Pages in topic:   [1 2 3] >
Poll: Would you still work as a translator/interpreter if you became a millionaire today?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Feb 25, 2006

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you still work as a translator/interpreter if you became a millionaire today?".

This poll was originally submitted by Monika Coulson

View the poll here

A forum topic will appear each time a new
... See more
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you still work as a translator/interpreter if you became a millionaire today?".

This poll was originally submitted by Monika Coulson

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
Collapse


 
Robert Zawadzki (X)
Robert Zawadzki (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 06:32
English to Polish
+ ...
I'd select two options Feb 25, 2006

Part time / just for fun

But for me it is also: "Same as today". I do it for fun and part of the fun is that I get money from it. I have other sources of income and they are also quite irregular - I just fight to manage to do everything that is thrown at me. Sometimes it means working 16 hours a day (but sometimes it means having fun all day long) - if I were a millionaire, that will probably mostly affect proportions in favor of fun.


 
Williamson
Williamson  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:32
Flemish to English
+ ...
Aviation Feb 25, 2006

If I were a rich man, I would pursue my first love and that is aviation. Nothing can replace being up there at 33.000 ft/10 km, seeing the world pass under you and have no notion of time...:)

 
diana bb
diana bb  Identity Verified
Lithuania
Local time: 07:32
English to Lithuanian
+ ...
I would Feb 25, 2006

... because for me, it's a love and hate relationship When I am overloaded with work, I often grumble and complain, and catch myself saying (aloud, to others), 'That's it, when I finish this project I won't take another for a couple of months', but it never happens. I could refuse, of course, but I very seldom do, because the things I translate are also interesting for me. Also, it's an excellent exercise of the mind.

... See more
... because for me, it's a love and hate relationship When I am overloaded with work, I often grumble and complain, and catch myself saying (aloud, to others), 'That's it, when I finish this project I won't take another for a couple of months', but it never happens. I could refuse, of course, but I very seldom do, because the things I translate are also interesting for me. Also, it's an excellent exercise of the mind.

BR,

Diana
Collapse


 
Monika Coulson
Monika Coulson  Identity Verified
Local time: 23:32
Member (2001)
English to Albanian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
Occasionally, just for fun Feb 25, 2006

I thought of this question as I read on CNN that about a week ago, 8 people from Nebraska, USA won a lottery ($365 million.)

They were just 8 normal, hard-working people, who all of the sudden, became millionaires. One of them declared that he already retired the day he realized he became a millionaire.

Of course, I know my luck, I never win anything for free, but I thought it would be an interesting question to ask, myself and my colleagues here.

I chos
... See more
I thought of this question as I read on CNN that about a week ago, 8 people from Nebraska, USA won a lottery ($365 million.)

They were just 8 normal, hard-working people, who all of the sudden, became millionaires. One of them declared that he already retired the day he realized he became a millionaire.

Of course, I know my luck, I never win anything for free, but I thought it would be an interesting question to ask, myself and my colleagues here.

I chose: Occasionally, just for fun, since for now, I really miss spending time with my family. I began this translation/interpretation profession as a part time job, since I was already working as a full time school teacher. Slowly translation/interpretation became a full time job and now, an overtime job.

My goal for this year is to cut down my working hours, as my priority is my family and living life and not just working up to 16 hours a day. I have come to the point that I feel that work and sleep are not the most important parts of my life.

Interesting to see the results so far though

Monika
Collapse


 
Daniel Bird
Daniel Bird  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:32
German to English
A million... Feb 25, 2006

...Turkish wouldn't get me far I'm afraid.
A million Sterling would be OK, but I think I'd still have to work. Three to four million is just about the early retirement threshold.
Or do I just have expensive tastes?
And if so why do I persist in translation...?
Oh heck
DB

sorry Serkan - should have said yen

[Edited at 2006-02-25 23:48]


 
Sandra C.
Sandra C.
France
Local time: 06:32
English to French
+ ...
Hopefully not!!! Feb 25, 2006

If there were enough millions involved, I'd travel so much that I wouldn't have time to do anything else! Translation would be a thing of the past, unless I was asked to do it as a favor once in a while...
Sweet dreams...


 
Pilar T. Bayle (X)
Pilar T. Bayle (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 06:32
English to Spanish
+ ...
Traveling/Writing... Feb 25, 2006

My true loves, traveling and writing my own things I'd quit translating in the blink of an eye.

