Episode 33: Smart Habits for Setting Priorities and Getting Things Done With Dorothee Racette
This is our last episode of 2020! We know that this has been a challenging year for everyone, but we hope that you will find joy in the small moments and positive things that happened in your professional and personal life this year. We also hope that 2021 will be a year of inspiration, growth, and stability for you and your loved ones. We know that we’ve all craved some stability after the year we’ve had!
It’s very common at the end of a calendar year to analyze how things went and what you would like to do differently in the coming year. So, we thought it appropriate to talk about productivity, organization, time management, and priorities for this last episode of the year.
Plus, we found the perfect person to share about this topic! We’re excited to welcome a very special guest, colleague and fellow translator Dorothee Racette.
Dorothee is a Certified Translator and a Certified Productivity Coach.
She brings together her expertise from decades of working as a freelance translator (in German to English and English to German) with her experience as a certified productivity coach. She specializes in helping clients move out of procrastination to maximize their business potential and live a more enjoyable life.
Dorothee served in leadership roles within ATA for 17 years, including as ATA President from 2011 to 2013. She started her own productivity consulting firm, Take Back My Day, in 2014 to explore methods for improving creativity and workflow. She now divides her time between coaching, translating and teaching. Her new book, Complete What You Started, is now available!
Here’s a summary of our conversation with Dorothee:
How and when she started her freelance translation career and how it has evolved over time
What her typical workday looks like
What smart habits help her draw boundaries between work and personal life
What advice she'd offer to fellow freelancers who struggle with overwhelm and productivity
How to set priorities when you have a lot on your plate and how to balance paid work, volunteer work, and any other responsibilities you have
What smart habits can help you keep your physical and digital workspace organized
How to deal with projects that you didn’t manage to accomplish this year and how to set realistic goals for the new year
Resources we mentioned in this episode:
Dorothee’s productivity coaching business and blog: Take Back My Day
Updates about Dorothee’s upcoming book “Complete What You Started”
ATA 61st Annual Conference where Dorothee presented “Freelancing in a World of Distractions” (conference attendees have access to all the session recordings for at least 6 months)
Dorothee’s webinar for ATA: “Managing the Stages of Your Small Business”
Dorothee’s interview on the Marketing Tips for Translators podcast: How to Conquer Distractions and Move Your Freelance Business Forward
How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Sally Helgesen
Speaking American: How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk: A Visual Guide by Josh Katz
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
Dorothee’s course in early 2021 with Training for Translators: Complete What You Started: A 2021 Kick-Off Challenge
Join our email list to get Dorothee’s downloadable productivity checklist for long-term business health!
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