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In today’s episode, we’ll talk about something that, as freelancers, we all aspire to achieve: building lasting relationships with our clients and leveraging those relationships to build our referral networks.To discuss this topic, we invited a special guest to join us. She’s not a translator or an interpreter, but she works in a creative field, and we think it’s extremely valuable to look outside our profession and see what other freelancers are doing so we can learn from their approach.We’re excited to welcome Amanda Calvin, an experienced graphic designer and business owner. We have experienced Amanda’s work firsthand (she designed our podcast logo for us!) and have been impressed with her thorough and positive approach.We know you'll learn some great tips from Amanda that will help you create positive experiences for clients so they’re eager to come back and refer other translation and interpreting clients to you!Here’s what we talked about:• • What services Amanda offers, what kind of clients she works with, and what her typical workday looks like• How she started her freelance business and how her career has evolved• What her client onboarding process looks like and how she builds her clients’ trust in her expertise and the solutions she offers• What she does to understand her clients’ needs and priorities and how she creates an ongoing dialogue with them• How she set up her project delivery process and what she does to invite clients to share feedback on their experience working with her• How she expands her client network through referrals• How she protects her boundaries between work and personal life• What smart habits have been crucial in her careerResources we mentioned in this episode:• • Amanda’s website: A.Calvin Design and her design services for translators and interpreters• Connect with Amanda Calvin on Twitter and LinkedIn• Motion graphics developed for American Translators Association in honor of International Translation Day in 2019 and 2020• ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum Cleaner• The Secret Rooms: A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret by Catherine Bailey• Join our email list to receive Amanda’s e-book called “Designing for Your Business (A Guide for Non-Designers)”For a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/36

This episode is another collaboration with our colleagues Corinne McKay and Eve Bodeux, co-hosts of the popular podcast, Speaking of Translation. We’ve already had the pleasure of speaking with them before—Corinne was our guest in Episode 20 and shared about creating professional partnerships, Eve joined us in Episode 30 to talk about maintaining your second language, and we discussed handling the winter holidays with Corinne and Eve in Episode 29.In this episode, we invited them to discuss a topic that many of us often struggle with: maintaining healthy boundaries between work and personal life.Here’s what we talked about:How we manage difficult situations that arise in our professional lives, specifically paid work and interactions with clients: late payments, low offers, lack of communication, or negative feedbackOur thoughts on managing difficult situations in volunteer settingsWhat we do to maintain calm and not let difficult situations affect our self-confidence or spill over into our personal livesResources we mentioned in this episode:Speaking of Translation podcastEve Bodeux’s website and Global Reads Book ClubCorinne McKay’s website and Training for Translators coursesMadalena’s course for Training for Translators: The T&I Professional’s Online Presence RoadmapATA62 Call for ProposalsTranslation Scammers DirectoryMadalena’s blog posts: Three Ways to Follow Up with Clients on Overdue Payments and Five Ways to Ensure Clients Pay on TimeCorinne’s blog post: Five Ways to Minimize the Risk of Not Getting PaidEd Gandia’s podcast and blogFor a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/35

It’s very common at the end of a calendar year to analyze how things went and what you would like to do differently in the coming year. So, we thought it appropriate to talk about productivity, organization, time management, and priorities for this last episode of the year.We’re excited to welcome a very special guest, colleague and fellow translator Dorothee Racette.Dorothee is a Certified Translator and a Certified Productivity Coach.She brings together her expertise from decades of working as a freelance translator with her experience as a certified productivity coach. She specializes in helping clients move out of procrastination to maximize their business potential and live a more enjoyable life. Dorothee served in leadership roles within ATA for 17 years, including as ATA President from 2011 to 2013. She started her own productivity consulting firm, Take Back My Day, in 2014 to explore methods for improving creativity and workflow. She now divides her time between coaching, translating and teaching. Her book, Complete What You Started, is coming out soon.Here’s a summary of our conversation with Dorothee:• How and when she started her freelance translation career and how it has evolved over time• What her typical workday looks like• What smart habits help her draw boundaries between work and personal life• What advice she'd offer to fellow freelancers who struggle with overwhelm and productivity• How to set priorities when you have a lot on your plate and how to balance paid work, volunteer work, and any other responsibilities you have• What smart habits can help you keep your physical and digital workspace organized• How to deal with projects that you didn’t manage to accomplish this year and how to set realistic goals for the new yearResources we mentioned in this episode:• Our webinar on marketing in unexpected ways on January 22, 2021 (join our email list below to get a discount code!)• Dorothee’s productivity coaching business and blog: Take Back My Day • ATA 61st Annual Conference where Dorothee presented “Freelancing in a World of Distractions” (conference attendees have access to all the session recordings for at least 6 months)• ATA’s Mastermind Program• Dorothee’s webinar for ATA: “Managing the Stages of Your Small Business”• Dorothee’s interview on the Marketing Tips for Translators podcast: How to Conquer Distractions and Move Your Freelance Business Forward• Password managers: 1Password and LastPass• How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Sally Helgesen• Speaking American: How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk: A Visual Guide by Josh Katz • The Night Swim by Megan Goldin• Dorothee’s course in early 2021 with Training for Translators: Complete What You Started: A 2021 Kick-Off Challenge• Join our email list to get Dorothee’s downloadable productivity checklist for long-term business health!For a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/33