P.
www.pbayle.com/blogs


 
JaneTranslates
JaneTranslates  Identity Verified
Puerto Rico
Local time: 01:32
Spanish to English
+ ...
"Same hours as now" = "part time" Feb 25, 2006

Pilar T. Bayle wrote:

My true loves, traveling and writing my own things I'd quit translating in the blink of an eye.



Translating is my true love--one of them, anyway. I started doing it pro bono and can't imagine not being a translator.

Did you hear that one of those Nebraska lottery winners does plan to continue working, at least for a while, because they need him at the plant? That resonates with me. I have friends and clients who count on me when they need a translator. What a sense of satisfaction that gives!

However, I'm translating only part time now; my answer ("Same hours as now") would probably have been different otherwise. It would be lovely to translate with less concern for the financial side. I certainly wouldn't miss having to court new clients!

[Edited at 2006-02-25 15:29]


 
Serkan Doğan
Serkan Doğan  Identity Verified
Türkiye
Local time: 08:32
Turkish to English
+ ...
Changing Life Feb 25, 2006

It has changed, don't you aware of this Daniel?.

If I became a millionaire today, of course I won't do this job for making money. Maybe, for pleasure and peace of mind, I would like to translate some bestseller books.

Who knows, one day...

Daniel Bird wrote:

...Turkish wouldn't get me far I'm afraid.
Oh heck
DB


[Edited at 2006-02-25 15:30]


 
Aurora Humarán (X)
Aurora Humarán (X)  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 02:32
English to Spanish
+ ...
Born a translator Feb 25, 2006

I would narrow my choices.
I would start translating literature.

Au


 
Özden Arıkan
Özden Arıkan  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 06:32
Member
English to Turkish
+ ...
Chose 'Occasionally/just for fun' Feb 25, 2006

I would translate only literature for book publishers, in that case, as I used to do when I was living in Turkey. (Ah, I was already a millionaire back then, of course, but everyone was)

 
Henk Peelen
Henk Peelen  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 06:32
Member (2002)
German to Dutch
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
I would change my habits slowly (chose "part time", a moderate argument Feb 25, 2006

Luckily, I'm already able to make some savings. After winning a million I would free more time for hobbies, good things and most important, finding out a balanced way to invest and enjoy the money ethically and well.
Surely I wouldn't leave the translation world as if it was a prison. I think I also would free more time for writing books and read more of them, archeology, history, geography, religion and so on.

Half a year ago I heard an American radio station warning people f
... See more
Luckily, I'm already able to make some savings. After winning a million I would free more time for hobbies, good things and most important, finding out a balanced way to invest and enjoy the money ethically and well.
Surely I wouldn't leave the translation world as if it was a prison. I think I also would free more time for writing books and read more of them, archeology, history, geography, religion and so on.

Half a year ago I heard an American radio station warning people for the negative impact of winning huge prices. A survey mentioned the case of one guy winning six million, being a year later divorced, jobless and the proud owner of a one million debt. More than half of the winners said a year later they were less lucky than before winning. A lot of them being divorced, because not able to agree how to spend the money. Most of time, established ways of living seem hard to change. Same seems to count for holidays. A lot of couples are reported to part during or after a not in detail planned long and relaxed holiday (whether or not with won money), because after some days they found they didn't have to say anymore to each other.

African saying: Money ain't everything, most of time it's even not enough

[Edited at 2006-02-28 19:35]
Collapse


 
Magda Dziadosz
Magda Dziadosz  Identity Verified
Poland
Local time: 06:32
Member (2004)
English to Polish
+ ...
We've been discussing it... Feb 25, 2006

... at lenght when my husband took part in "Do you wanna be a millionaire" show and we've decided that although there are so many other things we would love to do, we could never give up our work completely. Finally he brought home "only" 32K so we stopped worrying!

Magda


 
Dan Marasescu
Dan Marasescu  Identity Verified
Romania
Local time: 06:32
Member (2003)
English to Romanian
+ ...
Shame on you, Monica! Feb 25, 2006

Why do you tease a poor translator working over the weekend?

 
Pages in topic:   [1 2 3] >


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: Would you still work as a translator/interpreter if you became a millionaire today?






TM-Town
Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business

Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.

More info »
Protemos translation business management system
Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!

The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.

More info »