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She Bounced; No One Noticed, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I: The child, under 2 years, was being carted (carried) by her 7-year old sister. They were quite a team.

When elder sister placed the youngster on the floor, the young child did what many young children do.

She placed her arms high into the air and raced off in the opposite direction. Then elder sister would pick the youngster up.

This was repeated multiple times. Up. Down. Run. Up. Down. Run.

Perhaps a parent was deaf.

Would this make a difference to others? Perhaps.

Perhaps the parent was hearing.

Would this make a difference to others? Perhaps not. …

Part II: When I saw she was quickly back into her good-to-go-run-walk after bouncing, my arms were extended forward, palms up (to catch her).

My posture was frozen as I bent down to help this young child.

She? Her pink sneakers had no dust on them.

She was back in full swing (swinging her arms), not the least bit uncomposed as she moved forward.

People saw me in the awkward posture and asked me if I was okay. I nodded and said, “She bounced, no one noticed – perhaps as it should be.”

The adults and teens near me all laughed.

The elder sister did not hear my words; the youngster’s parent did not hear my words.

Several men and women attending the working event voiced my words, “Perhaps as it should be, yes. All my children bounced – that’s for sure!”

The parent never did see the bouncing of this little daughter who then had only a red mark on her forehead as evidence.

I watched the family members depart the area.

After work that day, I continued to think about the bounce.

I wondered what parts of our day have events wherein we bounce and no one notices – perhaps as it should be.

We then have the option to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move forward similar to this child under two.

Do we take a moment to readjust? Do we wobble?

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

Part I of III is posted January 4, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part II of III is posted January 17, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted January 27, 2012, 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?

Monette wants 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, remote, students.

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

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

She Bounced; No One Noticed, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I: The child, under 2 years, was being carted (carried) by her 7-year old sister. They were quite a team.

When elder sister placed the youngster on the floor, the young child did what many young children do.

She placed her arms high into the air and raced off in the opposite direction. Then elder sister would pick the youngster up.

This was repeated multiple times. Up. Down. Run. Up. Down. Run.

Perhaps a parent was deaf.

Would this make a difference to others? Perhaps.

Perhaps the parent was hearing.

Would this make a difference to others? Perhaps not.

While working I saw the entire moment in slow motion and had a different reaction than all others.

For starters, I saw the bounce.

No one else viewed the incident, which I saw unfold clearly. I stood a few feet from their feet.

The small child was walking in wide circles.

Her sister looked away for just a few seconds.

The parent was leaning on a counter, filling out a form, eyes focused up and away. I stood behind the family, watching the children with a smile.

When the small child hit the floor, I was the only person who moved to help the child.

She hit the hard floor with a loud pop.

Her chin bounced backward.

Her ponytail whiplashed up. Then it flew to her sweatshirt, which had a large, pink angel on the front.

I gasped and reached out to her.

The child picked her little self up off that hard floor, shook herself (truly) and stepped forward.

She did not miss a beat once she regained her footing.

Her little Cinderella sneakers took off before her arms were balanced, and she wobbled for only a few seconds.

Me? I saw the fall; I reacted quickly.

When I saw she was quickly back into her good-to-go-run-walk after bouncing, my arms were extended forward, palms up (to catch her).

My posture was frozen as I bent down to help this young child.

She? Her pink sneakers had no dust on them.

She was back in full swing (swinging her arms), not the least bit uncomposed as she moved forward.

People saw me in the awkward posture and asked me if I was okay. I nodded and said, “She bounced, no one noticed – perhaps as it should be.”

The adults and teens near me all laughed.

The elder sister did not hear my words; the youngster’s parent did not hear my words. …

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

Part I of III is posted January 4, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part II of III is posted January 17, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted January 27, 2012, 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?

Monette wants 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, remote, students.

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

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

Balancing And Rocco’s Neck On The Line, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I and II began: The chair, with foldout bed, was delivered for Mom’s recuperation.
Once Mom was discharged from nine days in ICU, doctors advised me “to have a bed” here. “You may need it.” Mom spent 57 days in multiple hospitals.

When she was discharged from her quarantined room in the third hospital with acquired hospital infections – to include the MRSA, C-Diff and other hospital bacteria – (mere days before her 60-day insurance lapsed), my 6’ 4” brother carried Mom to his car and to her bed in his arms. She was too ill and weak to sit up. Her goals then and now? To sit up and walk.

Part II: Moments later I asked, “Why did you have your mother and sister’s name tattooed on your neck?”

Part III: And the balance in this column’s title?

Balance with a chair? Balance with your schooling? Your work? New goals? New health?

Can you name three items right now before you finish reading this sentence that you want to balance? Not need to. Want to. Right now.

Straight and simple, can you name three areas where you would balance your priorities?

Are you cruising forward with balance?

Just knowing your answer – yes; no; heck, no; or maybe – will tell you much.

Shift your balance-focus with temporary timelines.

Balance with long-term timelines.

Seek good, smooth balance – perhaps avoiding all struggles around corners?

During a coaching session with a new court reporter (recent graduate) the individual responded that the single “balancing” common thought during multiple years of schooling was, “When is my teacher going to cough, so I can catch up on this test?”

This student wished each teacher would cough each day in each class?

And there you have it.

New habits form new habitual balancing.

I dare you to find your true balance.

What would you print on the side of your neck?

What would you do if your balance and focus were identified?

On a personal note, as I write this article, my mother has not seen this new chair with bed.

My father now has “topped your mother’s health issues” (Dad’s words).

Yes, he too has acquired multiple hospital infections to include the MRSA.

Perhaps we all have moments causing realtime “balance” reflection.

Chair in hand, that evening, Rocco helped me. Perhaps I may help you.

Finishing this article this morning (taking a pre-dawn emergency phone call) I am now off to my father’s hospital room.

Then I travel to Mom’s to feed my mother breakfast. Then back to Dad’s surgical floor hospital room. Then back to feed Mom lunch. Mom may soon need the chair-bed here.