If you listened to our popular episode on conference habits (Episode 3 at the very beginning of our podcasting journey), you may remember that we mentioned a book called The Introvert’s Edge: How the Quiet and Shy Can Outsell Anyone. We both really enjoyed this book and often recommend it to friends and colleagues who may struggle with introvert tendencies.Now, in Episode 32, we’re excited to welcome a special guest: the author of The Introvert’s Edge, Matthew Pollard.Matthew Pollard is responsible for five multi-million-dollar business success stories, all before the age of 30. His humble beginnings, the adversities he faced, and his epic rise to success show that anyone, with the right motivation and the right strategies, can achieve anything they set their mind to.Today, Forbes calls him “the real deal,” Global Gurus lists him as a Top 30 Sales Professional, Top Sales World Magazine named him a Top 50 Speaker, and BigSpeak lists him as an international Top 10 Sales Trainer. He’s also the bestselling author of The Introvert’s Edge, which hit the Amazon charts as the 8th Most-Sold Book of the Week, appears on HubSpot’s list of the “Most Highly-Rated Sales Books of All Time,” and was selected by BookAuthority as the #2 “Best Introvert Book of All Time.” His soon-to-be-released second book, The Introvert’s Edge to Networking, has already received endorsements from Harvard, Princeton, Neil Patel, Michael Gerber, Dr. Ivan Misner, and Marshall Goldsmith.Here’s a summary of our conversation with Matthew:His journey from daily rejection as a young salesperson to being the #1 salesperson at the company and then becoming an internationally-recognized consultant and entrepreneurWhat smart habits have been crucial in his careerHow his first book, The Introvert’s Edge, came to be and what he'd advise introverts to implement todayHow storytelling can help you connect with potential customersHow introverts can learn to sell wellWhat you can do to keep impostor syndrome at bayHow introverted freelancers can connect with clients, gain their trust, and ask the right questions, especially these days when we have had to shift to mostly online interactions due to the pandemicHow many languages The Introvert’s Edge has been translated into and how a translator helped get his book published in VietnameseWhat smart habits help Matthew prevent overwhelm and draw boundaries between work and personal lifeResources we mentioned in this episode:Our webinar on marketing in unexpected ways on January 22, 2021 (join our email list below to get a discount code!)More about Matthew Pollard and discover how to differentiate yourself from your competition and craft a unified message that intrigues potential clients to want to know moreMatthew’s books: The Introvert’s Edge and The Introvert’s Edge to NetworkingThe first chapter of The Introvert’s Edge (free)The first chapter of the Introvert’s Edge to Networking (free)NaturalReader: Text-to-SpeechHow to Use the iPhone Text-to-Speech FeatureFor a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/32

We all know that marketing is necessary to run any business well. And while sometimes marketing can feel tedious or overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can very much create some good habits around marketing your business that will leave you feeling more in control of the future of your business and with more work/life clarity. In this episode, we're sharing about something that has worked well for us and that, we hope, will be helpful to you: smart habits for marketing in unexpected ways. Be sure to stay tuned until the end of this episode. We’re announcing a new project we’ve been working on that is related to this topic and that you can take part in, too!Here’s what we cover in this episode:• Our thoughts and personal experiences related to marketing our services• Some places and opportunities where you might have a chance to talk about your services and connect with potential clients:o Interactions with people in specific groups or communities you belong to, like school parent groups, sports and hobbies, church groups, community volunteer meet-ups, etc.o Online events and informal meetings, including those held by non-T&I associationso Various forums and social media groups, both related to our profession and to your own special interestso Facebook Groups, LinkedIn InMail and Groups, Twitter, and Instagramo Places where people often look for information or advice, like Google, Yelp, and Nextdooro Comments that you leave on other people’s/client’s blog posts or social media postso Conversations with and referrals from colleaguesResources we mentioned in this episode:• Our webinar on marketing in unexpected ways on January 22, 2021 ((join our email list to get a discount code!): https://www.madalenazampaulo.com/products/smart-habits-for-marketing-your-business-in-unexpected-ways• Madalena’s blog post: “Should I Market My Translation or Interpreting Services on Social Media?”• Madalena’s blog post: “These Simple Tweaks to Your LinkedIn Settings Could Help You Get More Translation or Interpreting Work”• Anxious People by Fredrik Backman• Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb• Global Reads Book Club, hosted by Eve BodeuxFor a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/31

