#28 - Passion to Entrepreneurship with KLOR Steno Key Design

0:03 Court reporters hold one of the most important roles in the justice system. We're entrusted with the official records of the courts and we also have to run our own businesses, which is not something most of us were prepared for. I'm Bryn Seymour, freelance court reporter and life coach, and I invite you to join the discussion about the problems we face and the solutions we create on the unique journey of a stenographer. Welcome to the Entrepreneurial Court Reporter podcast. Hi Diana, hi Bryn, how are you doing tonight? I'm good, thank you. How are you Good? Where is it? Is it night for you or after?

0:44 Yes, it's six o'clock here. I'm in Southern California, so it's pretty dark outside right now. Oh my gosh. Yes, we're in the winter months where it gets dark at like five o'clock. Yes, I know that took some getting used to, to be honest, Like I was used to getting you know dark at eight o'clock at night. I know me too. And then, all of a sudden, it changed Nothing exactly. So here are you a little. How are you doing? How are you feeling? I heard you were sick today. Yes, I have been getting over this cold and it has been nonstop. I started out with like a sore throat last week and then I thought I was getting over it, and then all of a sudden I jumped into, like you know, sneezing and cold symptoms and blowing my nose, and so now I'm kind of at the tail end of it, but I feel a lot better.

1:33 Okay, good, yeah, me too. It's been going on for like two weeks and then I thought it was over last week and last night it just came back hard, like I woke up in the middle of the night with a really sore throat and I had to call out of work today. So that was so interesting, but I'm feeling so much better now. It's so weird. It's like night and day, it's very on and all. Good, I'm glad. I'm glad you're feeling better because it's no fun being sick? Not at all, not at all. I, one of my friends from church actually came by and gave me soup, so it was really, I feel, like I was healed by that. Oh good, that love loving feeling. Yes, it's always nice being taken care of.

2:17 Right, okay, so let's jump into the discussion about court reporting. Yeah, so how long have you been a court reporter? I'm actually a high speed student. I actually, yeah, I'm not certified yet, but I am at the tail end of this whole court reporting school journey, because you know, that is a whole thing in itself. Basically, my whole knowledge of court reporting started when I was four years old. Wow, my mom is a court reporter. So I watched her go through school and, and I remember it like pretty well, I decided early on, like when I was in my early 20s, that I wanted to go to court reporting school back in you know 2004, I think it was that's when I learned theory.

3:03 I was one of those students where I kind of just went to school and then, like never practiced. I was like, probably like at 120, when I got married and I had my first baby and I decided I want to be a stay at home mom, and so I devoted all my attention and I put court reporting in the back burner for about 12 years. So so I left it alone at that and I raised my boys and I kind of told myself I was like you know what? I do want to go back to court reporting school, but I want to wait until the boys are at school full time, that way I can, you know, focused during the day while they're busy, and then I can do my thing during the day while they're at school.

3:44 So that's what I did, and I remember coming home one day and my son, zach my youngest he went to school. And the first week I came home and I came home to like an empty house because my husband was at work and everyone's at school full time, and I was like I think now's the right time to go back to school. And at this point, 12 years later, there's, you know, online court reporting. So there's, there was that option, and so that's when I decided to dive back into court reporting school and I did it the online way the second time around. And you know, I feel like there's a lot of, there's a lot of students that started and then they come back to it, and I was one of those people.

4:28 But you know, I think that when you're returning court reporting, student like you have a different perspective and you know what you're getting into, and so that, for me, was I knew exactly what I was getting into, which is one of the reasons why I knew that I wanted to wait for my boys to be in school full time before I dove back in. So those years where the kids are young, that's some of the most precious time and moments you'll ever get. Yes, it is, and and I don't know if it was like a, you know, a subconscious decision, because later on I kind of thought like why did I do that? They would have never remembered, but like I I would have.

5:10 I remembered my mom in court reporting school and I remember hating it. I remember hating her machine. I hated that she had to go practice. I she would tell me she'd be like used to hit my machine, diana, and I was like I did I hit your machine. I was four years old when she went to school and I was eight by the time she got out. So I mean she did it. You know it was for. You know, for a lot of good reasons. But you know, I didn't remember like not liking that. That is hilarious. So, basically, like you didn't want to put your kids through what you feel, like you went through when your mom was in school, yeah, yeah, I I wanted, I didn't want them to feel it, but now that they're a little older Sebastian's now 13 and Zach is 10 years old they see me, they see me on my machine here and there, and but for the most part, you know, my day is finished at, you know, one o'clock, two o'clock in the afternoon, right before I have to go pick them up from school, and then I'm mom for the rest of the day.