I may be gifted (handed) a new balance-refocus before 10 today, Sunday morning.

I am hoping this balance arrives gently, not swiftly or unfocused.

Then, like you, I’ll get back in the saddle, balance my priorities, perhaps learn new lessons.

I will focus on focus.

In the hospital hallway or feeding my mom, I will choose to focus.

And I believe in your balance. May it be so.

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

Part I of III is posted June 1, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part II of III is posted June 23, 2011, 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.

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

Balancing And Rocco’s Neck On The Line, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I began: The chair, with foldout bed, was delivered for Mom’s recuperation.

Once Mom was discharged from nine days in ICU, doctors advised me “to have a bed” here. “You may need it.”

Mom spent 57 days in multiple hospitals.

When she was discharged from her quarantined room in the third hospital with acquired hospital infections – to include the MRSA, C-Diff and other hospital bacteria – (mere days before her 60-day insurance lapsed), my 6’ 4” brother carried Mom to his car and to her bed in his arms. She was too ill and weak to sit up.

Her goals then and now? To sit up and walk.

Part II: Moments later I asked, “Why did you have your mother and sister’s name tattooed on your neck?”

Rocco said, “My dad taught me family always comes first. Always.”

I said, “Wow, that’s some commitment.” Another silence.

The chair made it through the door; the men were panting.

Rocco said, “Lots of people do their mother’s names on their necks.”

I thought before saying softly, “Not that I’ve met.”

Rocco said, “We do in my Hispanic culture.”

Respectfully (in Texas), I said, “My white culture doesn’t have many with tattoos like that.”

Rocco turned to me, “My mother is white.”

Great. And my reply? “Just slap me silly.”

How does this relate to this month’s column?

As I tipped each for their delivery service that evening, I said, “You really put your neck on the line for them, yes?”

Rocco beamed, “They are everything to me.”

I could not forget the vision of Rocco’s tattoos after they left.

I continued to think about the (tattoo) “neck commitments” and wondered what I would put on my neck?

What might a person put on his or her neck, in such colorful, large print?

Yet, I saw a connection with the students, CART providers, captioners, and court reporters with whom I work.

Many individuals have wonderful goals with solid commitments.

One reporter I am coaching is taking multiple state court reporting certifications, then sitting for NCRA’s RPR. She is going to pass each – this I know.

When I asked what time her tests started, she hadn’t “looked” – the first state test to be given in four days.

She just laughed, “Oh, I know to look that detail up before I go.” Okay.

What would you commit to if it was written on your neck?

Omitting religion and political views here, for the sake of this column, what might that be?

As I continued to tutor and coach I trolled this question. Each person was fascinated with the question. (And I asked Hispanic students and court reporters.)

Not one person in our field has commented or joked about a name on his or her neck

Maybe court reporters view tattooing the side – or two sides – of their necks to be different?

I then thought maybe ‘we’ view this commitment differently since we are tested at such high pass rates, 99-100 percent at work, and 95-98 percent in school each day.

Might that daily “I have to get this” discipline we work with have correlation?

I trolled that to see if that might have a causal relationship.

Some thought it might be a possibility. Many said, “Nope.”

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

Part I of III is posted June 1, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted June 23, 2011, 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.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

Balancing And Rocco’s Neck On The Line, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

The chair, with foldout bed, was delivered for Mom’s recuperation.

Once Mom was discharged from nine days in ICU, doctors advised me “to have a bed” here. “You may need it.”

Mom spent 57 days in multiple hospitals.

When she was discharged from her quarantined room in the third hospital with acquired hospital infections – to include the MRSA, C-Diff and other hospital bacteria – (mere days before her 60-day insurance lapsed), my 6’ 4” brother carried Mom to his car and to her bed in his arms. She was too ill and weak to sit up.

Her goals then and now? To sit up and walk.

Rocco and Joseph delivered the chair Saturday evening. Getting the chair through the hallway and around a quick turn was a serious challenge.

I breathed a sigh of relief once the chair was through the doorway.

Rocco was struggling with the chair when I noticed the large scripted, cursive, multi-colored tattoo, running (large print to smaller print) the left side of Rocco’s shoulder and neck – up to his left jaw line.

I blinked and looked at the large word – counting at least eight letters.

I said softly, watching Rocco, “That’s some tattoo. Is that a name?”

He beamed, “Yes, it is.”

I pointed to his neck, “That must be an important person, yes?”

He beamed, “It’s my mother!”

I blinked hard, “Your mother?”

Rocco nodded, still chair-struggling (for my mother) and said, “And the other side of my neck has a name, too.” I blinked harder.

Rocco proudly twisted his body, holding the chair (with foldout bed, not a light piece of furniture) to show me the right side of his neck.

A second tattoo with multiple letters, each large and multi-colored, ran from his neck up to his right jaw-line.

I was stunned. Joseph, also holding the chair, just sighed.

I had a feeling he had heard this conversation.

Rocco then said, “The second name is my sister.”

My reply after listening to details of my father’s recent multiple midnight ER (serious) visits?

My reply after listening to Dad detailing how he left Mom alone (gasp) “again” to drive himself to the same emergency room Mom and my brother were recently patients?

I replied to Rocco a simple, “Get out!”

Rocco, “Yes, and do you know why my sister was upset?”

Hungry and stunned, I just shook my head.

Rocco, “My sister was upset I did my mother’s name first.”

For the first time in many hours, I threw my head back and laughed.

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

Part II of III is posted June 11, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted June 23, 2011, 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.

Most Simple Appears Too Simple, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I: During private coaching, a professional recently said, “The weak point is finding a direction.”

This experienced court reporter has reported work that is impressive. Each day she preserves the record.

Each day her world is filled with lay testimony, expert witnesses and multiple surprises.

How does one find ‘a’ direction when swimming like a salmon, upstream?

“Most simple appears too simple,” was my reply.

I hoped that I did not sound like a Chinese fortune cookie.

