💡On why becoming a success at failing could be the making of you…

My 20-year long career in Italian 🇮🇹interpreting and translating has opened doors to many interesting and famous people, from film stars to world leaders to religious deities.

It has certainly not all been standard corporate work.
➡️I always feel so fortunate to have such a varied profession in which I am always discovering new industries, people and cultures, and can continue to grow and learn.

👂It’s important to remember, however, that to a large degree our growth is dependent on our (fear of) failure.

🥁I recently read this article by Sabina Nawaz published in the Harvard Business Review “To build new habits, get comfortable failing”. 👏

It is fascinating and reads so true. (Thank you 🙏Sabina!)

Sabina’s article has four main actions:

1.    Immunise yourself to failure! Make yourself stronger by experiencing small fails – or even hearing the word “no” in numerous, but lesser ways. By receiving rejection and small failures over an extended period of time, the fear of failure is greatly decreased, enabling you to bounce back easily.

2.    Externalise your commitment so you have some accountability, this way you are less likely to back out. For example, set up a meeting or just send an email to get the ball rolling on whatever is giving you the fear. This way you are removing the option of bailing – you have to tackle it.

3.    Let others know what you have learned – be that either achievements or failures. You could set up a “lessons learned” folder, or even simply just write them down, but have them to hand so they are easily referred to when needed.

4.    Keeping a track of your progress will enable you to see how far you have come, and, importantly, will enable you to stop when you have reached your peak.

➡️This is just a very short précis of Sabina’s article, and the #growthmindset is, of course, not a new phenomenon, but it is easy to forget that to effectively develop new skills we often need to fail at them first.

After all, how many times do babies fall on their bottoms before learning to walk? 👶

Make this the week to face your fear of failure, LinkedIn!

#success #learning #contentstrategy #personalbranding #blogging #translationservices

The Language of Love

St Valentine’s Day is approaching, and I found myself pondering on the potential disasters I have seen when translation goes wrong. As a translator myself, I have witnessed some shocking #translationfails when programmes like Google Translate have been relied upon to change a sentiment’s language, so I would always advise using a professional translator to make sure your marketing campaign or even your love letter still strikes the right tone! Getting it wrong could make you incur some serious personal wrath, or your business a huge embarrassment! We are here to help with your Italian and English translation requirements, and we always make sure we get it spot on.

In Italy, coffee is much more than a simple drink…

“In Italy, coffee is much more than a simple drink: it is an authentic ritual, it is an integral part of the national identity and an expression of our sociality that distinguishes us around the world”.

I was delighted to read about Italy’s bid for UNESCO ‘intangible heritage status’ for Italian espresso. In Italy, coffee is set in daily life, be it a punchy caffè (espresso) ‘al banco’ on the way to work, or a post lunch Illy classico. It is truly integral in the Italian daily routine with Italians often sipping a caffè as an afternoon pick-me-up or after a meal.

Italy is the third largest coffee consuming country in Europe with the country accounting for 11% of the total European coffee consumption. Outside the home (where the majority of coffee is drunk) the preference is mainly for independent cafes, which hold more than 90% of the Italian coffee market, while international players hold only a minuscule share. Starbucks only opened their first store in Italy (in Milan) as recently as 2018.

Espresso, caffè latte, macchiato, and cappuccino – all Italian words for coffee types which are spoken, and recognised, globally. The language of coffee is universal. But don’t be fooled by the British influence on certain drinks. I had a client who loved a CostaCoffee latte, but ordered the same in Italy and received a cup of warm milk! In Italy, latte translates directly as milk, so don’t forget the caffè with your latte!

There are also some quite specific times and occasions in which drinking coffee is acceptable. So, if you’re visiting Italy soon, do be aware of the following:

• Cappuccinos should never be ordered after 11am
• It’s normal to sip your coffee standing up at the bar (and cheaper!)
• Don’t ask for a to-go cup: coffee is sacred and should be savoured
• If you order a latte, prepare to be confused!

I think the Italian Deputy Agricultural Minister, Gian Marco Centinaio, sums it up perfectly, stating ‘a cup of espresso represents a social and cultural ritual for all Italians… [it] excites the entire country, from Naples to Venice and Trieste, via Rome and Milan.’

Personally, my absolute favourite is a delicious, smooth illy espresso, and I am privileged to have interpreted for the “Father of the Espresso”, Mr Ernesto Illy, in person in the past.

When in Rome:

If you have an Easter trip to Rome planned, then do stop at Caffe S. Eustachio, near the Pantheon. This bustling café is famous worldwide, with a reputation for serving the best cup of coffee in Rome. However, with such acclaim comes packed crowds… so have your phone handy for @Instagram or @Linked In scrolling, as the queue outside is guaranteed…

The Year of the Tiger

The Chinese New Year has officially begun, with 2022 being the Year of the Tiger. Like their eponymous zodiac animal, people born in the years of the Tiger are vigorous and ambitious, daring and courageous, and self-confident with a sense of justice and a commitment to help others for the greater good.

Chinese is one of the top languages for translation and interpreting and, for companies in this global age, being able to speak to your Chinese audience really is essential. If you have Chinese translation requirements, at One Stop Language Solutions we are adept in all languages, and can also translate from different dialects including Mandarin, Cantonese and Hakku.

As someone who loves languages, I also really enjoyed this article in the Japan Times, talking about the kanji (the Japanese system of writing using Chinese characters) for tiger (虎) being different to the kanji for the sign of the zodiac “Year of the Tiger” (寅年). I found it rather fascinating, I’d love to know what you think!