6:07 You know it's been a roller coaster ride throughout this whole time and I'm really glad I did it. I remember a time where I got like being at 200 to 25 was like out of this world. And here I am. It's just. It's been a really, really interesting journey for me. So you're. You're at 200 or 225 or both. Both. Right now I'm trying to pass my qualifier, I'm in the middle of qualifiers and I just this last semester I passed a 225. So I was really excited about that. Congratulations. Wow, that's so exciting. Thank you. Thank you so much. Yeah, it's, it was really surreal.

6:47 I remember when I took the test I was like, oh man, I think I got it, but I don't know I have to edit it. And then, after I was, when I was grading it, that was all I like. I dragged my feet the whole week grading it because I didn't want to grade it, because I was like what if I didn't pass? But then I graded it and after it was all finished and done with and ended up being a pass. So I was really happy about that. Oh interesting. Wow, you guys picked your own, your own test. That's. that's a new yeah yeah, we graded and then if it's a possible pass, like if you have, you know, less than X amount of errors, then we send it to the teacher and they'll grade it again to see what other errors they that. I may have yeah finally grading my step, just to just to count the drops and then they'll grade like punctuation and all that stuff afterwards, and that's all I see.

7:35 I can't remember if we did that when I was in school. Actually, now that you're explaining it kind of sounds familiar, but I don't know. It's been a while, yeah, so okay, so tell me about the chlorostenoky business. Did you start that, or did your mom started, or did you start it together? I started it. So what happened in the midst of me being a stay at home mom, those 12 years, I became I'm like the type of person who, like I need to be busy, I need to keep my hands busy, I need to do something. And so I became very, very hands on when it came into the crafting world. So I learned, I taught myself how to knit, I taught myself how to crochet, how to sew, how to, how to make stuff.

8:19 So, you know, I'm a little, I would always make their costumes. And then I got really into, you know, the school. And if the school needed something made, I would, I would be the one to call, like I would make it for them. And so there was no way that I wouldn't figure out how to make something. So I really got into the crafting world like big time. Well, my boys were little. So when I came into the core reporting world, I stepped in and I realized, oh wait, we're still doing black keypads, black and gray keypads, that's it, huh?

9:00 So I was like, wait a minute, hold on, I can make my own keypads, let me figure this out. And after I, I, you know, I got my office together, I got my desk. I got my machine, I got my case catalyst, I signed up for school, and then I was like I don't want to look at these black keypads anymore. So no, to be honest with you, the only reason why I purchased keypads to begin with, back in 2004 when I started school the first time, was because I wanted to buy an accessory for my machine, and so I remember going into the Steno machine repair guy shop and I asked.

9:43 I was like, are these the only colors you have? And this was back in 2004, 2005. Wait, wait, wait, there was. There was a store you could walk into for, for, yeah, he was yeah, here in California we have a Steno machine repair guy that's local and so he would carry. Like, yeah, so he would repair Steno machines. Like if it needed something was going on, he would repair something, so he would have like he'd had keypads in his shop, but he would only have like gray or black. And so I remember asking him I said you don't have like any other colors. And he was like no, just black and gray. I was like, okay, take the black ones and then fast forward. 12 years later I'm getting my stuff together and getting my machine together.

10:26 And I was like oh my gosh, like they still. And I looked, I looked online, I searched online because I wanted to find somebody that was making them, because I thought you know, somebody at some point has to be making these. Nope, Nobody was making them Right. And so I was like, okay, so I'm going to make some for myself. And the way I designed them was easy enough to be able to share what I've done. So I took a little time. I was in school, I was, you know, kind of diddle, daddling with keypads and I finally created a way to make them so that it was efficient enough for me to produce them every day.

11:11 You know so. And then one other another important thing that that was really important to me was the adhesive, because I remembered when I had keypads before that they wouldn't leave them mess, like it was like a disaster to get off your keys and I didn't want that If I was going to make them, I wanted to make them a certain way, and so I did that and I, I did a lot of research and adhesive, I tested. I had everything tested out with court reporters before I even opened up my shop. My mom never used keypads until I started making them, so much she got them I was like, oh my gosh. Well, I've never even heard of keypads, like when I I didn't have the luxury in.

