ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | The same (but this stress, I like it!!!)

Eleni Makantani — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:57:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Eleni Makantani
Post title: The same (but this stress, I like it!!!)

In the past I did three other jobs that had nothing to do with translation. I was stressed (actually, not stressed, but I don't know what else to call it...) because I didn't like what I was doing, I was bored and I wanted to change. All I can say is that life can be miserable, if you spend eight hours every day, or so, doing something that doesn't make you happy.

Now I am stressed over the variant workload, over keeping my clients happy, over getting paid, over deadlines, over having to sacrifice my weekends, quite often, but I LOVE what I do and I'm simply HAPPY about it!!!

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | That's it

Sabina Winkler CAPIRSI — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:33:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Sabina Winkler CAPIRSI
Post title: That's it

[quote]Juan Manuel García wrote:

I would say I'm more stressed now, because you always have to deal with new challenges, tight deadlines and difficult jobs, sometimes, but I definitely believe that this is a "good" kind of stress. The negative part is that you get stressed (who doesn't?!!), but the positive one is that you work in what you love, so, blessed be this stress!!

Juanma [/quote]

Absolutely with Juan Manuel.

And ... I work harder, I work more, much more but I love it, because ist for MY OWN business and for no one else...

Sabina

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | Different kind of stress

Gita Madhu (X) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:59:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Gita Madhu (X)
Post title: Different kind of stress

I agree that in one way it's a lot more stress than most other jobs.
The normal jobs that people have can be put behind them at the end of the day but most freelancers have to dive deep into their work until it is handed over.

My husband used to be a freelance film maker and in a way that was much more stressful as he was responsible for every aspect of the film whereas for me the stress is limited to the translation. I don't have to worry about the camera man, the editors, the logistics, etc.

On the other hand, this work involves long and focussed hours at the PC. And there's rarely any great indication of the client's level of satisfaction- the fact that work keeps coming is the only indicator!

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | Totally different stress

Harry Hermawan — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:42:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Harry Hermawan
Post title: Totally different stress

In the past the stress is usually on getting to the place of work...traffic.

Now, past stress as above is non-existent (except if there's a interpreting job..in this case getting to the client not so much a stress rather an enjoyable trip down memory lane...even though there is traffic).

The new stress level is doing the marketing i.e. when not translating or interpreting, you know lah

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | I prefer this one

Fernando D. Walker — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:23:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Fernando D. Walker
Post title: I prefer this one

[quote]Catherine Shepherd wrote:
It's a different kind of stress compared to other jobs, but it's the one I prefer! Because being a freelancer has so many other advantages... [/quote]

Catherine: You couldn’t have said it better. I totally agree with you.
Best,
Fernando

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | Worry, not stress

Richard Jenkins — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:50:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Richard Jenkins
Post title: Worry, not stress

I certainly don't suffer from the same levels of stress that I used to, simply because I mostly enjoy my job now, even when the source material is really boring. The majority of people in the translation industry are really great too :)

However, worry is a more appropriate emotion. I didn't use to worry so much as I do now because I used to have a fixed salary and was able to organize my investments, holidays etc... Now I worry about those things, but then that's maybe also due to the fact that I've got a wife and three kids to look after. The right sort of worry I think.

I think that if you're happy in what you do then you don't really feel such high levels of stress. There are more important things to 'worry' about.

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | "the only stress I eventually have is up to me"

yam2u — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:52:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: yam2u
Post title: "the only stress I eventually have is up to me"

Can't say it better! :)

-may-

[quote]Fabio Descalzi wrote:

AND: I work all by myself. My only responsibilities are: deliver in time, and ensure the quality of my own work. The rest is up to me. So... the only stress I eventually have is up to me too.

Do you want anything better? :)
[/quote]

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | Far less stress

Deborah do Carmo (X) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:49:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Deborah do Carmo (X)
Post title: Far less stress

I sometimes really miss the buzz of legal practice though. Legal practice involved constant deadlines too - the zero-tolerance from judges' kind - so it placed me in good stead for the time-driven aspect of full-time translation work. I function best under pressure, and manage time well, so I usually don't find deadlines stressful.

