Poll: The key to my success is...
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Jun 9, 2019

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "The key to my success is...".

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Fathur Machmud
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:32
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Jun 9, 2019

Continuing doing a good job and finding the right customers (and retaining them) has been the key to my career's longevity,

Kevin Fulton
Muriel Vasconcellos
Philip Lees
 
Vera Schoen
Vera Schoen  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 10:32
Member (2008)
German to Swedish
+ ...
Most certainly perseverance Jun 9, 2019

Not giving up during that first miserable year when I was struggling to establish myself as a translator finding clients, trying to understand how CAT-tools work etc, etc. (there were lots of tears!).

Not giving up when I encounter a problem until the problem is solved.


Rachel Shaw
Minna Bäckman
Julio Madrid
Tradupro17
 
Kay-Viktor Stegemann
Kay-Viktor Stegemann
Germany
Local time: 10:32
English to German
In memoriam
Luck Jun 9, 2019

Sometimes I think it's just luck. Of course I am skilled, talented, perseverant, diligent, and a lot of "other", but I imagine that many other people could claim the same. The luck part is that I "didn't need to learn German as a foreign language" (courtesy M. Twain) and that my native language and my fields of specialisation seem to be in high demand, at this time. And the general economic climate in my target area has been very strong for a decade now.

Liena Vijupe
P.L.F. Persio
 
Aminata Diabi
Aminata Diabi  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 05:32
English to French
Skills are key Jun 9, 2019

To me translation is a craft. You can persevere in the wrong way and keep on doing bad things (clients don't stay long and you keep on looking for them).
When you work on your skills with being proofread, training and continuing education, you better yourself and raise industry standards.


Mr.Q
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 10:32
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Jun 9, 2019

Innate ability, then acquired skills, with a bit of luck thrown in. Perseverance and diligence are handy too.

Philip Lees
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 02:32
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Luck plus several other factors Jun 10, 2019

Luck: Many decades ago I was working as an administrative assistant in an international organization and was given the opportunity to apply for a job as editor/translator.
Innate talent: I took the required test and was selected for the position.
Luck: It was a well-paid permanent in-house job with an education benefit.
Acquired skill: I took night classes to hone my skills and also received consistent support and feedback from the senior translators in my office.
Luck:
... See more
Luck: Many decades ago I was working as an administrative assistant in an international organization and was given the opportunity to apply for a job as editor/translator.
Innate talent: I took the required test and was selected for the position.
Luck: It was a well-paid permanent in-house job with an education benefit.
Acquired skill: I took night classes to hone my skills and also received consistent support and feedback from the senior translators in my office.
Luck: Fast forward 25 years, I was able to take early retirement with a pension.
Luck: Since I started freelancing, I have been blessed with very good clients, mostly international organizations.
Diligence: From the very beginning, I have performed reliably and delivered on time, which I continue to do today.
Collapse


 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 09:32
French to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Other Jun 10, 2019

In my case, I think, reliability and speed were the key to my success... and, of course, modesty ...

 
Helena Chavarria
Helena Chavarria  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 10:32
Member (2011)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Jun 11, 2019

I am honest, practical, I work hard and I have confidence in myself and in my skills.

 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
businessman + specialist Jun 11, 2019

I'm a decent specialist in several fields with foreign language skills (mostly interpreting), not a "pure translator".

I'm a proud businessman aware of my value doing the biz with local direct clients only.

My clients and prospects can deal with me only as my equals.

Money is a means, not the goal.

No exceptions.

[Edited at 2019-06-11 23:52 GMT]


 


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Poll: The key to my success is...






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