September | 2010 | Monette's Musings

What ‘They’ Really Want … Part III of III

Author: monette | Category: Uncategorized

What ‘They’ Really Want … Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I began: What do ‘they’ really want when CART and captioning services are requested? After listening to recent requests I swear I could do stand-up comedy for SNL, Saturday Night Live.

More and more, I pause long and hard before I begin to suggest words to help the person asking for services.

And now and then, I am stunned into silence.

Back in July 1999, I wrote “CART’s Believe It Or Not: Questions Asked By Hearing People” for my column, posted at www.CRRbooks.com and www.monettebenoit.com.

Part II began: Last week I received a call to CART/caption a large arena.

The dude asked me to “describe what it is you bring – to include printers and walkie-talkies. We need to know it all. We don’t have an outline, and we’re taking bids. Just send us yours, okay? Then we’ll get other bids and get back to you.”

He then informed me that whatever fee I charged, “after teaching us what it is you do, we need to build a fee on top of your fee for my boss.”

And the nature of the work request?

Technical, technical, way-high technical.

Oh, I cautioned him about going into this event with the lowest bidder.

Part III: How was that resolved?

The man was fired – walked to the door by security – two hours later (cause unrelated, I was later informed).

Then I received a call from the man who replaced the (first) man, and he (second man – really ‘new’ in his field by his words) asked me to bring him “up to speed on this thing.” Oh, yes, he did.

The first man then spoke to me, late morning, drinking his “first beer” post-firing, and cautioned me. Oh, yes, he did.

Then my office received a call.

The individual stated that he “is desperate.”

I prioritized my work, returned his call.

He said – I swear this is true – “We have people who are physically disabled. We don’t know what’s wrong with ‘em, but we need you to help them.”

I asked how I might help (using his word).

He said, “I don’t know. What do you do? I was told to call you. They have physical problems – lots of them.”

Ah. Clear as mud.

Today we finished details to CART a convention.

The woman in charge (with whom I have worked before) said, “There are two hotels in the city with the same name. Will you need the correct address, so you can ‘really’ be there?”

I replied, “Yes, ma’am,” sans rolling eyes.

As I finished this article, a company phoned about CART/captioning. I asked for details.

The man said (get this): “Well, the way I figure it to do the kind of work you do you must be psychic. You do have a crystal ball, right? I’m sure you really know what we really need, don’t you?”

What do ‘they’ really want?

Some days I wonder if it’s a Ouija board (my first year of reporting there was one in the office – only for fun) or if it’s a court reporter on their toes, fingertips blazing new trails, inspired to invent new territories.

Oh, right, that ‘is’ what we really do each day, each event. Hmm.

And there you really have it.

Monette Benoit may be reached for tutoring and coaching: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com

Part I of III is posted September 3, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part II of III is posted September 13, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Motivation Management & Life Coach,
Tutor and Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist

Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com

* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching

All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com

Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR or a state court reporting exam? I want to help you and others to pass your test and to exceed career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61

Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?

Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.

Coaching and tutoring topics include:

• Motivation skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Communication skills and daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.

Who comes to Monette for tutoring and coaching?

• Veteran court reporters, CART providers and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re falling behind or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students or veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with one or two key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …

Check It Out: Reach Your Goals! Tutoring and Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29

Monette Benoit can help you achieve at much high levels. Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life? Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!

About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material and an instructor, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.

Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, students and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.

Her one-on-one tutoring has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.

Continue reading >0

22 Sep 2010

What ‘They’ Really Want … Part II of III

Author: monette | Category: Uncategorized

What ‘They’ Really Want … Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I began: What do ‘they’ really want when CART and captioning services are requested? After listening to recent requests I swear I could do stand-up comedy for SNL, Saturday Night Live.

More and more, I pause long and hard before I begin to suggest words to help the person asking for services.

And now and then, I am stunned into silence.

Back in July 1999, I wrote “CART’s Believe It Or Not: Questions Asked By Hearing People” for my column, posted at www.CRRbooks.com and www.monettebenoit.com.

I continue to receive wonderful feedback from Deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers who rely on our services, as well as from CART providers, captioners, and students seeking to enter the path.

The conversations I detailed in that article were events prompted by hearing individuals – not needing services – adding opinions or questions (sometimes tart).

Multiple conversations resulted in the consumer(s) – person(s) receiving services – apologizing to me.

Each time I worked to remain in court reporter role.

Part II:

Then the ‘specialist’ asked my thoughts on speech recognition, their (her words here) accuracy rates, their services, their written summary and so on.

I pulled that train back into the station.

I focused on the original CART request.

The ‘specialist’ hammered the “expensive” cost. I had not yet quoted a price.

When we ended our first call, I shared softly, “Ma’am, I see your e-mail footer includes ‘equal access for all.’ Right now, your footer is more accurately described as ‘access for all’ without the word ‘equal.’ ”

She almost agreed with me.

We buttoned details, and when the specialist phoned the next day, she had found a CART provider to provide “equal access, though the person is much cheaper than I thought.”

I asked her to keep my number and suggested NCRA’s web site, too. Hmm.

Within 24 hours I received a call from a university for CART services.

“They need you to phone right now!” Thus, I did.

The counseling services personnel shared, “We need information on your company’s CART services,” and added an interesting caveat: “We need all your information in print. In fact, the more words you use, in print, the better.” Hmm.

I asked if services were needed in the near future? No.

Were CART services needed down the road? No.

I asked why she was asking for information “with as many words as you can put in print, which we need yesterday” (her wording).

She replied, “Because we need it; it will help us!” Hmm.

When I casually mentioned this conversation with a friend who runs a counseling program within an academic setting, my friend roared with laughter.

She said, “Oh, Monette. They’re applying for a grant. Words have specific points. You’re being asked to provide material for their grant. And if they get it, it – for sure – does not mean you provide the work.” Hmm.

Last week I received a call to CART/caption a large arena.

The dude asked me to “describe what it is you bring – to include printers and walkie-talkies. We need to know it all. We don’t have an outline, and we’re taking bids. Just send us yours, okay? Then we’ll get other bids and get back to you.”

He then informed me that whatever fee I charged, “after teaching us what it is you do, we need to build a fee on top of your fee for my boss.”

And the nature of the work request?

Technical, technical, way-high technical.

Oh, I cautioned him about going into this event with the lowest bidder.

Part III of III is posted September 27, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com