1. Strategies to Manage Feast &
Famine Cycles for Linguists

2. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
I’m Catherine and this is Heraklion, Crete.

3. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
The view
from our
office in
Toronto

4. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
● Greek translator (IT, Medical, Technical)
● Lead Greek translator for Apple
● Networker, marketer … for Lingua Greca
● Social media curator & blogger
● Member of The Savvy Newcomer blog team
● ATA Mentor

5. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Housekeeping
• 10 min. for Q&A at the end
• Share on Twitter
• Slides will be available on Slideshare
& our website next week

6. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Talking points
• Feast & famine: what they are
• Things to do at all times
• Dealing with famine periods
• Dealing with feast periods

7. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Famine = Bad
Or maybe not
Photo source: http://freelancem.ag/freelancing-basics/freelancer-feast-or-famine-cycle/

8. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Feast = Great
Or maybe not
Photo source: http://creativeoverflow.net/6-reasons-why-freelancing-is-the-hardest-job-in-the-world/

9. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Mox experiences
feast & famine too
Photo source: http://mox.ingenierotraductor.com/2012/11/feast-or-famine.html

10. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Talking points
• Feast & famine: what they are
• Things to do at all times
• Dealing with famine periods
• Dealing with feast periods

11. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos at all times
Marketing is king
Daily or weekly routine
Update website, blog
Avoid “panic” marketing
Targeted approach is best
Photo source: eratechacademy.com

12. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos at all times
Networking
Connect with prospects &
colleagues
Online: Use social media
Offline: Attend events,
then follow up
Photo source: www.pinterest.com/pin/294211788126749745/

13. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Self-improvement & CPD
Blogs, books, webinars,
podcasts, conferences
To-dos at all times
Photo source: marksanborn.com

14. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos at all times
Photo source: blog.shoeboxed.com
Existing clients
One of your best marketing resources
Keep them happy and ask for feedback
They can provide:
Future work
Referrals
Testimonials

15. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos at all times
Seasonal work
Plan around your
busier & slower
times

16. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos at all times
Positive attitude
Believe in your capabilities and don’t panic!
Don’t be the nagging colleague everybody wants to avoid
Spend less time complaining and more time acting

17. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos at all times
Photo source: scrap-n-crop-mmunity.blogspot.com

18. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Talking points
• Feast & famine: what they are
• Things to do at all times
• Dealing with famine periods
• Dealing with feast periods

19. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Money
Plan ahead
Have an emergency fund
Save when there is plenty
Photo source: http://www.journeytomillions.com/emergency-fund

20. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during famine
Enjoy the slow period
After investing time in marketing,
take a vacation, spend quality time your family
Gorgeous
beach in
Crete,
Greece

21. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during famine
Be proactive
Follow the news in your markets, local or abroad
Let your availability be known
Tell your existing clients

22. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Photo source: http://freelanceswitch.com/freelance-freedom/freelance-freedom-171-client-philosophy/

23. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Talking points
• Feast & famine: what they are
• Things to do at all times
• Dealing with famine periods
• Dealing with feast periods

24. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during feast
Time management
Plan ahead
Schedule planning time
Prioritize: deadlines, marketing, sleep
Leave time for the unexpected
Photo source: businessamongmoms.com

25. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during feast
Time management
Allow time for other activities
Never forget to sleep well
Don’t take on more than
you can handle
Photo source: affinitylive.com

26. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during feast
Photo source: http://www.companionlink.com/outlook/
Photo source: http://blog.leafprintdesign.com
Calendars and notes
Keep track of everything
Use technology
Outlook, Google Calendar, Evernote
Or, simply
Notebooks, post-it notes
whiteboard

27. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during feast
Money management
Be the ant, not the grasshopper
Budgeting is very important
Invest windfalls wisely
Photo source: http://prawnandquartered.com/2012/07/30/the-
grasshopper-and-the-ants-summer-reading-edition/
Photo source: http://www.nd.gov/ndyouth/money-management

28. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during feast
Say no, gracefully
Freelancer = one-(wo)man team
Be polite, explain why not
Recommend colleagues
Photo source: http://cargocollective.com/ojanendesign/No-thank-you-cards

29. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during feast
Manage your deadlines
Ask for an extension before the deadline
Don’t overload your schedule
Negotiate deadlines
Photo source: http://moduscooperandi.com/blog/three-
questions-on-deadlinesasking-the-industry/

30. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Outsourcing
Focus on translation &
business tasks
Collaborate with
colleagues
Always check with your
clients first
Photo source: desmart.com
To-dos during feast

31. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during feast
Raise your rates
Start with the lowest-paying clients
Offer higher rates to new clients
Photo source: http://blog.spreadshirt.net/uk/2010/10/13/product-prices-to-increase-a-look-at-the-textile-industry/

32. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during feast
Photo source: http://www.reverbnation.com/thankyougoodbye
Fire a few clients
Rates
Projects
Payment terms
Communication

33. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
To-dos during feast
The unmissable jobs
Subject is right up your alley
Money is good, client is awesome
Find a way to squeeze it in!
Think of the money
Reward yourself for
the hard work
Photosource:http://habituallearner.wordpress.com/tag/save-money/

34. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Takeaways
Marketing
(website, blog, social media updates, campaigns)
Famine: plan, write, schedule, research, execute
Feast: publish new content, post updates, execute
Tip: http://growth.supply/free/ for 400+ free tools, try
SocialOomph for scheduling social media updates
Networking & Learning
(events, conferences, webinars)
Famine: research, schedule, attend, follow up
Feast: attend, follow up

35. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Takeaways
Stay up-to-date
(blogs, newsletters, social media, magazines)
Famine: read and plan, write about industry news in your blog
Feast: follow up (e.g. say congrats for new position)
Emergency fund: Usually 6 months or 1 year
Time management: Tons of free apps available online
Outsourcing (upon client’s approval!)
Raise rates and replace old clients with new
Take a break or vacation

36. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Work-life balance, is there such a thing?
I don’t believe in work/life balance. Someone
might say I work all the time, but that’s what I
want to do. I think if you’re happy doing what
you’re doing, that’s the perfect balance.
Dani Reiss, president and CEO of Canada Goose

37. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Video source: http://on.ted.com/PogueTop10
10 top time-saving tech tips

38. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Questions?
Comments?
Photo source: www.expatguy.com

39. Strategies to Manage Feast & Famine Cycles for Linguists #MiTiN @LinguaGreca
Thank you for attending!
Catherine Christaki
Lingua Greca site: www.linguagreca.com
Adventures in Technical Translation (blog)
www.linguagreca.com/blog
@LinguaGreca
Lingua Greca Translations
Catherine Christaki & Lingua Greca Translations