Five top tips for excellence in translation.

1)   Google as much as possible: don’t focus merely on the linguistic aspect, but also verify the content of the text. The client will be delighted to know you’ve actually done your research. Don’t hesitate to point out errors or question the information provided. A good translator takes his time to immerse himself in the subject. Needless to say you should always be subtle when informing the client of inconsistencies. After all, no one likes to be corrected and criticised.

2)   Ask a second translator to proofread your text. I know it may sound time-consuming and it may require additional (financial) resources, but in the long run it pays to have someone – preferably a translator – proofread your texts, at least when you’re dealing with large volumes. Remember that unfortunately very few translation agencies actually proofread all translations, so errors can end up costing you dearly.

3)   Take your time. Sure, the more translations you accept, the more money you make, but don’t overdo it. Ideally, you should finish a translation, close the document and re-read it after half an hour or so (or better even, the following morning). I guarantee you'll find typos and discrepancies you missed the first time around.

4)   Build up a network of translator friends and enlist their help whenever you need it. The world of translation is a tough sector where everyone wants a slice of the cake, but translators do realise they sometimes need each other’s help. Set your pride aside and just ask. Social media – Twitter in particular – has opened up so many possibilities, all just a click away!

5)   Your job is done once you’ve sent your work to the client, unless there are complaints and/or queries on his part. Don’t forget that your way of communicating with the client is just as important as the translation itself. Don’t just write “Here you go”. Show that you’ve put some effort into writing your e-mail. A brief, sloppy message doesn’t leave a good impression.

And of course, be passionate about what you do. I can’t stress this enough. If your heart is not in it, the quality of your work will be affected, so don't accept any assignments just for the sake of it. If you're not good at translating contracts, don't even bother. Focus on your field of expertise.

Au boulot!

Formalities, etiquette and feminism

After eight long years together hubby-to-be and I are planning our wedding. That means writing invitations, place cards and seating plans for the night. When you work from the comfort of your home, wearing torn T-shirts and jeans, it’s safe to say you’re not that familiar with formal ways of addressing people. So this weekend, while writing the envelopes, I went into panic mode. Is it Mr and Mrs <husband’s first name> <husband’s surname>? Or Mr and Mrs <husband’s initial, full stop> <husband’s surname>? What about doctors and engineers? The multitude of information online made it even more confusing. In the end I settled for Mr and Mrs <husband’s first name> <husband’s surname>, as found in a Maltese etiquette guide, but I must admit I find it extremely odd and old-fashioned. Hopefully I won’t offend anyone.

I’m not a feminist. I’m more than happy to make my hubby a cup of coffee when he comes home from work, iron (once in a blue moon) and prepare dinner (although admittedly I’ve given up since he’s not a fan of my bland creations). But why leave out the woman’s name altogether? Unsettling, isn’t it? Is the wife only worthy of being identified as Mrs Husband? Is she not a person in her own right? I know the rules differ in every country, but here on the rock they seem to believe marriage makes you one single entity, with the wife’s existence being reduced to a mere three-letter title. Most women even opt to change their surname. To each his own…

The Eurovision extravaganza

Sorry for the lack of blog posts this past week. French text overload. And I don't particularly like French, so let’s just say this was not the best week ever. But I’m making up for it. You can expect a few more blog posts in the next few days! I’m still undecided whether or not to post videos. We’ll see…

Tonight is the highlight of my week: the Eurovision Song Contest. Before you judge me, I’m not a fan of Europop trash, but I love the sense of unity that comes with this ridiculous yearly event. I don’t want to make this a political post. I am aware of the controversy surrounding this year’s edition: dog killings, expropriations, demolitions. A horrible price to pay for three nights of musical mush. Nevertheless, I enjoy how this contest brings people together. Especially here on the rock. We know we’re never going to win, yet we all keep hoping. We watch documentaries and talk shows on the singers, we buy flags just in case, we sing, we dance, we discuss how and where the stage would be set up if we were to win. That’s Malta for you: we love and support anything Maltese. So tonight, vote for Malta. Next year’s edition might be held on a floating stage in the middle of the Mediterranean. Cool or what?
 

Narakhom għada (see you tomorrow)!

