In the maze of bureaucratic or sometimes just buzz descriptions, professional translators can be anything from freelancers, through ministers and gurus to SMEs. What are the differences? Who do you think you are? And who you are, really?
Translator as an entrepreneur?
The term “entrepreneur” has been coined and used in the UK to describe the nation’s community of start-ups by organisations and bureaucrats. People outside the paperwork machine will fairly naturally describe an entrepreneur as a business owner who is more enterprising than others, who see opportunities that others don’t and who are capable of turning their ideas into profitable ventures.
“Many people have tried to define what makes an entrepreneur but I think an entrepreneur is simply someone who is able to create wealth for themselves or others from ideas that they bring into being”.
Alan Woods FCCA
An entrepreneur is therefore someone who:
- has new and fresh ideas about business
- generates growth and employment
- has a new product or service to share
- could go to the Dragon’s Den
In the light of these points, how many translators actually introduce new ideas to the business? How many of us grow their companies and employ others? How many of us could or would like to try their chances in the Dragon’s Den?
Translator as a Small and Medium Entreprise (SME)?
SME stands for small and medium enterprises employing up to 250 people. Having said that, how many translators employ more than one or two people? How many of us have any interest whatsoever in employing anyone or growing our businesses to reach these 250 employees?
“I think the term ‘SME’ has its place, and is a useful concept for quickly giving a business a label that describes the size category that it is in; the term is handy for larger organisations that have different rules or eligibility criteria for businesses of different sizes, such as Companies House or funding agencies”.
Dr Emma Smith
On the other hand, translators do have some SME-qualities:
- Independent earning
- Making profit
- Opportunities for suppliers
What about a micro-business then?
A micro-business is a business with 0 to 5 employees and can be entrepreneurial or can be a lifestyle. But how many of us would actually like the label of being MICRO?
Translator as a freelancer?
Take a look on the typical freelance professions: plumbers, accountants, solicitors, consultants, cake decorators, fashion designers.
Some time ago, Ed Gandia posted a simple question on Facebook: How do you call yourself: a professional, a specialist or a freelancer? Loads of answers showed that he made his point. Freelancer doesn’t sound right, definitely not in the neighbourhood of professionals, specialists and independent practitioners. Why?
So who translators really are?
When people ask you what do you do, what is your answer?
- I’m a freelance translator
- I’m a business owner
- I run my own translation business
- I run a translation micro-business
The list is long. I have jotted down some ideas I came across recently. Have a look and pick your own label:
- professional
- specialist
- guru
- small business owner
- passionate
- entrepreneur
- translator
- manager
- self-employed
- business director
Translator, what do you call yourself?
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Marta Stelmaszak
Marta Stelmaszak is a translator between Polish and English, combining language skills with a thorough understanding of economics and business to help SMEs make as big an international impact as possible, providing translation and interpreting services for the legal, business and marketing sectors. Read Marta's book on business.
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4 Comments
I am a project manager and owner of an translation agency.
Thank you
I do say freelancer, when it comes to defining whether I am an employee or self-employed (another word I may use).
Otherwise, I am an interpreter, translator and architect. Period.
Thank you, Eszter