WHAT: The mission of this website is to serve as a resource for those seeking greater satisfaction in their life through career advancement, as well as supporting that aim with the exploration of creativity, spirituality, and humor. By day I serve the public as an official court reporter, and during my free time I enjoy making art, the study of language, spending time with family & friends, and getting out into nature.
WHEN: Now. That's where all our power is. From a historical perspective, this blog began in 2010, then known as Court Reporter Bound. While I was earning my associate's degree in judicial reporting and RPR certification, this website hosted updates on progress in steno school, free practice dictation materials for court reporting students, and lots of tips & tricks for gaining speed and proficiency. They say "write what you know," so over time the subject matter covered has widened, yet it continues to serve as an online repository for motivation, inspiration, and accountability. While I was a freelance reporter, this website was known as Speaking Louder than Words, hosted at speakinglouderthanwords.com
WHERE: Located in the Driftless area of the Midwest, USA, my work as a court reporter has taken me to many beautiful communities.
WHY the (former) name of Speaking Louder Than Words? It references the quote, "actions speak louder than words," and the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words, so it's the act of using words and images to bring about positive change in the world. The name Court Reporter Bound, I suppose, was my way of deciding that I was going to succeed in becoming a stenographer, and now that I've achieved that goal, I'm still bound to the mission of supporting the profession in any way possible.
HOW: The steno machine (using stenography, a phonetic language/keying system) helps me instantly convert human speech into text on a computer screen, a process known as realtime or real-time. This combination of technology and skill ensures accurate record keeping, and it also facilitates accessibility for deaf/Deaf/hard of hearing persons when used in a CART or captioning setting.
Like the sidebar photo? It was taken by Dahli Durley Photography at Sutra Global Imports.