Court reporters, broadcast captioners, CART providers, and court reporting students with whom I work often share many – oh, so many words – sharing what they are “trying to do” to expand their skills.

Emphasis there was on ‘trying to do’ to change a well-honed, finely-tuned discipline. …

Now, the majority of individuals within our field – changing their goals – are older (by their own admission) and many have children who are “not under-foot” (a frequent description).

When we, court reporters, report, caption, CART, and take dictation at school, we process words.

We work with accuracy, speed, and instant translation.

“How can I be expected to write every word in the dictionary?” is one question I am asked.

I am asked this question so frequently that I try not to gasp and think of the court reporting instructors, firm owners, and captioning managers who would swat me if they could for not answering that one question succinctly.

(A sizeable percentage have never set foot in a school or online program, nor do many ‘intend’ to, by their own words. Many insist they want a free education, yet ask how they can earn top dollar working from home once they ‘can’. Hmm.)

To assist individuals to reach their goals, I ask questions (which are always answered with great honesty). …

Part II: Within Texas, we listen to news anchors discussing “freezing-up pipes” and “changing up the running of water in outdoor pipes” as temperatures reach historical all-time lows.

And the yearly rodeos – with (free) Cowboy Breakfasts and freezing temps create new scenarios (new words), too. Just another day in the life of a captioner.

Many times I have watched flawless captioning and listened to people commenting, “That must be a machine. It’s perfect.”

I ‘simply’ smile.

I know each broadcast captioner worked very hard to have the text, words, ‘simply’ tran accurately across their screen.

In my mom’s multiple hospitals (December 2010, January and February), each time she was moved into a new room, I hunted for the control box (maybe in her bed, maybe on the bed’s side panels) to turn on the captioning.

(Sometimes I stood on my tiptoes, reaching up into the air for the older, ceiling-suspended, TV.)

I was successful 100 percent (while stretching and pressing every switch, every button). …

Part III: (Yes, I had a few mini-interventions sharing that patients and family members would benefit …

Each time I was told, “Oh, we have children and adults that could USE that!”

I did not sigh once. Not once. And that was ‘work’ to not have that “are you kidding me?” look that I free-frame on my face when the hospitals and crew asked.

I wanted to get the drawing board and say, “Okay. Everybody. Over here. You, too. Here’s where we are. Square one. That’s where we are.” I never did that. Lord, knows I wanted to after so many conversations were routinely initiated from “Hey! What Ya Got In There?” Really.)

Judicial and free-lance reporters have talents all unto their own.

They are writing, preserving, realtiming for judges and officials, often producing a transcript.

Their records will assist civil and criminal parties in lawsuits to defend and/or prosecute.

Each motion, each event, each action is ‘simply’ different.

Court reporters preserve State of the Union and State of the State addresses, in addition to multiple county, muni (municipal), state, and national governmental proceedings.

Many of us have operated under a hush-clause (confidentiality contracts) providing onsite and remote realtime technology, ‘pushing’ verbatim text.

We just can’t tell you anything about it. Really.

CART providers use their skills to assist with equal accommodations to ‘simply’ produce records or to fulfill specific customized requests.

And court reporting students? Ah, students.

Many are focused on “I just want to get out of here.” (I remember saying those words.)

Many say with raised voice, “Just tell me what to do, so I can get out of here.”

When I hear how long students have ‘sat’ in a chair within a room with their consistent test scores, I have winced. How does a student progress? Simply.

I know the bucket containing goals (and wishes) is different for everyone.

When the ‘most simple’ method to tweak a stroke, to move toward a goal, and to correctly stroke a word – even when how to look up how to write that word is to simply look within a theory book – we simply move forward.

The tenacity of this profession is outstanding.

We do not remain bogged down by difficulty, do we?

Judicial reporters, free-lance reporters, CART providers, captioners, court reporting instructors, and students are focused personalities. I began this column, “the weak point is finding a direction.”

When we focus our attention on ‘simply’ we learn new lessons. In an ever-ending quest, we simply move our goals; we find a direction simply moving to a better place. Yes, we ‘most’ simply do.

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

Part I of III is posted May 4, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part II of III is posted May 17, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted May 26, 2011, 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?

Monette wants 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, remote, students.

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

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

Most Simple Appears Too Simple, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I: During private coaching, a professional recently said, “The weak point is finding a direction.”

This experienced court reporter has reported work that is impressive. Each day she preserves the record.

Each day her world is filled with lay testimony, expert witnesses and multiple surprises.

How does one find ‘a’ direction when swimming like a salmon, upstream?

“Most simple appears too simple,” was my reply.

I hoped that I did not sound like a Chinese fortune cookie.

Court reporters, broadcast captioners, CART providers, and court reporting students with whom I work often share many – oh, so many words – sharing what they are “trying to do” to expand their skills.

Emphasis there was on ‘trying to do’ to change a well-honed, finely-tuned discipline.

The majority of people I listen to now want to work from home. They want to work “over the Internet.”

Now, the majority of individuals within our field – changing their goals – are older (by their own admission) and many have children who are “not under-foot” (a frequent description).

When we, court reporters, report, caption, CART, and take dictation at school, we process words.

We work with accuracy, speed, and instant translation.

“How can I be expected to write every word in the dictionary?” is one question I am asked.

I am asked this question so frequently that I try not to gasp and think of the court reporting instructors, firm owners, and captioning managers who would swat me if they could for not answering that one question succinctly.

I know I could open a can of small insects here for sharing that I do ask when each person attended school.

(A sizeable percentage have never set foot in a school or online program, nor do many ‘intend’ to, by their own words. Many insist they want a free education, yet ask how they can earn top dollar working from home once they ‘can’. Hmm.)

To assist individuals to reach their goals, I ask questions (which are always answered with great honesty).

Part II: I know I could open a can of small insects here for sharing that I do ask when each person attended school.

