whoareyaaa Posted 16 April 2013 Posted 16 April 2013 70% French, 25% Spanish, 5% Portuguese, all into English. I get plenty of work (too much, if anything), but not enough high-paying work, so make a living, not a mint. Do too much work for translation agencies and not enough for direct clients, who'll pay higher rates. Mainly working for same clients for 10+ years. Quite enjoy it mostly, apart from missing the social side of working in an office or wherever... I thought of contacting Sousa to offer my services, but he was sacked before I could get round to it. Maybe I should offer to proofread Knocky's Twitter output.... Why don't you try promoting your services on somewhere like Elance, there is tons of work out there.
Captain... Posted 16 April 2013 Posted 16 April 2013 How'd you come by those 3 languages? More importantly, how did you become fluent? All my courses and professional interaction is in French these days and I still wouldn't feel comfortable providing definitive translations for people... Bastard. Can't speak for SAB, but living in the country helped for me, although I probably speak more Spanish now than I did when I live there as my girlfriend is Spanish, and all her friends are Spanish, there is also a massive difference in translating a document and communicating in a language in the flesh, you have time to to check a word and research a phrase or saying, although it is often fun to translate them literally, but "I shit on your milk" doesn't quite have the same effect in English as in Spanish. As with anything the more you do it the easier it becomes.
Monk Posted 16 April 2013 Posted 16 April 2013 Why don't you try promoting your services on somewhere like Elance, there is tons of work out there. The problem with Elance is that it's a race to the bottom. Lowest price often wins and the place is flooded with cheap providers. It's a buyers market.
Monk Posted 16 April 2013 Posted 16 April 2013 Self-employment is financially insecure? Yes, it is, but any more than PAYE employment these days?! I never seriously worry about money. Not because I'm complacent - my little business could collapse just like anyone else's - but because I'm confident that I/we would adapt if it happened. I've been dirt poor before and coped. Agree with this but I do think its more about mentality of being self employed. If I lose a major client I'm straight on the case of getting new ones. Also you tend to diversify your income across multiple clients so you by nature have a less risky position than a plain old employee. I do think tax isn't all that simple for many. Running a Ltd, charging vat, working out retained profit and dealing with 60 day payment periods can make it tricky.
Manwell Pablo Posted 16 April 2013 Posted 16 April 2013 I'm self employed, but as the product I sell is me working for 7.5 hours a day for the buyer I don't really get a lot of the benefits .
Guest Posted 16 April 2013 Posted 16 April 2013 I'm self employed, but as the product I sell is me working for 7.5 hours a day for the buyer I don't really get a lot of the benefits . 7.5 hours a day - you're bragging aren't you? Surely you're too old for that long nowadays.
Guest MattP Posted 17 April 2013 Posted 17 April 2013 I'm curious as to what my old mate MattP gets up to, making millions, touring the globe and blowing it all. Spill the beans, Matt, if you read this...or are you just the WUM to beat them all, sending out Walter Mitty posts from your job at Leicester City Council? I run my own sports websites, got 3 in the UK and 2 in Australia. Our traffic hits bookmakers, when people bet we take about 30%-40% of the losses in affiliate payments. Won't be there forever mind and in 5 years I don't think it will be earning, bookmakers seem to have realised that they can advertise themselves now and it saves them money in the long run, hence why I'm planning to finish my CIMA when I can so I can ehad back into accountancy should I need be. (Of course if China decides to legalise gambling I'll be doing it a private jet rather than Business ) Can't complain though, 30 years old and been pretty much everywhere, seen some incredible things, met incredible people, Ashes tests, World Cup wins, Big fights in Vegas. If it ended tomorrow I'd still smile as the years of 25-30 have been the greatest of my life. Never know what's happen, great thing about life and that's why I enjoy every minute of mine.
