How to Get What You Want

Let's face it, a lot of freelance translators aren't getting what they want out of their chosen career.

For starters, and as I discussed in a post the other day, many of them don't even know what they want.

You can ask them what they DON'T want, and they'll reel off a long list: impossible deadlines, peanuts pay, overzealous proofreaders, sloppily-written source texts, etc.

But if you then say, "So what exactly do you want?" they'll pause for a moment, and then probably start flipping the things they don't want upside down: reasonable deadlines, fair pay ...

This is a good start, but it lacks clarity.

I mean, what exactly is a "reasonable deadline," for example?

The answer will differ depending on your level of expertise and skill.

For me, I'd consider three hours from now a reasonable deadline for a 2,000-word financial report, but a lot of translators would want a whole day.

So you need to have a clear idea of what a reasonable deadline is for you.

In the case of that report, is it four hours from now, five hours from now, or tomorrow morning?

The next step is to ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT.

As Maya Angelou said, "Ask for what you want, and be prepared to get it."

BE PREPARED TO GET IT.

Are you prepared?

Many freelance translators are not.

As they compose that email asking for a longer deadline than the one requested by the customer, they invariably focus on themselves.

It's human nature.

But your ego is not your amigo.

"Could you extend the deadline until tomorrow morning? I don't have much experience with this field, so I'm going to need to do a lot of research. Also, I have a doctor's appointment at 11am ..."

Look at all the I's in there.

It's all ME, ME, ME.

The customer doesn't want to hear about how incompetent you are (research) and how unhealthy you are (doctor's appointment).

In fact, they're not interested at all in your circumstances.

They don't care.

So instead focus on how getting what you want will allow them to get what THEY want:

"Could you extend the deadline until tomorrow morning? I know how important quality is to you, and this will ensure I can provide you with my very best work."

Henry Ford said this:

If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own.

Next it's just a matter of sitting back and waiting for the customer's response.

Of course, you can't always get what you want (just ask Mick Jagger), but with this knowledge you'll be better placed than most!

For more insights on freelance translation and how to make a real go of it, check out my ebooks on Amazon/Kindle:

88 WAYS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS A FREELANCE TRANSLATOR

SUCCESSFUL TRANSLATOR VS. UNSUCCESSFUL FREELANCE TRANSLATOR (SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON)

(Links are for amazon.com, but you will need to purchase from your country's Amazon/Kindle site.)

Also follow me on Instagram (mattstanton_translation) for twice-weekly success tips straight out of the pages of 88WAYS, photoquotes from me, pics from my life here in central Japan, and more!

Best of luck on your journey.

Matt