Finally a post coming from yours truly! Yes, I know, the last few posts have only been branding interviews and I’m really sorry that I haven’t had the time to write anything else on this blog. I have so many ideas, yet so little time to put them in action. But here’s a new article which I’m quite excited to publish: My 2015 Resolutions. As you know, I am a self-confessed control freak who likes to document everything (and make lists, lots and lots of lists!). I’m not sure if I’m the only one, but whenever the end of the year is near, I always get that feeling – you know, the exciting next-year-will-be-life-changing feeling. So in order to make the most out of 2015, I have set my list of resolutions and goals to achieve – and here they are!
1) Pass my Dutch level 3 exams in January and carry on to level 4 and 5. And maybe try to take the official national exam to get a certification.
2) Find a Dutch conversation table that fits my schedule so I can improve my speaking skills and get to know Flemish people (believe it or not, I may live in Brussels, but all of my friends are French native speakers!)
3) Get some professional pictures taken. This has been a long time coming, and yes, I would like to get out a bit more of my comfort zone this year.
4) Re-think this website. There are several pages and information I would like to add in order to make it more complete and things that need to be edited in order to make it more relevant.
5) Get some new clients. Well, that’s a given! But since I have fired my first client last week, I am more determined to find better-paying clients and direct clients.
6) Read Ed Gandia’s The Wealthy Freelancer and Marta Stelmaszak’s The Business Guide for Translators (which is already waiting for me on my e-reader).
7) Diversify my income and finally put my diploma in Teaching to good use!
8) Network more and take part in non-translation related events.
On that note, I wish a Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate it and a wonderful and productive new year to everyone!
What are your resolutions for the upcoming year? Feel free to share them below, as I’m sure everyone would find a little inspiration in them!
Sounds good to me! I’ll be posting my resolutions in the new year
Ours overlap quite a bit; I’d also like to get some new photos done next year, and will be spending my second week off finishing my diploma and rewriting my website copy! The new year is always inspiring for me too, so hopefully I’ll feel supercharged for success!
Happy holidays
Great resolutions !
I also must improve my speaking skills in Dutch/English and network more (so shy!), would like to read more and to have a better work-life balance (trying for many years…)
Sounds great! Mine will look quite similar, once I sit down to write it (I love lists, too!) – my new website and branding is being created as we speak, and diversification seems to have found me rather than the other way around, as I’ll be acting as a tour guide for two different groups coming to Scotland next year – interesting work that lets me travel, win-win!
Happy new year to you too, and good luck with achieving your goals!
Very good resolutions, dear! We’re on the same page
I hope all your goals will be reached!
Fantastic resolutions! I’m sure you’ll achieve all of them.
Do you want to start teaching in 2015, Emeline? What, exactly? I used to be an English teacher here in Brazil.
Looking forward to your professional pictures. I always love them!
We constantly want to change our websites, right? Even short after we have already done so. lol I also plan on adding some sections here and there on mine. We are constantly changing and improving, so why shouldn’t our website follow us, right?
As to your #5, I would personally add “new *good* clients”.
Happy Holidays, dear!