Alf Bentley Posted 17 April 2013 Posted 17 April 2013 How'd you come by those 3 languages? More importantly, how did you become fluent? All my courses and professional interaction is in French these days and I still wouldn't feel comfortable providing definitive translations for people... Bastard. French: school/uni/some time living/working there; Spanish: "teach yourself" book & tape; 4mths in S. America; A-level; uni; Portuguese: uni from beginners (at age 30) Re. "fluent": See Capt. Pancake Face's comment below, which is spot on. Give me a few weeks in France and I'd be reasonably fluent, as I learned it when I was younger so memory retains it better. My level of spoken Spanish & Portuguese is pretty basic. As the Captain says, with translating you have the time to look at dictionaries/internet, revise your translation etc - plus it's all about passive comprehension and producing a decent rendering in English. English fluency & common sense / awareness of context are more important than fluency in the foreign language. Why don't you try promoting your services on somewhere like Elance, there is tons of work out there. I've considered ProZ (specialist web site for translating jobs), but not Elance. Might look at it some time, but I need to move upmarket, not downmarket so that might be an issue, if Monk is right. Also, I'd prefer to work with regular/occasional clients rather than one-offs (more security, easier working relationships), plus there might be "bad debt" issues....I may just be being too conservative (strictly small-c!) Can't speak for SAB, but living in the country helped for me, although I probably speak more Spanish now than I did when I live there as my girlfriend is Spanish, and all her friends are Spanish, there is also a massive difference in translating a document and communicating in a language in the flesh, you have time to to check a word and research a phrase or saying, although it is often fun to translate them literally, but "I shit on your milk" doesn't quite have the same effect in English as in Spanish. As with anything the more you do it the easier it becomes. Spot on, Captain! Agree with this but I do think its more about mentality of being self employed. If I lose a major client I'm straight on the case of getting new ones. Also you tend to diversify your income across multiple clients so you by nature have a less risky position than a plain old employee. I do think tax isn't all that simple for many. Running a Ltd, charging vat, working out retained profit and dealing with 60 day payment periods can make it tricky. You're right about tax. Of course, the degree of difficulty will vary greatly according to the nature of the business - and I'm very much at the simpler end, working solo from home with no employees and no VAT. I suppose that I think of VAT as a distant world (threshold is £79k in sales, I think) as 95% of my sales are also profits/earnings...not the case, of course, if you are buying goods for resale, have employees, shop/factory/office premises etc. Keeping a decent range of regular/occasional clients is something I do OK - and was glad of when (through no fault of my own) I lost my No. 1 client (30% of turnover) 3-4 years back. What I've done poorly at is improving my earnings by moving upmarket to more direct clients...but then marketing and schmoozing businesspeople isn't my strong point and I'm not strongly motivated by material gain (though prefer wealth to poverty, of course). I run my own sports websites, got 3 in the UK and 2 in Australia. Our traffic hits bookmakers, when people bet we take about 30%-40% of the losses in affiliate payments. Won't be there forever mind Can't complain though, 30 years old and been pretty much everywhere, seen some incredible things, met incredible people, Ashes tests, World Cup wins, Big fights in Vegas. If it ended tomorrow I'd still smile as the years of 25-30 have been the greatest of my life. Never know what's happen, great thing about life and that's why I enjoy every minute of mine. Sounds like fun. I enjoyed the 25-30 age span greatly myself (good friends/social life, international travel, interesting work & then enjoyed returning to studies at a time when I was doing it for the right reasons (drifted into uni at 18 first time round and dropped out))....and 30s were pretty good, too; 40-50 fine (wonderful in belatedly getting to be a Dad) if a bit more routine. Enjoy life's rich variety as you never know what's around the corner...maybe even the patter of tiny Matty feet, if that's your inclination & circumstance (Oh, God help us! More little Tory boys and girls! Hopefully they'll rebel against you and grow up to join an anarchist commune or something... )
Guest MattP Posted 17 April 2013 Posted 17 April 2013 Sounds like fun. I enjoyed the 25-30 age span greatly myself (good friends/social life, international travel, interesting work & then enjoyed returning to studies at a time when I was doing it for the right reasons (drifted into uni at 18 first time round and dropped out))....and 30s were pretty good, too; 40-50 fine (wonderful in belatedly getting to be a Dad) if a bit more routine. Enjoy life's rich variety as you never know what's around the corner...maybe even the patter of tiny Matty feet, if that's your inclination & circumstance (Oh, God help us! More little Tory boys and girls! Hopefully they'll rebel against you and grow up to join an anarchist commune or something... ) You sound a lot like me in your younger days. Can't stand the thought of kids to be honest at the minute. If I did have them I'd be out of here as well. I'm sure if I can come from two (ex) Labour supporters from a council estate anything could happen.