(A sizeable percentage have never set foot in a school or online program, nor do many ‘intend’ to, by their own words. Many insist they want a free education, yet ask how they can earn top dollar working from home once they ‘can’. Hmm.)

To assist individuals to reach their goals, I ask questions (which are always answered with great honesty).

Each time I hear their truth, their ‘knowing’, I am honored.

It’s not easy to answer (as someone recently said,) “about my warts and all.”

Many of the responses are profound. Many are gut-laughing funny.

One person wrote asking how she could get the hair translated, which she has recently lost working towards her goals.

Another person shared proudly that she is a great reporter and a sloppy eater. She included ‘eating soup’ as her sloppy lunch that day, “but it will be great, and I will work on the new assignments you’ve given me after I finish my sloppy noodles!”

Simple is one step, focusing upon the work and class dictation you are now producing each day.

Start with simple.

Broadcast captioners are captioning with outstanding tran rates each day.

News broadcasts frequently lead with “late-breaking news” and the words I dread (immediately moving to the edge of my chair), “This just in …”

Programs (news and comedy) lead with updated realtime protests in Egypt, Afghanistan, covering daily current events in the Middle East and Europe – before words and phrases ‘remotely’ approach our American and Canadian borders.

Within Texas, we listen to news anchors discussing “freezing-up pipes” and “changing up the running of water in outdoor pipes” as temperatures reach historical all-time lows.

And the yearly rodeos – with (free) Cowboy Breakfasts and freezing temps create new scenarios (new words), too. Just another day in the life of a captioner.

Many times I have watched flawless captioning and listened to people commenting, “That must be a machine. It’s perfect.”

I ‘simply’ smile.

I know each broadcast captioner worked very hard to have the text, words, ‘simply’ tran accurately across their screen.

In my mom’s multiple hospitals (December 2010, January and February), each time she was moved into a new room, I hunted for the control box (maybe in her bed, maybe on the bed’s side panels) to turn on the captioning.

(Sometimes I stood on my tiptoes, reaching up into the air for the older, ceiling-suspended, TV.)

I was successful 100 percent (while stretching and pressing every switch, every button).

Once the captions were ‘on’ the TV, nurses, aides, technicians, respiratory staff, housekeeping, staff and hospital crew trolled into Mom’s room to watch.

Small clusters of people in odd colored-shirts (many wearing tops with animals or flowers in bright pink or green) stood just steps within the doorway, near Mom’s sink.

They huddled, leaning together as a group, peering towards the TV.

I simply watched from my (uncomfortable) chair.

I did not comment until I was asked “What’s that?”

Not one person knew this could be accomplished in the hospital(s) – and many did not know they “could do this” in their home.

I beamed with pride when people discussed “all those word, how fast they come up – and they’re correct!” Go captioners.

(Yes, I had a few mini-interventions sharing that patients and family members would benefit …

Each time I was told, “Oh, we have children and adults that could USE that!”

I did not sigh once. Not once. And that was ‘work’ to not have that “are you kidding me?” look that I free-frame on my face when the hospitals and crew asked.

I wanted to get the drawing board and say, “Okay. Everybody. Over here. You, too. Here’s where we are. Square one. That’s where we are.” I never did that. Lord, knows I wanted to after so many conversations were routinely initiated from “Hey! What Ya Got In There?” Really.)

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

Part I of III is posted May 4, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part II of III is posted May 17, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted May 26, 2011, 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?

Monette wants 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, remote, students.

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

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

Most Simple Appears Too Simple, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I: During private coaching, a professional recently said, “The weak point is finding a direction.”

This experienced court reporter has reported work that is impressive. Each day she preserves the record.

Each day her world is filled with lay testimony, expert witnesses and multiple surprises.

How does one find ‘a’ direction when swimming like a salmon, upstream?

“Most simple appears too simple,” was my reply.

I hoped that I did not sound like a Chinese fortune cookie.

Court reporters, broadcast captioners, CART providers, and court reporting students with whom I work often share many – oh, so many words – sharing what they are “trying to do” to expand their skills.

Emphasis there was on ‘trying to do’ to change a well-honed, finely-tuned discipline.

The majority of people I listen to now want to work from home. They want to work “over the Internet.”

Now, the majority of individuals within our field – changing their goals – are older (by their own admission) and many have children who are “not under-foot” (a frequent description).

When we, court reporters, report, caption, CART, and take dictation at school, we process words.

We work with accuracy, speed, and instant translation.

“How can I be expected to write every word in the dictionary?” is one question I am asked.

I am asked this question so frequently that I try not to gasp and think of the court reporting instructors, firm owners, and captioning managers who would swat me if they could for not answering that one question succinctly.

I know I could open a can of small insects here for sharing that I do ask when each person attended school.

(A sizeable percentage have never set foot in a school or online program, nor do many ‘intend’ to, by their own words. Many insist they want a free education, yet ask how they can earn top dollar working from home once they ‘can’. Hmm.)

To assist individuals to reach their goals, I ask questions (which are always answered with great honesty).

Each time I hear their truth, their ‘knowing’, I am honored.

It’s not easy to answer (as someone recently said,) “about my warts and all.”

Many of the responses are profound. Many are gut-laughing funny.

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

Part I of III is posted May 4, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part II of III is posted May 17, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted May 26, 2011, 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?

Monette wants 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, remote, students.

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

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

“Promise Me You Will …” Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

I returned a phone call to a person requesting help to pass the NCRA, National Court Reporters Association, written knowledge test, WKT, while the individual placed an order for CRR Books and CDs’ test prep books.

As we worked together, the person identified herself as a student and shared she had attended NCRA’s 2010 national convention. I smiled and said, “I bet you met wonderful people.”

The pause was noticeable. She then shared that she “met one person who spent time speaking” with her.

She shared how this one conversation had changed her views on studying. She shared how this event had changed her eagerness to sit down and practice. Again I thought, “I bet it did!”

