Caroline Brooker-McGrath, Avante Language Services, Inc. CEO, founded the foreign-language services company in 1997. She is an English-Spanish interpreter and entrepreneur based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, possessing extensive experience as an interpreter in legal and medical settings. Under the direction of Ms. Brooker, the company offers remote and in-person interpreting and document translation, supported by an international network of linguists.
Before launching Avante Language Services, Caroline Brooker-McGrath spent five years as a Spanish language lecturer at the University of Nevada, Reno. Complementing more than 35 years of language teaching and interpreting experience, she holds a master’s degree in foreign languages and literature from Washington State University and a certificate in multilingual business studies from Temple University.
Outside of her professional pursuits, she is active in youth suicide prevention and youth mental health outreach and is a former child refugee foster parent. She also volunteers at the Philadelphia ACCT animal shelter and Bethany Christian Services Foster Program.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
As a teenager, I worked in a bread bakery and had to wake at 4:00 am. I have kept that waking schedule my whole life! I start the day by stretching, followed by meditation. I then review emails and pending projects and write an agenda for the day. Having a list of tasks to check off keeps me productive and focused. By noon, I am ready for a short nap.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I have my best ideas while out walking. I walk a few miles per day and find the bilateral movement and fresh air conducive to solving problems and coming up with new ideas.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I am a big fan of the four-day workweek, which is gaining traction. Employees who work four days, while being paid for five days, show greater productivity, less fatigue, and express greater job satisfaction. Company morale is also boosted.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
For the tedious projects that most people tend to put off until the last moment, I work on those for 15 minutes per day, usually as the first task of the morning. Leaving a project for the last moment creates anxiety.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t worry about other people’s opinions of you so much. Nobody is thinking that much about you! Be true to yourself and do not be afraid to fail. Take those risks now! Live abroad while you are young and impressionable.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Children should not be permitted to have smart phones until the age of 16. Social media and the internet’s easy access to disturbing material are putting our youth at an increased risk of mental disorders, including depression and anxiety. If more parents agreed, the social pressure for middle school (and younger) children to have a phone would decrease and our children’s innocence could be prolonged.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
“Early to bed, early to rise.” Waking early makes it easier to exercise, avoiding the temptation to skip it later in the day. Brain function is higher in the morning, facilitating the completion of complex tasks.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I never stay seated for more than 50 minutes. Doing squats or running upstairs or some other physical tasks recharges the body and mind. After 50 minutes, task fatigue starts to set in. Walking away from the project for even five minutes and doing something physical can reset your focus.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Never take clients for granted. Express appreciation often. Often, new clients are recommended from existing clients. Nurture the ones you have and ask for reviews.
Seek constant quality improvement.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Never take clients for granted. Express appreciation often. Often, new clients are recommended from existing clients. Nurture the ones you have and ask for reviews.
Seek constant quality improvement.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
In the US, more households have pets than children, with 70% of households owing at least one pet. More services for pet guardians are needed, especially for working professionals. Profitable businesses include boutique pet care, animal travel relocations services, and animal psychotherapy.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Todoist is a productivity software that facilitates organization of tasks and can be shared with team members. Our teams use it to collaborate and keep track of important projects and deadlines.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Adopted a pair of bonded kittens. Cats provide companionship and have a calming effect on the soul and are considered by some cultures to be spiritual guardians. There is nothing more soothing than the purr of a happy cat or two!
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
“Diary of a CEO” podcast offers insight into many industries and topics that affect us all. These interviews with experts broaden my mind and offer fresh perspectives on everything from health to global economics. The relaxed tone of the host is calming. Highly recommend!
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I watch old episodes of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” whenever I am feeling down. I love the irreverence and quirky personalities. It reminds me to not take everything so seriously. The world needs more humor.
Key learnings
- Master the tools to stay focused.
- Keep learning and gaining new perspectives.
- Show appreciation for your clients.
- Giving employees a more flexible work schedule boosts productivity and morale.
- Humor oils the grind of the day-to-day.