Alf Bentley Posted 17 April 2013 Posted 17 April 2013 You sound a lot like me in your younger days. Can't stand the thought of kids to be honest at the minute. If I did have them I'd be out of here as well. I'm sure if I can come from two (ex) Labour supporters from a council estate anything could happen. Steady on, old chap! We're political enemies, remember! No fraternizing... I'm definitely spending too much time talking shite on Foxes Talk lately, though. You have a point there. Not a healthy use of time, when I already work too much, drink too much, spend too much time on football and have family, friends and interests to attend to. A reordering of priorities is required.... just not quite yet... I had one grandparent in the (Irish) Blueshirts (father of my Shakespeare and Nye Bevan-loving Dad) and another, of a Northern Irish background, who converted from Presbyterianism to Catholicism. Curious phenomena, people and families... Which are the sports web sites that you manage, if you don't mind me asking? Just being nosy. No offence taken if you think that I should keep my snout out...
Guest MattP Posted 17 April 2013 Posted 17 April 2013 Very alike!!! No worried at all ill send them over to you tomorrow by pm when im on the PC.
Captain... Posted 18 April 2013 Posted 18 April 2013 Very alike!!! No worried at all ill send them over to you tomorrow by pm when im on the PC. Why the secrecy thought you'd be all over spreading the word as much as possible. I assume the boxing one is one of those, very good looking site. Seeing as you get the profits from the losses are you never tempted to give bad betting advice/tips?
ADK Posted 18 April 2013 Posted 18 April 2013 Its nice to hear people being self-employed and being successful. I think if i did it though it would be to try and become wealthy. I can't imagine wanting to graft at something only to make the same sort of money i could make in a job.
SystonFox Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 I run my own sports websites, got 3 in the UK and 2 in Australia. Our traffic hits bookmakers, when people bet we take about 30%-40% of the losses in affiliate payments. Won't be there forever mind and in 5 years I don't think it will be earning, bookmakers seem to have realised that they can advertise themselves now and it saves them money in the long run, hence why I'm planning to finish my CIMA when I can so I can ehad back into accountancy should I need be. (Of course if China decides to legalise gambling I'll be doing it a private jet rather than Business ) Can't complain though, 30 years old and been pretty much everywhere, seen some incredible things, met incredible people, Ashes tests, World Cup wins, Big fights in Vegas. If it ended tomorrow I'd still smile as the years of 25-30 have been the greatest of my life. Never know what's happen, great thing about life and that's why I enjoy every minute of mine. Isn't this basically what @footyaccums and @footballacca are on twitter? Do you reckon they "tip losers" as has been happening more regularly lately? Seems to have sparked some debate of late as their winning % record has massively slipped yet around 100k + followers still back them as they once landed a big bet many moons ago. I don't follow the bets personally just watch with interest.
Captain... Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 Gambling is a mug's game. Only the bookies can win. It is massive business now though, I mean how many adverts for betting websites do you see there days, it is huge. Probably not the best question for someone who lives in France, but in the UK every other advert during sports events is for a gambling website, they the majority of sports shows are sponsored by betting sites, we get live updates of odds in game broadcast on the electronic advertising boards, it is getting a bit ridiculous. I'm still waiting for the day when players take the pitch with their odds of scoring on their shirts.