When I first enrolled in court reporting school and was a student, many people said I could not do ‘this’ – too many. I listened to none – none with negative opinions. I continued with my turtle approach, one minute at a time, each five-minute test, each class, each academic course, each moment, and avoided ‘all’ negativity. I was not the stellar student or the one that people “knew would do this.” Nope.

I had to sign forms stating that I had been advised I might not make it out of the court reporting program. Additionally, I had to carry a double-major in all my studies due to signing those forms.

I signed the forms (plural occasions) and then taped each on the wall next to my desk where I studied in my dorm room. They did not have power over me, but served as a reminder of what I really – really wanted to accomplish.

Again I asked the student, “Promise me you will prove him wrong. Please.” She laughed with gusto and promised she would.

The bar of excellence is high for our court reporting field – as it should be with responsibilities we accept each day preserving events and history. (One year I was the court reporter for the porta-potty national convention – multiple 8-hour days. I cannot make this up. Who knew I would learn so much about that one topic? We each have grand moments and “Gee, it’s another day at the office moments, yes?”)

Here’s the thing: We are going to have successes as we train and create new goals. We are going to have a few challenges. And we are going to have people who enter our world with words that do not click with what we want to hear or need to hear. And that’s okay, too.

I asked the student if she would let someone in the grocery store share their opinion with her on what is best for her life, and she laughed, “Heck, no!”

Well, there are going to be wonderful people who enter our world with words of wisdom and “here’s what ‘you’ want to avoid” (I love meeting people who share those words). I still have people who tell me I cannot do what I am currently doing. And I smile. No words seem necessary. Truly.

We are also going to meet people who are negative because of their world right now – perhaps their skills, their ability to meet our current technology. No matter. That’s their world. That’s their path. It’s not our track. And that’s okay, too.

“Promise me you will prove him wrong. Please!”

If you meet individuals who share their opinions with you, then I invite you to prioritize whether they get an “in” pass into your path or – not. You get to choose. Always.

Should you have someone who offers their opinion, and it not what you believe to be true regarding your schooling, your work, your goals, your hopes and dreams, promise me that you will prove that person wrong – especially if you really, really want to do this. Then promise me – and yourself – that you will.

Monette, Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com

Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal

Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist

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

Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com

Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com

* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching

Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and 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 empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.

Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:

• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.

Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?

• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and 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, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …

Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29

Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, 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, public speaker, 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, CART providers, captioners, 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, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

“Promise Me You Will …” Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Part I began: I returned a phone call to a person requesting help to pass the NCRA, National Court Reporters Association, written knowledge test, WKT, while the individual placed an order for CRR Books and CDs’ test prep books.

As we worked together, the person identified herself as a student and shared she had attended NCRA’s 2010 national convention. I smiled and said, “I bet you met wonderful people.”

The pause was noticeable. She then shared that she “met one person who spent time speaking” with her.

“Great,” I replied.

There are so many talented (and amazing) court reporters who spend time speaking to students and who change their world – standing in a line together, seated within a seminar or strolling the busy exhibit halls.

The student paused again and said softly, “He told me that I couldn’t do this.”

Stunned, I looked directly into the phone before I said, “Excuse me?”

She repeated the words and identified the person.

“He told me I couldn’t do this,” and she sighed.

I was very clear that words may have power over us. Words may have power if we permit it (the power). An opinion is simply an opinion.

She sighed again, and shared how this one conversation had changed her trip to the national convention.

I thought, “I bet it did!”

She shared how this one conversation had changed her views on studying. She shared how this event had changed her eagerness to sit down and practice.

Again I thought, “I bet it did!”

When I first enrolled in court reporting school and was a student, many people said I could not do ‘this’ – too many. I listened to none – none with negative opinions. I continued with my turtle approach, one minute at a time, each five-minute test, each class, each academic course, each moment, and avoided ‘all’ negativity. I was not the stellar student or the one that people “knew would do this.” Nope.

I had to sign forms stating that I had been advised I might not make it out of the court reporting program. Additionally, I had to carry a double-major in all my studies due to signing those forms.

I signed the forms (plural occasions) and then taped each on the wall next to my desk where I studied in my dorm room. They did not have power over me, but served as a reminder of what I really – really wanted to accomplish.

Again I asked the student, “Promise me you will prove him wrong. Please.” She laughed with gusto and promised she would. She really would.

Is she now practicing? Yes. Is she now focused on success? Yes. Is she now removing the power those words had over her? Oh, yah.

This training and discipline in my opinion – creates moments and memories wherein we are working alone – a lot. We have to focus on technique, structure, theory, practice, vocabulary, technology, and a plethora of tasks.

Part I of III is posted February 8, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted February 22, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Monette, Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com

Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal

Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist

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

Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com

Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com

* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching

Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and 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 empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.

Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:

• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.

Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?

• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and 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, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …

Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29

Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, 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, public speaker, 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, CART providers, captioners, 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, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

“Promise Me You Will …” Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

I returned a phone call to a person requesting help to pass the NCRA, National Court Reporters Association, written knowledge test, WKT, while the individual placed an order for CRR Books and CDs’ test prep books.

As we worked together, the person identified herself as a student and shared she had attended NCRA’s 2010 national convention. I smiled and said, “I bet you met wonderful people.”

The pause was noticeable. She then shared that she “met one person who spent time speaking” with her.

“Great,” I replied.

There are so many talented (and amazing) court reporters who spend time speaking to students and who change their world – standing in a line together, seated within a seminar or strolling the busy exhibit halls.

The student paused again and said softly, “He told me that I couldn’t do this.”

Stunned, I looked directly into the phone before I said, “Excuse me?”

She repeated the words and identified the person.

“He told me I couldn’t do this,” and she sighed.

I looked out the window and succinctly said, “Oh, promise me you will prove him wrong. Please. Please promise me.”

She was silent before her burst of laughter. I moved cautiously into the conversation that “what ‘he’ – one person – shared with you is his opinion. This is not hard data or hard facts. This is only his opinion – based upon meeting you (not in an academic or work setting) one time.”

