Welcome to 2014 and welcome to Looking-Glass Translations’ new blog!
The new year is the perfect time to get a fresh perspective on things and venture into the unknown – and LGT will be making no exceptions here! In this new blog, I’ll be posting about language, business, law and translation. I cannot promise regular posts at the moment, but I can promise quality posts when they come.
With this in mind, and since it’s the new year, I thought I’d dedicate this first post to some new year’s resolutions. Here are mine, all of which feed quite handily into some key themes for the blog this year:
- Practise saying ‘no’.
I want to continue to say ‘no’, since this has benefited me both on a personal and professional level. Find out more in my upcoming blog post entitled ‘The Power of No’! - Practise saying ‘yes’.
I also want to continue practising saying ‘yes’ to me and my business – as well as to the things that scare me and the things that I enjoy. This applies especially to my upcoming part-time teaching position in Austria, which I will be taking up alongside my existing business obligations in February. I like variety and being busy, and so the position seems like a perfect opportunity, and I’ll be blogging about the experience of holding down the two jobs here! - Simplify complicated things.
In particular, I’m hoping to simplify my working processes and my bookkeeping system; by simplifying things (i.e. by doing less to achieve the same result), I will be able to do more. Essentially, this will allow me to boost my productivity once again this year – a favourite activity of mine that will be revisited again and again in this blog throughout the year, and one that I’ve also already written about in other publications. - Be a healthier freelancer.
Healthy freelancing is a big one for me this year. A side effect of enjoying being ‘always-on’ is that you forget what it’s like to ever switch off, and I am guilty of occasionally often skipping meals when I’ve become totally engrossed in a project. I’ll also continue trying to drink more water (brain fuel) and will keep at my three hours of pilates a week for the sake of my sanity. This newsletter is a big inspiration on that front. - Give something back.
I’ve always been a fan of giving back, and I have a strong record of pro bono work as a result. However, I’d now like to take this a step further and give back to the translation industry. I’ve been here a little while, and now feel in a position to contribute something to the next generation of professional linguists. Consequently, I’ll be posting an occasional series on ‘things I wish I knew’ when I started out. I’ll also (hopefully) be launching a new side project in partnership with local institutions which should definitely tick this box! - Finish studying for my legal secretaries’ diploma.
This one is fairly self-explanatory. My diploma, an A-level-equivalent qualification in law and legal procedure (with legal drafting) has been fantastically helpful in my day-to-day work, and I look forward to completing my studies so that I can move onto the next long-term CPD challenge!
What resolutions have you set for you and your business this year? Here’s hoping all of us stay happy, healthy and motivated for the whole of 2014!
Marie Jackson is the owner of
Marta Stelmaszak
Jan 12, 2014 -
Congratulations on starting your own blog! I like 3 and 4 the most. I started working on being healthier already in December, and I can see the results.
Marie Jackson
Jan 24, 2014 -
Thanks, Marta! Being healthier is perhaps the most important one to me. It’s difficult making the adjustment, but I know that it will be better for me in the long run!
Lloyd Bingham
Jan 13, 2014 -
The blog and website looks great, Marie! Really well presented and easy to navigate.
Number 3 is one of my favourites. There are so many complicated ways to do things that can be made so much simpler and it’s a real buzz when you find a more efficient way. of working And number 5. I don’t do much pro bono work at the moment unfortunately, but I love sharing information with colleagues and see that as a way of giving back.
Marie Jackson
Jan 24, 2014 -
Thanks, Lloyd, that’s very kind of you! Easy navigation was a priority for me.
I think that efficiency is very much about doing things ‘smarter’, not quicker. I’m planning quite a few posts and articles on productivity for 2014, so hopefully I can help you with some simplification. Perhaps you can teach me some tricks, too!
As for #5, sharing knowledge is vital today, especially in an industry like ours. I’m moving toward curating and sharing knowledge this year, because I always learn so much when I help others learn. It’s great to be able to do something mutually beneficial. I’d love to work with you on that, so do let me know if you launch any other projects like your brilliant e-book!
My freelancer resolutions for 2015 | Looking-Glass Translations
Jan 6, 2015 -
[…] course, the very first step is to see how far you got with last year’s goals. Here are […]