subject: How Quickly We Forget [print this page] I started using Dragon Naturally Speaking products about a year ago. I actually bought the software some three years ago but had a few false starts and finally gave up on the idea of dictating to my computer. It wasn't that the products were hard to use or didn't work - they are easy and do work. (As an interesting side note, I sold voice activation in my 20's to Wall Street for traders - for big bucks. Today's products are under $200 and 100 times more accurate and easy to use.)
It wasn't the products, it was my own mental gravity. I kept telling myself I was used to typing, that the words needed to flow through my fingers onto the page. I told myself that speaking was not a natural way to think and create content (yeah, right).
Finally a year ago I decided I would do better than try - I would use the tools for a month on everything I did. I expected it to be tough. But within a week I was producing more content than ever - content that was more conversational, readable and more thorough - because I could capture all of my thoughts hot off the press - so to speak.
Today - I dictate almost everything other than social media (the sites are too slow to take the dictation). I LOVE IT. I can't believe I wasn't dictating sooner. My productivity skyrocketed, as did the quality of my work overall. I am hooked on this new (and formerly scary) new way of creating content. So much so that last night when my microphone went belly up - I was frantic. You see, the profiles are built based on a specific input device. So when the device dies - you have to get a new device and move your profile information. That takes time. Being in the middle of a book launch - I didn't exactly have any extra time. So I could not dictate the interviews and blogs I needed to get done today.
Just type my work until I get a new microphone, right? Sounds easy enough. After a day of writing I can tell you it's anything but. My hands are so slow compared to the dictation - I can't keep up. I'm frustrated at the slowness, at losing concepts because they cant come out fast enough. It's like going back to a 4 cylinder when you've been driving a turbo V8.
I am dependent on that which I pushed against for so, so long. I'm lost without my MacSpeech Dictate. The reality is - I was lost within the first month I used the dictation tools.
See how quickly we can (and will) change if we just take the first step and try that new thing, that new belief, that new way of being or doing?
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Yep - I'm off to Best Buy first thing tomorrow am to get myself a new microphone. It may take a bit of time - but the alternative is, well, it's the way I've always done it and I've moved on:)
