Cover Feature

Layoffs are never easy—nor are they simple. They may stem from financial realities or strategic decisions handed down from leadership. Some come with warning; others arrive in a simple, impersonal email. However they unfold, they impact people’s lives and livelihoods—and nearly always stir fear, uncertainty, and grief. In this reflective essay, the author explores how to navigate these liminal spaces with presence, purpose, and compassion. What does it mean to rebuild after loss? And how do we, collectively, create a future that still feels worth getting up for in the morning?

ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee has been hosting “Power Hour” coworking sessions since the spring of 2023. Email invites are sent every two months to the Business Practices Community, which any ATA member can join for free. The mutual accountability of these sessions can serve as a powerful source of motivation, allowing linguists to stave off distraction and instead focus on deep (or deeply tedious) work.

My father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. My mother was in the early stages of an unspecified dementia. And the brilliant plans I had made so I could work from their senior living facility while caring for them during extended visits were crumbling all around me. Being a caregiver and at the same time a self-employed professional is a balancing act. But in the end, it can be a gift.

Entrepreneurship comes with many inherent challenges, and freelancers tend to face them alone. While there’s a lot you can do on your own, at some point you’ll probably need to look outside yourself for new ideas and solutions. Here’s how hiring a coach can help your T&I business.