Author: Angie Starbuck

Are YOU Your Toughest Competitor?

Are YOU Your Toughest Competitor?

“The individual who only does enough to get by seldom gets much more than “by.” – Napoleon Hill

We’ve all heard the sayings, “You get out what you put in,” or “Garbage in, garbage out,” but this quote that I received in my daily e-mail from the Napoleon Hill Foundation freshened up this principle for me.

If you want to get more than “by,” how about applying these principles to your career, your faith, and your personal relationships in the coming year?  Not a New Year’s resolution, but a commitment to yourself to do your personal best every day.

The phrase that struck me the most in this particular daily e-mail was, “Your harshest critic and your toughest competitor should be you.”  We’re all probably really good at being our own harshest critic, but are we all our toughest competitor?

Do you strive to be/do/think/act better than you did the day before?  Do you seek higher achievements than you did last year?  Do you take the initiative at work to improve a process, make a job easier, save the company money?

Sometimes it’s easy to look at our competitors and try to compete with them when it’s really ourselves that we should be competing with.  If we do that, the achievements we seek will happen because we’re working hard to better ourselves.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck, RDR, CRR, CRC is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC. Connect with her on LinkedIn.  You can also follow PRI Court Reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

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Inside Look at PRI Court Reporting

Inside Look at PRI Court Reporting

_dsc3326editedThe PRI court reporters are definitely the face of our company.  They are the people who are out in the field daily, working with attorneys, expert witnesses, consumers of CART, etc.  They represent the best of our brand here at PRI and each one of them embodies the traits we list in our tagline:  Prompt.  Precise.  Professional.

But we would be remiss if we didn’t mention our fantastic office staff. Gary and Gina are the behind-the-scenes staff that work hard to meet all of our clients’ needs.  They handle scheduling, transcript production, exhibit scanning, invoicing…the list goes on!

Here’s a fun video clip to give you a little sneak peek into the office and work spaces inside PRI.

You’re welcome to stop by for a visit to say hello!

Click here to view the video.

 

An Interview with Columbus Court Reporter – Amy L. Miller

An Interview with Columbus Court Reporter – Amy L. Miller

Amy Miller recently joined the team at PRI Court Reporting.  Amy is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio and she has been a court reporter for over 20 years. Amy is very friendly and cares a lot about her work and her family.  You’ll meet Amy at a deposition soon, but in the meantime, here’s a chance to get to know her a little better.

How long have you been a court reporter?
I started reporting 21 years ago this month!

How long have you been working at PRI Court Reporting?
I am thrilled to have started PRI Court Reporting in November of 2015

Did you have other court reporting experience prior to joining PRI?
I did.  I was with two other local firms before joining PRI

What do you like most about working at PRI?
So far, I am really enjoying the office staff, clientele, and software.  I love the atmosphere!

Where are you from or where did you grow up?
I was born at St. Ann’s Hospital.  While much of my family has decided to leave central Ohio, this is my home.

Before working as a court reporter, did you have another career or job? If so, what?
I heard a commercial for the “glamorous life of court reporting” on the radio when I was a senior in high school.  I decided right then and there that this was the path I was taking and I never looked back.

What is one thing you would like our clients to know about court reporting/depositions? 
Court reporters put their hearts into your transcripts.  It is really helpful to state your goals for them (i.e., expedited due dates, unusual spellings that are case-specific) as these things arise so we can keep up with your needs!

What is the most unusual deposition situation you’ve found yourself in?
Once I was in a situation where emotions ran so high, the police were called and me and my machine were knocked over all while still on the record!  Who says court reporting isn’t interesting?

What’s on your iPod?
Oh, I love music!  My iTunes library has over 3,000 songs in so many genres, I couldn’t even begin to list what’s on it!

What is one thing our clients don’t know about you?
I am a hard-core couponer.  Like following websites for the best “deals” of the week and looking forward to the Sunday paper.  I find this fun.  I started doing it way before they made a silly TV show about people that coupon.

What is your favorite restaurant in Columbus?
That’s a tough question. For a special evening, The Refectory.  For a nice evening, Polaris Grill.  To carry home, Golden Valley.

