Training for Translators

Classes for translators and interpreters

In the Balance


Corinne McKay

In the Balance: tips for perfectionists and overachievers

If you’re a successful freelancer, chances are that you’re a perfectionist, an overachiever, or both. These traits have a lot of pluses: no one wants to work with someone who’s sloppy, late and doesn’t sweat the details. But they can also have some negative consequences, such as causing you misery and chipping away at your relationships with other people.

In this installment of In the Balance, I suggest five ways to mitigate the negative effects of being a perfectionist and/or overachiever. Enjoy!


Corinne McKay

In the Balance, Episode 8: Boundaries

Here’s Episode 8 of In the Balance, the series of work-life balance videos I’ve been doing for the Standing Out Facebook group. This episode focuses on boundaries: why you need them and how to set them. I mention three types of boundaries that freelancers need to think about, plus a bonus tip on knowing when to give up on certain boundaries! In the comments, let us know a) a boundary that you’d like to set in 2016, or b) a boundary-setting technique that works well for you. Enjoy!


Corinne McKay

In the Balance, episode 7: work-life balance and money

Here’s episode 7 of In the Balance, the series of work-life balance videos that I’m doing for the Standing Out Facebook group (this ‘season’ will feature 10 episodes, then I’ll go on hiatus for a bit). First, let me say that I know the lighting in this episode is really dark and grainy, and I apologize (prepare for excuse…). Normally I film them in the conference room at my office, which was occupied all day, and it was dark by the time I got home, and it turns out that normal home lighting looks really bad on video, but I really wanted to submit this for its usual Friday air time. Anyway…

We often think of money as a “serious” topic and work-life balance as a “soft” topic, but they’re actually quite interconnected. Without a healthy perspective on both of these, you can easily end up with a lot of money and no time, or a lot of time and no money. In this video, I offer various tips on how to align your financial philosophy and your work-life balance philosophy. Enjoy (in the dark)!


Corinne McKay

In the Balance: How to be a better freelancing parent, spouse or partner

Here’s the latest episode of In the Balance, the series of work-life balance videos that I’ve been creating for Standing Out. In Episode 6, I share a variety of tips on how to be a better freelancing parent, spouse or partner (or, for that matter, friend/son/daughter, etc.). There’s one tip just for parents, one tip just for spouses/partners, and two tips for everyone. Feel free to share your own tips in the comments!


Corinne McKay

In the Balance: applying your non-work interests to your work life

I’ll be in Miami at the ATA conference for the rest of the week, so in the meantime, here’s the fifth episode of In the Balance, the work-life balance video series that I host for the Standing Out Facebook group. This episode focuses on taking the lessons you learn from your non-work interests and applying them to your work life. Because my non-work interests are very important to me, I’ve found over the years that my “hobbies” aren’t just a way to have fun or occupy my free time; they actually teach me a lot about being a translator and running my own business. Enjoy! And then add your own “crossover lessons” in the comments!