Poll: In 2017, which has been the best month for you so far, professionally speaking?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Jul 20, 2017

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "In 2017, which has been the best month for you so far, professionally speaking?".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 14:59
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
January Jul 20, 2017

By very far, it was my best month ever...

 
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Nikki Scott-Despaigne  Identity Verified
Local time: 15:59
French to English
Surprised Jul 20, 2017

I am surprised that one third have "no idea". At the time of writing, only 15 people had voted, so this is far off anything like being statistically significant yet. However, if the trend continues, my surprise will be only greater. If you are running a business, on whatever scale, surely you know to within a few days, exactly where you stand?

However, "best" can be read in a number of ways. I have taken this to mean, which month has generated the most income from translation? If ot
... See more
I am surprised that one third have "no idea". At the time of writing, only 15 people had voted, so this is far off anything like being statistically significant yet. However, if the trend continues, my surprise will be only greater. If you are running a business, on whatever scale, surely you know to within a few days, exactly where you stand?

However, "best" can be read in a number of ways. I have taken this to mean, which month has generated the most income from translation? If others are taking the poll to be asking which month we have most enjoyed, then we will see that we are in fact not answering the same question.



[Edited at 2017-07-20 08:26 GMT]
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neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:59
Spanish to English
+ ...
No idea Jul 20, 2017

Between one thing and another, I've been far too busy all year to be analysing my performance.

PS: Pax Nikki, I don't really see myself as "running a business", thanks all the same. As a freelancer, I simply provide services.

[Edited at 2017-07-20 08:26 GMT]

Let's see if I can explain myself. In my worldview, a business means a company, i.e. a thing rather than a person. I don't see myself as a company or a thing, but a person who provides a service to others.... See more
Between one thing and another, I've been far too busy all year to be analysing my performance.

PS: Pax Nikki, I don't really see myself as "running a business", thanks all the same. As a freelancer, I simply provide services.

[Edited at 2017-07-20 08:26 GMT]

Let's see if I can explain myself. In my worldview, a business means a company, i.e. a thing rather than a person. I don't see myself as a company or a thing, but a person who provides a service to others.
I do enjoy translating, but not the administration side of things. And other than every quarter or at the end of the year when I have to do tax returns, I don't usually keep a particular note of how many jobs I've done, for whom, or how much I've earned.
For me, the best month would be one in which I've had the fewest jobs coming in, thus giving me time to relax a bit more and attend to other things in my life. Even just simple things like the garden or vehicle maintenance.

[Edited at 2017-07-20 15:50 GMT]
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Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 11:59
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
July ($ will be August) Jul 20, 2017

In terms of volume of work, it was certainly July. In terms of money, it was not a good one, since the volume in June was poor. So the best month in terms of money, so far, should be August.

 
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Nikki Scott-Despaigne  Identity Verified
Local time: 15:59
French to English
@Neilmac Jul 20, 2017

You are right, we are providing a service. The serivce I provide as a freelancer is one which has to generate enough income to support me and to contribute to supporting my two children, in full-time higher education. For me, the freelance translation service I provide is a business.

 
Michael Harris
Michael Harris  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 15:59
Member (2006)
German to English
How about "Other" Jul 20, 2017

The first 3 months were the best time for me, almost all having the same volume

 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Dyscalculia? Jul 20, 2017

neilmac wrote:

Between one thing and another, I've been far too busy all year to be analysing my performance.

PS: Pax Nikki, I don't really see myself as "running a business", thanks all the same. As a freelancer, I simply provide services.


Well, the good news is that this "I not only refuse to keep track of my turnover or production or bank balance but am also determined never even to form an accidental impression thereof" approach only works if you have way more money than you need...

All seven months this year have been good for me, business-wise.


 
Eckhard Boehle
Eckhard Boehle  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 15:59
English to German
+ ...
All of them! Jul 20, 2017

I miss the possibility to check "All of them" - therefore, I ticked "No idea"
But I indeed have:
I am very content with my freelancing service giving business.


 
Ben_ (X)
Ben_ (X)  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:59
German to English
February Jul 20, 2017

February/March are normally big earning months for me because that's financial report season.

Usually the quietest time is the first week or two in January because not much worth translating gets written over Christmas, but this year I've had a few slack periods in the summer for some reason. If the occasional bit of enforced time off is part of the deal with being a translator then I don't mind it around now when the weather's half-decent.

[Edited at 2017-07-20 10:14 GMT]


 
Philippe Etienne
Philippe Etienne  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 15:59
Member
English to French
June Jul 20, 2017

in terms of volume delivered.

January for the amount invoiced.
February for payments received.

But all months are pretty close anyway.
After 17 years translating in my fields, I have yet to notice any seasonality to my income.

Philippe


 
Toni Faisal
Toni Faisal  Identity Verified
Indonesia
Local time: 21:59
English to Indonesian
+ ...
Definitely June Jul 20, 2017

As my birthday present in this June, I got new clients and big payment.

 
Luiz Barucke
Luiz Barucke  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 11:59
Spanish to Portuguese
+ ...
March so far Jul 20, 2017

I have a pretty regular monthly workload for years, but this year my average income has increased, and March was the best month so far. Don't ask me why. I hope August can be even better.

 
Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japan
Local time: 23:59
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
Other Jul 20, 2017

December

Because I believe in better things to come - such as thought-provoking quick polls.

"December will be yuge and bigly for quick polls. I don't know, but that is what people are telling me. Proz is a very, very, very good place for polls. You will see polls like you've never seen before. Yuge polls. I know because I know polls like no-one else. Yuge, massive polls the likes you've never seen before. And, I know my polls. Believe me, someone will be writing an
... See more
December

Because I believe in better things to come - such as thought-provoking quick polls.

"December will be yuge and bigly for quick polls. I don't know, but that is what people are telling me. Proz is a very, very, very good place for polls. You will see polls like you've never seen before. Yuge polls. I know because I know polls like no-one else. Yuge, massive polls the likes you've never seen before. And, I know my polls. Believe me, someone will be writing and posting polls like you've never seen before. Yuge polls in December. You will be seeing polls like never before. But I don't know. This is what I've heard from a very, very well-informed source. Someone who knows all about polls, you know, the quick ones."

Added a bit. It wasn't hyperbolic enough.

[Edited at 2017-07-20 12:42 GMT]

[Edited at 2017-07-20 23:30 GMT]
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Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Nikki Scott-Despaigne  Identity Verified
Local time: 15:59
French to English
Bravo! Jul 20, 2017

Chris S wrote:

neilmac wrote:

Between one thing and another, I've been far too busy all year to be analysing my performance.

PS: Pax Nikki, I don't really see myself as "running a business", thanks all the same. As a freelancer, I simply provide services.


Well, the good news is that this "I not only refuse to keep track of my turnover or production or bank balance but am also determined never even to form an accidental impression thereof" approach only works if you have way more money than you need...

All seven months this year have been good for me, business-wise.


I'm not there yet!


 


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Poll: In 2017, which has been the best month for you so far, professionally speaking?






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