For translators who refuse to let clients define their value,

You didn’t become a translator because you wanted to manage workflows, chase rates, or justify your value every week.

You did it because you liked the work. The words. The meaning. The process of doing it well.

But now?

A lot of translators I talk to tell me some version of this: “I feel like I’m disappearing.” “Even my best clients are pulling back.” “What used to make me valuable doesn’t seem to matter anymore.”

They’re not imagining it. The industry has changed quickly. But not in the way you might think.

This email kicks off a series based on The Opportunity Report for Translators… a practical executive report I created to reframe the conversation about AI, pricing pressure, and the future of our work.

The message of the report is simple. You can still have a thriving, respected, creative career in translation… but not by doing what’s always worked before.

There’s a split happening in the market. AI didn’t kill human translation. But it is changing what clients value… and who they’re willing to pay. That’s not bad news. It’s good news if you’re willing to think differently.

Let me give you an example. When I first started using AI in my own work, I wasn’t impressed. The results were passable at best. I figured it was another gimmick.

But over time, I stopped using it like a translator… and started using it like a craftsman with a new tool. What happened surprised even me. I was suddenly hitting 800 to 1000 words per hour on many jobs without cutting corners. My translation voice actually got stronger. And whole new categories of work started opening up.

That’s when I realized the future isn’t about competing with AI. It’s about using it to unlock new value… value that’s still deeply human.

So what kind of work is that? That’s what the next 12 emails in this series will explore. Each one will cover a different human translation growth driver… real, documented areas where demand is growing for high-trust, high-skill, translator-led work. Each one will also point to a path that leads away from the race to the bottom… and back toward doing what you actually enjoy about this profession.

But before we get into all of that, I want to invite you to something that pulls this all together.

On Thursday, September 25, I’m hosting a free, live webclass for freelance translators who want to stay competitive… and relevant… in the age of AI.

We’ll walk through the exact strategy I use to stay competitive in high-trust translation markets. I’ll show you how to increase both speed and quality at the same time. You’ll see the specific tools and workflows that make it possible. And I’ll explain how to position yourself as irreplaceable by doing what AI can’t.

It’s not theoretical. It’s not fluffy. And it’s not what you’re hearing at translation conferences. It’s specific. It’s real. And it works.

This webclass is also the only way to enroll in AI Mastery for Translators… And Beyond — the most advanced, hands-on training available for translators who want to stay ahead.

So if you’ve been feeling like translation work is slipping away… If you want to stay in this industry but on your terms… If you want to make good money doing the part of translation you actually enjoy… come to the webclass.

I think you’ll walk away with a completely new perspective.

Here’s the link to register: https://cotranslatorai.com/webclass

See you there,
Steven