2014: Rainy London’s end-of-year review

Put your best dress and shoes on. Eat up this 2015!

I promised that I’d do this again, as I did for the past ones, 2012 and 2013. It’s a grey Saturday and I’m trying to tidy up my inbox and my ideas to start the next week in style. As you may remember, I could say that 2013, well, was well below special. As my grandmother said, it’s just like when you buy a shiny apple. For as gorgeous as it may look from the outside, that’s all you see. You cannot be inside the fruit until you bite it. I don’t have many good memories for 2013, apart from the interesting events I attended, perhaps – even at my lowest, I always try to nurture my professional skills and grow – and the socialising part, while I was at it. So, after a year that I would easily forget – I tend to do that when things are not as I like and it is a good strategy, just turning the page and try to move on – how is the balance for the long-awaited 2014? 

Look up to the sky and believe you can.

What can I take away from this year?

• My health: it stayed a priority, even though I was overworked and the sickness had the most of me. I was sick almost the entire month of November and part of December and interpreting like crazy did jeopardise my health even more. But I came out of it. Takeaway? Don’t overdo it and carry propolis with you ALL THE TIME!
• Work-wise, as last year, my second half of the year was crammed with interesting projects and work;
• Travelling: this year was exceptional and (re)visited Porto, Bilbao, Madrid, Braga, Glasgow, Faenza, Bologna, Mantua, Paris, California, Barcelona, Croatia, Logroño, Derby, Castellón, Valencia, Forlì, Lyon, Bratislava, Budapest, Athens… and many more. I’ve been very lucky AGAIN;
• Networking: don’t even get me started. And I am so proud of some of the people who really enjoyed my talks and sent me so many notes to say thank you for the inspiration they found in me. THANK YOU indeed and well done, you!
• Family: it’s a cliché but the more I grow up, the more it’s obvious that I should have cared for them more. And care more now. Do it. Seriously.

Have a look at the best visuals from this year on my Instagram

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What I want to achieve in the New year:

• exercising – better and with new goals to feel fitter and more energised.
• being more organised. To some, I may look very much so, but there’s a lot of room to improve. Especially in the way I track work and clients, or set goals.
• start a new, non-translation-related blog – I shall keep you posted on this.
• refreshing my Portuguese – I know it’s been on the list for ages but hey, I’ll make it.
• cleaning my closet: I’ve got CLUTTER I do not need or wear or use or want. It’s a good start to live a more organised life.
• writing (and/or translating) a book and starting new exciting projects.
• seeing more art and exhibitions. This year I loved the one on Horst in London and the one on Givenchy in Madrid.
• saving more and starting a pension – alas, I’m almost 33, folks!
• keeping on being just who I am – WYSIWYG.
• enjoying the little things. I recently found myself failing badly at this. It does not necessarily mean that I don’t enjoy watching a pink sunset or eating a good ice cream – I prefer pizza, but you get the picture! But sometimes you just need to stop and realise you’re enough; and that little things are cool; and they are the salt of life. Sometimes things do not give me any feelings as before, and I believe it’s called “can’t-get-enough syndrome”. Yet, just because you’ve done many things or seen many places, it does not mean you shouldn’t be amazed at the idea of a trivial thing, like – say – a puppy or a new set of oven mitts. And I want to change that. Starting from the little things.
• finding new clients and shaping my business in yet a new way, under the idea of diversification and stratification.

So did I manage to stick to my resolutions from last year?

• Efficiency. In everything I do -> STILL WORKING ON IT
• Early starts. Follow my #earlyrisingchallenge on Twitter -> I FAILED. Miserably!
• Exercising, more and better -> CHECK, YES!
• Routines, because they are good for mind, body and soul -> ON MY WAY…
• More CPD and traveling for work -> CHECK
• More content on my many platforms. And more #rainytips -> CHECK
• Publishing an e-book -> FAILED! STILL WORKING ON THIS.
• Focused business plan: where I am, where I want/need to go -> NEED TO IMPROVE.
• Learning Portuguese (hey, seriously this time) -> AGAIN! FAILED!
• Getting myself a proper holiday -> FAILED! I did travel but never for relax.
• Continuing finding more direct clients and people who appreciate my work ->IN PROGRESS…
• Keeping up with my blog – and making it more client-oriented, with fresh content and interesting stuff -> STILL WORKING ON THIS!
• Working hard with Rainy London Branding, helping more colleagues finding their brand and voice -> I AM HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS. Thanks to those who believed in me and Fabio.
• Continuing being an inspiration for many (THANK you everyone for making me such a lucky person!) ->HOPEFULLY. Only you can tell that.

Here’s was I took from last year’s strategy and re-applied:

– I relied on my closest circle: this was thanks to some people that really made the difference this year. THANK YOU.

– I believed in it. You can be your worst enemy. Just keep busy.

– I trained hard: very much to stay focused. It does help. See more here

– I networked a lot: that is where you find inspiration – again and always – and a source of fun, friends and work.

In 2015 I want to… be more ME. How’s that for a change!?

In a nutshell: I want / need just light, positivity, truths, friendship and little things. Along with travel, lots of coffee, photography and seflies, why not – as a way to create memories – and more structure. Too much to ask for?

I wish you a smashing 2015.

Baci!

#inspire #workhard #love #rainylondon

About Val

London-based Rainy London Translations is offering a full range of top quality interpreting, localisation, translation, consultancy and voice-overservices for both businesses and individuals. Need something else? Just ask! It may sound like a cliché, but just get in touch: what you need can be done, at a reasonable price. Valeria is also offering a 'branding' clinic service, to help freelancers find their perfect business name or polish the existing identity by finding a logo, a tagline with sound creative consultancy. Based in the City of Westminster area, the heart of London, UK, since August 2011.

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