11:57 Well, in New York there's not a single like brick and mortar steno shop that you can just walk into and look at accessories or anything like that, so we've never had that luxury. That's amazing that you had a shop like that in your hometown and I've seen actually in the courthouse I see the other girls they have them. They probably got them from you actually because no one else is selling like beautiful flowery. But there there were times where I've been typing on my machine and I don't have keypads on them and if my nails are long then it like the tapping noise from my nails on the plastic is very annoying because everything is silent, yeah, and then it's like oh, my gosh. That's the moment that I realized maybe I should reach out to Diana, because I had seen you on social media and I thought maybe I should reach out to her and look into what are these steno keypads and maybe I need them yeah you know what they?

12:51 they do help. Some people swear by them and some people are not into keypads, which is totally fine because it's all personal preference. And sometimes people I've had a couple of court reporters reach out to me and say I've been reporting for 40 years. I've never used keypads before I started using your keypads and I love them so much and I can't believe I could put flowers on my keys, I could put anything on them. I was like, yeah, I mean, and if you completely hate them, you could take them off. Like that's very easy to take off the keypads that I make. They won't leave you residue, they're not going to leave you a mess. They come with an easy release sheet and a bag, a storage bag, so that you can save them from another time.

13:34 If you want, or if you, you know, want to tone down your keys, if you have hot pink or something crazy on there and you want to tone them down, you can take them off and put them on your sheet and then put another set on if you want. It takes a couple of minutes and that's it? So? Is the main purpose of them mostly for decoration, or is it? What else does it do? Is there anything else besides like stopping the clicking noise from the nails and decoration Any other functions that it provides? Yes, they do provide grip. So a lot of times and I hear it a lot from Steno students that they get nervous when they're testing and then their hands sweat and then their fingers are on the acrylic keys and they're slipping all over the place and I totally get it because you know I've been there.

14:16 I'm there right now, Amen. The having the key pads adds grip and more traction on your keys, so it helps you not slip or slide on the keys when you don't have them on. Because the keys are made of like an acrylic and so that mix with your fingertips, mix with sweat, it gets slippy, they do come with that. I would love to get some just to pizzazz up the machine a little bit, because mine is getting boring. You know, I've had it for quite a few years now maybe five or six years and it's just black and white, which I loved at first, but now it's so boring.

14:59 But your Etsy shop is still going, yes, so I could probably order some on Etsy. Oh yeah. And then I just recently opened up a new option which is Customs. And so the customs I open up once a month and that gives people an opportunity to send me pictures. I've done people's kids, I've done their pets, their own photography that they've sent me and you're able to put anything you want on your keys, which is fun. Right now I have a custom set on my machine. I went a little bit overboard, but I did the whole composition notebook theme. So I also make skins for the Steno machines.

15:43 I make them for Stenograph Wave, Luminix One, Luminix Two Pro, Cat Infinity and Expression Machines, so they're all custom fit to sit on the back of the screens. So that's another fun option that I have as well. Nothing leaves a mess, Nothing leaves residue. Everything comes off when you're ready for it to come off. And the skin is like can you also get that customized? Or can you get it matching or like, or is it completely yeah? it's a separate thing. I don't do custom skins at the moment but I do some keypads. I do have an assortment of options on my Etsy shop if you search skins, and I do have a lot of options that unfortunately right now I don't do customs on the skins.

16:24 But hopefully you know a lot of these things take some time to get processed and to develop and then I have to get organized with it and so it takes me a little bit to get to get it together before I even like add it to a shop. So so hopefully in the future I could do custom skins, but right now it's just. It's just right now. Like Stentendo is always like a big one Stentendo and I thought I remember when I created that one I was like that is so cool, I love it. What is? it, it's Stentendo. So basically it looks like Nintendo. It's like a skin and you put in the back of your machine and it just looks like a Stentendo.

17:06 It looks like Nintendo, but it says Stentendo. Oh wow, that's cool. How innovative. Wow, well, I love how you talk about this as if it's like no big deal, but I mean starting a business and growing it and really being able to serve so many people, it is a big deal and I know it takes a lot of sacrifice and a lot of effort and it takes time. So even my question about the skins like do you do custom skins the way you answered was very like no big deal. No, it's just not the time right now. But yeah, it's true it takes. You know, it takes so much time to be able to come up with a new product and offer it to people. So it's really, it's really awesome what you're doing.