In today’s episode we’re excited to welcome our friend and colleague, Eve Bodeux. Eve Lindemuth Bodeux is a 20+-year veteran of the language services industry and has worn many hats. She is an ATA-certified French to English translator focusing on the translation of corporate communications, market research and international development content. She is also the owner of Bodeux International LLC, offering multilingual project management to clients worldwide. Eve is co-host of the long-running Speaking of Translation podcast and author of Maintaining Your Second Language: practical and productive strategies for translators, teachers, interpreters and other language lovers. She sponsors an online book club for translators called the Global Reads Book Club that focuses on books in translation. She is currently serving a term on the Board of Directors of the American Translators Association through 2021. Here’s what we talked about with Eve:• How to consistently work on maintaining your second-language skills• How to make language practice fun• How to get out of a "rut" when it comes to improving/maintaining your second language• What strategies you can use when raising bilingual kidsResources we mentioned in this episode:• Eve Bodeux’s website and Twitter account• Eve’s Global Reads Book Club• Speaking of Translation podcast• Speaking of Translation episodes: “Maintaining your second (third, etc.) language” and “Raising bilingual children”• Maintaining Your Second Language by Eve Bodeux:o Purchase Eve's book on Apple Bookso Purchase Eve's book Amazon (Kindle or print)o Purchase Eve's book directly from her by contacting her at eve@bodeuxinternational.com• American Translators Association (ATA)• Eve’s interview with English into Italian translator and author Jenny McPhee• Eve’s interview with Nina Schuyler, the author of The Translator: A Novel• Marleen Seegers of 2 Seas Agency interviews Eve on the Make Books Travel podcast• Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless headphones II• WONDERBOOM portable waterproof bluetooth speaker• Asana• Selfie ring light with an extendable tripod stand and flexible phone holder• Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A true (as told to me) story by Bess Kalb• Organized Enough: The Anti-Perfectionist's Guide to Getting—and Staying—Organized by Amanda Sullivan• Watching You: A Novel by Lisa JewellFor a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/30

We are excited to announce this special joint episode with our colleagues, friends, and superstar-podcasters Corinne McKay and Eve Bodeux!Corinne and Eve are co-hosts of the popular podcast, Speaking of Translation, which we have both been enjoying since before we even thought about launching our own. When Corinne and Eve asked if we would like to record a collaborative episode together, we didn't even hesitate to say yes. These ladies are wonderful to talk to, and we highly recommend that you subscribe to their podcast!Since we only have a few weeks left until the end of the year, we thought it would be a good idea to discuss a topic that is, or soon will be, on all of our minds: how to handle the winter holidays as a freelancer.Here’s what we talked about:• How we usually handle the end-of-year holidays, specifically Christmas and New Year’s Eve• What ideas we have for beginning freelance translators and how they might use the holidays to their advantage• How we determine when we need to take some time off and how we make sure we don’t sneak off to work a little bit now and then• What we send clients and colleagues as holiday gifts• How we let our clients and colleagues know about our time off and what we do to prepare for this break• What ideas we have for post-holiday marketing• How we like to wrap up the year and get ready for the new oneResources we mentioned in this episode:• Speaking of Translation podcast• Eve Bodeux’s website and Global Reads book club• Corinne McKay’s website and Training for Translators courses• Madalena’s T&I Website Blueprint Course• ATA61 virtual conference• ATA Back to Business Basics webinar: Handling the Holidays as a Freelancer• BoxFox• Zazzle• Asana• TodoistFor a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/29

As many of you may know, October is international breast cancer awareness month. So, it seemed like the perfect time for a very important conversation: dealing with (and overcoming) serious illness, as well as some smart habits that can be helpful if you or someone you know is dealing with something similar right now (or in the future).We are very grateful to our colleague and friend, Meghan Konkol, for discussing this important topic with us.Here’s a summary of our conversation with Meghan:- How and when she started her freelance translation career- What her typical work day looks like and what changes she made because of the COVID-19 pandemic- How she protects the boundaries between her work and personal life- What smart habits have been crucial in her career- How her battle with breast cancer affected her work/life priorities- What role her support system played in the process- What habits she has found most helpful during her battle with cancer and what continues to be important for her, now that she is cancer-free- Her advice for other freelancers who are in a similar situation or would like to take some preventative steps- What you can do if you would like to help someone you know who is battling cancer, or if you would like to support breast cancer organizationsResources we mentioned in this episode:Episode 27: A Special Episode to Celebrate Our First PodcastiversaryMeghan’s website and Twitter accountEpisode 15: Smart Sleep HabitsEpisode 2: Impostor SyndromeThe Todoist app1 Second EverydayEpisode 14: Smart Habits during Social Isolation: A Special Episode with Sara Maria HasbunDrops app for language learningVoxer app: a walkie talkie messengerSlack app for team communicationBreast cancer organizations that Meghan recommends supporting:- Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation - Young Survival Coalition - Breast Cancer Research Foundation - METAvivor - Living Beyond Breast Cancer - After Breast Cancer DiagnosisFor a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/28

