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Time flies! We've been
writing this blog for almost six years, and we have published almost 500 posts. Not bad, huh? In 2010, we published a book (The Entrepreneurial Linguist: The Business-School Approach
to Freelance Translation), which has sold more than 3,500 copies
around the world (thank you!) and contains pretty much everything we know.
However, we are delighted to keep on writing and sharing, as we get so much positive feedback and we really enjoy it. Even though we
publish a lot of free information for beginning and advanced linguists,
oftentimes new colleagues ask us at conferences: "What do I have to do to
be successful?" There is no easy answer, so we usually say that it would
take us the rest of the evening to even attempt to answer that question. However, we also
like to come prepared with some memorable (or not) short pieces of advice that
might be helpful for those who want some quick nuggets of information. We
finally decided to compile some of these pieces of advice here after a new
colleague approached Judy at a workshop a few weeks ago. She was frustrated that she
wasn't getting the results that she wanted, yet she hadn't invested in herself
or her professional presence. A lot of our advice has to do with exactly that:
personal growth, outreach, marketing, and customer service.
We have no idea how we
ended up with a list of 62 pieces of advice, and these are not ranked in order
of importance, nor is this list (obviously) exhaustive. We simply wanted to compile some of the things we think are
essential for every translator and/or interpreter and, of course, for entrepreneurial linguists. There are all things you've
heard us say before or have seen us write about before, but here they are, for
the first time, in one handy-dandy list: 62 pieces of advice on translation, interpretation, and business.
Please read at your own
risk and take this with a grain of salt. Yes, we've included some tough love
and straightforward advice.
1.
Running a small business
is hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.
2.
You are not entitled to
be successful.
3.
There are no real
secrets to success, but start by working hard and by making smart
decisions.
4.
Don't compete on price.
Find your competitive advantage instead. Don't become a commodity.
5.
Get a website and a
professional e-mail address. If you want to be taken seriously as a professional, you need a professional presence.
6.
Your success will depend
on the quality of relationships you form.
7.
Translators are writers.
Are you a top-notch writer?
8.
The internet is your friend. Online marketing
is mostly free and easy. Use it to your advantage.
9.
No translator or
interpreter is an island.
10.
Have a positive
attitude.
11.
Avoid making the same
mistake twice.
12.
One missed deadline
might very well have a negative impact on your career.
13.
Don't start work on a
project until you have written confirmation from the client.
14.
Play nicely with others.
15.
Set realistic goals and
make a plan as to how you will achieve them.
16.
Take an honest look at
your skills and improve them. You can always become a better
interpreter/translator.
17.
No one lands high-paying
clients by mistake.
18.
Translation and
interpretation require completely different sets of skills.
19.
Take feedback for what
it is: a valuable gift.
20.
Without clients, you
have nothing.
21.
Be reasonable, even when
others are not.
22.
Think before you send an
angry e-mail.
23.
Learn to be
self-sufficient in terms of IT and software.
24.
Invest in your business
by purchasing the best tools, dictionaries and gadgets you can afford.
25.
Keep your personal and
business finances separate.
26.
Improve your typing
speed.
27.
Take very good care of
your voice if you are an interpreter.
28.
When asking others for
advice, be respectful of their time and offer to take them to dinner.
29.
Translators: read, read,
read. There really is no substitute.
30.
Don't complain about
your clients publicly. Ever.
31.
Don't complain about
your colleagues publicly. Ever.
32.
Your reputation is the
most important thing you have.
33.
Your time is the only
resource you have. Spend it wisely.
34.
Stop talking about
yourself. Ask questions instead.
35.
Learn how to really,
truly listen.
36.
Educate your clients
about what you do without wagging your finger. No one wants an arrogant
translator or interpreter.
37.
Tread lightly when
correcting source texts. Be respectful with your comments.
38.
You earn others' respect
by providing high-quality work and by being helpful, friendly and kind.
39.
Join your local
T&I association, a national association, and at least one association
in your specialization.
40.
Get out of your comfort
zone.
41.
Work on your weaknesses.
42.
If a client corrects you
during an interpreting assignment, stay calm and be professional.
43.
Surround yourself with
positive and good people.
44.
Invest in your
professional development by attending conferences, workshops and webinars.
45.
Volunteer your time.
Learn to give before you expect others to give things to you.
46.
Take care of your eyes and look away from the computer for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
47.
Exceed your clients'
expectations. Go the extra mile.
48.
Send holiday cards
and/or gifts.
49.
Keep a list of customer
preferences. Become a customer concierge.
50.
If you don't know a word
during an interpreting assignment, say so. It's no fun, but you must be honest.
51.
Work on your memory so
you remember people's names.
52.
Keep all your client
files organized and back up your computer every day.
53.
Contribute to a
retirement fund.
54.
Take care of your health
and get exercise.
55.
You can be in your bunny
slippers, but there's no reason your client should know that.
56.
Don't use your client as
a sounding board.
57.
Have a plan B if your internet is down at home.
58.
Keep confidential things
confidential. Buy a good shredder.
59.
Consider joining a
co-working space.
60.
Go to at least one
networking event a week, even if you don't feel like it.
61.
Your business will grow
when you do great work and more people know that you exist. How will you
accomplish that?
62.
Be humble. Every great
translator and interpreter can learn from others. If you think you can't, you
are wrong.
We hope you have enjoyed
this (relatively) short list, dear friends and colleagues! Which pieces of
advice would you add? We'd love to hear your thoughts to add to this endless
list.
11 comments:
Great advice!
My tip would be: don't compare yourself to colleagues - especially if you're just starting out and your colleagues are well-established. They had a starting point too and you will have a middle as well. Anything can happen with a little patience!
Thanks so much for this great list. When people ask me what they can do to be more successful as translators, I hand them your book, and Corinne's and say "do everything in there".
If you are ever in Guadalajara, Jalisco I'd love to take you out for a meal!
@Emeline: Thanks for reading and for writing and for your very insightful comment. We completely agree with you! It's not healthy to compare yourself with established colleagues when you are just starting out, and you are so right: everybody starts from scratch. We have yet to meet anyone who inherited a T&I business!
@Jesse: Awwww... thank you. Looks like we have an independent ambassador here -- you rock! Thanks for the lovely offer about sharing a meal in GDL. If we ever come to the Feria del Libro, we will definitely take you up on it!
Good list. Another one perhaps is learn to say "no" when it's necessary.
@Ron: Many thanks! Yes, absolutely -- learning how to say no really is essential. Many thanks for adding that to the list!
Taking care of your voice is there twice, 27 and 46. But it's a very important point indeed!
@Nicole: Many thanks for pointing that out -- we will update that! We appreciate it.
I would also correct the typos in 'positive feeeback' and 'be hope'. All the rest looks perfect. Thanks very much for sharing!
@Murat: Many thanks -- fixed. Fat fingers! :)
As always, THE BEST! Judy & Dagy you really are pioneers and very innovative & creative professionals, persons & professors. Thanks for always sharing! Love you!
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