Iconic products

I bought my first pair of branded sunglasses. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’ve been the proud owner of a pair of Nike sunglasses for two years. I bought them on sale for € 25 in one of those outlet shopping centres in Italy. Last week, after the wrinkle cream saga, I decided it was time for me to work on a more “grown-up” look, so I went out and bought myself the sunglasses I’ve always wanted, the iconic Ray-Ban Aviators.

Why did I just call them iconic? What exactly makes a product iconic? The company’s branding strategy? The quantities sold worldwide? Celebrities flaunting it? In my humble opinion, a product becomes iconic thanks to its unique design, a good advertising campaign resulting in spectacular sales figures and… patience. My sunglasses were designed more than seventy years ago. They’ve stood the test of time. The design and quality have been perfected. They were worn in popular films such as Top Gun, they’ve surfaced on the covers of magazines, they’ve been launched in several shades and redesigned to meet the demands of various trends. And let’s face it, they’re damn sexy!

Owning an iconic product gives you a feeling of belonging to an exclusive group of discerning consumers that just keeps growing, generation after generation. Or is it just an illusion, a way to justify the fact that you’ve just spent a ridiculous amount of money on something so meaningless? Yes, that’s probably it!

Pet peeves during working hours...

I’ve got quite a few. I’m not an easy person to live with. And working with me must be quite a challenge. Here’s my top three:

1)   Noise. Screaming kids, barking dogs, trucks. I can’t handle any noise when I’m working. Even loud breathing can throw me off balance. I don't mind the radio and the TV though. I know I’m contradicting myself, but that’s me.

2)   Someone watching over my shoulder. Luckily I don’t have a boss checking my every move, but I absolutely hate it when hubby-to-be takes a peek at what I’m doing. Somehow whenever he does I’m on Facebook or Twitter, which doesn’t add to my credibility.

3)   Phone calls. When I’m working I don’t want to be disturbed. If you need me just e-mail or text me. Unless you have some life-threatening situation you need to notify me of. I answer my e-mails within five minutes. If you don’t receive a reply, I’m probably dead.

Memorise this if you don’t want to end up in my black book!

Wrinkle cream and the flow of life

On Saturday I went shopping. Nothing memorable, were it not that I bought my first wrinkle cream. Every woman will testify that is a life-defining and life-changing moment. It makes you think of all the times you squinted to get a good look at that cute guy across the road, all the laughter and happiness, all the tears and sadness. All of a sudden you enter a new phase in life. It’s not the wrinkle cream that does that to you, but the realisation that life consists of various phases, and you’ve just left one behind to enter a new one.

I think I’ve reached that stage in my life where I’m perfectly at peace with myself. I’m no longer bothered by how others perceive me. I can easily walk out the door without a full face of make-up on, even without covering up that huge pimple on my cheek. I couldn’t care less whether my outfit is fashionable or whether my dog has drooled on my skirt leaving marks all over it.

Growing up you don’t realise this day will eventually come. For some it comes at the age of forty, for others at the age of twenty. But everyone actually does at some point stop worrying about the way they are perceived. I used to panic when we had visitors because our walls have been plastered, but not painted over. Because our dog leaves chunks of fur in every nook and cranny of the flat. Because our bathroom cabinet is not neatly organised. Then I read something somewhere – no idea where exactly – that had a profound impact on me: always consider whether your actions will have a positive influence on your life. If not, don’t even bother. Find a different way out.

Would a painted wall make me a happier person? Would vacuuming five times a week instead of three times make me smile? Would an organised bathroom cabinet give me a more positive outlook on life? Not really, no.

That idea is the mantra I apply to all my decisions. Granted, you can’t control what lies ahead, but you can steer your life in the direction you want it to follow. I believe in destiny – some coincidences are just too improbable – but I also believe we have the power to change things that cause heartbreak and suffering. The only requirement? A good dose of willpower. If you dig deep enough, you’ll find it! Make this your aim of the week…

Change your shoes, change your mind!

MS, wat is dat eigenlijk? Ontdek er alles over op de Facebook-pagina ‘Change your shoes’ (https://www.facebook.com/#!/changeyourshoes), klik ‘Vind ik leuk’ en Novartis schenkt 0,25 euro aan het onderzoek naar deze ziekte. Allen daarheen!

Vandaag wordt de campagne ‘Change your shoes, change your mind’ gelanceerd door Novartis in samenwerking met de MS-Liga Vlaanderen en met de steun van Brantano. Leuke filmpjes, een flinke dosis humor en alles wat je moet weten over MS. Weg met al die vooroordelen, ontdek hoe het nu écht zit!