17:48 I want to, you know, give you props for that and I mean your branding is beautiful, everything. Like there's a lot that goes into running a business. So I mean I talk a lot about business on this podcast, because it's also known as the entrepreneurial court reporter podcast. So like every court reporter is really, especially if they're freelancing. But even in court, actually we're still running our own businesses and billing and doing all these little tasks that go into running a business. So it's very it's a lot. And how do you manage your business, like those little tasks and things like that. Do you do everything yourself or do you have some help? Yeah, I pretty much do everything myself. You know, as far as the measurements of the keys, I had my husband do that part.

18:32 I was like I wanted to make sure that they fit the keys perfectly. And you know, the back of the screens all the machines are a different body. So I had him measure the skins for me and he pretty much came up with the final. But as far as all of the designs, I that's kind of like my. It's my hobby, it's my outlet, you know, my creative outlet. After I've been practicing all day, after I've been in school all day and then editing all my tests and everything like that, I like to unwind and one of the things I like to do is just go on my computer and just edit, like fun stuff, you know. And then I'll, you know, if it's that time of the month where people are sending me their custom orders, then I'll start doing my custom orders and I send them proofs to show them what exactly their keypads are going to look like.

19:22 And then, you know, I go from there and sometimes they'll be like, okay, well, can I have this more to the left or more to the right? I'm like, yeah, sure, you know, they can make as many edits as they need to, because I want them to have their keys the way they want them, you know. So it's a lot of fun for me. It really is my creative outlet, and I guess my mom is very creative too, and so that's probably where I got it from I saw her going. You know making things. She loves to sculpt, she loves to paint and she draws, and so that's kind of her outlet I'm more of like on the crafty side. So, yeah, it's just, it's how I unwind.

20:10 Are you like a graphic designer, or do you do watercolor? Do you paint? It's all digital. My designs are all digital. Like you cannot give me a paintbrush, Forget it. Like I, will not, you might as well, I might as well just paint with my foot, because like it won't come out right. But like can my mom have a paintbrush and she'll give you a masterpiece? Where it completely opposite when it comes to that. But I love doing my designs. I do a lot of my designs on my computer and on my iPad and it's all graphic. And most of your free time like doing crafty things. Do you have any other hobbies besides? I mean, obviously being a mom is like pretty full time. Oh yeah, it's full time, for sure. Other hobbies I have, yeah anything in my shop, like I got into making tumblers for a while.

20:54 I haven't sewn in a really long time and I thought about, you know, making some projects there. But I'm just ever since I started core reporting in school, that's been most of my. That's kind of like my hobby. That's that's what I've been doing and I've been trying to really, like you know, hone in on what I need to work on to pass this qualifier. So I'm not so much making my boys costumes anymore, because my 13 year old would probably roll his eyes but that part is probably over. But any, any toy I kind of keep my eye out for that will help me make something. I'll probably get it, but for the most part it's just practicing on my machine and my keypads and then designing on the computer.

21:40 Those are probably the top three things that I do for fun. Okay, cool. I was going to ask you, like, if you remember a specific moment where you were inspired to start your business, but you kind of already touched on how you went into that shop and you wanted more pretty colors, so you just ended up figuring out how to create it yourself. Anything else you want to add in regards to that question? You know, I remember thinking about it back then, back in 2005, thinking like oh, we should have our colors for keypads, but at that time I still had. I still had dove into the whole crafting world, so I wouldn't have been able to figure out how to how to do it back then.

22:21 And then I remember my sister was in court reporting school for like two seconds. And when she spoke to me and showed me her new wave, her wave machine, because when I went to school the first time it was a paper machine and that was it. There was no like paperless machines back then. And she showed me her paperless machine, I was like oh my God, and I thought for two seconds. I was like I can probably make our keypads. And but she is just like. I just bought some and I was like okay, whatever kind of went in my head and then out. And then I remember not feeling right because I thought maybe I should do it. But my boys are really little and I didn't feel right because I wasn't in the community at that time, I wasn't in court reporting school and I didn't feel right doing it.

