ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | ?

Gianluca Marras — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 11:23:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Gianluca Marras
Post title: ?

[quote]Mario Chavez wrote:

First, it was Halloween. Then, Thanksgiving. Now, New Year's resolutions? Welcome to the intended secondary effects of American globalization: we're either seduced or forced to adopt strange customs. I suspect this unwelcome but mesmerizing influence is also responsible for the “industrification” of our profession (i.e. so-called “translation industry”).

Caveat: I'm American and yet I resent this intrusive habit of forcing people to set goals by the end of each year. [/quote]

Maybe the end of the year is simply a moment when you have the time to think about how you want to change (if you want) your life.
Do not make it more complicated than it actually is ;-)

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | New Year's resolutions work for me

Muriel Vasconcellos (X) — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 09:28:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Post title: New Year's resolutions work for me

We're all different, but I give a lot of thought to my resolutions and they help me focus. I like the feeling of getting a chance at a fresh start, and when better than when starting a new year?

I made a New Year's resolution to stop smoking about 40 years ago and never broke it once.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | ongoing

Maxi Schwarz — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 04:55:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Maxi Schwarz
Post title: ongoing

I think in a business you are constantly monitoring, constantly improving what needs to be improved. I voted "no" because if such things are done only once a year, and arbitrarily just because of the calendar, that wouldn't go too well.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | I don't believe in witches either

Mario Freitas — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 04:35:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Mario Freitas
Post title: I don't believe in witches either

Please! New year resolutions? How inappropriate can that be? Why don't you make the resolutions in all other 364 days and fulfill them? Does a new year event have the power to make you comply with any promises? Of course not. Resolutions have to be made when they are necessary, not on any special date. This is for kids.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Be a better accountant

Nina Khmielnitzky — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 20:01:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Nina Khmielnitzky
Post title: Be a better accountant

Take more accurate notes of everything (what I owe and and I am owed) and save more money for my taxes.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Not to be unkind to the history lesson but…

Mario Chavez (X) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 19:14:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Mario Chavez (X)
Post title: Not to be unkind to the history lesson but…

[quote]ventnai wrote:

[quote]Mario Chavez wrote:

First, it was Halloween. Then, Thanksgiving. Now, New Year's resolutions? Welcome to the intended secondary effects of American globalization: we're either seduced or forced to adopt strange customs. I suspect this unwelcome but mesmerizing influence is also responsible for the “industrification” of our profession (i.e. so-called “translation industry”).

Caveat: I'm American and yet I resent this intrusive habit of forcing people to set goals by the end of each year. [/quote]

Halloween has its origins in the Celtic cultures of the British Isles. Halloween itself is a contraction of "All Hallows' Evening". I remember celebrating it in the UK as a kid before US culture reached its heights. The US did make Halloween popular worldwide through film and televison.

New Year's resolutions have their roots in ancient cultures, Christianity and Judaism. [/quote]

…I grew up in Latin America, in a Catholic country (Argentina) and we never spoke of New Year's resolutions.

As for Halloween, it's the Americanized version of it that gets exported and adopted outside of the U.S., unless indicated otherwise by colleagues who are in the know.

:)

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Not so American

Ian Keith Jones Williams — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 18:13:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Ian Keith Jones Williams
Post title: Not so American

[quote]Mario Chavez wrote:

First, it was Halloween. Then, Thanksgiving. Now, New Year's resolutions? Welcome to the intended secondary effects of American globalization: we're either seduced or forced to adopt strange customs. I suspect this unwelcome but mesmerizing influence is also responsible for the “industrification” of our profession (i.e. so-called “translation industry”).

Caveat: I'm American and yet I resent this intrusive habit of forcing people to set goals by the end of each year. [/quote]

Halloween has its origins in the Celtic cultures of the British Isles. Halloween itself is a contraction of "All Hallows' Evening". I remember celebrating it in the UK as a kid before US culture reached its heights. The US did make Halloween popular worldwide through film and televison.

New Year's resolutions have their roots in ancient cultures, Christianity and Judaism.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Reorganize and start to delegate!

Romina Pérez Escorihuela — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 17:03:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Romina Pérez Escorihuela
Post title: Reorganize and start to delegate!

I'm expecting my first baby, so I have no chance rather than reorganizing my business project! I have been working with a community manager for the last year, so I learned to delegate the marketing and communication aspect of my business already... and he sometimes became my assistant, specially while I was on the booth and unable to quote for jobs or reply urgent messages - he did that for me many times, successfully!