Go to https://www.facebook.com/#!/changeyourshoes, click 'Like' and 0.25 euro will be donated to MS research!

Do you have an unusual name?

I don’t. Not now at least. My name is Amy. Quite common here on the rock, but in the 80s, when I was still living in cold, grey Belgium, my name was considered quite unusual. Throughout primary and secondary school it was butchered into a series of horrible-sounding variants, both in spoken and written language. In Italy my friends found it virtually impossible to write and pronounce my name, so over there I’m still known as Emi. I even have a Facebook friend who writes to me using Emi. Does she realise my actual name is right there, above her message? At university – I went to a business school that attracted quite a few foreign students – things got a little better, but my name wasn’t spelled and pronounced 100% correctly until I moved to the rock. Amen.

When I translate texts I ALWAYS check and double-check names. To me the source text is not a holy-grail document that shouldn’t be altered. If there’s a mistake in it, I’ll correct it and let the client know. Isn’t that only logical? Unfortunately I’ve come to realise that’s not standard practice. In my six years as a proofreader I’ve rarely come across a text in which errors were corrected. I’ve worked with some of the best translators on the market, who can produce top-notch translations at the speed of light, but even they refuse to make that small effort and google proper names.

It’s a touchy subject for me, probably because it defined my childhood. I’ve always been so incredibly proud of my name. I love the fact that it’s international, short and sweet. It means “the beloved” – can it get any better than that? When I translate or proofread a text I always keep in mind that I would be horrified to see my name misspelled in an article or on a website. It would hurt my pride. It would strip me of my identity.

Next time you’re writing, translating or correcting a text please, please, please think of little Emi and put a smile back on her face!

The importance of language in marketing

I’m not a product development manager. I’m not a graphic designer. And I’m certainly not a marketing guru. Yet somehow my activities are very closely linked to theirs. As a translator, proofreader and copywriter, you’re behind the scenes, trying to make their work even better, trying to adapt it to the desired target audience. You feel responsible for launching their products and services, for turning their efforts into a great success.

Unfortunately sometimes things go wrong. Texts are not proofread by reputable translation agencies trying to cut costs. Marketing managers rewrite, rephrase and mutilate the copywriter’s texts without having them checked again. Graphic designers and printers don’t spellcheck ads to save time and money, or for fear of being criticised by their clients.

Companies big and small seem to think it’s more important to invest in form rather than in content. They couldn’t be more wrong. Imagine this scenario: you sell expensive crystal vases. Your aim is to position your business in the top-of-the-range end of the market. You write a 50-word ad yourself, because you refuse to fork out 50 euros for a copywriter to do it for you. But you do hire a professional photographer to shoot stunning photos of your vases. At a cost of a few hundred euros. The result: your ad looks exactly the way you wanted it to look – it exudes the air of luxury and elegance that you were after – but upon closer inspection there’s something not quite right about the actual text. A spelling error. Was it worth saving those 50 euros?

Not everyone will notice, that’s true. And not everyone will care. Maybe you’re not too bothered yourself. However, don’t forget that many – if not most – consumers will rely on your marketing material to forge an opinion on your business. Their (I mean our) reasoning: if they can’t even be bothered to proofread their own ads, what should I expect from their customer service?

In marketing the importance of language is often overlooked. Yet it’s one of the most fundamental aspects of this type of communication. Language bridges the gap between a business and its customers. It illustrates the company’s ability to convey its know-how. By language I mean spelling, grammar, syntax, punctuation, the whole lot. No need for nitpicking, but blatant errors should be avoided at all costs. And that’s where we come in!

Have fun trying to figure out what went wrong below!

A combination of English and German?

Buy a tool... and get a free motoring school? That's what I call a good deal! But there's more...

That’s it!

 

That’s it, the end of my blogging adventure…

Just kidding! Actually I would like to thank all my readers for their feedback and suggestions. I’ve decided that I’m going to revamp this page, one step at a time, starting with content. Many of you have told me that you can’t keep up with daily posts, so I’ve decided to write about three posts a week, maybe a little longer than usual, but not too long, so that you can still enjoy them during your coffee breaks. How does that sound?

Judging from the page views, you seem to like photo posts and articles about my work as a translator. For those of you who are more interested in art, books and travel, don’t despair! There’s plenty more where that came from.

