Maybe Translation Deadlines Do Buy Happiness After All
“A deadline is negative inspiration. Still, it’s better than no inspiration at all.” ~ Rita Mae Brown
The first time I met the deadline dates back to early 2003.
I was running late for work when I received a phone call from my first client (may all good things come to him) offering me a tempting amount of money to walk away with in return for spending two sleepless nights on some urgent translation.
I had to pull over to give it some thought.
Continue driving to work and honor those little translation duties that bored the heck out of me or call in sick and start heading to where the thrill and challenge might start to originate.
That day my conscience was on holiday, and the rest is details.
And I met the deadline, and then another one, and another one, and another one.
One thousand and one sleepless nights on words, they made me happy. And I kept coming back for more. More words, more translation, more challenges, more deadlines.
Then time would elapse and I would start to feel tired as my fighting system would start to fade. I should take a break and slow down.
I should decline a deadline and finally make that long-promised visit and spare my family that same old “Sorry she couldn’t make it, she has a deadline” justification in an attempt to ingrain in their community a sense of respect towards my constant absence.
Yes, I should slow things down and mingle around. After all if I’m working hard to afford luxury, I’d better be out and show it off!
Then time would elapse. And I start missing deadlines again. Probably it has become an addiction for me. The pressure, the stress, the bustle, the rush, and the push of life would make feel alive and break me out of my routine schedule. I’m on a constant deadline and I’m surviving happily.
What about you? You’re a translator too. I see you won’t be on a mission to the moon anytime soon. And most probably you won’t be working to see your designs finally materialized in beautiful sky-scrappers. Oh, and I’m sorry to break the news to you, but Frank Sinatra reaffirmed his intention not to be reincarnated in you.
So you’re doomed, buddy. You studied translation and all that is left for you is your laptop and dictionaries.
And yet there’s always a way to add variety and fun to your job. You want the thrill? Get on a deadline!:)
Deadlines will make you a better person, a happy worker. Through deadlines, you will learn how to think, analyze, and translate faster. Instead of embarking on a quiet, dreamy journey of wonder and hesitation contemplating the ceiling for hours looking for a muse to beat you over the head or a miracle to happen on your document, just wake up and get your mind trained on staying alert and focused. Why? Because you’re running out of time. Because miracles happen to those who pray, but we don’t have time for prayers now. Why? Because we have a deadline.:)
Deadlines user manual coming soon! Make sure you come back to check it out.:)