The Smart Habits for Translators podcast is 1 year old!To celebrate our podcastiversary, we recorded another Ask Us Anything episode, answering questions that we received from our listeners and colleagues via social media.Here’s a summary of our conversation:• Our thoughts on the unwritten rule that translators should only translate into their native language and not into their second language• What it's like being freelancers and moms during this very atypical time• How we battle Zoom fatigue• Whether we were nervous before our first episode and if the nerves have gone away, especially when we interview guests• What translation specializations are in demand right now• Whether we have any little quirks or weird habits we practice for good luck before starting on a specific work task• How many hours a day we usually work (pre-pandemic) and how we organize our time between translation and administrative tasks• The details of our giveaway to celebrate 1 year of Smart Habits for Translators: how you can enter and what we're giving awayResources we mentioned in this episode:• Our previous Ask Us Anything episode• Episode 22: Smart Habits for Managing Social Anxiety and Perfectionism with Sadie Hall• Sadie Hall’s podcast: Anxious Creators Unite!• Jost Zetzsche’s website and his Twitter account, where he asked translators what market segments they've seen growing during the COVID-19 pandemic• Nimdzi’s report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the interpreting market and what areas of business are booming• Nimdzi’s assessment of the segments of the language services industry that have experienced a negative, positive, or neutral impact of the pandemicFor a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/27

You might remember that we talked about smart habits for attending conferences last year, in Episode 3. We shared tips about the things you can do before, during, and after a conference to make it worth the investment of your time, your energy, and your money. In fact, this is our most popular episode since we launched the podcast last year, and we are so glad that our colleagues are still finding these tips useful. But, as so many things have moved online this year, we realized that we needed to share an update on this topic.As we all know, most in-person events were cancelled this year. And here in the US, there are no signs of them resuming in the near future. However, many conferences have gone virtual, and we think that this new format will continue even when we are able to meet in person again.We can all agree that online conferences are very different from in-person events. But there are good sides to this “new normal,” and there are different ways to make the best of this virtual learning and networking experience.So, we thought that we should share some smart habits for attending online conferences.We hope that you find this episode useful and that our tips will help you overcome any sense of overwhelm and hesitation about attending online conferences. We think that there is a positive side to many translation and interpreting events going virtual this year, and we hope that you will make the best of your virtual conference experiences.Here is a summary of our conversation:- What virtual conferences we attended in 2020 and what you, our listeners, shared with us on social media about how you feel about online events- Why it’s important to budget for conferences, whether they take place online or in-person- How to choose an online conference that is the right fit for you and your professional goals- How to avoid decision fatigue when so many professional development and networking events have become more accessible and affordable- Why you might want to review your objectives for attending an online conference- Why having a conference “buddy” may help you bring your virtual conference experience closer to real life- How to prepare for an online conference and make it as stress-free as possible- What techniques you could try to stay focused and retain information- What things we recommend doing after a virtual conference- How to make time to watch conference sessions (live or recorded) and start implementing what you learnedResources we mentioned in this episode:Episode 3: Conference HabitsWhere to find information about upcoming conferences and events in the translation and interpreting industry: ATA calendar of T&I events ITI calendar of eventsMemory hacks for retaining informationThe Savvy Writer's Guide to Productivity: How to Work Less, Finish Writing Your Story or Book, and Find the Success You Deserve by Bryan CollinsAn Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene TurstenWhy is it so hard to sit and read a book these days? The science behind why it’s so hard to read a book right now Why it’s so hard to read a book right now, explained by a neuroscientistEve Bodeux’s Global Reads Book ClubOn September 29th, we'll be sending our email subscribers a summary of today’s episode, including a free downloadable checklist for making the best of your online conference experience. If you’d like to receive it, please sign up for our emails below.Our next episode will be released on October 6th. This will be a special episode to celebrate our first podcast-i-versary, and we will be answering questions that we’ve received from our listeners, so stay tuned for that!If you want to hear about the topics of our episodes before they’re released, be sure to subscribe to our emails and follow us on social media!For a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/26