I also want to switch to a more appealing background. I’m not too fond of the current one, so forgive me for experimenting a little with colours and textures in the next few weeks. I’m sure eventually we’ll find something we can all agree on.

Last but not least, I will be shooting some videos on various topics (with my camcorder; I’ve finally figured out how to use it). Let me know what you’d like to see! And more importantly, which language(s) you want me to speak in my videos…

Thanks again for your support, dear readers. I’m enjoying this new blogging adventure and I can’t wait to share my next post. Soon, very soon!

Valletta & surroundings off the beaten track

Keen to see Valletta from an entirely different perspective? Hop on your bike! A year and a half ago hubby-to-be and I invested in two mountain bikes. Best buy ever! And today, after almost six years on the rock, we explored a few must-sees and discovered some hidden gems in what is arguably the most beautiful and romantic city in the world… our very own capital, Valletta.

9 a.m. Upper Barrakka Gardens. Unbeatable views.

9.20 a.m. Pit stop at Saint Barbara Bastion.

9.30 a.m. Espresso break at The Malta Experience with a view of the Three Cities and the Valletta breakwater.

 

10 a.m. Trying to find the new breakwater bridge (still under construction). Enjoying the view of the concrete jungle that is Tigne' Point.

10.45 a.m. Discovered a “secret” spot with amazing views: Sa Maison Garden.

11 a.m. Just a few minutes down the road: Msida parish church and marina.

I can't imagine a better way to kick off a sunny Sunday!

There’s no such thing as a selfless act...

This afternoon* hubby-to-be and I joined his colleagues for a volleyball match in aid of Puttinu Cares, a foundation that helps children suffering from cancer and their families. We had a wonderful afternoon laughing with friends and competing against each other (his team won, damn it) and we hope our contribution can make a difference, no matter how small.

Throughout the match I kept thinking about the meaning of charity. We often donate to good causes, mostly locally, as we feel we can have a greater – and more visible – impact by helping those in our own community. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that we don’t care about the victims of tsunamis and hurricanes, but there are so many locals who need help. Doesn’t it make more sense to focus on them first? I don’t mean to write anything controversial, but after all this is our little world. And as much as we’d like to help everyone everywhere, it’s physically and financially impossible. We need to make choices in life.

The big question is: why do we help others, for their benefit or for ours? And why do we feel better about our efforts when we see tangible results? Although I hate to admit it, I must say helping others makes me feel good about myself. Seeing the results of my benevolence gives me a sense of pride. It’s a little ego boost. It’s not the main reason why I like to help, but it does play its part. I’m sure I sound like a horrible person now, but deep down I know many of you agree that there’s no such thing as a selfless act.

I translated a text about the importance of recognition the other day. The bottom line was that the advantages of a little pat on the back are often overlooked. Recognition is something that we don’t merely like to receive, we also enjoy praising ourselves for our kindness and our apparent righteousness. Regardless of the reasons for your support to charitable organisations, never stop giving. Someone somewhere will be grateful.

* I’m not a time traveller… I posted this on Saturday evening.

Social media & friendship.

 Friends can now be divided into ten distinct categories: 

1) The ones you actually meet on a regular basis, who know your profile picture was photoshopped and you never read books – it just sounds intellectual to add it to your hobbies.
2) The ones who like every single one of your photos, but don’t even know what you look like in real life. They are usually the ones who also like their own photos and statuses. Cringeworthy.
3) The ones who buy eggs from your Facebook farm (or something of the sort), but wouldn’t be able to pick them up if they were real, because they have no idea on which continent you live.

4) The ones who offer you a virtual shoulder to cry on when you’ve gone from Engaged to Single, but are secretly googling the ex hoping he’s free tomorrow night.

5) The ones who pretend not to know you when they see you at the supermarket because you’re only good enough to get their follower count up.

6) The ones who tag you in drunken photos, then tweet them to your boss “by mistake”.

7) The ones who add you as a friend because you’re the third cousin of their best friend’s wife.

8) The ones who send you twenty invitations to play Bouncing Balls, but don’t invite you to their birthday bash.

9) The ones who haven’t seen you in ten years, add you as a friend and expect you to invite them to your holiday home.

10) And finally the ones who are total strangers, but thought you looked familiar.

