This huge announcement couldn't have come at a better time. Today, September 30, is International Translation Day. A day I celebrate every year with my fellow language service professionals. But this year, it is different. This year, it is extra special. Today, I am proud to announce...
This huge announcement couldn...
If there’s one hurdle that many entrepreneurs struggle with, it’s bringing a product to life. You might nave an idea - a good idea - but that doesn’t mean that you know how to bring that product to life and make a success of it,...
If there’s one hurdle that ...
Any efficient business should make money even once you’ve put your head down for the night. Making money and growing your business in your sleep are the hallmarks of successful companies worldwide. Despite this, many companies do not take advantage of the plethora of opportunities...
Any efficient business should...
Today is August 25. 3 weeks have passed since the Beirut Explosion that left hundreds dead, thousands injured and hundreds of thousands homeless, and it still hurts. We still haven't healed; we are still grieving our Beirut, each in their own way. Beirut after the Blast...
Today is August 25. 3 weeks h...
The time has come for your enterprise to move on, and hopefully, upwards to a new office space in a different location. Whether planting your business closer to your intended customers or opting for cheaper space to keep business expenses down, there are things that...
The time has come for your en...
Becoming a freelancer can be an excellent move for your career and your work/life balance, but the competition is beginning to get fierce. More and more people are turning to freelance, especially now that they’ve had a taste of the working from home lifestyle. While...
Becoming a freelancer can be ...
The U.S. Commerce Department reported the success rate of franchises per year is 95%. This is surprising considering a franchise opens every 8 minutes, which indicates many of them go on to be successful. However, to refrain from being the 5% who don't make it...
The U.S. Commerce Department ...
Productivity is the driving force in every business. This is because good productivity means that your workers will be able to create better products and provide better customer satisfaction. Regardless of the size of your company, you need to ensure that you constantly improve your workforce productivity. The Best Ways...
Productivity is the driving f...
Who doesn’t want to be happy and healthy? Health is wealth, and happiness may seem elusive to many, but it becomes more possible when you put a focus on your health. Health and happiness are intertwined. If you’re unhealthy, it’ll affect your mood, your energy...
Who doesn’t want to be happ...
Every business owner dreams of making it big. I mean, that’s why you started it, right? You had an idea that can change the way your industry operates, and you want people far and wide to catch onto its brilliance. Plus, how rewarding it is...
Every business owner dreams o...
Raise your hand if you still go to the office every day. (Special shout out to my home office peeps :D) If you do, you’re a rare creature indeed. Most of people are now stuck at home, trying to make a living while being denied all the...
Raise your hand if you still ...
One of the most important things that you can do as an employer is to look after your staff. These people are the ones who are making your business tick over, and they are loyal to you - and not just because you pay them....
One of the most important thi...
When it comes to the goals of the business, the financial growth and stability often take a front-seat, but it’s important that they are not the only goals. When it comes to keeping employees, customers, and other stakeholders happy, fulfilling your corporate social responsibility is...
When it comes to the goals of...
2020 has been anything but predictable and expected so far, and we're not even halfway through the year yet! I feel like this year is one big meme, or a fat joke. It's ridiculous how the whole world needed to shift its life and adapt...
2020 has been anything but pr...
A social media strategy is a plan for everything you will do and achieve on social media. The strategy will guide what you do and will show you if you are succeeding or failing. The more specific a plan you create, the more effective it...
A social media strategy is a ...
There's no doubt that the current COVID-19 pandemic has impacted just about every single aspect of modern life. This is particularly true for anyone running a business. Businesses have been affected by the pandemic all over the world, and smaller companies are often the ones...
There's no doubt that the cur...
Featured Image - CCO Licence A lot of us struggle when it comes to trying to keep fit all the time. If you have a tendency to start trying to get fit in a new way and then failing to achieve what you set out to...
Featured Image - CCO Licence ...
Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0 There are many great reasons for your workforce to work from home. It can save a considerable amount of money on office costs, it allows for more flexibility in terms of working hours, it lets you hire the best people even...
Image Credit Pixabay.com Lice...
It’s no secret that pregnancy puts a huge amount of strain on a women’s body (ask me! I'm a mom of 3!). This process can be a grueling one, and many people find themselves facing challenges along the way. Of course, though, one of the...
It’s no secret that pregnan...
Photo Source Over the past couple of months, there has been a huge surge in the number of people working from home (Hey, ex in-house employees, it was about time you joined the club, although I would have wished it to be under other circumstances lol!)....
Photo Source Over the ...
As horrendous as it might have been, this pandemic and lockdown are slowly becoming history. Business owners are moving forward with trepidation and with calm resolve. It's quite an amazing time to be a business owner because just like every recession, there is a lot...
As horrendous as it might hav...
Every business owner has to think about the different equipment you will buy for your company. For many enterprises, computers are the main things you need. Most of your work is done at a desk on a computer, so you have to ensure you get...
Every business owner has to t...
Hearing well matters. Deafness and hearing impairment don’t have to be a barrier to learning a foreign language and exploring new places. Image credit There are obvious reasons for learning a second language: it's fun, mostly, it gives us a sense of accomplishment, and while many countries...
Hearing well matters. Dea...
Technology is a great way of helping your business in a variety of ways, and generations today are lucky to be able to access this wonderful tool. So how can you use it within and across your business? Here are four ways to use technology...
Technology is a great way of ...
There’s something that many businesses overlook: making things as straightforward as possible. If things are easy for them to make their purchase and interact with your company, then you’ll have created a positive customer experience, which will ensure that they turn to your business in...
There’s something that many...
Are you a spiritual person? Many of us are guilty of thinking that it’s a yes or no question. Some people are spiritual, and others aren’t. Those that are love incense, candles, and believe in a religion. The ones who aren’t, think it’s a lot...
Are you a spiritual person? M...
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay When it comes to growing your business, one of the best ways to do this is to diversify. People often forget about this and focus on continuing to do what they do and just trying to get more business. However,...
Image by Gerd Altmann fro...
Image Source When you run a small business, you’ll eventually find yourself taking on employees. One person can’t progress infinitely alone. Helping hands and different specialists will need to come on board to keep the basics afloat and to push your business forward. But when you...
Image Source When you ...
As your children are growing older, they start to experiment more and more and define new boundaries. As a result, for parents, it can be worrying to manage teenagers. Teenagers are prone to develop their independence, which means they could be taking risks without their...
As your children are growing ...
More of us are working from home than ever before. The growing use of the internet means that over the last few years, more employees have been working remotely, and more people have been launching their own home businesses. Of course, over the last few...
More of us are working from h...
Welcome to the era of quarantine. Have you ever imagined you would find yourself confined at home because of a world pandemic? I know I haven't! COVID-19 (more commonly known as Corona Virus) has shaken the entire world. Over 110 countries are infected, with thousands of...
Welcome to the era of quarant...
This post is long overdue. 4 months. It has been over 4 months since my last blog post. These have been the most drastic 4 months I have ever lived in my entire life. So much so that I couldn't even get myself to visit my...
This post is long overdue. ...
Babies are one of the biggest blessings that add charm to parents’ life. The love and attraction towards babies are natural, and they are strongest when you take your baby in your hand for the very first time. Every parent wants to see their kids looking trendy, stylish and...
Babies are one of the biggest...
In this day and age where language services are on the rise, and where the number of professional language service providers is at an all time high, it takes more effort to secure new clients to ensure a steady flow of income, especially for freelance...
In this day and age where lan...
The mere fact that it took me 2 months to write this blog post, since the moment I had the idea of writing it, tells you how busy I am and how desperately I need more hours a day. I am a busy bee. I have...
The mere fact that it took me...