So, during our last meeting in December, we brainstormed about how to face this new year, because I will definitely need an extra hand to reply messages, quote for jobs, organize translators' and interpreters' teams... I am aware of the fact that I would not be able to go back to a booth until my son/daughter is 6 months old (as per my colleagues' experience....) so, something has to be done during that time to keep money coming into my bank account, although in reduced amounts.... Time will tell, and, please: wish me all good luck! I'll need it
=)

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | New Year's Resolution

Vera H. — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 16:50:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Vera H.
Post title: New Year's Resolution

My Resolutions for the New Year include:
1. Accept only projects I really enjoy (actually, I'm almost there on this one)
2. Stop working on holidays and work only on weekends when I feel like doing so
3. Refuse deadlines that are unrealistic
4. Reject a project if I feel I need a break

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Increase productivity

Michael Brookman M.S. — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 16:12:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Michael Brookman M.S.
Post title: Increase productivity

I resolve to increase productivity by fully utilizing my network resource and working/completing project faster.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | The Americanization of cultures

Mario Chavez (X) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 15:32:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Mario Chavez (X)
Post title: The Americanization of cultures

First, it was Halloween. Then, Thanksgiving. Now, New Year's resolutions? Welcome to the intended secondary effects of American globalization: we're either seduced or forced to adopt strange customs. I suspect this unwelcome but mesmerizing influence is also responsible for the “industrification” of our profession (i.e. so-called “translation industry”).

Caveat: I'm American and yet I resent this intrusive habit of forcing people to set goals by the end of each year.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Yes

Ahmad Hassaballa — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 13:05:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Ahmad Hassaballa
Post title: Yes

1. Launching my website
2. Setting up my own office
3. Raising my management and marketing skills

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Yes

Kristina Cosumano (X) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 11:41:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Kristina Cosumano (X)
Post title: Yes

Get out and meet more colleagues and prospective clients in person. Powwows, conferences, trade fairs.

And raise my rates, which is not a resolution because it's already done.

[Edited at 2018-01-05 11:42 GMT]

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Yes

Joana Neves — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 11:23:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Joana Neves
Post title: Yes

My professional New Year's resolutions include:
1 - stop working on the weekends and some big holidays + apply strict schedule for daily working
2 - refuse to work on 2 or 3 projects at the same time (it happened with small translations with different deadlines)
3 - continue to learn (participate in webinars, keep up-to-date regarding the translation world)
4 - turn my hobby into a job once and for all!

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | No

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 10:34:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Post title: No

What are My New Year's Resolutions? Actually, I don't like the concept that there's only one time a year that you can set goals, redirect yourself and get on the right road. Let’s say, for the sake of the question, that my resolution will be to keep on working, learning and improving…

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Yes

Kay Denney — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 09:40:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Kay Denney
Post title: Yes

Get more direct clients who pay well and promptly so I can ditch the agency that pays little (even if they are prompt)

Aim for greater efficiency. I have already made some headway on this as I have created a new business email that I can get notifications for on my phone, so I can at least confirm deadlines and answer small questions when out and about. Seems like there's always an emergency the minute I head for the swimming pool!

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Yes

Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 09:36:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons)
Post title: Yes

1) Raise my rates
2) Refuse boring, complicated and too small projects
3) Refuse to work with agency-based CAT tools.

[Edited at 2018-01-05 09:36 GMT]

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | No

Elizabeth Tamblin (X) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 09:35:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Elizabeth Tamblin (X)
Post title: No

I'm just going to go with the flow. If I'm offered work, I will consider accepting it; if not, I've got other projects to work on.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Yes

Marsha Burdick — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 09:02:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Marsha Burdick
Post title: Yes

I have signed up for a business course to improve my management skills.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions? | Yes

Muriel Vasconcellos (X) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 08:18:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Post title: Yes

I resolved to stick to my resolve to:
(1) not accept any translation review projects;
(2) be very careful about accepting PDFs - check them very carefully before deciding.

Those are the areas where my will is weakest. I am already very firm about rates, deadlines, matches and fuzzy matches, and other topics.

Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?

ProZ.com Staff — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 08:10:02 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you have any professional New Year's resolutions?".

This poll was originally submitted by Gianluca Marras. View the poll results »