Starting up

I have heard a lot of horror stories about entrepreneurs who took the plunge in the transcriptions business and failed miserably in the end (i know some of them first hand), and they all have one thing in common, they don't know shit about what transcriptions is all about.

They usually spend in the wrong areas when they really should be spending on their core assets -- the transcriptionists. It is the they, after all, who does the work, and it's their skills snags the client, it's their skills who keeps the client happy.

So what does it need to succeed in this business? You need to have a strong foundation, and in this case, it is the mastery of the English language. And not just because a person is a good English speaker means that he/she will be a good transcriptionist.

I came up with a list of sorts. Know them by heart and you'd be sure to succeed. :)

1. Knowing the rules of grammar like the back of your hand.
2. Knowing that there are exceptions, and that those rules, every now and then, are meant to be broken.
3. Familiarization with the client's idiosyncrasies.
4. Very good to exceptional analytical skills. (you'll need them when you're typing non-native speakers).
5. Very good problem solving skills.
6. A Proactive attitude -- Americans/European usually are very straightforward in their feedback. Bawal ang sensitive at emokids.
7. You have the ability to meet deadlines, and will do everything to make sure that it is met.
8. The right equipment (as discussed earlier in a previous post)
9. Have an insatiable appetite to learn and improve.

That said, I think I've posted a few links way back which can help you in improving your English skills. Learn something new everyday. Keep a positive attitude.

Happy Transcribing!