“I’ve Always Done It That Way!” – Breaking Out of Old Habits

This post is a reblog, originally published in the Tool Box Journal Newsletter, Issue 22-6-338 on June 15, 2022. It is reposted with permission from the author.

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Our brains are wired to resort to tried-and-true recipes in times of uncertainty, but old approaches are not always the most productive choice. The work of Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman has helped us understand that our decisions are always driven by an “impulsive” and a “deliberative” system. When we have enough time and feel calm, it is easy to make well-reasoned, balanced decisions, but the impulsive system takes over on autopilot when we need to make choices on the spot or when we feel rattled. This distinction explains why it is so hard to break out of patterns that have long stopped serving us.

In this article, I want to share a few ways to break out of freelancing habits that make you feel stuck. The impulsive system uses pattern recognition, which means we respond in predictable ways to similar situations. Understanding the patterns that guide your choices can be helpful to find a different approach.

Pattern 1: Saying yes to too many things

Have you ever wondered what makes you say ‘yes’ when there is a chorus of voices in the back of your mind yelling “No! Your plate is FULL!! You can’t even handle what you already have!”? And yet, despite feeling stressed, you calmly type a response, telling the client you will be delighted to accept their new project.

Pattern 2: Clinging to old business partners

You know those clients everyone loves to complain about? They may have annoying shortcomings, but you can’t quite bring yourself to say goodbye to them. And when their next project comes in (always at an inopportune time), you accept it, even though the pay is bad, and the work is no longer a good fit for your skills. You grumpily do the work, and grouse to a colleague that the translation industry is going down the drain.

Pattern 3: Playing it safe

When you have a choice between a dull, but doable project and a more challenging work offer that would demand research and exploring a new field, you feel doubtful. Aren’t other people more qualified to take on such a difficult project? What if you make mistakes and submit work that is less than perfect? Suddenly discouraged, you choose to decline or ignore the demanding offer and go for the generalist text that feels more familiar.

Here are a few motivations the “impulsive” system may be driven by:

Worry – Your decision is motivated by fear that a client may look elsewhere and will never come back or that you will not be considered when future opportunities come along.

Aspirations – You want to be a person everyone can rely on. You like to keep other people happy, even if it means working unreasonable hours or accepting poor terms.

Doubt – You are concerned that other people have higher qualifications and can demand better client terms, but you lack X and Y and therefore need to accept what is offered.

In a well-established business, such fears and doubts are no longer fully justified. Giving in to their urgency means making commitments that consume your time, but are not entirely to your advantage. Something has to give – typically activities with a long-term benefit such as exercise, marketing or relaxation. More importantly, you won’t have enough time for strategic work on your business.

The best way to break out of “impulsive” decisions is to notice when you are making them. First, give yourself a few moments before accepting new projects. (Competitive systems that won’t leave you enough time to deliberate are a red flag).

Then look at the following factors:

What will it cost to do the project? This may sound odd, but your labor and productivity aren’t free, even though you are self-employed. Your screen time must balance with the time you spend with others or taking care of yourself. (This is especially relevant if you are considering working nights or weekends). If you can, decide on a threshold value for your screen time that will allow you to evaluate the quality of work offers.

Is there opportunity value? Will the work offer any opportunities for professional growth, learning, future earnings potential, or networking? If the answer is no, will accepting the project prevent you from doing other, more interesting work?

Does the work fit your production schedule? That question can be challenging to answer for large assignments. Your scenario calculations must include potential assignments from steady clients, your own time needs, and your tolerance for stress. Notice the assumptions you are making about your own time – does the production schedule realistically allow for downtime, emergencies, and disruptions?

Asking these questions will help you assess your own value as the “language engine” that keeps your business running. Enjoy your summer!

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About the Author

Dorothee Racette, CT has been a full-time freelance GER < > EN translator for over 25 years. She served as ATA President from 2011 to 2013. In 2014, she established her own coaching business, Take Back My Day, to help individuals and organizations solve problems related to workflow and time management. As a certified productivity coach (CPC), she now divides her time between translating and coaching. Her book Complete What You Started (2020) provides a blueprint for carrying big projects across the finish line. You can read her blog at takebackmyday.com/blog.