The only real "stress" I encounter with translation work is if the damn computer/Internet is playing up.

However, these days I have two backups for each, so it rarely happens.

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | My thoughts entirely

Claire Cox — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:31:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Claire Cox
Post title: My thoughts entirely

[quote]Diana Arbiser wrote:

I'm less stressed now, simply because I LOVE what I do. Nothing can be more stressful than hating your job. Nothing can be more rewarding than doing what you love/loving what you do. I'm blessed.
:) [/quote]

I agree entirely. I get the occasional day when I'm wading through something boring, but most of the time, as a freelancer, you can pick and choose. You can organise your workload to suit your own constraints, walk the dogs when you like, get some fresh air in the garden, cook your own lunch.... bliss! And of course, there's no commuting or office politics to contend with. And on top of that the huge bonus of a job you love - absolutely.

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | Different (and better) kind of stress, exactly!

Joeri Van Liefferinge — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:42:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Joeri Van Liefferinge
Post title: Different (and better) kind of stress, exactly!

[quote]Juan Manuel García wrote:

I would say I'm more stressed now, because you always have to deal with new challenges, tight deadlines and difficult jobs, sometimes, but I definitely believe that this is a "good" kind of stress. The negative part is that you get stressed (who doesn't?!!), but the positive one is that you work in what you love, so, blessed be this stress!!

Juanma [/quote]That's exactly what my first thought was!

Joeri

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | This is like a dream come true

Fabio Descalzi — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:37:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Fabio Descalzi
Post title: This is like a dream come true

In 2003 I attended a telework seminary. They told us, in short, that we were about to face a new sort of commuting:
- live here
- work far away
- cash your salary far away
- spend your money here
All four points are absolutely true.

AND: I work all by myself. My only responsibilities are: deliver in time, and ensure the quality of my own work. The rest is up to me. So... the only stress I eventually have is up to me too.

Do you want anything better? :)

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | Much less stressed!

Keren T. — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:29:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Keren T.
Post title: Much less stressed!

I am a former teacher, a job which I found to be quite stressful. Teachers in Israel have a tough time - classes are overcrowded, children unruly, parents demanding, etc. I used to come home "on all fours" after a day's work!

Now life is sweet! No commute, no rowdy kids, no boss looking over my shoulder. I love my work and feel very fulfilled. The only stress factors I can claim are meeting tight deadlines (which doesn't get me too riled up), slow periods where work has petered off (things always pick up eventually), and collecting money from reluctant payers (happens fairly infrequently). Other than that I feel like I have it made!

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | Agreed - different kind of stress

lillkakan — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:19:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: lillkakan
Post title: Agreed - different kind of stress

It's a completely different stress, that I find easier to cope with. It doesn't make me sick the way I was before.

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | Different kind of stress

Juan Manuel García — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:13:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Juan Manuel García
Post title: Different kind of stress

I would say I'm more stressed now, because you always have to deal with new challenges, tight deadlines and difficult jobs, sometimes, but I definitely believe that this is a "good" kind of stress. The negative part is that you get stressed (who doesn't?!!), but the positive one is that you work in what you love, so, blessed be this stress!!

Juanma

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had? | the best commute ever

Myriam S — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:40:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: Myriam S
Post title: the best commute ever

Now my commute to work takes 3 minutes, including my stop at the coffee maker for a cup of coffee. At one point I use to travel an hour to and from work. Now I use those two hours to get some exercise or play with our pets in the yard.

Yes, it is true that freelance work is stressful because the work load changes from month to month, sometimes there's too much work and sometimes not enough, and in addition there is the stress of tight deadlines. However, I have learned to manage those two things by reminding myself to take full advantage and do other things when I don’t have work.

In addition, when I receive requests to translate something urgently, I pause and ask myself, have I not left emergency medicine for something more humane? And the answer continues to be yes, so I politely decline, and wait for the next offer. And the next offer always comes.

If you are organized and disciplined, this is the type of job that allows you to better manage the stress of daily life.

Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?

ProZ.com Staff — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:21:31 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How does your stress level as a freelancer compare to other jobs you've had?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

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