| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5] > | Poll: Professionally, what motivates you? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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I wouldn't work if it weren't for the money.
Make a decent living is my one and only motive for getting up in the morning.
Recognition is appreciated but it doesn't pay the bills
| | | | | In it for the money | Jan 27, 2009 |
I actually voted "other", as nothing gives me a warm glow like recognition from my clients (like the e-mail I got from one the other day saying "you and X are my two favourite translators") - but of course the money is an important motivator.
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For me it's not really the money, although I quote fairly high prices. But I only do that because I think that dumping prices damage the business on the whole.
I want to be proud of the work I do or have done. I want to be able to say for myself that I have done everything possible to deliver good work.
And who hasn't had one of those machine-translated manuals?
I guess the people *reading* my translation and relying on it are more important to me than my c... See more For me it's not really the money, although I quote fairly high prices. But I only do that because I think that dumping prices damage the business on the whole.
I want to be proud of the work I do or have done. I want to be able to say for myself that I have done everything possible to deliver good work.
And who hasn't had one of those machine-translated manuals?
I guess the people *reading* my translation and relying on it are more important to me than my client. ▲ Collapse
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Making a beautiful translation.
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| Other - To be of service and loving the job. | Jan 27, 2009 |
Besides the additional perks, it's great to know that through my profession I can help others making it possible for them to understand what is written in a different language.
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 04:22
English to French
+ ...
1st, a passion for languages and communication
2nd, the independence and possibility to organise my time as I please
3d, recognition from others (clients and colleagues)
Money comes last: when I started, translation was my second job. 10 years ago, I decided to take up full time translation... Pays less than my former teacher's position but is definitely more gratifying and rewarding
| | | | | I would say a combination of all. | Jan 27, 2009 |
I really enjoy it; I love the feeling of job well done and having a satisfied customer, finding new contacts. I have to really work to keep things going but I don't mind. And like Josee, who also lives in a sub arctic climate...i don't have to get up, get dressed and go out in the freezing cold to go to work!! I like it even more than I liked journalism and writing, because i get to work with TWO languages.
| | | | Sheila Wilson 
Spain
Local time: 03:22
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| To echo Qualitylanguage - Pride | Jan 27, 2009 |
Qualitylanguage wrote:
For me it's not really the money, although I quote fairly high prices. But I only do that because I think that dumping prices damage the business on the whole.
I want to be proud of the work I do or have done. I want to be able to say for myself that I have done everything possible to deliver good work.
And who hasn't had one of those machine-translated manuals?
I guess the people *reading* my translation and relying on it are more important to me than my client.
I agree with every word of the above, and couldn't improve on them
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| a mixture of many things | Jan 27, 2009 |
Amy Duncan wrote:
I love the idea of making something accessible to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to understand it. Also love working with words, ideas, concepts...
For me it's a whole mixture of things. I can relate to what many of you have already written, especially Amy.
The need to earn money is one of the main reasons I do the job, however, I do also do some voluntary translation work, in which case I am motivated by the desire to help people and/or to support a cause that I believe in.
Working with words and language is a passion of mine and I take great pleasure in a job well done. It's especially rewarding when positive feedback comes back from the client.
I love the idea of facilitating communication, building bridges, etc.
| | | | | I agree with Amy Duncan and Qualitylanguage | Jan 27, 2009 |
- Freedom to work wherever I please:
I live in the U.S. now, but my family is in Denmark, so when I go to visit, I can still work on translation projects if I want and stay in touch with clients. I appreciate this freedom more than anything, I think. I feel very spoiled! As long as I have a computer and Internet access, I can work anywhere, and that makes me feel very secure.
- Pride in my work:
I take pride in every job I do, and if I feel I need to read my translation ... See more - Freedom to work wherever I please:
I live in the U.S. now, but my family is in Denmark, so when I go to visit, I can still work on translation projects if I want and stay in touch with clients. I appreciate this freedom more than anything, I think. I feel very spoiled! As long as I have a computer and Internet access, I can work anywhere, and that makes me feel very secure.
- Pride in my work:
I take pride in every job I do, and if I feel I need to read my translation one more "last time", I do it. No matter how many hours I've spent on it or how long or short the text is, or how much money it pays. After all, "a translator is only as good as his/her last translation", right? So I just want to do the best job I can every time.
Have a good one! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Other: enjoying what I do | Jan 27, 2009 |
I'm not as motivated about making a lot of money as I used to be. In fact, I gave up a well-paying job (that I didn't really enjoy) to launch my freelance career. Yes, I'm hoping I'll eventually make a lot of money, but what's most important is waking up in the morning and knowing that the day is going to be fun because I love what I do!
| | | | Kate Deimling
United States
Local time: 22:22
French to English
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| I think we all feel a love for language. | Jan 27, 2009 |
Of course, money is important, but there are lots of other ways to make a decent living (and some others to make a much more comfortable living, in fact!). So for me, choosing to work as a translator is based on my love of the French language and the search for intellectual satisfaction and accomplishment. A lot of the other comments seem to reflect the same point of view.
I feel that it's a pretty solitary effort...can't say there is a whole lot of client or colleague appreciatio... See more Of course, money is important, but there are lots of other ways to make a decent living (and some others to make a much more comfortable living, in fact!). So for me, choosing to work as a translator is based on my love of the French language and the search for intellectual satisfaction and accomplishment. A lot of the other comments seem to reflect the same point of view.
I feel that it's a pretty solitary effort...can't say there is a whole lot of client or colleague appreciation flowing my way. I'm always pleasantly surprised when clients take the trouble to show that they appreciate my work. I've done some interpretation and in that case there is more personal contact and thus a more noticeable feeling of being appreciated and of really making something happen through my work.
So, I chose "other" because it's a mixture of being able to make money (this is a given!) plus enjoying the language and the challenges. ▲ Collapse
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Parrot
Spain
Local time: 04:22
Spanish to English
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| A combination + Other | Jan 27, 2009 |
The other is, I learn so many things.
| | | | Lia Fail (X)
Spain
Local time: 04:22
Spanish to English
+ ...
One thing is being well paid, but my real motivation to go the extra mile is a good relationship with the client. And I think that that relationship is one that's more comforting that a good rate/word for the job in hand, becuase we both end up feeling like we have colloborated on producing the best possible text so we are both highly motivated by what we've achieved together as a team, and having created the basis for team work, we're likley to have a future as ateam.
I translate/... See more One thing is being well paid, but my real motivation to go the extra mile is a good relationship with the client. And I think that that relationship is one that's more comforting that a good rate/word for the job in hand, becuase we both end up feeling like we have colloborated on producing the best possible text so we are both highly motivated by what we've achieved together as a team, and having created the basis for team work, we're likley to have a future as ateam.
I translate/edit a lot of journal articles, and most of my authors have previously had poor experiences of translation, done pretty machine-like: one delivers a source, the other delivers a target, end of story. However, I make a point of asking and querying things, making suggestions about how to improve bad graphs etc: all in all, I take a very proactive stance, and this has really paid off.
Obviously I need to be paid a minimally decent pay to do this, but I have set the minimum rate that motivates me in a material sense, and thereafter I provide the service to those who want it, and pull out all the stops for those who pull out all the stops for me. So, finally, it's not about "pay" but building a "paying" relationship. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I like it and I need it! | Jan 28, 2009 |
I like it! I need to translate something everday, it is like air for me. There was such Ukrainian philosoph - Grigoriy Skovoroda. He said that every person should have "srodna pratsya" (job that is the closest to your heart and soul). So, translating and interpreting is "srodna pratsya" for me.
And, translating I find out so many new things! It's amazing!
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