Growth Hurts and Change is Hard: My Translation Business

They say growth hurts and change is hard. Well, I’m in the midst both of those experiences with my freelance translation business. I need to make a change, but feel limited in my options AND feel scared. Please read on to see what I'm facing and what I'm thinking of doing to effect this change/growth.

Current Situation

​I still depend greatly on one main translation client, the one I’ve had since I started 7 years ago. As such, there’s no room to increase my rates with them, so the majority of my income is at my old rate. Additionally, when I get work from my better-paying clients, it is infrequent.

Consequently, income is a constant stressor for me. It's not guaranteed. It fluctuates. Specifically, I do not have enough income next month to pay my bills and that is what led me to make this very public leap.

My ideas to grow and change:

Feasible and short-term ideas:

• Seek a certificate in editing and/or join this editors’ association - this would give me a qualification and experience to put on my CV;
• Going through the ATA business member directory one-by-one and contacting relevant agencies - I have started this tedious process, only to find spam/outdated websites and to NOT get responses from the agencies I do contact;
• Offering other services besides “medical translation” - i.e., editing, translating subtitles, proofing for VoiceOver artists - but where do I start finding such work?

Ideas that cost money (I can’t afford them right now) and are long-term:

• ATA association conference
• ATA certification process
• Series of courses in editing through an accredited university

Why am I sharing this?

I’m sharing this publicly for a couple of reasons. One, to face my fear of admitting I’m struggling and two, to elicit responses from others, whether they relate to this post, have advice, or want to respond in any other way. Please comment on my LinkedIn post or email me with your thoughts. Thanks.