| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: The freedom of being a freelancer comes at a high personal price. 投稿者: ProZ.com Staff
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| Freedom is Priceless | Apr 24, 2008 |
Once you are emancipated, keep going and don't ever look back.
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For me, and I suspect many mothers, it was the "personal" aspects of freelancing that made it the ideal job. I was able to continue working, albeit not a huge amount initially, whilst my children were small and gradually increase my hours as they grew more independent. They're now 19 and 16, but I'm still required to ferry them to dental appointments, tennis matches and whatever. I really don't think I could have been there for them quite as much with any other job - and I love what I do, to boo... See more For me, and I suspect many mothers, it was the "personal" aspects of freelancing that made it the ideal job. I was able to continue working, albeit not a huge amount initially, whilst my children were small and gradually increase my hours as they grew more independent. They're now 19 and 16, but I'm still required to ferry them to dental appointments, tennis matches and whatever. I really don't think I could have been there for them quite as much with any other job - and I love what I do, to boot. Infinitely preferable to the back-stabbing and office politics inherent in any in-house job I've had.... ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Freedom at a price - financially | Apr 25, 2008 |
My thoughts exactly!
I make half of what I used to make as a negotiator and sales manager in the logistics world, but the newfound freedom is worth it. In other words: the question was dumb in the first place, but it's got a nice discussion going.
On the other hand, if you're life is affected badly by this profession - which, depending on where you live and work is quite possible: change it! The world is your oyster! Unless mediocre translation is all you're good at, of... See more My thoughts exactly!
I make half of what I used to make as a negotiator and sales manager in the logistics world, but the newfound freedom is worth it. In other words: the question was dumb in the first place, but it's got a nice discussion going.
On the other hand, if you're life is affected badly by this profession - which, depending on where you live and work is quite possible: change it! The world is your oyster! Unless mediocre translation is all you're good at, of course. In that case maybe you should learn a decent trade first. From what I hear technicians in oil and gas get paid nicely (sarcastic grin). After that, you'll maybe appreciate how freedom is the better treasure.
Life's for fooling around, basically. Don't waste it on overly serious endeavours and perfectionism!
May you get the freedom you deserve!
- Marinus
Richard Jenkins wrote:
I'm not really sure what was implied by the question...at a high 'financial' price, agreed - I don't earn what I used to in Information Technology. But at a high 'personal' price? No! (with an exclamation mark). I'm a much more enriched person than I used to be. My goals are much more altruistic. My perspective is a lot clearer. I'm getting to where I want to be....'personally', the entrance fee is rather cheap I feel. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Absolutely not! | Apr 25, 2008 |
Yes, I pay a small price in that I have to fund my own pension and do without holiday pay and sick pay - the last is particularly relevant at the moment since I have not worked for almost 3 weeks following major surgery.
However, against that:
I can work when I like and for as long as I like. I can wear what I like when I work. I can take as many or as few breaks as I like. I can play games or email friends in between pages, or slip out to the shops. I can work in bed o... See more Yes, I pay a small price in that I have to fund my own pension and do without holiday pay and sick pay - the last is particularly relevant at the moment since I have not worked for almost 3 weeks following major surgery.
However, against that:
I can work when I like and for as long as I like. I can wear what I like when I work. I can take as many or as few breaks as I like. I can play games or email friends in between pages, or slip out to the shops. I can work in bed or in the garden if I feel like it.
I take 50-100% more days as holidays per year than I was able to have even after 13 years of full-time employment in one place.
I have no (mis)-managers breathing down my neck and trying to impose their petty restrictions on me.
I stand or fall purely on the quality of my work, and not on that of some "team" of which I am forced to be a member.
If I do not like the rates an agency offers or the way I am treated by its project managers, I can choose never to work for that agency again.
In other words, I am able to ensure that I have the lifestyle and work patterns that suit me, and am free to adjust these in order to adapt to changing circumstances as and when required.
I would never, never consider going back to wage slavery. ▲ Collapse
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| Freedom is priceless. | Apr 25, 2008 |
It is working in a corporate world from 8 to 5, and frequently in an office with no windows, and putting up with inter-office politics, which comes with a high price tag.
| | | | libby965
米国
Local time: 15:41
スペイン語 から 英語
+ ...
| I wish I could... | Apr 25, 2008 |
Personally, I'd love to go solely freelance! But it's a hard decision and risky when you're a single parent. Are any other single parents out there making work with freelance income only?
In any case, once the children are out on their own, it's definitely freelance only for me!
| | | | AniseK 
マレーシア
Local time: 04:41
日本語 から 英語
+ ...
| Is it really free if...? | Apr 25, 2008 |
libby965 wrote: Personally, I'd love to go solely freelance! But it's a hard decision and risky when you're a single parent. Are any other single parents out there making work with freelance income only? In any case, once the children are out on their own, it's definitely freelance only for me!