Video: social experiment

Quand’ero piccola mi rifugiavo sotto il fico nel giardino dei nonni e giocavo a mamma casetta. Mi dava un senso di libertà che ho perso strada facendo.

In de kleuterschool hield ik van huppelen en tekende ik regenbogen en zonnestralen. Kon ik maar weer kind zijn.

In London – the big city – I felt like a tiny grown-up. Vulnerable and empowered at the same time.

Three different settings. Three different impressions of one and the same person, who grew up speaking three languages but can’t seem to identify with a single one of them. In a previous post (read it here) I explained my background and my journey through the world of languages. Today I want to start a series of social experiments with my readers. Ready for the challenge?

Below you will find a video of me. It’s a short compilation of spontaneous spoken language. The aim of this first experiment is not to judge the way I look or the way I edited the video (I’m new to this), but to explore how you are perceived based on the language you speak. What if you speak more than one language? Do people see you as one and the same person or do they feel you change according to the language you're speaking at a particular point in time? As a trilingual person, I sometimes feel like three different people moulded into one.

Imagine us meeting in Italy and me speaking Italian. What would be your first impression of me? Would you feel the same way if we met in Malta with me speaking English or in Belgium with me speaking Dutch?

Does my tone change? Do I sound more confident in one of these three languages? Does your perception of me change based on the language I speak?

Leave your comments below. A detailed discussion will follow.

If all else fails, become a translator!

These past few months, with the recession crippling the entire continent, I’ve been asked countless times by friends and acquaintances whether I could “help them find a job as a translator”, since their sector has been hit hard by the recession and I “always seem to be buried in work”.

Let me start off by saying that I’m not one of those people who think you need a university degree to make it in life. I also believe that a degree in translation or languages is not necessarily a must to become a translator. I know of many excellent translators whose studies had nothing to do with languages, but their passion and drive got them where they are today. Nevertheless, personally, I’m sure I did benefit from my translation studies. I was taught all about complex grammatical issues, tricky spelling, syntax and phonetics, but I also discovered how to tackle research, how to easily write structured texts, how to summarise, how to deal with stress, tight deadlines and criticism… the list goes on and on. In a nutshell, I was introduced to the basic principles, and that was the best foundation to build upon. During my first few months “in the real world”, I learned more than during my four years at university, but without the basic concepts, it would’ve taken me much longer to get used to the exhausting pace that has now become my reality.

The thing that annoys me immensely, is that translation is considered an easy way to get rich quickly. Where did that idea come from? Many Maltese flocked to Brussels after the rock joined the EU to “make big money”. None of them had a degree in translation. In fact, I’m not even sure whether the University of Malta even had a translation department when the rock became an EU Member State. I know some of these “translators” personally, and I don’t doubt that over the years, they’ve become good at what they do, but the one thing that distinguishes me from them, is that I am passionate about what I do, and I followed my heart, not the euro banknotes. And I’m quite sure that the institutions know where the real translators are, because most of their publications (magazines, brochures, posters, websites etc.) are outsourced. Why would they do that if their own in-house translators were so brilliant? No, it has nothing to do with volume or lack of resources. It’s a matter of quality. I can vouch for that.

Let’s be realistic for a minute. As a translator, you can make a decent living, but it’s not easy money. It’s late nights, stress and fatigue in a highly competitive sector where one bad day can cost you your entire career. If you’re in it for the money, you’ll fail. And more importantly, if you think that anyone can become a translator – “I know how to read and write, don’t I?” – you couldn’t be more wrong. We’re not human versions of Google Translate. A translation requires an effort that goes beyond typing a word in a search engine or dictionary. You need to know your client and your audience. You need to explore the cultural context behind your assignment. You need to be able to carry out focused research in the limited timeframe you have at your disposal. Translation is a combination of skill, dedication, patience, time management and experience.

The last word of the previous paragraph is key. Experience. Of course, you have to start somewhere. Prove that you have what it takes. Tricky, because many agencies refuse to give graduates a chance. The only advice I can give you, is keep trying if you’re convinced this is what you want to do, and if you have a feeling you might be good at it. Eventually your efforts will pay off. Someone, somewhere will notice your talent. But if you’re just looking for an alternative to unemployment, please look elsewhere. Unfortunately this sector is hardly regulated, so anyone can claim to be a translator, but only the good ones survive.  

Leave translation to the pros! 

Blogging: a little background info.

