Spring is here at last! Although winter in Lebanon was a very mild one (barely any rain and just a couple of storms throughout winter), just hearing the word “spring” fills my heart with joy. After all, I consider myself a creature of the sun.

To me, spring is about new beginnings and fresh starts. On the freelance translation business level, it means having a positive attitude and looking at the bright side of all business-related things.

Freelance translators deal with different clients of different backgrounds, cultures and, ultimately, mentalities. This could be overwhelming sometimes, as you have to save face and keep a positive, professional attitude at all times.

Think about spring as a point where you refresh your professional attitude and check up on those goals you set for yourself. Spring cleaning isn’t only for your house: check the goals you achieved, uncheck the ones that are no longer relevant and underline the ones that you need to be working on next. They could be contacting a potential client, expanding your marketing strategies, or even as small as clearing up your desk and making more room for you to work with a clearer mind.

Today also happens to be International Day of Happiness. This also brings us back to looking at the glass half full. Have you been too overloaded with work from existing clients that you didn’t have time to do some networking or marketing? At least you’ve been working, not slacking off! Give yourself a break but also keep your goals in check.

Think of the things that make you happy. Think of the reasons why you do what you do. Are you a professional translator because you love your job or because it’s just a job that helps you put food on the table at the end of the day? This has a great impact on the quality of your work and the translation you produce.

On another note, if you love languages and learning about different cultures and you enjoy dealing with new and different subjects and fields on a daily basis, but you don’t love translating given texts, think about working solely on what you love. Maybe you could consider copy-writing or simply editing and proofreading. If that’s what makes you happy then go for it! You’ll be doing what you love, and you’ll be good at it. The bonus is that you’ll be known for being good at what you do best.

As far as I’m concerned, happiness is doing what I love. And I love what I do! Happiness is being overloaded to the point where I can’t even get a 10 minute break! I feel ecstatic when I meet a deadline. Don’t get me wrong, I always meet my deadlines, but it always makes me feel good. It makes me feel accomplished. But then again, that’s just me. I love everything about languages. I love learning new words and I try to learn at least a new word or expression every day. This is what makes this domain exciting. There’s just never a dull day!

In the end, I would like to wish every translator a blossoming career this spring. May this beautiful season bring you new clients, blooming jobs and growing rates!