Learning doesn’t begin and end in the classroom. Especially, for translators and other language professionals. Having a considerable body of knowledge and staying up-to-date on cultural trends, business and on translation itself can make a good translator great. On this post, we’ll explore 7 books that can greatly help aspiring...
Learning doesn’t begin and ...
Ah, those deep fried Middle Eastern balls of vegan protein goodness! I don't know anyone who doesn't love them! Falafel is a highly popular street food made of chickpeas and fava beans (together or alone) with a mix of spices and herbs and onions, ground and...
Ah, those deep fried Middle E...
Success doesn't come overnight, and this is something I learned over the course of 12 years of experience. In the world of freelance, it takes extra blood, sweat and tears to make it on your own and build a steady portfolio of reputable, loyal clients....
Success doesn't come overnigh...
Chris is one year old today! Where did the time go? How did he go from being a baby to being a toddler overnight? I'm still not ready! My sweet bundle of joy, my 3rd boy, my forever youngest is a baby no more! I am...
Chris is one year old today! ...
It's no secret, I've always wanted to raise boys. I've never dreamed about raising little girls wearing tutus and tiaras like all the other women in my life. I used to be a tomboy, a tough little girl, and quite frankly I'm happy day in...
It's no secret, I've always w...
In my household, I am the only female. I am surrounded by my husband and 3 boys. I have more reasons to teach my boys how to truly respect and appreciate girls, because they do not have a sister of their own. It is not easy in a...
In my household, I am the only...
Nadine Labaki's incredible movie Capernaum, which star is a real-life Syrian refugee living in Beirut (who has now resettled with his parents to Norway), just got nominated for an Academy Award for the category of "Best Foreign Film". The other movies that are nominated for the...
Nadine Labaki's incredible mov...
I love the month of November for several reasons: 1- It's neither hot, nor cold. Not humid, either. 2- I was born in November. 3- I established my business in November. 4- It's the busiest month of the year. I get the most projects in November of every year. 5-...
I love the month of November f...
Today is International Coffee Day, and just a couple of days ago, it was National Coffee Day in the US. Yes, coffee needs to be celebrated. It's what keeps most people sane and going (students, professionals, moms, everyone!) Coffee is celebrated on this day by all caffeine...
Today is International Coffee ...
Every year on September 30, the world's translators celebrate International Translation Day. It's a day to recognize the brilliant and remarkable translators who help build bridges among the world's different cultures. On this occasion, it's good to share some interesting facts about the world's languages. So...
Every year on September 30, th...
Google celebrates its 20 years today with a super cute video of different questions asked in different languages. Not a day goes by without me using Google to look something up, whether it was a word, an expression, an image, a piece of information, a recipe...
Google celebrates its 20 years...
· Le plus long mot palindrome de la langue française est " ressasser ". C'est-à-dire qu’il se lit dans les deux sens. · " Institutionnalisation " est le plus long lipogramme en " e ". C'est-à-dire qu'il ne comporte aucun " e ". · L'anagramme de "...
· Le plus long mot palindrome...
It's great to see Google shed light on one of Lebanon's most remarkable women from the past. On what would have been her 121st birthday, late Lebanese translator and feminist is being honored today on Google's homepage. Below are 6 facts about this great Lebanese woman: 1- Anbara...
It's great to see Google shed ...
Tonight the world will witness the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century! The moon will pass by the earth's shadow and become fully blood red for a couple of hours. While that event is in itself fascinating, that's not all there is to it: We will...
Tonight the world will witness...
Straightforwardly, a freelancer's dream client is one who: Pays on time, every single time. (Yes, this wish tops the list, any list for any profession, for that matter) Has jobs on a regular basis (and by regular, I mean...
Straightforwardly, a freelance...
May 9, 2018 was such an eventful day for me and my family, but the biggest event of the day was the arrival of my 3rd baby boy, Chris. At 38 weeks, baby Chris was born on May 9 in Los Angeles at 1:58 pm PST...
