How To Be a Translator

I am afraid more people than care to admit it have taken an equally long time and equally circuitous routes in becoming translators. If you are just starting out, save yourself some valuable time. Do not emulate our haphazard paths. Instead, proceed as follows:

Take a sober inventory of what you bring to the job. All of us—all of us!—have learned interesting things in our lives, which might be useful in one way or another when translating in various fields. But if you lack certain essentials—for example, if you are not a good writer in your native language—then do consider pursuing a different path.
Take a sober inventory of what you still need to acquire. Then acquire it. Spend some time on training first—it need not be in translation as such—specialty fields are just as important for many. Allow yourself some time abroad; read, read, read; and listen, listen, listen. Even if you think you already have a solid foundation and you have work, set aside enough time so that you can still do all of the above on the side.
Seek out colleagues wherever you can. Good places to look are Internet "hangouts" for translators and (yes) translators´ associations. Collaborate whenever you have a chance. Edit and be edited, even if you hate editing. Above all, keep your mind open. What we learn today isn´t going to last us a lifetime!
Don´t deceive yourself into thinking you are some kind of an artist enjoying artists´ (and fools´) privileges—99% of the time you are not.
Think of yourself as a businessperson first and foremost. Be dependable. Be available. Be visible. Be serious. Market yourself. Stick to deadlines religiously. Don´t guess what your customer needs—if you aren´t 100% sure, ask. If you don´t like what you hear, say no. If you are called upon to do something you cannot do, say no. But if you do engage in a contract, abide by its terms. Sound trivial? You´d be surprised how many translators fail in precisely these trivial things. The most rigorous translation is worthless if it arrives after that atomic power plant blows up.
Develop a set of negative criteria for those projects you don´t want to do. Then don´t do them.
Develop an O.K. set of positive criteria for those projects you really do want to do. Then pursue them whenever you have a minute to spare.
Determine where you want to go. Ask yourself: What would I like my professional life to be, say, ten years from now? From time to time, calibrate the things you do on a daily basis against that overall goal.