What is your favorite app?
Without a doubt, my favorite app is Spotify.  There is so much music to choose from, and the ability to download and listen and make your own playlists is just awesome.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I love to cook and do prepare meals most days of the week; spend time with my son; hang out with my friends and family.  I have two dogs and a cat and I am crazy about them as well. My favorite times involve all of these cool people and furry animals all landing in the same place!

What is your best tip for balancing work/life/family?
Sometimes our jobs can be a real balancing act when it comes to work life/family life and it doesn’t always work out.  Expedited transcripts happen and we don’t always know they are going to.  The people that love us are aware that is a possibility and are good about working around that.  However, for the most part, the way I have found that works best is to have a dedicated room in my home for an office that has a door that can be shut during off hours.  So when I am done for the day, the door gets shut and then work is over and my home becomes my home again.  Balance.

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about Amy.  Look for more interviews with other PRI Court Reporting staff in the future.

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PRI Owner, Angie Starbuck, Earns Registered Diplomate Reporter Designation

PRI Owner, Angie Starbuck, Earns Registered Diplomate Reporter Designation

The National CoStarbuck, Angie 8.15 sml IMG_0087urt Reporters Association (NCRA), the country’s leading organization representing stenographic court reporters and captioners, has announced that Angie Starbuck has earned the nationally recognized Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR) certification, the highest credential available to stenographic court reporters. The reporters with the RDR credential are recognized as highly experienced and seasoned, and are members of the profession’s elite.

“Earning RDR credentials is a reflection of the commitment to advancement in a court reporter’s career and their professional growth. RDRs truly are the elite members of the court reporters and captioners when it comes to experience and knowledge of the latest technology, reporting practices, and professional practices,” says Mike Nelson, CAE, NCRA’s Executive Director and CEO. “This highly prestigious certification.”

“I was inspired to reach for these certification goals by the previous owner of my firm, and I’m very proud of these accomplishments.  This has involved countless hours of practicing, learning, and continuing education.  These certifications and the knowledge and skill gained by achieving them will help me be a better court reporter and better firm owner,” Starbuck said.

 

A Career in Court Reporting: Captioning, Basketball, and March Madness

A Career in Court Reporting: Captioning, Basketball, and March Madness

Thanks to a charismatic, talented basketball player at the University of Wisconsin, court reporting (called stenography in the press) has been placed front and center in the media during March Madness.  If you’ve ever wondered what a court reporter does or you have considered a career in court reporting, now is a great time to join this rewarding profession.

Court reporting is one of those jobs about which people usually say, “Oh, that’s a real job?” or “Oh, you’re the one who sits there and does this (typing motion with their hands)?”  Again, thanks to Nigel Hayes, hopefully that perception is changing.  Court reporting is no longer an archaic form of recording testimony, and it hasn’t been for many decades.  Court reporting equipment and technology is very modern, even state of the art, while it still utilizes the basic methods created over 100 years ago.

Today, a graduate from court reporting school can find himself or herself working in many different situations.  Here are just a few:

According to a recent study by Ducker Worldwide, there are currently 32,000 court reporters working in the United States.  However, 70% of the court reporting population is over the age of 46, which means that in the coming years, there will be significant retirement rates, creating a critical shortfall in court reporters.  Ducker Worldwide estimates that the demand for court reporters will exceed supply within five years and they state that this “presents a substantial opportunity for those seeking a lucrative career with a secure future.”

There are some perceptions about court reporting that create barriers to getting young students into court reporting programs.  Court reporting is not a top-of-mind career and it has been relatively unknown – until now, thanks to a certain Wisconsin Badger!  There is also a trend for high school counselors to guide students towards four-year degrees.

If you or someone you know is interested in a career in court reporting, CART, or captioning, contact your local court reporting firm or visit www.crtakenote.com, which is a resource provided by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).

In the meantime, keep watching the NCAA tournament and wait for Nigel Hayes to charm everyone with his ability to challenge the court reporter!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck, RPR, CRR, CCP is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC. Connect with her on LinkedIn.  You can also follow PRI Court Reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

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An Interview with Columbus Court Reporter – Rhonda Lawrence

An Interview with Columbus Court Reporter – Rhonda Lawrence

PRI Court Reporting is lucky enough to have a very talented and experienced team of employees.  Rhonda Lawrence is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio and she has been with PRI for a total of 17 years. Rhonda is a very skilled realtime writer and very upbeat and friendly.  You have probably met Rhonda at a deposition, so here’s a chance to get to know her a little better.

