| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you think of yourself firstly as a business person? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think of yourself firstly as a business person?".
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
| | | | Marcelo Silveyra
United States
Local time: 21:44
Member (2007)
German to English
+ ...
As translators or as individuals? I'm assuming it's the former, right?
| | | | | Can't afford not to... | Nov 21, 2007 |
...keep a business head on!
| | | | Mike Hunter (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:44
English to Flemish
+ ...
| its business | Nov 21, 2007 |
aceavila - Noni wrote:
...keep a business head on!
If you equate "business" with working in a professional way, then I think all translators are business people. I absolutely agree that you need to keep a good business head on.
cheers
Mike
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Özden Arıkan 
Germany
Local time: 06:44
Member
English to Turkish
+ ...
| Clicked on 'No' without a second thought, but... | Nov 21, 2007 |
If the question has been asked within the context of translation only, and I suspect it has, then my answer would be something from 'Sometimes' to 'Most of the Time' - I never say 'never' and 'always'
[Edited at 2007-11-21 16:47]
| | | | Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 22:44
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
Money is an important factor in my life but it's not at the top. Furthermore, we can help others through translation.
[Modificato alle 2007-11-21 16:58]
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 00:44
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
If by 'business person', you mean someone who is a professional, like Mike's comment, then yes.
If you mean someone with training/education in marketing, business and the like, then no.
'Sending out invoices' makes me feel like an accountant. Which is not to say that accountants are not professionals and business people in their own right, but it does seem to limit the 'business' of translation/interpretation to monetary concerns only, whereas I associate business people with mark... See more If by 'business person', you mean someone who is a professional, like Mike's comment, then yes.
If you mean someone with training/education in marketing, business and the like, then no.
'Sending out invoices' makes me feel like an accountant. Which is not to say that accountants are not professionals and business people in their own right, but it does seem to limit the 'business' of translation/interpretation to monetary concerns only, whereas I associate business people with marketing, organizing, managing, etc. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 06:44
Spanish to English
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| I don't really understand what the question is driving at | Nov 21, 2007 |
.. so have nothing to add to what has already been said, although I must disagree with Mike, having come up against some self-styled translators and agencies out there that are totally unprofessional.
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In my opnion, a translator is a creative type and a professional. These qualities can hardly coexist with those a businessperson needs.
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 06:44
Spanish to English
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| Bohemian rhapsody | Nov 21, 2007 |
I got the impression the question was aimed at finding out how much of a business mentality translators have.
I think many of us are artistic, free-spirited types. People like us oftentimes have a reputation for having their heads in the clouds as opposed to those in more business like down-to-earth jobs or professions. There seems to be a certain stereotype of translators as bohemian artist types who would rather starve to death than allow their work to become “commercialized”.... See more I got the impression the question was aimed at finding out how much of a business mentality translators have.
I think many of us are artistic, free-spirited types. People like us oftentimes have a reputation for having their heads in the clouds as opposed to those in more business like down-to-earth jobs or professions. There seems to be a certain stereotype of translators as bohemian artist types who would rather starve to death than allow their work to become “commercialized”. (I’m not saying that it’s what I think; I just think it would be easy to see how some people might think that of us. There have already been polls and forums in which some of us have said that our friends and neighbors don’t think we have “real” jobs – whatever that means.)
Getting back to the question… I don’t think that anyone can survive as a translator (or at least make a decent living) without having a business mentality. I’m always surprised when I see polls that say something like, “Do you negotiate X with clients?” and a large percentage answer NO. What type of businessman doesn’t negotiate?
I also think the question is an effort to find what percentage of people don’t see the business aspects of translating as important because they LOVE what they do. As they say, “Love is blind” and I think it makes many translators blind to the more mundane, dog-eat-dog reality of the business world. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 06:44
Spanish to English
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| "No" off the hip (call me Quick Draw) | Nov 21, 2007 |
but suddenly it strikes me all the decisions that have pared my life down to its simple basics have been business ones.
Work for 5 cents? (5 x 3000) NO.
Accept hour-long interpretations at hourly rates? (hours of research + travel time) NO.
300 words by PayPal (less commissions) NO.
etc., etc., etc......
After I've done that, I can afford to be an artistic, free-spirited type ... See more but suddenly it strikes me all the decisions that have pared my life down to its simple basics have been business ones.
Work for 5 cents? (5 x 3000) NO.
Accept hour-long interpretations at hourly rates? (hours of research + travel time) NO.
300 words by PayPal (less commissions) NO.
etc., etc., etc......
After I've done that, I can afford to be an artistic, free-spirited type until the end of the month (invoicing time). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | An instinctive "No..." | Nov 22, 2007 |
... And I wanted another option - "especially when doing the invoices"!
I think of people who work in Finance as being business people. But like everyone else, when actually thinking about I'm not sure what is meant. Professional? I think I am. Negotiate? Well, potential clients are free to take or leave my rates, not the other way round... Organised? Definitely. So does that make me a business woman?
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Sabine Schlottky
Germany
Local time: 06:44
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
| I am asking myself: | Nov 22, 2007 |
Is there anything wrong with being a business person after all???
| | | | JackieMcC
Local time: 06:44
French to English
| Clearly, yes | Nov 22, 2007 |
Because, as a freelance translator, I am running a translation business - aren't we all?
Although I definitely think I'm better at the translating side than the 'business' side
Jackie
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 21:44
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | Define: business person | Nov 22, 2007 |
As far as I know, translators are not exempt from paying rent, taxes, whatever bills, and BTW, they have to eat.
Each and every time you decline a job that would require you to work for peanuts, you are thinking and acting like a business person.
Each and every time you double- and triple-check your translation you act and think like a business person.
Slight mix-up between "business person" and "yuppie"?
 ... See more As far as I know, translators are not exempt from paying rent, taxes, whatever bills, and BTW, they have to eat.
Each and every time you decline a job that would require you to work for peanuts, you are thinking and acting like a business person.
Each and every time you double- and triple-check your translation you act and think like a business person.
Slight mix-up between "business person" and "yuppie"?
▲ Collapse
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Do you think of yourself firstly as a business person? | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
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