There’s still time to share with peers colleagues your secrets to balancing everyday life and a career by contributing to NCRA’s latest book currently being compiled. The project marks the second edition in a series of motivational books the Association has plans to produce and will join the Court Reporter Survival Guide: School Success Stories, released in September 2014, on shelves across the country.
This latest edition to the series will include not only tips on balancing a personal and a professional life, but also insights into what motivates others, how they release stress, and ways they persevere through tough times and challenges. Contributors can also share tips on where to find support to help maintain stability within their lives.
To date, more than a dozen NCRA members have submitted contributions, including Betty Atanasu, a CART captioner and a coordinator for the Disabled Students’ Program at University of California—Berkeley.
“This career position fits perfectly in my life. It allows me to develop my skills, continually look for new technology, and work with a group of like-minded individuals who have the same goal: to serve our students,” she shared. “Number one is take care of yourself. Make yourself the priority. Second, know your limitations and don’t be afraid to let them be known.”
NCRA member Janice Garrett, an official court reporter from DeSoto, Texas, attributed her motivation in the profession to her need to strive for excellence in every endeavor, including in “trying to attain perfect realtime translation, perfect transcripts, keeping up with technology. That is what we all strive for: to keep the record, balance family and work life, and make it look like it is easy and that we truly are the eighth wonder of the world,” she noted.
Official court reporter and NCRA member Susan Horak, RDR, CRR, from Columbus, Ohio, wrote that she relies on family and friends for support to help maintain balance in her life. “Even though my family lives in other states, they have many of the same issues in their careers: difficult people, deadlines, budget cuts. They let me vent my frustrations, offer advice if they found a solution, and give me an outlet and distraction.”
To share your ideas, thoughts, tips, and insights in NCRA’s next book, go to NCRA.org and complete the questionnaire. But hurry, time is running out to be included.
