Everything "co" seems to be hot these days (co-living, car sharing, and so on), and after working in a "co" office for three years, I thought I'd share some thoughts and tips. About three years ago, after 10 years of working from home, I hit the wall. My daughter (the main reason I started working … [Read more...] about Maybe you need a co-working office?
Freelancing
What's worth outsourcing or paying for?
At the recent Colorado Translators Association mid-year conference, a few of us got to talking about tasks that we outsource and services that we pay for. This got me thinking about what types of services we freelancers a) can and b) should be outsourcing or paying for. It's important to realize … [Read more...] about What's worth outsourcing or paying for?
Working with individuals: why do so many translators avoid it?
The individual client market--working directly with people who need anything from a birth certificate to a book translated--is a legitimate segment of the direct client market. But still, lots of translators avoid it. Let's take a closer look. I do quite a bit of work for/with individual clients; … [Read more...] about Working with individuals: why do so many translators avoid it?
An atypical dilemma: "I need less work"
Here's a question I received from a colleague: "You're always writing about how to find new clients and get more work. I have the opposite problem: I have work coming out of my ears and I'm trying to cut back." OK! Thoughts on Translation is committed to addressing issues at all points on the … [Read more...] about An atypical dilemma: "I need less work"
If you can't out-think the competition, out-work the competition
A brief thought here, before Thoughts on Translation goes on hiatus for Spring Break! It's a crossover thought from another area of my life, playing the lute (my mid-life crisis obsession!). I don't have a ton of musical talent; actually way, way less than a ton. I can carry a tune and clap to the … [Read more...] about If you can't out-think the competition, out-work the competition