May 9, 2018 was such an eventf...
I am no avid reader but there is one thing I know for sure: I love reading and listening to Maya Angelou's poetry. Today marks the late American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist's 90th birthday, on the occasion of which Google honored her with a...
I am no avid reader but there ...
Today (March 4th) Is International Grammar Day. To celebrate, we have an informative infographic that was created in collaboration with Instructional Solutions. Grammar is one of the more difficult parts of the English language to master. In my opinion, it is better to focus on...
Today (March 4th) Is Internati...
[caption id="attachment_3989" align="alignleft" width="252"] How was this 7 years ago?[/caption] My eldest Maroun turned 8 today. I've been feeling so emotional for the past few days. I still can't believe how 8 years went by in a flash. 8 years of bliss. 416 weeks of unconditional love....
[caption id="attachment_3989" ...
I'm all about positive vibes and I tend to block out negative energy the second it tries to get to me. Now while I never claim to be an expert in spreading positive energy and making inspirational speeches, life has taught me a few tricks that...
I'm all about positive vibes a...
After 10 years in this business, I have come to the realization that there are many myths about translators which, for the most part, are the creation of clients. Well, I guess it's time to bust those myths and enlighten our dear clients! Below are the 5...
After 10 years in this busines...
Google is celebrating late British writer Virginia Woolf with a doodle today. Adeline Virginia Woolf (née Stephen; 25 January 1882 – 28 March 1941) was a prominent English author most known for her modernism. In fact, she was considered one of the most prominent modernists of...
Google is celebrating late Bri...
I read somewhere a very inspirational story, supposedly Chinese, that teaches us a lesson to keep moving forward no matter what. Below is the story. "There is a Chinese story of a farmer who used an old horse to till his fields. One day, the horse escaped...
I read somewhere a very inspir...
*This is a guest post by Rachel Wheeler from Morningside Translations Over the last decade, we have seen incredible growth in the number of companies that are deploying eLearning solutions to train staff members and teach them new skills. We already see over 40% of the...
*This is a guest post by Rache...
[su_heading size="23" margin="50"] 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Organic [/su_heading] There’s a reason why so many people are shifting towards a healthier lifestyle nowadays. With evolution comes better education, and today’s generation is realizing how important it is to pay attention to our health. Organic food has...
[su_heading size="23" ...
I’ve been toying with the idea of rebranding for quite some time now, as I was feeling that a change was long overdue. With time, I’ve been leaning towards a cleaner, minimalist image. I wanted a smart and sleek design that represented everything that I am,...
I’ve been toying with the id...
I have amazing LinkedIn connections that keep sharing incredible stories and life lessons, and I cannot but share with my readers the ones that inspire me the most. Check this story below and make sure to share it if you believe in it! "One day a farmer's...
I have amazing LinkedIn conn...
On September 30 of every year, translators around the world celebrate International Translation Day (also Saint Jerome Day). Translators undeniably have one of the best and coolest jobs in the world. We are communication heroes and language warriors. We bridge gaps, connect cultures, and create a...
On September 30 of every year,...
Today is National Coffee day. Yes, I'm big on this day. I wrote about it here, here and here. While I only drink one cup of coffee a day, I pretty much can't function properly without it. The first thing I do in the morning is prepare...
Today is National Coffee day. ...
It's like social media waits for Miss Lebanon every single year to give us the best jokes of the year...
It's like social media waits f...
Some translation companies tend to mark the translations of professional linguists as if they were exams. Here are my two cents in this regard: To begin with, I don't even accept unpaid tests. It is a total waste of time, and I mentioned why here. And I do...
Some translation companies ten...
Back in 1982, President Ronald Reagan designated September 5 as Working Mothers' Day, calling upon "families, individual citizens, labor and civic organizations, the media, and the business community to acknowledge the importance of the mothers who work inside or outside the home and to express...