Online security seems to be more important than ever these days. Since technology has become so ingrained in our daily lives, especially as a result of the pandemic, it's essential to do what we can to stay safe online.But how much do you know about staying safe online? And more importantly, do you implement all those recommended precautions, like smart password management?We wanted to get a refresher on this topic and encourage fellow translators and interpreters to take the necessary steps to protect their identities and personal information, as well as any confidential client data.The exciting news is that this episode features not one, but two special (and tech-savvy!) guests: Alexander Drechsel and Josh Goldsmith, co-founders of techforword, an online training platform for modern wordsmiths.Alex and Josh joined us to talk about productivity and technology, online security, and smart habits that help them in their own work, professional partnership, and personal lives.Alexander Drechsel works as a conference interpreter at the European Commission. His love of languages and communication with people is only matched by his affection for mobile devices of all shapes and sizes: Alexander has been an iPad user since day one and also knows a thing or two about Android tablets. As Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of techforword, Alexander shares his knowledge in courses, on Twitter, and on his website. An avid podcaster, he writes and produces two podcasts for language professionals, LangFM and Troublesome Terps.Josh Goldsmith is a UN and EU accredited translator and interpreter working from Spanish, French, Italian and Catalan into English. He splits his time between interpreting, translating, and working as a trainer and researcher focusing on the intersection between interpreting, technology and education. As Co-Founder and Chief Educational Officer of techforword, Josh shares tips about technology, translation and interpreting in conferences and workshops, academic articles, and on Twitter.If you have ever heard Alex and Josh via one of their webinars, podcasts, or any talks, you know that they are very energetic and fun. This interview is no exception! We really enjoyed talking to them and would love to welcome them again to the podcast in the future.We hope their tips will help you stay safe, organized, and productive while you work on various projects and collaborate with colleagues. If you have any colleagues who might find this episode interesting, we hope you'll send them the link or encourage them to subscribe to the podcast!Here is a summary of our conversation with Alex and Josh:• How and when they started their career• How their typical work day looks and what changes they had to make due to the COVID-19 pandemic• What they think about work/life clarity and how they set boundaries between their work and personal life• What smart habits have been crucial in their career• How their professional partnership as co-founders and instructors of techforword started• What habits have been important for keeping this partnership going and making it successful• What smart habits they recommend to all translators and interpreters to stay safe online• What we can do to protect our own identities, personal information, and data• How to protect our clients' data when using cloud-based storage and back-up tools• Other tips and tricks for translators and interpreters related to organized and safe online collaborationResources we mentioned in this episode:• Episode 1: Work/Life Clarity• techforword website, courses, and webinar series• techforword’s Productivity Powerhouse course: get 20$ off with the discount code SMARTHABITS or by using this direct link http://xl8.link/smarthabits until September 20, 2020• techforword’s free webinar: Staying Safe Online• techforword’s free mini-course: iPads for Wordsmiths: Five tried and tested tips to boost your productivity• techforword’s free mini-course: Androids for Wordsmiths: Five tried and tested tips to boost your productivity• Follow techforword on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube• Behind the scenes: The tech behind techforword• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen• 1Password: Password Manager• Meeter app: Calls and meetings in one place• Alex and Josh’s favorite VPN apps: TunnelBear and Encrypt.me• iPad by Apple• Logitech Ergo K860 Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard• Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse• Massage ball kit for myofascial trigger point release• Ember: Temperature-controlled smart mugOn September 15th, we'll be sending our email subscribers a summary of today’s episode with a link to all the resources that we mentioned today. If you’d like to receive it, please sign up for our emails below.Our next episode will be released on September 22nd. If you want to hear about the topics of our episodes before they’re released, be sure to subscribe to our emails and follow us on social media!For a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/25

No matter how well you plan ahead, there are times when things happen that are out of your control. We're all experiencing this right now as a result of this year's events.Perhaps the world health and economic crisis threw a wrench in your business plans this year. Or maybe your career had to take a back seat due to family obligations or parenting responsibilities. Or perhaps you've experienced an uptick in work (in which case, congratulations!).Normally, this summer, we would do a mid-year business review and set goals for the next 6 months, but it’s not so easy to do that this year.We hear you! That's why this episode is a conversation about correcting course and setting new goals for your translation or interpreting business for the rest of 2020 (and maybe the start of 2021).Here is a summary of our conversation:• Which tips from our previous episode about planning a solo business retreat (here it is in case you missed that one!) are still relevant for business review/business planning in times of uncertainty• How to lay out the goals for your business retreat and decide what aspects of your business and life you will be planning• Why it is important to decide where and when you will do your business retreat and schedule some uninterrupted time to complete it• Why you might want to do a virtual business retreat with a colleague and how to organize it• Examples of topics to cover during your business retreat, including:o Tasks that you dislike or don’t have time for, things that you could outsource, delegate, or cross off your listo Peak productivity hours and tasks that you do best in the morning or the afternoon (and how the current reality has affected this)o How the global pandemic and current economy have affected your business and if you need to consider changing course, diversifying, or pivoting your businesso Parenting responsibilities and how they affect your availabilityo Various aspects related to your workspace, especially if you are share it with other family memberso Goals related to health, lifestyle, and hobbies• Next steps after you've completed your business retreatResources we mentioned in this episode:• Episode 8: Setting Goals for the New Year• ACES: The Society for Editing• IABC: International Association of Business Communicators• The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper• Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng• List of translated editions of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng• Full Focus Planner• Book of the MonthOn August 4th we'll be sending our email subscribers a summary of today’s episode with a link to all the resources that we mentioned today. If you’d like to receive it, please sign up for our emails below.We’ll also be taking a short break for the rest of the month of August to recharge and spend some time with our families. Our next episode will be released on September 8th. Talk to you then!For a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/24