23:10 I just it wasn't the right time. And so when I came back into the court reporting community and court reporting school, that's when I felt like it was the right time because I was a part of it. I was a part of the community, I was a student, I was working towards something. I was working towards the same thing everybody else was working towards. So that's when I felt like the aha moment where I was like, okay, maybe I could do this, because I always wanted that one thing to do, like that one little project, that one little a little side business that I wanted. I never thought in a million years it would be keypads. Oh wow, Okay.

23:50 So that's kind of like when I had my aha moment was when I came back to school and I saw that there wasn't Cause. Had there been somebody honestly, Brent, had there been somebody making the keypads, I would have never done it. There was no way I would have, just I would have, you know, supported them you know. Yeah, totally agree with you, cause I mean, I I feel it's a kind of like with this podcast. I was desperately looking for a podcast to help, like a kind of a new court reported that's struggling and doesn't know what to do, and I could not find one anywhere. So I was like, all right, if it doesn't exist, better create it. Yeah. Exactly, so that's how I went Sounds like you did the same thing. Yeah, exactly. That's always.

24:30 That's like the entrepreneurial spirit, Like if you see a problem or a gap or something that you can add some way, you can add to the community, you just do it. Yes, we did it. Yeah, I know, like starting a business and having a business, running a business, it's always a lot of trial and error. It's never really a smooth road for the most part. Most people who are entrepreneurs experience a lot and that's how they grow. Do you remember any roadblocks or obstacles, like maybe your first major one or something that you overcame that? Or how you kept, how you were motivated to keep going? Yes, that's a very good question and I'm glad you asked me that, because one of the things that I didn't expect out of clore were the prints, were the designs, the flowers, because when I was testing them out, I had all the colors available Pink, medium pink, hot pink, gray, dark gray, light gray, like all of it, you name it.

25:31 I had it. And then I had a couple florals. They were the water. I ended up naming them watercolors and they were the watercolor pinks and I sent some with my mom to work and I was like just see who, see what they pick. I want to see what they pick, I want to see what they, what they like. And so when she gave her the option, a court reported off. She's like I have these solid colors, I have these flowers, and she's like I think I'm going to go with the solid ones. So I was like, okay, well, like the flowers aren't going to be a big deal, like they're not going to, they're not going to like that. But turns out that was the complete opposite of what happened.

26:11 So when I opened my shop, I had a few watercolors available, those sold out like the same day and I was like I don't even know like what to do. I think I bought the last of those flowers. I don't even know, like where to find them, and and so then I dug, I kept digging, I kept digging and I finally found the watercolors, and I kept those in supply for a long time. But another hurdle was. what happens with prints is that keypads are going to get worn out no matter what. I always like to compare them to like a running shoe. You have a person running 10 miles every day in the same shoe Wearing the same shoe.

26:53 A person's walking every other day, maybe twice a week. Whose shoes are going to get out, get worn out faster? The person who's running 10 miles a day, right, right? So so you have the same thing with keypads. Like somebody who's working every day, who's kind of a hardwriter, their keypads are going to get worn out a lot faster than maybe the person next door you know, who's maybe a beginning student or beginning court reporter, or or somebody who's just physically light on their machine. Their keypads aren't going to get as worn as fast. So one of the things, one of the really challenging things, was trying to find a faux leather that was durable, and I finally found it.

27:36 I finally found something I'm happy with, because not only is this faux leather 100% durable, but it's a lot better than what I started with you know, because, like I said, I had no idea that the flowers are going to be, you know popular. I had no idea that people were going to like the Prince Harry Potter, anything you know, and so so I finally like I finally found a supplier that would supply me my product and have it be as durable as it possibly can. But I'm not saying you know the keypads aren't going to get worn out. Yeah, eventually they will. Or eventually it'll just get sick of looking at them Like I did.

28:17 I had piano keys on my keys for like almost a year and I was like trying to stick it out for a whole year and I'm like I can't, I have to change that. I don't want to give them anymore. So I finally took them off after 11 months, but they had very little wear. But then again, I'm a student. Maybe I'm light on my machine. I cannot stand nails Like I have to have my nails really short, so that's not an issue. So like you know, there's a lot of things that come into play as far as you know keypads getting worn and how fast they get worn, because I keep a really close eye on the keypads that are out there. And I like to, because I don't want to be selling somebody something and then have it not work out for them.