I repeated, “I’m begging you. Please prove him wrong.”

Her voice softened. I asked what her goals are. What is her theory? What is her speed class, speed challenge. What would she like to do with her diploma and certifications once she earns each?

We discussed her CART goals (she had multiple CART possibilities).

Each goal was realistic and – and achievable – based upon the facts she shared with me that day.

The conversation breezed into a different direction. We completed our time together and finished the book order for her NCRA and state WKT, written knowledge test, exam.

Part II of III is posted February 11, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted February 22, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Check It Out: Reach Your Goals! Private 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.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
—

Part II of III is posted February 11, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted February 22, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Monette, Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com

Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal

Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist

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

Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com

Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com

* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching

Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and 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 empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.

Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:

• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.

Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?

• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and 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, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …

Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29

Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, 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, public speaker, 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, CART providers, captioners, 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, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

Punting, and Captioning Faux Pas Of The Century, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Suddenly, rain began to flow – sideways – as we pre-tested equipment.

Phone lines went down. Internet service was interrupted; electrical grids were diverted away from our area.

And we, court reporting captioners took it all in stride.

We calmly continued to plug in equipment, then more equipment, then additional equipment.

Much later, after a large table was filled with cords, boxes, TVs, encoders, decoders, BNCs, RCAs, plasma equipment, and IT people began to scratch their heads, I have to share, we, the court reporting captioners, sat taller, put our shoulders back, made eye contact with little blinking and avoided prolonged sighing.

No, we had not had any lunch, though all others had dined sufficiently.

We continued to work and added additional surge protectors to send and receive NTSC composite transmissions, to create new transmissions and downconversions to analogue composites with conversions to SD/SDI components and connectors as new challenges continued to arrive – in realtime – and weather ramped up around our region. …

After the towers providing backup equipment went down, we had to rethink our original plan.

We packed all our electrical equipment and looked out the windows to very darkened skies.

No, there were no umbrellas, no plastic bags. We were told to “run to your car.”

I paused before calmly sharing, “Court reporters do not run with electrical equipment during electrical storms across open gravel parking lots.” Then I smiled.

After loading equipment, I drained the rain from my hair and wrung out my skirt before I sat in the car.

Then we headed off to what I now termed the “Punting Plan.”

No one saw our scramble – as it should be, in my opinion.

I had been up since 4 a.m. that last morning and paused, replying softly, “I was raised with three brothers. That person has three brothers. And that person has written every word people have spoken for eons. Surely you can tell us.”

The man looked to me, “Three brothers?”

I nodded.

He laughed, “Well, then you can handle this!” And he proceeded to share a moment from an international event 15 years ago.

As he began to share “the huge captioning faux pas of the century” (his words) surrounded by a group of men who clearly knew the wording, I stood tall and gasped. Then I finished the sentence for him with the original spoken word and the result that tranned across the large screens.

This man gasped and said, “Oh, my God! That was your company! You were onsite! I thought you looked familiar. You were one of the captioners on that job! Wow, we’ve taken that error around the world with us. That was hysterical! Thank you!”

The group howled with laughter while I did exhale, did roll my eyes and did not stand tall.

It took the wind out of my sails for a few moments as they slapped their thighs and laughed.

After all our work, after all the detailed prep, after five days of hurricane-related storms, and what was the exiting comment after I had to create a Punting Plan? An untran – one untran from 15 years ago?

Part I of III is posted October 10, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part II of III is posted October 20, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Monette, Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com

Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal

Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist

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

Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com

Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com

* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching

Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and 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 empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.

Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:

• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.

Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?

• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and 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, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …

Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching

http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29

Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, 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, public speaker, 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, CART providers, captioners, 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, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

Punting, and Captioning Faux Pas Of The Century, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Suddenly, rain began to flow – sideways – as we pretested equipment.

Phone lines went down. Internet service was interrupted; electrical grids were diverted away from our area. And we, court reporting captioners, took it all in stride.

We calmly continued to plug in equipment, then more equipment, then additional equipment.

Much later, after a large table was filled with cords, boxes, TVs, encoders, decoders, BNCs, RCAs and plasma equipment, and IT people began to scratch their heads, I have to share – we, the court reporting captioners, sat taller, put our shoulders back, made eye contact with little blinking and avoided prolonged sighing. No, we had not had any lunch, though all others had dined sufficiently.

We continued to work and added additional surge protectors to send and receive NTSC composite transmissions, to create new transmissions and downconversions to analogue composites with conversions to SD/SDI components and connectors as new challenges continued to arrive – in realtime – and weather ramped up around our region.

Individuals were checking emergency BlackBerry messages, then quickly exiting rooms, pale and wide-eyed to run down a hallway.

Protein shakes were sipped among several people “to keep our energy up,” they shared.

(We were not given any protein beverages because “you have an empty stomach, and you don’t want that,” we were told.)

Then I closed the door to make one phone call while we continued to search equipment in our magic bag of tricks.

Within minutes a man opened the door with one swift motion and froze, staring at us (and the table with equipment), his feet apart.

I paused and softly said, “This is going to perhaps be an unusual question. Do you happen to have a new ‘female connector’ here?”

The man inhaled quickly. “I’m just a business person. I can’t help at all.” He exited as quickly as he entered and did not look back.

The captioner and I avoided eye contact (to avoid laughter) and went back to work.

After the towers providing backup equipment went down, we had to rethink our original plan.

We packed all our electrical equipment and looked out the windows to very darkened skies.

No, there were no umbrellas, no plastic bags. We were told to “run to your car.”

I paused before calmly sharing, “Court reporters do not run with electrical equipment during electrical storms across open gravel parking lots.” Then I smiled.

After loading equipment, I drained the rain from my hair and wrung out my skirt before I sat in the car.

Then we headed off to what I now termed the “Punting Plan.”

No one saw our scramble – as it should be, in my opinion.