We all know that professional development is extremely important for both translators and interpreters, but it can sometimes be a challenge to prioritize it over paid work, marketing, or establishing and growing your business.Especially these days, with so many learning and training opportunities available, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one.In this episode, we share our own experiences and thoughts on the topic of professional development for language professionals: how to choose, plan, and schedule it, as well as how to implement what you’ve learned.Here is a summary of our conversation:• How to choose from the multitude of professional development options that exist for translators and interpreters• What mistakes we've made (and have heard other translators say they've made) when it comes to professional development• Why planning your professional development is better than taking an ad hoc approach• How to budget for professional development and find affordable (or free) high-quality training• How to find the balance between working on your translation or interpreting skills, improving your knowledge in the area of your specialization, or learning more about the business side of freelancing: marketing, admin, business development, etc.• How to find time for professional development• Where translators and interpreters can look for professional development opportunities• Why it's important to implement what you learned and how to do it effectively• How to incorporate professional development into your business planning/review process (for example, the business retreat exercise that we talked about in Episode 8!)• How to make the best of all the online training courses, conferences, workshops, and webinars that are available now during the COVID-19 pandemicResources we mentioned in this episode:• Episode 8: Setting Goals for the New Year• Madalena’s blog post: “Simple Ways to Budget for That BIG-Ticket Professional T&I Conference or Course”• Madalena’s blog post: “Learning vs. Implementing: A Simple Strategy to Start Taking Action in Your Freelance Business during the COVID-19 Pandemic”• MOOCs: Coursera, Udemy, EdX, LinkedIn Learning• MasterClass• MasterClass: The Art of Negotiation by Chris Voss• Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss• Headspace• Calm• Book of the Month• Genius Scan• One TabFor a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/23

Back in May, we asked our listeners what topic we should discuss on our podcast, and the response was overwhelming: anxiety.We believe that this response is definitely a reflection of the time we’re all in, but it is also something many freelancers struggle with from time to time—both anxiety in general and social anxiety in particular.We are very grateful to our guest, Sadie Hall, for joining us in this episode and sharing her experience with managing anxiety, social anxiety, and perfectionism.Sadie is a freelance translator and editor living in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She completed an honours bachelor of arts with a specialization in French-to-English translation at the University of Ottawa from 2010 to 2012. Her previous degree, also from the University of Ottawa, was a general bachelor of arts with a minor in linguistics. In 2012, she launched her freelance career, building on her network of contacts from the university.She worked full-time on her freelance business until her first child was born in 2015. Since then, she has been doing the parenting and freelancing balancing act with varying degrees of success, depending on the month. She also speaks candidly on her blog and Instagram account about her experiences with motherhood and mental health issues, particularly recovering from social anxiety and perfectionism.She hopes that sharing her mental health journey can raise awareness and help others feel less alone, and she is planning to write a mental health memoir soon.Here is a summary of our conversation with Sadie:• How and when she started her freelance translation career• How her journey in dealing with anxiety, and social anxiety in particular, started• How she realized that anxiety was affecting her and what she did to manage this condition• What role her support system has played in the process• What social anxiety is and how it might affect someone’s work• What some of the symptoms of social anxiety are and how to know if you should talk to someone or seek help• How perfectionism can affect translators and become a contributing factor to anxiety, and, more importantly, what you can do to manage it• How to manage stress and the challenges that come with owning a freelance business• How stress and anxiety can play into the balance of family and work life and how to navigate these priorities while dealing with anxiety• What smart habits can help you manage anxiety, social anxiety, and perfectionism• Sadie’s advice to freelance translators who suspect they may be suffering from anxietyResources we mentioned in this episode:• Sadie’s Instagram account and anxiety blog• Sadie’s freelance business site• Mood tracker• Bonkers: A Real Mum's Hilariously Honest Tales of Motherhood, Mayhem and Mental Health by Olivia Siegl• The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less by Tonya Dalton• The Genius Life: Heal Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Become Extraordinary by Max LugavereWe’ll be sending our email subscribers a summary of today’s episode with a link to the show notes so you can quickly find all the resources that we mentioned today.Sadie has also kindly offered to share a free resource with our listeners. You will find it in our next subscriber email that will go out on July 21. If you’d like to receive it, please sign up for our emails below.Our next episode will be available on July 29th. If you want to hear about the topics of our upcoming episodes before they’re released, be sure to subscribe to our emails and follow us on social media!For a full list of resources, visit the show notes page for this episode: https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/22