29:03 Or, you know, if something's not working out for somebody, that can 100% reach out to me at any time and I'll try to make it right, or I'll try to get them into something that will help them better, you know. So that was one obstacle that kept me going, like I had to keep trying and trying and trying until I got it right and I think I finally got the right recipe. That's awesome Do you have? Like, do you ever have any difficulties with customers or is everyone pretty good for the most part? Like how I know customer services? You know that's always a tough thing. Yeah, you never. I'm actually pretty good. I have kind of a thick skin and so like nobody has ever come really upset with me.

29:46 And if they're really upset with me, like it's okay, you can have the $26 that they are, I'll give it back to you, you know? And then for the most part everybody's been so nice, everybody's been so supportive. The reviews that I get are so supportive and so like I don't even like I don't even have words for it. But one thing that I did do is I never respond to reviews, whether they're good or not so good. I mean, if they're not so good, then I'll message them. If it's something that like I missed, or I don't know what happened, or those aren't my key pads, or something like that, like something weird, I'll reach out to them privately.

30:27 But I feel like when, when I get the reviews, that's them speaking to everybody else, not me. You know, even though they're thinking they're. They're telling other people what they thought of you know what I'm making them Right. Yeah, that's like the purpose of a review so other people can know about your product. And exactly I always try to be, you know, leave positive reviews whenever I find a product. That really yeah, so so that's something that I do do. I really appreciate everybody who's, you know, reached out to me and asked me how school is doing and how you know how I'm doing and Everything like that, and everybody's been really, really supportive and I really appreciate everybody.

31:10 So what is your goal with court reporting? Do you want to be an official freelancer? Do you want to start your own court reporting business? You know what? I'm very torn. I'm very torn between becoming an official and doing depots and freelancing. I I still have no idea which road I want to go to, because I'm still a mom and I'm still I saw young boys and I still need to pick them up from school. So with that in mind, I kind of, like you know, the the freelance route, but then again really like court, like you know, because my mom worked in court and I, like I grew up there and I went, you know, summers there and I was in our office all the time, and so I just really enjoyed the environment of court.

31:53 So here in Southern California they also now have part-time court or official set Okay. So that's kind of intriguing to me too. But as of right now I have no idea what I want to do and I know some people are like. I want to do court, I want to do depots and or I want to do captioning, and so I just I have no idea. To be honest, oh yeah, I forgot about captioning. Yeah, there's a whole nother world out there. That is. Yeah, working in court, I do agree that the environment is really cool. Like just to see how the court, the court system works is very Fascinating.

32:33 Yeah, it's just really awesome to get to get to know how the whole system works, because depositions are really just a part of that Whole system and we don't really see the whole picture when we're just doing depositions. But I mean, I know you already have seen the whole picture and you probably liked it, so now you're torn. Yeah, I've seen a little bit of both and I and I am a little bit torn. I mean I know that when I switched from freelancing to court, it was partly because I was trying to escape, trying to take a break from the entrepreneurial part of freelancing and all that like management and all the Data that we have to do, and I kind of wanted to break from that and I thought I would get that break in court.

33:15 But it turns out that it's not really much of a break because we still, you know, we have our salary and then we also bill for our transcripts. So it's kind of like you do extra work when the transcript is ordered, you take it home and get it done and then bill the client. So it's kind of the same thing, actually on top of working. So I mean, yeah, it's, it's I don't know. I mean I do like the fact that there's more structure and but it was really just I wanted to experience both of them. So you'll probably, I'm sure, get to experience both at some points in your career. Yeah, yeah, I'm really looking forward. That's all. That's a whole other obstacle, like I know how to be a student. You know and I know how to practice and I know what I need to do and I know what I need to hone in on and I'm a good student and it's like, once I'm done being a student, I have to learn how to become a court reporter like and that's that's a whole other, whole other chapter and I'm I'm really looking forward to it and I'm nervous as heck and I'm scared, but you know I have to eventually, you know, get my feet wet and what.

34:22 What theory are you learning? I learned real, right, real time by Carol Lee Freer and Robert McCormick. Yeah, it's um, it was real. Yeah, it's a real time. It's supposed to be like a conflict free theory, but I, I, I jumped it. I learned theory. And one of the things, one of the good things that I did was I really, really really Learned theory, like I did really well in theory and I got out of it and I jumped into speed building back, you know, back in the day, and then I put away everything. I didn't touch my machine for 12 years before I came back and when I came back, I jumped into speeds at 60 words a minute.