When we succeeded with the Punting Plan and created magic appearing on the multiple huge dropdown screens for local and international viewing, we did not exhale or roll our eyes. We quietly went to work. Court reporters, CART providers and captioners get the job done.

We captioned all requests (with multiple schedules).

When we finished the last event and packed equipment, we strolled to the main suite to share that we were leaving.

As we shook hands, exchanging final work details, the man in charge of this entire international event looked to me and said, “That was excellent! Excellent!”

We beamed, standing tall, shoulders back, loaded down with equipment in each hand.

He continued, “But you would never believe the captioning error we saw years ago. It was the error of the century! We, videographers and technicians, still talk about it – it has traveled around the world! I can’t tell you; it’s much too crude. But it sure was funny.”

Part I of III is posted October 10, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted October 31, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Monette, Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com

Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal

Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist

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

Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com

Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com

* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching

Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and 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 empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.

Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:

• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.

Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?

• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and 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, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …

Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching

http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29

Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, 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, public speaker, 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, CART providers, captioners, 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, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.

Punting, and Captioning Faux Pas Of The Century, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

This is a wonderful profession. Each day is different. Each request is unique. Our work creates memorable (and humbling) moments.

We are embraced into new opportunities – each in realtime – as we move forward, serving others with new technology.

While focusing on fulfilling multiple service job requests I had the opportunity to work with technical people from multiple international companies.

The event I am detailing herein involved professionals with the same goal: combine and coordinate technology, talents, skills, and all equipment to present live captioning for the international event.

As we compared technical information, software, hardware, cords, wireless equipment, people’s schedules, time zones, multiple languages and numerous details, a hurricane began to approach.

That just can’t be good news as people are buried with years of work to provide a meticulous service, now can it?

Suddenly, rain began to flow – sideways – as we pretested equipment.

Phone lines went down.

Internet service was interrupted; electrical grids were diverted away from our area. And we, court reporting captioners, took it all in stride.

We calmly continued to plug in equipment, then more equipment, then additional equipment.

Much later, after a large table was filled with cords, boxes, TVs, encoders, decoders, BNCs, RCAs, and plasma equipment, and IT people began to scratch their heads, I have to share – we, the court reporting captioners, sat taller, put our shoulders back, made eye contact with little blinking and avoided prolonged sighing.

No, we had not had any lunch, though all others had dined sufficiently.

We continued to work and added additional surge protectors to send and receive NTSC composite transmissions, to create new transmissions and downconversions to analogue composites with conversions to SD/SDI components and connectors as new challenges continued to arrive – in realtime – and weather ramped up around our region.

Part II of III is posted October 20, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Part III of III is posted October 31, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com

Monette, Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com

Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal

Tutor, Motivational Management & Career Coach,
Multiple-Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting and CART 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

Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?

“Get ‘eR Done in Just One” – as evidenced by the many students and professionals who study Court Reporter Reference Books to pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials are online — from students, instructors, program directors, CART Captioners, novice and senior court reporters, www.CRRbooks.com.

** Pedagogically sound, covering a wealth of material with facts, tips, and comprehensive information, the Purple Books from CRRbooks.com are time-tested and proven in the classroom with educators and with independent study.

The “Complete NCRA RPR, RDR, and CSR Test Prep Textbook, 6th Edition” has greatly expanded testing tips, testing focus, NCRA COPE Ethics, grammar sections, plus — legal, Latin, court, English, grammar, vocabulary, medical, technology and computer chapters. www.CRRbooks.com

The Workbook contains **2,002 practice test questions; the Companion Study Guide cross-references every word in the workbook’s 2,002 multiple-choice text practice questions.

The “Full Test Prep Set” and “Trio Test Prep” – each listed on www.CRRbooks.com

Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61

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

Tutoring and career coaching topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.

Who comes to Monette for tutoring and career coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, create new possibilities, advance their career, author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and 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 exams and for their career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART Captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …

Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Career Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29

Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, 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?

* No two are alike. Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!

About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART Captioner, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, 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, CART Captioners, students, and instructors.

She has also helped to 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, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day. Reach up. Bring it. * Bring it today!

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

You know the blank look, professional posture; perhaps a hard blink to process words directed to me.

I now keep a little list. Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m being punked or if this is, “Okay, everyone, gather around; we’re headed back to square one!”

When requests begin with “I know you charge lots of money,” I know we’re headed into an area I like to deliberately avoid.

Many CART and captioning requests, with similar wording, arrive from student services in educational settings and may arrive from individuals who only schedule sign interpreting.

A recent conversation (I cannot make this up) to All American Realtime/Captioning Services, www.ARTCS.com, began with the words: “We need remote work – it can be with you for CART or we can use a cheaper service. That’s good enough!” I remember gasping.

I cautiously, softly, began asking questions to see if the request actually was for services that would benefit the consumer. Yes.

The individual did not sign. CART is what the student requested. Hmm.

Then the ‘specialist’ (she used her title often) said – I wrote it down – “Look, I know you are expensive. CART is wonderful but expensive. We don’t need it all – every word. And that would be good enough for the student.” I blinked hard.

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

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

Part III of III is posted September 27, 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, Motivational Management & Career Coach,
Multiple-Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting and CART 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

Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?

“Get ‘eR Done in Just One” – as evidenced by the many students and professionals who study Court Reporter Reference Books to pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials are online — from students, instructors, program directors, CART Captioners, novice and senior court reporters, www.CRRbooks.com.

** Pedagogically sound, covering a wealth of material with facts, tips, and comprehensive information, the Purple Books from CRRbooks.com are time-tested and proven in the classroom with educators and with independent study.

The “Complete NCRA RPR, RDR, and CSR Test Prep Textbook, 6th Edition” has greatly expanded testing tips, testing focus, NCRA COPE Ethics, grammar sections, plus — legal, Latin, court, English, grammar, vocabulary, medical, technology and computer chapters. www.CRRbooks.com

The Workbook contains **2,002 practice test questions; the Companion Study Guide cross-references every word in the workbook’s 2,002 multiple-choice text practice questions.