As freelancers, most of us have to deal with some degree of burnout at one time or another. We work remotely, but that means that we don’t have colleagues nearby who we can vent to or have a quick work break with. We work flexible hours, but we work for ourselves, which means that we can easily choose to work extended hours or devote evenings and weekends to work. We are trying to achieve our financial goals while being constantly reminded about the need to market ourselves, develop professionally, stay up-to-date with relevant tools and resources, understand our clients better, and run a full business operation, most of the time with only one staff member. The current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic adds other factors to the equation: for many it has meant a loss of business, financial uncertainty, homeschooling kids, co-working with family members, and, of course, protecting our own and our family’s health and safety. The list goes on and on…Just talking about it can make you feel overwhelmed! We’ve all been there, and we’ve talked to several colleagues who feel this way right now. So, we thought this would be an important topic to discuss, and we hope that this episode will give you some ideas on how to prevent burnout or how to overcome it if you’re starting to feel that you've already reached a state of burnout.Here is a summary of our conversation:• Our own experiences with burnout• How to recognize the symptoms of burnout• Why it’s important to admit to yourself how you’re feeling and allow yourself to rest and recharge• How open and honest conversations with your family and friends can help you reflect on the factors that led to burnout• Why you need to analyze the reasons you are experiencing burnout• What changes you may need to make in order to overcome burnout and prevent it from happening again• Why it’s important to overcome feelings of guilt, self-criticism, and the fear of embarrassment and being judged by others when you decide to make necessary changes • Why setting boundaries, making time for your personal interests and projects, prioritizing rest, staying social, and outsourcing some personal and professional tasks are among the most important things you can do to prevent burnoutBooks and resources we mentioned in this episode:• Full Focus Planner: original, pocket-sized, and kids’ version • Episode 18: Creating a Four-Day Work Week with Matt Baird• Episode 1: Work/Life Clarity• Using the Downtime function on your iPhone and iPad• An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Col. Chris Hadfield • Small Fry: A Memoir by Lisa Brennan-Jobs On July 7, we’ll be sending our email subscribers a summary of this episode with a link to the show notes so you can quickly find and save all the resources that we mentioned.Our next episode will be available on July 14. We will welcome a special guest that we are very excited about and talk about another topic that is relevant for many of us right now. If you follow our podcast on social media or receive our email newsletters, you will be the first to hear about the topic of our next episode and our special guest!For more information and links to all the resources for this episode, please visit our show notes page:https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/21

In today’s episode, we’re talking with our friend and colleague Corinne McKay about creating professional partnerships with colleagues. Many of you have surely heard of Corinne, but if you haven’t, here’s a quick introduction:Corinne McKay is an ATA-certified French to English translator and Colorado court-certified French interpreter based in Boulder, Colorado. She has been a full-time freelancer since 2002, and since 2005 has written books and taught courses for other freelance translators in addition to her own translation and interpreting work. Corinne's book How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator has sold over 12,000 copies and is a go-to reference for freelancers and for university-level translation and interpreting programs.After serving for seven years on the Board of the American Translators Association, including as ATA president from 2017-2019, Corinne now focuses on her own work, translating in the areas of international development, corporate communications, and non-fiction books, and interpreting in the Colorado courts and for private law firms. Together with Eve Bodeux, Corinne also co-hosts the podcast Speaking of Translation.Here is a summary of our conversation with Corinne:• How and when she started her freelance translation career• How her typical workday looked before the COVID-19 pandemic, how it looks now, and how her daily routine has changed and evolved over the years• What smart habits have been crucial in her career• How to determine the types of professional partnerships you want to create/build• Whether or not to create some structure around the partnership • How to make sure that the partnership is a mutually beneficial relationship• What habits are important for keeping partnerships going and making them successful• How to know if/when it's time to end a partnership• Corinne’s advice for freelance translators who want to build partnerships with colleaguesbooks and resources we mentioned in this episode:• Corinne McKay’s blog and online training platform Training for Translators• Corinne McKay’s Twitter account• How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator by Corinne McKay• Speaking of Translation: podcast by Corinne McKay and Eve Bodeux• Madalena’s blog post: “How to Care for the Health of Your Translation or Interpreting Business during the COVID-19 Pandemic”• Global Reads Book Club for Translators by Eve Bodeux• Interpretrain: online interpreter training platform• The Translator: A Novel by Nina Schuyler• Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel• Pesquisa FAPESP in Portuguese and English• Maintaining Your Second Language by Eve Bodeux • You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen • HabitShare app• Gemini appFor more information and links to all the resources for this episode, please visit our show notes page:https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/20

We hope that the topic of today’s episode is relevant not just for translators or interpreters, but for all freelancers! While we are used to working from home, we know that it's been an especially stressful time during the COVID-19 pandemic to delineate between work and personal time.In this episode, we talk about different ways to delineate your work day—not in a general sense of setting boundaries, like we discussed in Episode 1 on Work/Life Balance, but specifically how to signal to yourself that your work day has come to an end— and how to shift from work mode to after-work mode, your time to rest and recharge.This topic was a request from our listener and colleague Emily Safrin, who also happens to be the winner of our giveaway! A huge thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to Emily on winning a one-on-one financial mentoring session with Susie Jackson. We hope to do more fun events like this in the future to thank you, our listeners, for your support.Back to the topic of delineating your work day… Since the pandemic began, many of us have had to deal with a disrupted schedule, care for kids or other family members, and work different hours than we’re used to working. It's more important than ever to think about different ways to draw the line between work and personal time, ways to end the work day and decompress.Here is a summary of our conversation:- Our own struggles related to delineating when the work day starts and when it ends- What you can do at the end of your work day to set yourself up for success for the following day- Why clearing your office space, desk, or computer from clutter may be helpful- How you can use the timer method recommended by Matt Baird in Episode 18- Mindful ways to transition from work mode to rest mode with the help of exercise, reading, music, or creative hobbies- Our thoughts on the Workday Shutdown Ritual in the Full Focus Planner- Why visual cues can be helpful in establishing your own Workday Shutdown Ritual- What you can change about your physical environment to relax and get ready to rest- Why self-reflection, acts of kindness, or help offered to colleagues or clients can be the perfect way to end the day on a high noteResources we mentioned in this episode:Amanda Calvin’s website and Instagram accountEpisode 1: Work/Life ClarityEpisode 17: Coping With Quiet Work PeriodsEpisode 18: Creating a Four-Day Work Week with Matt BairdFull Focus PlannerEpisode 14: Smart Habits during Social Isolation: A Special Episode with Sara Maria HasbunHow to post a podcast review on Apple PodcastsOn June 9th, we’ll be sending our email subscribers a summary of this episode with a link to the show notes so you can quickly find all the resources that we mentioned.Our next episode will be available on June 16th. Our colleague Corinne McKay will be talking about smart habits for creating professional partnerships, and we can’t wait to share this episode with you!

