Survival Skills for Freelancers - Interview with Sarah Townsend

Freelance Translator Business: Marketing Tips for Translators and Companies

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Episode 263: Survival Skills for Freelancers – Interview with Sarah Townsend

Do you ever ask yourself these questions:

How much should I charge?

When should I say no, and how do I set boundaries between work and the rest of my life?

How can I tackle the impostor syndrome that comes with working alone?

I love my job as a freelance translator. I’ve been working as a freelancer for 17 years. However, being a freelancer comes with its challenges and questions. It is always good to look at other industries or freelancers to get ideas and inspiration. In this episode, I’m talking to a freelance copywriter and the author of the popular book “Survival Skills for Freelancers.” We’re discussing the myths of freelancing, and she gives us practical tips on how to look at our businesses and lives as freelancers.

Important things mentioned in this episode:

  • Doing everything ourselves, admin, marketing, accounting
  • Being a freelancer and running a business
  • How to handle the imposter syndrome
  • Finding a balance and saying no to specific projects

Useful links mentioned in this episode:

Related:

How Freelance Translators Can Develop a Success Mindset

How to Stop Hating Marketing and Develop a Success Mindset

Sarah has some real gems in her book, and I encourage you to go check it out. I want to include a short quote from the book to wrap this up:

“True success is about balance. It’s about feeling fulfilled and inspired by a job you love and working with people who encourage and support you.

It includes allocating time to reflect, restore, and relax. Most of all, success prioritizes your well-being and mental health. Because only by setting boundaries and taking care of your emotional resilience will you be the best freelancer – and the best you – you can be.”

I hope you found a lot of valuable insights here. We would love to hear from you. You can comment below on social media or email us.

If you liked this episode, please subscribe to your favorite podcast listening app, leave me a review, and share the episode with anyone else that might enjoy it.

Listener Shoutout

This one is from Nathalie Reis from United Kingdom. She says:

“Tess is obviously passionate about marketing. The range of tips and speakers she offers is second to none. I rate her podcasts very highly and would recommend them to any translator.”
Nathalie Reis

Bio

Sarah Townsend

Sarah Townsend has spent 20+ years as a freelance marketing copywriter. In her #1 bestseller, Survival Skills for Freelancers, she shares strategies for tackling the ups and downs of self-employment.

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5 Comments

  1. Roger Rayner says:

    Your session with Sarah Townsend was packed with helpful ideas. I have “run myself down” all my life, and friends constantly tell me to stop doing it. You helped enormously by giving it the name “impostor syndrome”. This will help me deal with the problem very much better. Thank-you!
    It was particularly useful to learn when to say ‘No,’ and how to listen to the little inner voice that tells you whether to accept a client (or a project) or not. I have also experienced clients (usually agencies in my case) start by telling you your fee is too high. Sarah expressed very well the subtle meaning behind such remarks. Certainly, in cases where I have encountered such a reaction, the relationship has been short!
    Thank-you for your wonderful continuing series, and I leave hungry for more!

    • Tess Whitty says:

      Thank you Roger for letting us know. Yes, we have to remember that we can decide when, how, and with what/whom we work. And remember that everyone suffers from the impostor syndrome from time to time.

    • Ah Roger, so good of you to take to the time to leave a comment – and I’m delighted you found my chat with Tess helpful! Yes, imposter syndrome is incredibly common, and probably the one thing I’ve struggled with the most in my career.

      I’m certain you’d enjoy Survival Skills for Freelancers – it’s full of advice on the mindset and wellbeing challenges that face all business owners and freelancers. Add it to your Christmas list, perhaps!

  2. Tamian Wood says:

    I loved the enlightening comment about diminishing our worth by saying “just a freelancer.” I will NEVER say that again. I guess I never really thought of myself as a business owner, but I really AM!

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