t mean it is your responsibility to share this information with others.

So, before you share, care.  Think about what the outcome will be when speaking on an item that belongs – yes belongs – to someone else.

It is not secret.  It is not a cover-up.  It is a matter of business.  It is a matter of responsibility.  It is a matter of morality.  It’s a matter of professionalism.

Confidential information is confidential for a reason.  Spilling the beans could and most often does, have some sort of monetary recourse for everyone involved.  Are you willing to pay the fee?

At CLK Transcription, we offer every client, from the student to the journalist to the corporations, a confidentiality agreement.   We also deal with clients who understand the importance of confidentiality and respect the meaning themselves.
We believe that if you don’t respect your own work, how will anyone ever respect yours.

www.clktranscription.com

Applause for the Everyday?

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I attend many events and functions in my gated-not-for-profit administration/board of directors-run-community and found that there is a pattern going on and I am not so sure I like it.

The employees/directors are applauded for the work they do.  No I am not talking about praise, pay, or even bonuses – I am talking about during meetings they are applauded.

Now I have to say, I do not do this.  I feel they are paid for the work they do, they receive benefits and bonuses, why should I clap?

I have been admonished for not clapping.   Why?  I thank them when I see them.  I make public comments on how hard they work.   Why should I applaud them for doing their job?  No one applauds me.

I am the same with volunteers. I mean we volunteer and that becomes what we do.  I don’t expect applause, why give it out.  Now don’t get me wrong, if an extraordinary measure is taken I will gladly stand up and applaud – but I save that special praise for the extraordinary – like our troops.  Our policemen and firemen..and even private citizens who make positive change in a very large way.

Is it rude that I do not applaud vigorously even when I give my thanks and praises verbally?  To be honest, in this economy, I should be applauded for being a part of the reason they have a job.

With all this clapping going on – lights could be going on and off all around us – clap on, clap off.

 

So here is my question.  Should people be applauded for doing what they were hired to do?  And if we should applaud, then shouldn’t we be able to also jeer them when the job is done poorly?