Back in 1982, President Ronald...
A freelancer is someone who does not hold an in-house position at a company. They have the freedom and the ability to work from any location they want, and to set their own working days/hours. Never in my 10 years of experience have I held an...
A freelancer is someone who do...
Do you speak 2 or more languages? Do you know how your brain looks like? Interestingly, the brain of bilingual and multilingual people looks different than that of monolingual people. Watch the video below to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMmOLN5zBLY&feature=share How many languages do you speak? What are they?...
Do you speak 2 or more languag...
Like every professional, I use LinkedIn to make professional connections and hunt for new business opportunities. What I have recently noticed is that many translators, mostly freelancers, try to trick fellow translators that they need to outsource translation jobs to them, just so they could get...
Like every professional, I use...
Unless you set your priorities straight and thoroughly think about where your life is headed, you will end up regretting the following 10 things 10 years from now: Not working towards leaving the job you hate Not getting rid...
Unless you set your priorities...
Recruiters, Human Resources Managers, and all employers for that matter need to take a step back and realize that everybody deserves a chance. To climb the ladder, you start from the bottom and work your way up. it's the ONLY way to go! In the translation industry,...
Recruiters, Human Resources Ma...
English-speaking countries/lands call the French National Day "Bastille Day", which is celebrated on July 14 of each year. In France, it is formally called la Fête nationale (The National Celebration) and commonly and legally "le 14 juillet" (the fourteenth of July). The French National Day marks France’s...
English-speaking countries/lan...
Welcome to Lebanon, the country notorious for celebratory gunfire, the country where everyone and their mother is a public figure or a social media influencer, and also the country where almost everyone is proudly a trilingual. I've been updating my Instagram consistently but making it a...
Welcome to Lebanon, the countr...
"Once upon a time, a woodcutter asked for a job with a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an...
"Once upon a time, a woodcutte...
Disclaimer: This is not your typical lovey dovey, 100% positive blogiversary post. There will be some serious bomb dropping below. Dear reader, if you are a Lebanese colleague and you can't handle it, I advise you not to scroll down. I'm writing this as I sip...
Disclaimer: This is not your t...
Today Google remembers the late Assia Djebar (30 June 1936 – 6 February 2015) with a doodle. Born Fatima-Zohra Imalayen, the berber-speaking Algerian novelist, translator and filmmaker, whose father is a French teacher, chose Assia Djebar as her pen name for fear of her father's disapproval. In 1957, she published her...
Today Google remembers the lat...
The below joke made my day :D "Le français est une langue magnifique" J'ai passé un coup de fil à un ami, et je lui ai demandé ce qu'il faisait. Il m'a répondu qu'il travaillait sur: Le traitement aqua-thermique des céramiques, du verre, de l'aluminium et de l'acier sous...
The below joke made my day :D ...
The world is divided into 2 kinds of people: coffee people, and everyone else. To me, there's nothing quite like the smell of a freshly brewed cup of coffee first thing in the morning, and although I am what everyone considers a morning person (and I...
The world is divided into 2 ki...
I know I've been quite quiet lately (yes, I wrote that on purpose. Quite...
I know I've been quite quiet l...
I must admit, when I first graduated, and just like all my other colleagues, I used to charge per page, because when you still have no experience, you take it from those who've been there and done that before you. Charging for language services per word...
I must admit, when I first gra...
While there are pluses and minuses for everything in life, learning is the only thing that has no disadvantages in my opinion, especially when it is learning a new language. Below are the top 5 things that happen when you learn a new language. 1- You become...
While there are pluses and min...
James Chapman is the cartoonist who's pretty much fond of languages. I love all his illustrations and how he simplifies language learning through his drawings. In this blog post, I will be sharing some of his illustrations which he brilliantly calls "Soundimals": animal sounds in different...
James Chapman is the cartoonis...
