For this Monday, I’m going to share some of my personal thoughts. Please do not take it personally because it is how I feel. By no means am I trying to target anyone.
First of all, my blog has surpassed 55000 views!!! This is amazing to me, because if it weren’t for the translations, I would have not have achieved this until many years down the road.
Before translating, I would get about a hundred views a week. Now, I get hundreds of views per day.
Although most people come for the translation and they don’t give a shit about me, it is still nice that they want to continue reading my translations.
It pushes me to want to be better.
My goal is to get more views. (That’s not my only goal, but I’m only talking about blog related things right now.)
Why?
I want to help/inspire more people. The more people that read my blog, the higher chances I have of making an impact on someone. (NOTE: Not all posts are motivational. Some are just my own opinions.)
More views = more ad revenue. Last month, I qualified for word ads, and I think I may be able to make a penny per view. Haha (still better than nothing. I will find out some time soon).
More views = people like my content and/or my translations = more motivation to push myself. Although no views doesn’t mean my content or translation is poor, but having views help a lot.
So, why am I writing this post?
I didn’t write it to show off. I am writing this because I want to help you set goals.
First, you need to determine what your goal is. What do you want to achieve? I will use me as an example. Ex. I want ______ views by __________.
After you have a goal (whatever it may be), you have to take ACTION.
So, I ask myself, “What have I done TODAY to help my goal? Did I post up a new post? Did I translate another chapter?”
If I don’t do anything, I won’t get anything. <- THIS IS THE FACT.
I have to work my ass off if I want to see results.
It’s actually a very simple concept; yet, it can be so difficult for us to follow.
In order to be successful, you have to be:
CONSISTENT & PERSISTENT
You need to have a strong WHY. WHY are you doing it?
With the right motive, it can help you tremendously during difficult times.
——-
One of the reasons why I hate working for the government despite the good wages and benefits is that, as long as you show up and do your job, you will get paid.
That is a good thing. But you just keep doing the same things over and over again. You don’t grow at all.
I worked at the library part time for 8 years while I was in school. It was a good job because of the stable wage; and because it is under the City of Toronto, it is unionized (This means, we can go on strike and demand for more $$. We have people fighting for us.)
Every year, I would get a raise. I knew exactly how much $$ I will make depending on the hours I worked.
But I felt like a book slave.
For the most part, all I did was shelve books. I had/have practically memorized the whole dewey decimal system. If you asked me where cook books were, I would tell you, “Non Fiction: 641.5” If you asked me where Plato was, I’d tell you, “184” One guy was impressed I was able to tell him dogs were at “636.707” without thinking.
But it’s brainless work.
I felt like a robot. I just followed orders.
Or a passenger.
Or a sheep.
I wasn’t in control of my life.
Money controlled me.
I want to be the pilot.
I want to be the one who decides where I want to go.
I want to have the control.
And that’s why despite how difficult translating is, I am still willing to do it.
Because,
I’m the one in control.
P.S. I know money is important, and we need it to survive. Some people have no choice but to work like a robot in order to pay bills. Personally, though, I need something more meaningful.
P.P.S. If you work for a government, I’m not trying to insult you. It’s just how I feel. Again, I need to say this in case people take my post too personally.
Grow with me 
Hey whatever your doing keep at it! i appreciate your every effort at translating this light novel for the many here who can’t read or speak Chinese(includes me). Don’t get too discouraged either if you get negative comments, such as “hey your translating too slow” etc. Also your move on translating this was very smart. Even if most people come here to look for the translated work you’ll eventually get a portion of people who get curious and check your daily blog as well. So anyways keep at it! i’ll be cheering and watching on the sidelines to see your work grow.
Aww, thank you for your kind comment!! Hehe. It makes me happy to know some of my viewers eventually get curious about me.
Sorry I am slow at translating. 😦 I get burn out so easily, so I usually need to take a break afterwards. I hope to develop more consistency as time passes by.
I will translate Chapter 15 tmr though!! 😀
translation is an art. it should not be hastened or else the product will come out dull. so you should take your time to polish the finished work and to not burn yourself out as well. It’s also better in the long run when the reader can fully comprehend whats being stated rather than also trying to decipher what the translator was trying to say. I don’t speak Chinese, but I do speak my own language aside from English and from my experience translating is similar to a feeling and that feeling is different for everyone so trying to convey those feelings is somewhat of a challenge especially when certain words do not exist in the English language.
ps: been thinking about starting a blog of my own but unsure on how to start about the process.
I agree!! Thanks for your long comment!! It is actually quite difficult to translate a novel because I have to describe the scenery as well as the emotions. If I were to translate a drama, it would only be dialogue since the viewer can see the emotions and locations on their own.