I started freelancing by accident, and now I'm hooked. So I'm a part-time freelance translator, meaning, I still have a boss and a 9-to-5 job and can only do certain translation job that wouldn't interfere with my other job. But, that's the beauty of freelance, YOU get to choose. As oppose to having your BOSS choose for you.
As for a high personal price, no, I don't think so, not having a boss breathing down your neck, is a big plus. You can take your work with you anywhere, even while waiting for friends at a mall on weekends! I agree with many of you, by having the work come to us, we have a more flexbile timetable, and working style compared to having to go to work. So, yes, I will definitely keep on doing freelance work until I can survive solely on it!
| | | | | Add commuting to the matter | Apr 25, 2008 |
Alexandra Goldburt wrote:
It is working in a corporate world from 8 to 5, and frequently in an office with no windows, and putting up with inter-office politics, which comes with a high price tag.
Yes, absolutely. And if you add commuting to it, working as an employee gets worse. Over here in my relatively small city there's simply no technical jobs available. You can only find administrative work, a job at a retailer, or some low-tech IT job with an accountant or a logistics company. For a specialised job (including localisation and translation) you have to go to Madrid (about half of my friends do it every day), at the expense of 3 hours a day in the car or in public transportation.
Being a freelance, those 3 hours can be spent working, resting, being with family or friends, whatever. I usually spend them working, which gives me freedom from bank vultures. I would have never been able to speed up paying my mortgage as an employee. Being a slave of the bank is the worst kind of high price!!
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I wouldn't say it comes at a price. There are certainly drawbacks, but these are far outweighed by the numerous benefits. I suppose it all depends on what is most important to you in life. If having a regular flow of income is high on your list of priorities, for example, then freelancing clearly isn't the way forward!
| | | | | the price in $ is high but I pay it gladly | Apr 25, 2008 |
Although I am happy with my current income I know that I could be making a lot more money doing something else for someone else.
However, I enjoy the freedom and the lifestyle that comes with being a freelancer and I'm happy to pay for that in lost earnings.
| | | | Miranda Joubioux (X)
Local time: 22:41
フランス語 から 英語
| No definitely not! | Apr 25, 2008 |
I agree with Claire Cox. As a mother, I also found that freelancing was the ideal way of being more available for my kids. My eldest, who experienced many nannies, late meals and all the other downsides of working for a company was the first to say that it made a huge difference to him. In France kids don't go to school on Wednesdays and this was always the bane of my life when I was an employee. I am free to ferry the kids where they need to go and run off to the shops when I feel like it, kid... See more I agree with Claire Cox. As a mother, I also found that freelancing was the ideal way of being more available for my kids. My eldest, who experienced many nannies, late meals and all the other downsides of working for a company was the first to say that it made a huge difference to him. In France kids don't go to school on Wednesdays and this was always the bane of my life when I was an employee. I am free to ferry the kids where they need to go and run off to the shops when I feel like it, kids holidays are no longer a huge problem, since I decide when I take my holidays and in addition to all that I actually earn more than I did as an employee.
The cost for me is stress related. When I'm overloaded, I still try to do everything else that I seem to have packed my life with. The result is that I'm often over-stressed and I never seem to be able to control the amount of work I get from my direct customers. It's not that I don't know how to say no, it's more to do with the fact that I don't like letting my good customers down (maybe I'm also scared of losing them). This affects my personal life, because I become bad tempered and show all the signs of someone whose tired.
The only way to deal with it is to take a holiday, which generally works a treat, and this I can do whenever I want! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Working on the Internet | Apr 25, 2008 |
So many people these days dream of being able to make a living on the Internet; we translators are actually doing it. The only "high personal price" I pay for living the freelance dream is being 100% responsible for my own financial well-being -- can't blame the boss.
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| Freelancer.... | Apr 25, 2008 |
If translators are so happy with being a freelancer, why is it that whenever there is an E.U.-U.N. open competition for the position of translator, so many candidates apply. Right: Job-security, 11 months work (the 12th they can work for themselves), perks and a 50000 euro starting job (average)....
When they succeed, "freelancers" do not find being a freelancer the "nec plus ultra" any longer.
[Edited at 2008-04-25 13:17]
| | | | | Freedom is slavery | Apr 25, 2008 |
I don't have any excuse not to take the kids to school and back.
But it is not that high a price.
Philippe
| | | | | I have to say yes | Apr 25, 2008 |
I worked as a full time freelancer for a year and a half, and that was taking a toll on my personal life. I had no time to spend with my husband because I was always working until late at night and during weekends trying to meet the ridiculous due dates imposed by clients.
I'm now very happy with my in-house work. I have my weekends and evenings back. I still do some freelancing, but now I feel I can reject a project without having to worry about my bills.
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