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You are here: Home / For Translators / Translation profession and industry / Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung

by Sarah Dillon

I saw two things today that put a spring in my step. They are:

1. an article in New Scientist on why multitasking is not all it’s cracked up to be (subscription required – but The New York Times has also run a piece on it here.) As a professional paid for the volume of my output, I’ve read endless books, articles and studies on how to increase my productivity. It’s such a relief to see solid scientific evidence to support what I’ve already discovered the hard way – hooray! Juggling several things at once leaves me feeling like a headless chicken. And I still can’t even begin to translate until I’ve cleared my mind of every last bit of clutter, so I can focus 100% on the text (I’d hoped this process would get easier with experience, but I’m still waiting 🙂 )

2. a blog post on Slow Leadership about the positive aspects of procrastination. So just because I don’t rush off the first couple of thousand words of a job just as soon as it arrives in my inbox doesn’t make me a lazy disorganised bum, doomed to failure – yipee!! Does this also mean it’s OK if I find myself working long hours the day before a deadline?? I’m not so sure about that one 🙂

All in all, it seems the slow movement is continuing its irrepressible crawl into the world of work. This can only bode well for translation, don’t you think?

Last updated: 10 April, 2007 by Sarah Dillon. Filed Under: Translation profession and industry, Working habits

About Sarah Dillon

Sarah Dillon is an Irish cailín in Brisbane, Australia. She arrived Down Under via Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, and the UK, having originally trained as a professional translator. Sarah has been involved in the start-up phases of several international small businesses as a founder, advisor and director, and has worked for companies such as Apple Computers, Audi AG and Bain and Company. She is currently pursuing a PhD in international business. Read more about Sarah here.