How long have you been a court reporter?
I have been a court reporter since March of 1988.  I can’t believe it’s been 26 years.  I hope I still have 20 years left in me.

How long have you been with PRI?
I came back to PRI in August of 2002.  Previously, I worked for PRI from 1989 to 1995.

What do you like most about working at PRI?
If I had to pick only one thing that I like most about working at PRI, it would be the people; not only the court reporters and PRI staff, but the attorneys that we work for.

Where are you from or where did you grow up?
I grew up in Waldo, Ohio (home of the famous G&R bologna sandwich), but I’ve been in Columbus for so long that it’s the only place that gives me that “home” feeling.

Before working as a court reporter, did you have another career or job?
While I was going to court reporting school, I also worked full-time as a legal secretary in Marion through the week and at Chi-Chi’s Restaurant on the weekends.

What is one thing you would like our clients to know about court reporting, either depositions or CART?
I have found over the years that clients like to use the same court reporter for all of their depositions in a case.  That way attorneys/witnesses do not have to keep repeating vocabulary and spellings.

What is the most unusual deposition setting you’ve found yourself in?
I would not call it “unusual,” but by far my best assignment I’ve been on was a 6-week trial in Florida.  I’m sure I do not need to elaborate any further than “Florida.”

What is on your iPod?
My favorite vocal artist to this day remains Jon Bon Jovi.

What is one thing our clients don’t know about you?
I have a side business/hobby in photography/video production.  While I’ve recently begun taking portraits, my specialty is photographing high school sports teams in action and producing the team banquet video.

What is your favorite Columbus restaurant?
My favorite restaurant in Columbus is The Melting Pot.  It’s the only place that I never pass on dessert.

What is your favorite app?
My favorite app is Facebook.  I love to be connected with my family and friends so easily.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
When I am not working on transcripts, I am usually taking/editing photographs and making photograph videos.

What is your best tip for balancing work/life/family?
The best tip for balancing work and family is to have an understanding family when I have to put work first and an understanding boss when I have to put family first.

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about Rhonda.  Look for more interviews with other PRI Court Reporting staff in the future.

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Comfort Zone: A Beautiful Place, But Nothing Ever Grows There

Comfort Zone: A Beautiful Place, But Nothing Ever Grows There

Your comfort zone.  This phrase can be used to describe many areas of our lives, both personally and professionally.  It is a place where we are, well, comfortable.  What happens when you get out of your comfort zone?

Magic happens

By attempting something that is “outside your comfort zone,” you are able to grow and, most importantly, learn.  Learn that you are a capable human being, learn that mistakes happen, learn that you are courageous.

I saw this learning process in action personally this summer and it was very obvious to me.  My 18-year-old son, who just graduated from high school, accepted a job as an overnight summer camp counselor.  This is unlike anything he had ever done in his short life.  So the day after his graduation party, with his car packed full of all his summer supplies, he drove off to a new adventure that he had been excited about for weeks.  While I could see anxiety and worry in his face as he left, I chalked it up to all the emotions that came with graduation and parties in the days prior.

Within two hours, I was receiving texts from my son telling me, I can’t do this, this isn’t for me, I don’t fit in, and the words no parent wants to hear, “I’m quitting.”  We exchanged many texts.  Me, trying to convince him things will get better and to stick it out.  Him, vacillating between asking me to bring extra supplies and wanting to quit.  Fortunately, his camp directors have probably encountered this many, many times and they were able to encourage him to stay through the day, and by 10:00 that night, he told me he was staying.

Now, halfway through summer, he is so glad he stuck it out.  He has made new friends from Ohio as well as Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa.  He now realizes how this has prepared him to leave for college in the fall.  That, too, will be full of uncertain, new experiences and he is more prepared.

If you stick it out, there can be great things awaiting you.

I have also recently witnessed colleagues stepping outside their comfort zone professionally .  There are court reporters moving from deposition work to court work, adults going back to school for a new career, attorneys changing firms after a long career, and others taking on new committee or association work.  You may find yourself questioning your decision after a few weeks or months into the new commitment.  It’s uncomfortable.  It’s new.  It’s not your comfort zone.

