The Debrief: A Online Language Translation Side Hustle

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Welcome to The Debrief. This week we interviewed Maya Thompson, a bilingual entrepreneur who turned her love for language into a thriving side hustle. If you didn’t catch it, feel free to check it out here before diving into this edition.

In this mid-week newsletter, we are going to investigate what we covered in our interview and breakdown the key takeaways and share some actionable advice for you to work on in your business venture.

Each debrief is designed to give you something to work on each week based off the advice given by our featured entrepreneur.

Let’s get into it!

Translation Service

Key takeaways:

1. Start with Strengths, Then Specialize
   Maya began by leaning into her bilingual background and passion for communication. But her growth accelerated once she narrowed her niche to marketing and content localization. This focus helped her improve efficiency, attract better clients, and command higher rates.

2. Freelance Platforms Are a Launchpad—Not the Goal
   Initially relying on platforms like Upwork, Maya found success but also hit limits on pricing and client quality. She emphasizes the importance of building a professional portfolio and website early on to establish credibility and reduce dependence on marketplaces.

3. Define Success Beyond Money
   For Maya, success means flexibility, impact, and sustainability. She values the ability to balance her side hustle with full-time work, maintain energy, and help clients achieve meaningful outcomes—like landing jobs or expanding globally.

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