| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: As a freelancer, how do you feel most of the time? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "As a freelancer, how do you feel most of the time?".
This poll was originally submitted by Caro Giese. View the poll results »
| | | | | Usually in command - I choose not to be stressed | Oct 15, 2010 |
With 8 votes cast, the tally is 50-50! It will be interesting to see how this develops.
I'm in command of my feelings, and I have the option to not feel stressed. I don't get stressed if I don't have enough work, but sometimes the opposite situation can be a challenge: I sometimes feel stressed when I have too much on my plate or can't translate as fast as I would like. That's usually because I have agreed to an unreasonable deadline, so I know I have myself to blame and hope to lea... See more With 8 votes cast, the tally is 50-50! It will be interesting to see how this develops.
I'm in command of my feelings, and I have the option to not feel stressed. I don't get stressed if I don't have enough work, but sometimes the opposite situation can be a challenge: I sometimes feel stressed when I have too much on my plate or can't translate as fast as I would like. That's usually because I have agreed to an unreasonable deadline, so I know I have myself to blame and hope to learn from the lesson. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 15:28
Member (2006)
German to English
| Luckily in command | Oct 15, 2010 |
but flexible! I do let myself get stressed sometimes, but if I am honest, that is my own fault and not a result of customer pressure.
| | | | Tatty
Local time: 15:28
Spanish to English
+ ...
| I don't do stress | Oct 15, 2010 |
I accept as much as I can do comfortably and just stay put in front of the computer til the job is done. I also start my translations as soon as I receive them, unless I'm busy with a previous one, of course.
But this is the advantage of working with agencies. I manage to work consistently throughout the week without gluts or dry periods, taking weekends off. I reckon that this a good way of avoiding potential stress.
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Susanna Martoni
Italy
Local time: 15:28
Member (2009)
Spanish to Italian
+ ...
| Of course... | Oct 15, 2010 |
it depends.
Today: children, kindergarten, shopping, cooking, job from 5 o'clock to 10 o'clock etc.
Tomorrow may be another thing.
Next month different.
I try to survive to stress.
Thanks God for this freelance job.
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 15:28
Member (2006)
German to English
| What does "God" have to do with this? | Oct 15, 2010 |
Susanna Martoni wrote:
it depends.
Today: children, kindergarten, shopping, cooking, job from 5 o'clock to 10 o'clock etc.
Tomorrow may be another thing.
Next month different.
I try to survive to stress.
Thanks God for this freelance job.
| | | | Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 15:28
English
+ ...
| At the mercy of clients? | Oct 15, 2010 |
I work with my clients, not for them.
Amazing what a big difference in stress levels, and confidence, a little preposition makes.
[Edited at 2010-10-15 10:30 GMT]
[Edited at 2010-10-15 10:31 GMT]
[Edited at 2010-10-15 10:31 GMT]
[Edited at 2010-10-15 10:42 GMT]
| | | | Theo Bernards (X)
France
Local time: 15:28
English to Dutch
+ ...
| The same as I felt when I was employed... | Oct 15, 2010 |
which means I have good days and bad days, I sometimes laugh and sometimes feel sad, same as everybody else I suppose. The only thing that has changed is that I don't have managers breathing down my neck and looking over my shoulder all the time, which is a definite bonus in being a freelancer...
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Jasna Gonda
Serbia
Local time: 15:28
English to Serbian
+ ...
| not enough work | Oct 15, 2010 |
I often don't have as much work as I would like to have, but I am not too stressed about it.
| | | | | in command and self-confident, BUT... | Oct 15, 2010 |
In command and self-confident, BUT it wasn't always that way. When I first started out and was trying to get experience and references, I put up with a lot of things that I wouldn't dream of putting up with today. Five years later I'm charging more, working with more realistic deadlines and turning down a lot more jobs.
-C.S.
| | | | Susanna Martoni
Italy
Local time: 15:28
Member (2009)
Spanish to Italian
+ ...
| What does "God" have to do with this? | Oct 15, 2010 |
Hi Michael.
Thanks God because I can do this kind of freelance job and because I often manage to stand and lower my stress.
As I often say, should I be employed in a society and should I be at work at 8 o'clock every morning, I'd already have been dismissed.
[Modificato alle 2010-10-15 13:30 GMT]
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 09:28
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
| two emotional choices? | Oct 15, 2010 |
Isn't this a little limiting? And we can either feel commandingly powerful, or we can be beaten into submission as doormats. I choose neither.
I'm happy with what I do and accept the choices I have made in my life. Which doesn't mean I don't feel stress or that I don't control my life. Both are part of living.
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 15:28
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| Other was my vote | Oct 15, 2010 |
[quote]Rebecca Garber wrote:
Isn't this a little limiting? And we can either feel commandingly powerful, or we can be beaten into submission as doormats. I choose neither.
I must agree with Rebecca. Maintaining the balance between either state is what matters most. When there's too little work, then it's time to take care of those things that went undone when there was/is too much work.
| | | | | more choices! | Oct 15, 2010 |
I'm sure most people feel somewhere between the two choices, depending on how much/little work, what quality, new/old clients, known/unknown subject matter etc.
| | | | | Depends on the client | Oct 15, 2010 |
Some clients seek me for help in finding the most cost-effective solution for their needs. Others want to play me for a sucker and rip me off.
My mission is to sort them out as quickly as possible, to provide the first group the best customer service they can get, and get rid of the second group. There is no halfway, no grey area between them. It's either one or the other, and I've never seen one changing into another, only the second ones masquerading as belonging to the first gro... See more Some clients seek me for help in finding the most cost-effective solution for their needs. Others want to play me for a sucker and rip me off.
My mission is to sort them out as quickly as possible, to provide the first group the best customer service they can get, and get rid of the second group. There is no halfway, no grey area between them. It's either one or the other, and I've never seen one changing into another, only the second ones masquerading as belonging to the first group.
So I only feel in control when I'm certain about having classified them correctly and taken proper action. I may feel stressed after a wrong such decision. As I say on the phone now and then, they are talking to my whole corporation here. ▲ Collapse
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