Guest Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 It is massive business now though, I mean how many adverts for betting websites do you see there days, it is huge. Probably not the best question for someone who lives in France, but in the UK every other advert during sports events is for a gambling website, they the majority of sports shows are sponsored by betting sites, we get live updates of odds in game broadcast on the electronic advertising boards, it is getting a bit ridiculous. I'm still waiting for the day when players take the pitch with their odds of scoring on their shirts. Hypocrisy in the UK. No fag adverts, no alcohol sponsorship, strict rules on casinos (?) but more bookies in the high street than anything except pawn shops and phone operators and yeah I see that the advertising on TV is full to overflowing with bokkies and BINGO. The lottery opened the floodgates. Gambling IS an easy addiction and it can pauper familes. It'll develop into another long-term British illness.
leicsmac Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 Hypocrisy in the UK. No fag adverts, no alcohol sponsorship, strict rules on casinos (?) but more bookies in the high street than anything except pawn shops and phone operators and yeah I see that the advertising on TV is full to overflowing with bokkies and BINGO. The lottery opened the floodgates. Gambling IS an easy addiction and it can pauper familes. It'll develop into another long-term British illness. Gambling has always been a prevalent British pastime. But recently it has become far more mainstream, rather than a 'closet' thing that people didn't talk about all that much.
Guest Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 Gambling has always been a prevalent British pastime. But recently it has become far more mainstream, rather than a 'closet' thing that people didn't talk about all that much. Certainly not disagreeing there. But in the past it was either the domain on the wealthy or the working class man at the horses or the dogs. Bookies were smoking dens and a little celubrious. Gambling is now openly promoted by the government and it's advertising isn't sufficiently regulated. I'm sure we have many examples of people on here who started with a little bet now and again who are hooked and betting more and more each month. The occasional win only blinds the gambler to the overall downward trend. It's incipient and perhaps less obvious than drugs - though probably similar to smoking cigarettes. However you are unlikely to bankrupt your lives and your families from smoking whereas there is no depth to how far you can fall through gambling.
ADK Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 I agree. Along with payday loans companies. Two things we badly need to regulate.
FoxesAreBlue Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 Ta a good job I always f****** lose because whenever I do have a flutter it puts me off for another 18 months.
leicsmac Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 Certainly not disagreeing there. But in the past it was either the domain on the wealthy or the working class man at the horses or the dogs. Bookies were smoking dens and a little celubrious. Gambling is now openly promoted by the government and it's advertising isn't sufficiently regulated. I'm sure we have many examples of people on here who started with a little bet now and again who are hooked and betting more and more each month. The occasional win only blinds the gambler to the overall downward trend. It's incipient and perhaps less obvious than drugs - though probably similar to smoking cigarettes. However you are unlikely to bankrupt your lives and your families from smoking whereas there is no depth to how far you can fall through gambling. No disagreement here. It's not called the 'silent addiction' for nothing. No outward signs (apart from possible depression), no health concerns, but equally as destructive of lives as any drug habit.
Alexikokopops Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 Hypocrisy in the UK. No fag adverts, no alcohol sponsorship, strict rules on casinos (?) but more bookies in the high street than anything except pawn shops and phone operators and yeah I see that the advertising on TV is full to overflowing with bokkies and BINGO. The lottery opened the floodgates. Gambling IS an easy addiction and it can pauper familes. It'll develop into another long-term British illness. In the weeks running up to Comic Relief they were selling Comic Relief scratchcards at Sainsbury's. That surprised me somewhat.
MooseBreath Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 It should be banned. Those innocent little hoi polloi, so easily duped, need us to protect them from their own stupidity. As superior individuals we owe it to the thick cvnts to make any decisions with potential negative consequences on their behalf.
ADK Posted 19 April 2013 Posted 19 April 2013 It should be banned. Those innocent little hoi polloi, so easily duped, need us to protect them from their own stupidity. As superior individuals we owe it to the thick cvnts to make any decisions with potential negative consequences on their behalf. I'm glad you agree.
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