A friend asked me how I decide what I’m going to blog about. Do I have a set of topics that I want to tackle? Do I write most blog posts in advance? Do I ask my readers for feedback and subsequently base my decisions on their suggestions? Her question inspired me to write this blog post, to give you an idea of what goes on behind the scenes and to give you a glimpse of my new calling: blogging about my life as a stay-at-home translator, proofreader and copywriter.

I’m an impulsive person and I don’t like being told what to do. I decide what I'm going to write about, sometimes a few days in advance, but usually the night before I post it. Of course, I take into account my readers’ tips. I listen to what they have to say about my writing and I appreciate their advice. I like writing about my daily life, but without going into too much detail. The internet has already taken away so much privacy, that there are certain things I’d rather keep to myself. Of course, starting this blog was my choice, so a little loss of privacy is to be expected. But everything within limits.

So far, I’ve posted daily updates. That might change in the future. For now, I can handle it. I don’t see blogging as a chore, but as a way to relax, to de-stress. It’s something I look forward to. The moment I start questioning what I’m doing, I’ll have to reassess this whole blogging thing. The best advice I was ever given, is “do what you love, because if you don’t, people will notice, and they’ll lose interest”. Again, I don’t write for others, but for myself. However, it’s nice to get so many positive comments.

I’ve always liked writing. And I’ve always been a dreamer. When I was in primary school I used to write stories in notepads that I would decorate with stickers and drawings. In secondary school I decided I was going to write a book… about Julius Caesar, that fascinating man whose life I had explored during my Latin lessons. That project never took off, probably because it dawned on me that I had bitten off more than I could chew. Ever since, I’ve been jotting down bits and pieces here and there. I’ve never played any instruments, I’ve never been into sports; writing has always been my passion, my creative outlet.

Blogging allows me to let off some steam after a tough day. That’s why I’m doing it. I really enjoy it and I hope you enjoy it too. If not, no worries; there’s always the little X in the right-hand corner (or the little red circle on the left if you’ve given up on Microsoft).

A day to relax? To celebrate? To think about anything but work?

No, today I encourage you to consider your professional achievements, your development, your goals and aspirations. To be grateful for the opportunities you’ve been given. But in these difficult economic times it’s also essential to find ways to advance your skills, because you never know what’s around the corner.

I started working as a translator about six years ago. Quite unexpectedly, actually, because at university I wasn’t too fond of translation lectures. I used to skive off all the time. I graduated in interpreting, but soon realised that in Malta my language combination wasn’t all that useful. Everyone speaks English here, most people also speak – or at least understand – Italian, and Dutch is totally useless on my tiny rock in the Mediterranean. Passive French can be an asset, but only in combination with active Maltese. And my Maltese is still quite basic. I knew I had to diversify to survive in this tough sector. So I let go of the whole idea of becoming an interpreter (more on that here) and tried to be the best translator I could possibly be.

I was lucky enough to be offered an opportunity to work with probably the best translation agency in the world, Blue Lines Translations. A young, dynamic team that allows me to make mistakes and learn from them, to explore different topics to find out what suits me and what doesn’t, to get a taste of project management and so much more. I’ve discovered that I’m not good at dry financial texts and that lifestyle, fashion and beauty are precisely my cup of tea. That managing translation projects is not challenging enough for me; I prefer working backstage, where the action is. And last but not least, that young people, right out of university, deserve a chance. I’m glad I was given that chance and I’m proud of myself for using it to the full. Of course, I still have tons to learn. I’m a perfectionist, yet sometimes I don’t deliver, particularly when I have to translate French health care texts into Dutch. I don’t mind sharing my weaknesses, because I think it’s important to identify them, to highlight them, otherwise you can’t move forward. No one is invincible. If you think you are, you’re not on the right track.

On this journey, I couldn’t have wished for better colleagues. So today, on Workers’ Day, my heartfelt thanks go out to them. Thank you for believing in me, thank you for your patience, your dedication, your friendship. Work is work, I’ve said that before. It’s not the main reason for being – let’s be honest, we all like weekends and holidays. But if you enjoy doing what you do, and if you’re surrounded by like-minded people, the in-betweens become more bearable, fun even. You maximise your potential and become a happier person. And if you’re lucky, you even make friends along the way!

Workers’ Day is not simply another day off. It’s a time to contemplate and be grateful. Keep that in mind today!