What at first glance appears to be “not for you” may turn out to be the best thing you’ve done.

As a court reporter for 20 years, I didn’t really consider that I would someday be a court reporting firm owner.  However, after much thought, and with a lot of excitement, I became a firm owner two years ago.  I have learned much about myself, about my business, about people – the list goes on.  Most importantly, I am still learning that mistakes are not always a bad thing, as long as I learn something from them.  And, boy, am I learning!

While my son and I were texting that first day at camp, I sent him this image:

Image comfort zone

If you’re considering trying something new, either personally or professionally, I would urge you to overcome your fear, remind yourself that you are capable, and don’t just step – JUMP out of your comfort zone!

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck, RPR, CRR, CCP is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC. Connect with her on LinkedIn.  You can also follow PRI Court Reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

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An Interview with Columbus Court Reporter – Julia Lamb

An Interview with Columbus Court Reporter – Julia Lamb

PRI Court Reporting is lucky enough to have a very talented and friendly team of employees.  Julia Lamb is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio.  She has been with PRI for eight  years, and we’re so happy to have someone with Julia’s skills on our team.  You have probably met Julia at a deposition, so here’s a chance to get to know her a little better.

How long have you been working at PRI?
I started with PRI in July of 2006.

How long have you been a court reporter?
I have been a court reporter for over 26 years.

What court reporting experience did you have prior to joining PRI?
I worked in Franklin County Domestic Court for five years, and I worked for another court reporting firm for 14 years before that.

What do you like most about working at PRI?
The people I work with are great.  Karen and Gary are always so helpful and all the court reporters have a good camaraderie.

Where are you from or where did you grow up?
I am from Canton, Ohio, where I lived since the age of 13.  Before that, we lived in Michigan.

Before working as a court reporter, did you have another career or job?
I was a secretary at night at the Canton Jewish Community Center while attending college, and I began babysitting when I was 11 years old.

What is one thing you would like our clients to know about court reporting?
We are humans and we make mistakes.

What’s the most unusual deposition situation you’ve found yourself in?
Alone in a locked room at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility with an inmate weighing well over 300 pounds, and not handcuffed, while the attorneys left the room to see if they had further questions.

What is on your iPod?
I haven’t been bit by the Apple bug yet, but I love the radio…lol.

What is one thing our clients don’t know about you?
I am a good cook – but don’t tell my husband because he does the cooking and I want to keep it that way!!

What is your favorite Columbus restaurant?
Who can pick one when there are so many?!?

What is your favorite app?
Gas Buddy.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
Spend time with my family.

What is your best tip for balancing work/life/family?
Don’t procrastinate.

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about Julia.  Look for more interviews with other PRI Court Reporting staff in the future.

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Quick Social Media Marketing Tips for Court Reporters

Quick Social Media Marketing Tips for Court Reporters

As court reporters, we typically do not think of ourselves as “salespeople.”  Yes, we try to sell our services at a deposition by offering realtime, rough drafts, and expedites, but we also need to think about marketing ourselves outside of the deposition or courtroom setting.

Social media can be a quick and easy way to let the world know about you and your unique skills and abilities!  Before diving headfirst into the social media world from a professional standpoint, think carefully about what kind of image you want to project.  Remember, how you present yourself can impact advancement of your career, both positively and negatively.  Here are three of the most mainstream apps where you can market yourself:

  1. LinkedIn – this is a great tool to find employment, get endorsements by people you have worked with (possibly leading to referrals), and exchange information with other professionals.  You can expand your reach to other people’s connections by contributing to discussions or starting your own discussions.  Remember, it’s a two-way street, so participate in other discussions if you’d like people to participate in yours.
  2. Facebook – while Facebook tends to be more of a “social” site than a career-building site, you can certainly make a name for yourself professionally on Facebook.  There are countless groups of court reporters sharing information, jobs, referrals, and tips.  Make sure your profile is professional, join some groups, and get involved!
  3. Twitter – in an age of instant information in short blasts, Twitter is a great way to connect.  With only 140 allotted characters per tweet, it forces you to really think about the message you want to convey and to do it succinctly.

You can also connect and get involved with your state court reporting association and the National Court Reporters Association on social media sites.  This is a good way to stay on top of technology and what’s going on in our profession.