The “Full Test Prep Set” and “Trio Test Prep” – each listed on www.CRRbooks.com

Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61

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

Tutoring and career coaching topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.

Who comes to Monette for tutoring and career coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, create new possibilities, advance their career, author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and 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 exams and for their career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART Captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …

Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Career Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29

Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, 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?

* No two are alike. Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!

About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART Captioner, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, 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, CART Captioners, students, and instructors.

She has also helped to 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, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.

Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day. Reach up. Bring it. * Bring it today!

A Number of Firsts In Science Education With Karen Sadler, Ph.D., Part I                                              

By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Originally published: NCRA JCR, Beyond The Comfort Zone, March 2010

Monette:  The October e-mail from Karen Sadler began, “Hi, Monette. I hope you remember me. A few years ago I asked you about court reporters being used for Deaf people in educational environments. I want to let you know that I finished my work and graduated with a Ph.D. in science education. I thought you might be interested in my research.

“The 2003 to 2009 study related the work of court reporters compared to interpreters (court reporters did so much better than interpreters). It’s been a long haul for me, with a lot of obstacles.

“I’m teaching sciences at two universities right now, both online and classroom.

“Your name is in my (doctoral) references, and you helped significantly with understanding what court reporters do. Basically, they did a phenomenal job, and the only mistakes were due to science words not recognized by the dictionary in the software. … You taught me things I didn’t know about court reporters. I also asked you about software programs that court reporters use.”

Karen and I, in real-time, stepped back into our email friendship.

As we wrote, she was teaching multiple science courses, reviewing homework, and then grading final exams. I asked Karen Sadler to share her personal story.

Court reporters and CART captioners currently sharing – and those desiring to provide – equal access accommodations – with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in an academic setting or work environment or social gathering (yes, in all settings) – have much to learn from Dr. Karen Sadler.

I am honored to introduce you to Karen L. Sadler, Ph.D.

“I was born in Salt Lake City severely hard of hearing, in 1956. But my parents did not ‘discover’ it until I was 3 years old, when my mom noticed I was not turning around when she rang a bell behind me. So that started all the testing and speech therapy, and what not that all HOH, hard of hearing, and Deaf children go through.

I am legally deaf. I have no hearing in my right ear, and have an over 90-110 db (decibel) loss in my left ear, in most tones, but especially tones that encompass the human voice.

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in California where I went to a public school because there were no schools for the Deaf close enough that my mother felt comfortable sending me to. I had a great family, with two sisters. They were all musical, so I grew up with the piano constantly playing. I learned to understand music and play several instruments myself.

The schools were never comfortable having a deaf student in their classes, so I was constantly pulled out of class to take IQ tests. They thought they could test me out of the system and put me into a school for the mentally retarded.

This happened for three years, until I finally said something to my parents who put a stop to all this. My parents eventually received an apology from the district on this.

I received my first hearing aid at 13. It was amazing what I had missed. It was the first time I heard a bird, and I remember my mom crying when I said something about the bird making noise. I graduated with good grades and attended Brigham Young University. There I ran into problems prevalent at all universities: They wouldn’t let me major in what I wanted and kept shuttling me around. After four years I gave up.

I met my husband at college. We moved to Pittsburgh, PA, when he graduated where we raised three great children. After 12 years I decided I had to get a degree or get stuck in menial jobs all my life. I enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh.

My hearing loss intensified as I matured, but I lost almost all of it by 1991 and had a cochlear implant which failed. So I had to learn ASL, American Sign Language, to be able to get information in school.

I used ASL through my bachelor’s degree and my master’s degree. When I started my Ph.D. work, I started using CART personnel in my classrooms more often.

I set a number of ‘firsts’ graduating with a BS in Neuroscience and getting accepted to the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh for graduate work.

One of my advisors noticed, in her classes, the difference between what I was ‘getting’ with CART services versus what I would ‘get’ from my interpreters. She said that half the time I looked totally confused with interpreters, swinging my head around trying to get info from lipreading other students and (lipreading) my advisor who was teaching the class; I would look at the board, and watch my interpreters to get what I could out of them.

I often had to work much harder than everyone else, in order to receive only part of the info. My advisor suggested that I look into this as a research topic. It hadn’t been done, especially in the sciences or math, which is significantly different than topics like history … the vocabulary and concepts are a lot harder to convey.

I finished my Ph.D. in science education in 2009.

Currently, I work at several universities teaching a variety of sciences to hearing students, which I enjoy thoroughly.

So now, the Deaf person is teaching eight classes on different sciences.

I teach all hearing students … nursing students, anatomy/physiology, environmental health, meteorology, geology, and I’ve taught physics, chemistry, and cell biology labs.”

Karen Sadler’s e-mails contain the footer, “Ethical axioms are found and tested not very differently from the axioms of science. Truth is what stands the test of experience. ~Albert Einstein.”

Part II will share the results of Karen Sadler’s Ph.D. studies.

~~  Named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students, Monette may be reached:  Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com

Purple Books – Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com   * Advance skills, pass NCRA and State exams the 1st time

Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal, CART Captioner, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist

Since 1990: Multiple Title Author of Books & Purple Books Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART Captioning Profession

An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com        Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com

Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a State exam?  More than once?   Purple Books “Done in One” has a 98% successful pass rate on exams with sets as evidenced by thousands of students and professionals who pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test.   Testimonials: www.CRRbooks.com.

Reach Your Goals:  http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29  Where do you want to go? Specific custom-designed guidance will efficiently assist you!

About Monette Benoit:    As a 30+ year court reporter, CART captioner, author of NCRA and State test-prep material, instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands challenges many adults face in our industry.

In 1993, she began to CART caption to a large screen for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas.  Wonderful opportunities then presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH consumers -each with special moments.

Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART captioners, students, instructors. She has helped to 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, private coaching, has assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to reach the next level.

Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational, and funny blog for busy professionals and students who seek to create their success and who seek to enjoy this special path.