As the name of our podcast suggests, we’re always on the lookout for new smart habits that can be helpful in our work and personal life. We have been long-time admirers of the approach that today's guest takes to create work/life clarity and find freedom in freelancing. Our friend and colleague, Matt Baird, is joining us to share how he transitioned to a four-day work week. A necessary caveat: Like most of us, Matt’s reality is quite different these days (during the COVID-19 pandemic). However, his goal is to return to a four-day work week as soon as possible, as it helps him find some much-needed time for himself and his family. About our guest:Matt Baird is an ATA-certified German-to-English translator, editor, and copywriter specializing in marketing and communications. He is also an active member of the American Translators Association, currently serving as an ATA PR writer and host of the ATA Podcast. Matt has a BA in German and International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After studying at Georgetown University and working in Washington, DC, Matt broke out of the Beltway and fled back to Colorado, where he traded his suit for sweatpants and launched a successful freelance translation business. Now based in Germany near the banks of the Rhine River, Matt is at his best crafting copy in his quiet office, but happiest playing with his wife and two kids in the great outdoors.Here is a summary of our conversation with Matt:- How and when he started his freelance translator career- How his typical workday looked before the COVID-19 pandemic, how it looks now, and how his daily routine has changed and evolved over the years- When and why he made the switch to a four-day work week and how he made that transition- What habits and strategies he had to adopt to make it happen- How he set reasonable expectations and boundaries for his work and volunteer commitments- How he typically organizes his work week- What smart habits he recommends to colleagues who would like to have a successful weekFor more details and resources, visit our show notes at https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/18To learn more about Susie Jackson's group mentoring program "Charge with Confidence", visit her website: https://www.susiejackson.co.uk/charge-with-confidence

This topic was a request from one of our listeners, and we thought it would likely apply to the current situation when many of us are feeling a lull in our work—or maybe even some patchy spots when work is busy for a week and then completely quiet the next—because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the global economy.We’ll also talk about other situations when you might experience a quiet work period, like holidays, summer vacation, or those times when you have unresponsive clients.So, today, we’ll share our perspective and tips on how to get through these quiet work periods successfully by employing some smart habits.Here is a summary of our conversation:- Why it’s important not to overreact, but instead, to think about the situation in a calm, constructive manner- What you can do when work slows down or dries up in emergency situations (like the current COVID-19 crisis)- How to “nudge” existing clients and contact new ones in a graceful and respectful way- How to go about expanding your service offerings, looking at other areas where your clients may need you—maybe pivoting- How to create meaningful professional partnerships with colleagues- What you can do to incorporate professional development into your schedule- Why you may want to use the quiet work periods to volunteer with professional associations or become a mentor- What you can do to improve your website and marketing materials- How to contact unresponsive clients and not looks “salesy”- How to plan for those times of year when work tends to slow down- Why it’s so important to keep some perspective during slow work times For more details and resources, visit our show notes at https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/17

While everything about business looks a bit different than usual for most people right now, we can still be thinking about smart habits to put in place to market our businesses moving forward. Does it feel strange to think about marketing your services these days? You’re not alone!That’s why we’re excited to share our interview with our colleague and friend, Tess Whitty.A disclaimer: we recorded this interview about a month before the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world. However, the content of our conversation is still relevant, and we hope that you find some ideas useful. Now, back to our guest.Tess Whitty is an English-Swedish freelance translator specializing in corporate communications, software and IT. She has a M.Sc. in Economics and a M.A. in marketing and previously worked as a marketing manager.Tess shares her knowledge and experience in marketing and business as an award winning speaker, trainer, consultant, author and podcaster. For more information, or to connect, go to www.swedishtranslationservices.com or www.marketingtipsfortranslators.com.Here is a summary of what we discussed in this episode:- How and when Tess started her freelance translator career- How her typical workday looks, and how her daily routine changed and evolved over the years- What smart habits that have been crucial in her career- What marketing habits most freelance translators struggle with, underestimate, or overlook- Tess’ advice to translators who are just starting out in their freelance career and who struggle with choosing what is most important to focus on first- Tess’ marketing tips for mid-career professionals who are looking to grow their businessFor more details and resources, visit our show notes at https://smarthabitsfortranslators.com/podcast-episodes/16