Award winning Arab architect Zaha Hadid, who died last year of a heart attack at the age of 65, is being honored in today's Google doodle. May 31 marks the anniversary of the day she won the Pritzker Architecture Award, becoming the first woman to do so....
Award winning Arab architect Z...
My brother sent me this story via Whatsapp a few days ago and I found it pretty interesting so I had to share it: During a robbery in Guangzhou, China, the bank robber shouted to everyone in the bank: "Don't move. The money belongs to the...
My brother sent me this story ...
I have addressed this issue so many times (here, here and here to name a few) to the point that I am now being frequently attacked by some colleagues for advocating fair translation rates. We all know it's a free market, and every translator has the right...
I have addressed this issue so...
Talk about being passionate about your job! Sign language interpreter Holly Maniatty completely outstaged Snoop Dogg at his own concert in New Orleans with her impeccable skills and groovy performance. The 1 minute clip of Snoop Dogg performing "P.I.M.P." was shared on Facebook by The Good Life...
Talk about being passionate ab...
Ah, I missed this kind of posts, didn't you? I got more of these coming in the future, but since the beach season is finally upon us, I figured it was the best time to dive into the sounds of summertime splashing in 10 languages (pun...
Ah, I missed this kind of post...
The only time when "A Bunny holding Eggs" doesn't look like a mistranslation to us. Happy Easter!...
The only time when "A Bunny ho...
It just irritates me to proofread someone else's lousy translation. It's one of the jobs that I always tend to reject. I am currently proofreading a translation from English into French, and the target text reeks of translation. I mean come on: even Google Translate would know...
It just irritates me to proofr...
Ah, the perks of working in your PJs :D In case you still don't know the difference between translators and interpreters, check out the below picture. [caption id="attachment_1716" align="aligncenter" width="227"] Interpreters Vs Translators[/caption] On another note, many interpreters are sometimes called translators because, to the client, they are...
Ah, the perks of working in yo...
One of my LinkedIn contacts once shared the following story and it really resonated with me, as I do a lot of interpretation work while I hold a BA in Translation. Interpreting in the United States is quite different from what it is here in Lebanon....
One of my LinkedIn contacts on...
This month was a pretty rough one to say the least. My dad was hospitalized a couple of weeks ago, and my baby Andy was hospitalized last week (on Mother's Day). However, every cloud has a silver lining, and I believe tough situations bring families...
This month was a pretty rough ...
Translators, please stop giving first time clients your rates and then stating that they are negotiable! This is the most unprofessional thing to do and it sets things totally on the wrong foot. This is not the way to establish a healthy business relationship. If a...
Translators, please stop givin...
When I was young, I used to be a trouble maker (I still am), a wild child (yep, still am), and I was quite the handful (this is pretty much still the case). I gave my mom a hard time, and she really struggled during...
When I was young, I used to be...
It's Friday, don't judge me. I've had a rough week. Actually, this entire month has been one from hell. All is Okay now, so let's keep things positive, shall we? If you've had a rough week, too, you deserve a little giggle. Just check out what the...
It's Friday, don't judge me. I...
March 8 is International Women's Day. It is a day to celebrate women empowerment. I have many wishes for Lebanese women that I shared last year. Get a dose of inspiration from the below list of women empowerment songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_iwe6U Beyoncé - Run the World (Girls) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgmx7z49OEk Jennifer Lopez - Ain't...
March 8 is International Women...
Today is National Grammar Day, which is celebrated on the 4th of March of every year in the United States. I've previously written about it here . It is noteworthy that according to Global Language Monitor, the estimated number of words in the English language is 1,025,109. While there...
Today is National Grammar Day,...
Today is Pancake Day, and you really can't avoid it on the internet lol! I've been seeing photos of drool-worthy pancakes and epic pancake flip videos all day on social media. It's really not helping with my fasting haha! What really caught my attention is the below...
Today is Pancake Day, and you ...