35:04 So I was working off the theory that I learned, like 12 years prior. And now, at this point, there's Social media, there's questions you can ask, there's more kissing berries theory, there's right-hand phrase and so, like all these things, that I didn't know about when I was in school the first time are now coming to light so I've operated a lot of like these things, these these different ways to write into my writing, and I feel like that's helped, you know, and I feel like it's it's really gotten gotten me to where I am and I enjoy it. I like learning to see how people brief brief stuff and but then again I also really like to write things out.

35:52 I was. That was gonna be my next question, like how do you feel about briefs and writing out? Yeah, so I I really like briefing, but I like briefing for things that come up a lot, and I like being able to write things out at the same time, because there are gonna be words that come up that I'm never heard before, like or I've no idea, like I don't. I'm not one that will try to brief on the fly and I'd rather write it out Now that I have in my notes because I could look back at it if it doesn't translate. It doesn't translate, but at least I could look back at it and figure out what I was trying to write and I'm, and so I like both.

36:34 I really like briefing for multi-syllabic words that come up all the time, and then those are the things that helped me get by it, because a word that was I was struggling with forever and I'm finally like looking it up to find a brief for it will save me, like on the next test or the test after. You know what I mean. But then I wanna be able to save those strokes for words that don't come up very much and I don't know, I've never heard it before, or something like that. So, it's like it's a little of both. Yeah, I agree with you. Like when you try to write a brief on the fly or come up with one, it causes a little bit of hesitation.

37:15 So anything that causes hesitation is not ideal in our profession. We just gotta-. And then you're trying to figure it out later. Oh my gosh, yeah. Yeah, and it doesn't come right exactly. I know I do like to like think of things in my head and if it's something that I can speak in Steno, like, for example, Starbucks is Spux, right, oh, okay, s-b-u-x or S-B-U-B-J-S, which is X, that one, I say it in my head all the time. I don't say it out loud because people are gonna be confused but but, think like that. I'll always come up with things in my head and then it like turns into the briefs and I can.

37:59 I always am thinking about how to write it. Like I'll be literally writing Steno, like just on my fingers in my head. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure we all do that probably. Yeah, and you know that probably saved me. And I think about that and like cause sometimes I see returning students that wanna, you know, do theory again and then they're trying to figure out what theory to do, because now people like to shop for theories and they're doing their, you know, investigative work and they're trying to figure out what school, what theory on all this stuff. But one of the things that I did when I was not in court reporting in school was I would write in my head all the time and it was just something that stuck and I couldn't.

38:39 I couldn't stop it, Like it just happened, or if a word came up I'd think of how to write it, and that kind of happened throughout those years. And I'm like thinking maybe that's why I could still write, you know, and I was able to. Just obviously I wasn't like where I left off at 120 words a minute, but like I was really slow at 60 words a minute at first. But I kind of came back to me like jumping on a bicycle, you know. Right, and it's not even like only in our heads. I feel like when we do that, we're kind of writing in our heads, but we're also kind of doing it on our fingers, like just the slightest bit as well. So it's still kind of practicing, you know. Yeah, you're just figuring it out.

39:22 Yeah, it is like I feel like we're just steno writers at heart. Yeah, exactly, it's so awesome hearing your story and your motivation, your inspiration, so I'll give you an option for the last question Do you have a routine that you want to talk about or about your mindset? Yeah, either routine or mindset. My routine is my classes start at 8.15 every morning. Right now I'm on a break. I'm on winter break, but for the most part my classes start at 8.15, and then I'm out of class at 11. And then, after 11, I'm either typing up a qualifier or I'm typing up my tests that I did for the day. Well, I'm sorry.

40:02 What's a qualifier? The qualifier. So in California, you have to pass a 10-minute four voice qualifier in order to qualify to take the state CSRs exam. Ok, so in order for us to be able to take the state test to become a CSR, you have to pass a four voice qualifier for 10 minutes at 97.5% accuracy. Either you pass that qualifier or you have to qualify to take the CSR and get your RPR. So those are the two avenues that you can go in order to take the California CSR. So, yeah, so in New York, yeah, yeah, I heard it's different in New York, and then that's another thing.

40:43 I learned that some states are like completely different. Right, it's actually. It's kind of like it seems in one lens like it would be an advantage because we actually don't have to get a CSR, we just graduate from school and then we're off. But it also doesn't push us to get the RPR or to get higher level certifications. So we have to kind of conjure that up inside of us to create our own structure, create our own plan and follow through with that plan, which is very difficult for some people like me. But anyway, sorry, sorry to interrupt. So, no, no, that's OK. Ok. So, yes, continue with your where we're when we're. So my basic schedule is just I'm in class from 8.15 to 11.

