As we celebrate the first year anniversary of Yellow Owl’s existence, we reflect on our journey and celebrate the small wins. Progress is a powerful motivator to drive inspiration, even when setbacks happen.
I recently read an article published by Harvard Business Review explaining that acknowledgment of the best and the worst days are central to innovation in any creative environment. Emotions run high when things go according to plan: excitement, joy, happiness, satisfaction and validation. But the same is true when we hit a dead end: self-doubt, frustration, darkness, worry and temptation to quit. It’s all part of the journey.
The progress principle highlights that true motivation lies in ordinary everyday wins – we should try and find at least one thing to celebrate, an achievement, a victory lap, a tick on the to-do list. Some of Yellow Owl’s greatest moments over the passed year include taking the bold step to register the business and putting ourselves out there, particularly online for everyone to see.
Another proud moment has been collaborating and pioneering with leading brands, organisations and content creators like CliffCentral.com, Mav Inc., The Mayors Office & Lionesses of Africa to make valuable information more inclusive using SASL interpreting. There’s so much to be grateful for!
Equally discouraging has been the rejection from incredible digital platforms who unfortunately can’t see possibility beyond their own fears and rigid business model. Nothing happens over night, and patience is one painful trait that gets better with time – just wait, it will come. Sometimes failure and setbacks are not always a true reflection of the value we offer – sometimes it’s other people who don’t understand the bigger vision, they just don’t get it.
Some helpful tips to keep you going when the going gets tough: surround yourself with supportive, accountable and positive people. Secondly, remember your WHY – very important when it feels like you are losing direction. Lastly, create practical deadlines and timelines to keep track of progress made.
THANK YOU to everyone who believed and continues to invest in the vision of Yellow Owl. Here’s to more extraordinary interpreted stories, pioneering, and collaborations. Onwards and upwards!
It starts here. Finding your why. It was around 2014 when I decided I wanted to interpret full-time. I had several career options to choose from: either build on my psychology foundation; explore the education sector; or stick with interpreting and develop my skills.
You see, my type-A personality leaves little room for spontaneity: I’m results-driven; I’m obsessed with structure; and I’m a high achiever. So when I chose interpreting as a professional career, I had to go all the way! I was ready for whatever sacrifice and hard work it took to build an established career; whether it was studying further, accreditation, or practicing over and over again. Basically, I wanted to be the best! I wanted (and still do) want to be recognised among the top interpreters in the country.
Helpful questions to ask yourself
If you are already an interpreter, or considering a career as one; it is crucial to be honest with yourself. Ask yourself these helpful questions:
Do I want to do this everyday without getting bored?
Beyond the money, am I passionate about interpreting?
Is interpreting easy for me? Do I have a natural ability that can be developed further with intensive practice?
5 -10 years down the line, what will I be remembered for as an interpreter?
Can I contribute something new and valuable to the industry?
Pay attention to feedback
Last year I left my full-time job as an interpreter to start my own company Yellow Owl. I can’t say I had all the answers, all I knew was that something just wasn’t right anymore. I was restless; I woke up feeling exhausted; and I had a very strong sense that something was calling and pulling me to be more than what I experienced around me – it was time.
Yes, I felt misunderstood; and I kept to myself. I even started second guessing my thoughts, desires and ambitions of wanting more from life. ‘Was I crazy?’ It felt like the world around me was black and white – I was the only one living in colour.
3 Tips for finding your purpose
Psychotherapist Amy Morin offers several useful tips on how to find your purpose. I will expand on 3 tips that resonate with me.
1) Explore your interests
What do you enjoy doing and talking about without much effort? A good indicator is what you choose to spend most of your time doing and always make time for, no matter what – is it art, being outdoors, catering, or writing?
I have a natural ability to lead and my personality compliments public speaking. I want to inspire people and drive positive change in my community. So I always find unique ways to incorporate my interests into interpreting.
2) What overlooked social injustice frustrate you?
There’s so much more that can be done through interpreting; just by taking time to really understand one’s role in the whole communication and information sharing process. I love consuming a variety of stimulating content – whether it’s podcasts, videos, music or written text. I often take for granted the freedom I have to simply switch platforms and choose something more engaging anytime.
One of the roles of an interpreter is to remove barriers to information access – information in all forms. Unfortunately, Deaf people don’t always have the luxury to enjoy, choose or experience audio content at it best. This is a huge responsibility; but it also makes interpreting fun and exciting – identifying a gap in the market and solving the problem creatively and collectively! This injustice inspires my business model of making digital content more inclusive and accessible through SASL interpreting. Become the solution to persistent, ignored problems in society.
3) Choose your company carefully
Positive people will inspire and challenge you to also start being optimistic, it’s contagious! We all encounter problems in life; however, only you are responsible for how you respond to difficult people and circumstances that come your way.
I often spend time alone working or processing some thoughts; but I am very careful who I allow into my personal space and the energy people bring. This conscious tough decision helps me stay focused and level-minded.
Conclusion
Ultimately, we all have different paths to walk – I’m fortunate to have discovered my purpose early on in life; coupled with my interests and personality traits. This makes it possible for me to excel as a professional interpreter who collaborates with like-minded people; use my voice to solve overlooked, persistent problems creatively – and still have fun while doing it!
When I stopped comparing myself to other fellow interpreters and people in general; I began discovering my own unique skills that set me apart from everybody – built on a strong purpose-driven foundation.