Whether you’re currently using social media sites to market yourself or you’d like to get more involved, here are a few tips to ensure you’re putting your best side forward to the professional world.  These small actions will say a lot about you personally and professionally and hopefully lead to more work for you as a court reporter!

  1. Consider creating a personal Facebook page and a professional Facebook page and limit your professional contacts to your professional page.  That way they won’t see how many concerts you’ve been to this summer, or what party you were at the night before their deposition.  If you’re not going to separate your personal page from your professional page, make sure to keep your profile as professional as possible and keep in mind that potential employers (attorneys, judges, firm owners) may see things you post.
  2. Make sure your profile picture reflects the professional image you want to present.
  3. Don’t talk about clients, witnesses, or cases on your social media sites.  It’s one thing to be positive and talk about a great experience you may have had during a deposition, but be careful to not disclose too much information.  Never talk badly about attorneys or your clients.

In the busy freelance world where everyone’s competing for a bigger piece of the pie, it’s always a good idea to let people know who you are and what you do.  The social media sites are a perfect way to dip your toe in the “sales” pool!

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck, RPR, CRR, CCP is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC. Connect with her on LinkedIn.  You can also follow PRI Court Reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

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From Baby Boomers to Millenials: Working Side by Side

From Baby Boomers to Millenials: Working Side by Side

Having been a court reporter for over 20 years now, and a Gen Xer, I am starting to notice myself sandwiched between Baby Boomers and Millenials (or Gen Ys) in both deposition and courtroom settings.  While I didn’t know the names of all the generations, nor that there was a name for this phenomenon, I knew that how I interacted with the different generations of lawyers I worked with varied, depending on where they fall on the generational spectrum.

Today, there are three and sometimes four generations working side by side.   This is known as generational diversity.  Understanding what drives each of these generations, their work habits, and general characteristics can help create a productive and fulfilling workplace for everyone.

There are many examples of these differences even in a deposition setting.  I see members of the Traditional Generation appear in suits, and often formally refer to everyone as Mr. and Mrs.  They may work very long hours, and may have been at the same law firm their entire career.  I also see late Gen Xers and Millenials that appear more casually dressed (although still very professionally), who use technology to its fullest extent, and who may even leave the office by 5:00 to work around child care arrangements.  One of the biggest examples of the difference in generations might be seen when it’s time to schedule another deposition and the Baby Boomers get out their hard copy calendar from their jacket pocket, while the Gen Xers get their smartphone out of their pants pocket!

Gen Xers and Millenials can learn a lot from the Baby Boomers and Traditionalists, but they need to slow down long enough to do so.  They need to respect the seniority and position of these generations.  Baby Boomers can also interact more easily with Gen Xers and Millenials by understanding what shapes them.  Sometimes a Millenial may be texting or e-mailing from their smartphone while chatting with a Baby Boomer.  Baby Boomers may find this disrespectful, but if they understand this is the way Millenials learned to communicate and send and receive information, it helps to understand the Millenials are not doing it to be disrespectful.

Kathleen Brady (Principal of Kanarek & Brady, LLC) has narrowed down three things to keep in mind:

  1. Understand the environment.  Observe how others in your workplace are working, dressing, communicating.  Professionalism and respect are still key, no matter what generation you are a part of.
  2. Understand the impact of technology.  Younger generations are used to getting information quicker than ever.    They are also used to having the “answer at their fingertips.”  They need to slow down, use some independent thinking, and keep professional communication formal and not resort to text-speak.
  3. Display impeccable judgment.  Millenials are used to putting their life and thoughts on display via many social media channels.  Sometimes Baby Boomers may look at this as a lack of judgment.

The keys to successful generational diversity in the workplace is to respect those you are working with, regardless of their generation; celebrate and embrace every generation’s differences; and have an open mind that you could possibly learn a thing or two from someone from a different generation!

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC. Angie is an NCRA-certified RPR, CRR, CCP, and a proud Gen Xer. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.

Sources:
Attention Gen Y’s:  Understand Generational Differences in the Workplace by Kathleen Brady, Kanarek & Brady, LLC.
Generational Differences Between Attorneys, by James Kimberly, Sapphire Consulting.
Photo credit:  www.abcya.com

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