41:26 And then, after 11, I will do the my tests whatever tests that I did that day submit them, and then I'll do my orders outside and then, by the time I'm finished with all that, I have to go pick up the boys. So that's pretty much my schedule and, honestly, like my school I love my school so much because I feel like they keep me on my machine and they're keeping me on my schedule. You know what I mean. So it's not like it's six o'clock at night and I still haven't practiced all day. You know what I mean. I've already done it during the day, and so I'm exhausted. After I'm done with class I'm like really tired, and so right now it's just, it's just qualify mode right now, and I think my headspace is that what you asked me about.

42:13 Like your mindset, like if you have any mindset, practices or anything that you can share. You know. That's funny that you asked me that, because I remember when I was in low to mid speeds my anxiety was so strong like my hands would shake before taking a test, like I was so nervous and I don't know what got into me. But once I got to 200, I don't know what's clinic to, something clicks, something changed. I have no idea what it was, but I have not been nervous for a test. I can't even remember the last time I was nervous for a test, like it just completely changed my mindset, like, I think, because the speed became like it sounded doable, you know.

43:00 So I think, when the speed sounds doable, that kind of like ticks your nerves and just throws it out the window. Like I think that's why, like, I've been doing so well with them. But like it's just something clicks, I don't know what it is. It's kind of hard to explain. Well, I think I mean for most, for me at least like the nervousness. You know, I'm nervous. Whenever I'm, I have my heart and mind set on something like it has to happen, and then, if it doesn't happen, I'm going to be so mad. That's when I'm nervous. But, then if I'm like I don't really care if I get this and I'm just doing it for the experience, then it's like I'm not nervous at all.

43:41 I feel like you know that's something that helps with. Nervousness is to kind of practice thinking like it doesn't matter, like about the result or the outcome. Right, right, it's just you're going to take it, you're going to pass it, you're going to not pass it. It's one or the other. Just do it again. Just do it again. Yeah, because you know you're eventually going to get it and it might take a few times, but failure is always failure isn't really failure unless you give up. You're failing forward exactly. Exactly, yeah, yeah, failure is important, important part of our journeys. Yes, for sure, for sure, I may be changing my tune when I become an actual working quarter reporter, because there's going to be that first day where I'm going to be probably a nervous wreck.

44:25 We'll see what happens when that day comes. Oh, I'm sure you're going to do great. Thank you. So where can everyone find you online? Everyone can find me. I have a Facebook, instagram and an Etsy shop right now. I'm in the process of renovating my website right now, so that's why it's been down and, just like everything else, it just takes time. It takes time to get together and organized and setting up the listings differently, and I have someone that I'm working with the moment and she's helping me a lot, and so I'm just really slowly getting it together. But I do have my Etsy shop open.

45:07 It's called Chloro Steno Key Design. If you type in Chlor or Google Chlor, you'll see it pop up, and my Instagram handle is at ChloroStenoKeyDesigncom and Facebook is ChloroStenoKeyDesigncom, so you'll find it there, great. Okay, so everyone, I hope, got some great insight out of this episode and is going to go online and buy some Steno Keys. That's still on my to-do list. I don't know why it's taking me so long. Sometimes little tasks for me. I don't know if it's my ADHD. I think it definitely is a symptom. But little things that I think I'm gonna remember and I don't write them down.

45:49 Oh yeah, yeah, I really appreciate the reminders. By the way, like sometimes people will have to remind them like oh my gosh, I completely forgot. I'm so sorry. But yeah, I appreciate the reminders the smallest task I know, I know I don't even have to drive anywhere to my shop. My shop is in my house and sometimes it takes me forever. So I totally get it. I totally get it. So with my reminders, I'm like I still appreciate you right now. I'm so sorry, I forgot. Yes, absolutely Well, I will be one of those persons in the game Getting my Steno Key Pads. I can't wait. I'm so excited you tried them out. I'm excited too. I can't wait to see what you decide, or, if you want a custom, I will do a custom for you, brent.

46:36 I'm so excited. Thank you so much and thank you for coming on the podcast. It was so awesome talking to you. Thank you so much for having me, Brent.