Just out of curiosity, where are you from? Your English is so good!! It’s amazing how you are able to communicate your thoughts so well if English is not a primary language in your country.
You should start a blog!! Haha. Write about what interests you!? I use wordpress. It’s free to open an account. Hmm, let me know if you need help. I will try my best to guide you.
Really great post, Grace!!! I am honestly so proud of you for reaching so many views and helping and impacting so many people. From blogger to blogger, I know what you are going through and the hard work it takes to blog consistently. The concepts you write about are actually so in line with MA’s as a leader. Did you realize that? It all relates to the persistence, consistency, and the WHY. Great job, Grace!!! Keep growing! 💪
Thanks, Karen!! IT IS SOOOOOO hard to be consistent because I am SOOOOOO freakin lazy. It honestly doesn’t take me too long to translate, but it requires intense concentration and brain power. My poor brain. lol.
And yes, I know it’s related to MA too!! I feel like it relates to life as well. Honestly, you get what you work for.
Haha, I feel like one day I will want to make speeches or post videos online to motivate people 😛
I’m thinking of starting a youtube channel this year.. we’ll see how that goes. Thanks for all your support! I support u too!! And I’m so proud of you as well. (Remember the song and lyrics I wrote for you?? *wink wink*)
Grace, you’re already proving yourself to be consistent by posting every Monday and translating! You’re amazing! Hehe. I’m so, so proud of you! You can do it! Ohh, that’s exciting! I think you will get a lot of viewers. You’re going to be a social media queen! Motivational blogger, vlogger, and translator! Don’t forget me when you’re famous! 😛
Ahahaha awww, Karen! I don’t think I’ll be famous :P. But if I ever do, I would never forget you! You’re the reason why I started blogging!!!
Haha, but my translation speed is so slow. Some translators translate a chapter or even a couple chapters a day. V___V I only translate 2 a week because I burn out so easily. It sucks for the readers because it will only take them maybe 5 to 10 minutes to read a chapter.
Don’t worry, Grace! Just do your best!! I know it’s tough for you but maybe you will build up the endurance and be able to translate more in a day. It just takes practice. Maybe this novel is tiring you out and the next novel that you translate will be easier! 🙂
Aww, yeah. I need to make translating a habit instead of cramming everything and doing it all at once.
Honestly, it is a lot easier for me to translate dramas because it’s only the dialogue. Whereas, when I translate, I have to describe the emotions and the scenery. The emotions are the hardest. Hehe. Check out my translations when/if you get bored! I know you’re a busy lady though. 😛
Maybe write out a schedule or a to-do list of the translations you have to do? Like 30 minutes a day at least so that you have a schedule for yourself. 🙂 Hehe, I’ll read the novel one day, Grace!
Yeah! I definitely need to be more strict with myself. Self discipline is sooo hard.
Thanks, Karen!! ❤
🙂
Hey gchan it’s me Enrico. I don’t know what happened to my last post/reply but I’ve finally made a blog thanks to you lol. Anyways you really think my English is good? You should check out my grammar sometime har har. Also to answer your curiosity I’m from New Jersey way way south of good old toronto. It’s been a while since i last visited my cousins up north. I should come up and visit them sometime to eat their amazing cooking!!!
Wow!! That was quick! What is your blog, Enrico?! I will check it out! Haha, ahh, I see! I thought you were from a non English speaking country :p. Good luck with blogging!!
P.S It is super cold in Toronto right now. Not a good place to be unless you like winter. :p
Nvm. Found and added you! Earlier I couldn’t click your blog for some strange reason.
ugh… Grace.. this blogging is much more of a challenge then originally perceived. Writing is one thing but managing this website is vexing. At the moment I’m currently having trouble running a theme. It’s as if my website does not want to listen to me. Any differences if I paid for premium? Will it be more user friendly(everything shall go my way!!) or is this an occurrence I need to go with until i get used to this beast that needs to be tamed!!!!
yours truly,
Disgruntled first time blogger
Aww, don’t give up, Enrico! It’s tough at the beginning because you don’t know how to use the themes yet. When you click, “My stats” you should be seeing a blue page. One the sidebar to your left, under “Personalize”, click Themes. Choose the free ones and try it out until you find one that you like!?
You have to customize the theme if you want to add stuff like how I did (on the sidebar).
I don’t use premium, I wouldn’t suggest it!! Currently, I’ve only paid for my own domain (liveandlearn88.com instead of liveandlearn88.wordpress.com) But I wouldn’t suggest you to do that until you have figured out how to use the themes. It is very confusing at first. It took me a year to figure out how to make my page the way it looks right now (lol).
There is still a lot I don’t know, but it’s all a learning process. Play around with it.
Sincerely,
Grace
Congrats!