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Poll: How do you view an effort that doesn't bring in direct income?
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ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
PERSONÁL PORTÁLU
Sep 11

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you view an effort that doesn't bring in direct income?".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugalsko
Local time: 23:45
Člen (2007)
angličtina -> portugalčina
+ ...
Other Sep 11

If only I understood the answers to this question... According to the Cambridge Dictionary "Effort is the physical or mental energy you use to reach a goal or finish a task".

Philip Lees
María Domínguez Camba
 
Lieven Malaise
Lieven Malaise  Identity Verified
Belgicko
Local time: 00:45
Člen (2020)
francúzština -> holandčina
+ ...
Efforts Sep 11

I provide two kinds of effort that don't bring in direct income:
- goodwill effort towards established customers: some extra words here and there, a quick proofreading of a translation converted to PDF.
- free translation tests.

But this is all very limited. My customers rarely ask me to do something for free and the last translation test I took must have been at least 2 years ago. I consider it very important to be paid for my work. Decent customers would never try to e... See more
I provide two kinds of effort that don't bring in direct income:
- goodwill effort towards established customers: some extra words here and there, a quick proofreading of a translation converted to PDF.
- free translation tests.

But this is all very limited. My customers rarely ask me to do something for free and the last translation test I took must have been at least 2 years ago. I consider it very important to be paid for my work. Decent customers would never try to exploit you, by the way, so you know what to do with those who do try. ▲ Collapse


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Dan Lucas
 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Dánsko
Local time: 00:45
Člen (2003)
dánčina -> angličtina
+ ...
It really depends what kind of effort! Sep 11

Trying to persuade a client's portal to LET ME IN!!!! and submit an invoice - when it takes more than one easy attempt - is a total waste of time. I simply never work for that client again, even after I have found out how to break in (which sooner or later I do).

Answering polls and contributing to this site ... I used to regard it as an investment or something like that, but I am not sure any more.

Answering one-line questions and going the extra mile for the good clie... See more
Trying to persuade a client's portal to LET ME IN!!!! and submit an invoice - when it takes more than one easy attempt - is a total waste of time. I simply never work for that client again, even after I have found out how to break in (which sooner or later I do).

Answering polls and contributing to this site ... I used to regard it as an investment or something like that, but I am not sure any more.

Answering one-line questions and going the extra mile for the good clients I still have? Absolutely worth it!

Tidying up my desk and desktop, reorganising my workspace ... Probably a good idea, put it on the to-do list ▲ Collapse


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD
Michele Fauble
Philip Lees
María Domínguez Camba
 
SEIDOU OUMAROU (M.A)
SEIDOU OUMAROU (M.A)  Identity Verified
Člen (Sep 2026)
francúzština
+ ...
Every effort has a return Sep 11

For me, it’s obvious that there are some services that don’t generate direct income (money). However, the return on an effort doesn’t necessarily have to be financial. It can also come in the form of personal growth, experience, knowledge, satisfaction, or even future opportunities. So, in my view, an effort is never truly without a return, even when it doesn’t bring in direct income. We can still talk about the direct value of an effort, even when that value isn’t monetary.

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Géraldine Fourrier
Maria Laura Curzi
Christine Andersen
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugalsko
Local time: 23:45
Člen (2007)
angličtina -> portugalčina
+ ...
Thank you all! Sep 11

I must say that your answers helped me understand the question and some of the answers. I fully agree with all of you...

Luis M. Sosa
Philip Lees
 
Sofia Bengoa
Sofia Bengoa  Identity Verified
Španielsko
Local time: 00:45
Člen (2005)
angličtina -> španielčina
+ ...
Effort for no direct income Sep 11

To me, it depends on the effort and how attractive the offer is.
All options in the poll are true. A quick, cold reflection on effort-money-investment of time-preference for the subject matter gives you the answer.

Having this in mind, may be the first time does not set you off but there may be chances that they call you again or that you gain some advantages in doing it, like the a different software or experience on that sector.
 
Gregor Trebec
Gregor Trebec
Slovinsko
Local time: 00:45
angličtina -> slovinčina
+ ...
a waste of time Sep 11

If a client would pay me 0,05 (or less) and wants me to do a free test, I would strongly consider to quit.
 


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Poll: How do you view an effort that doesn't bring in direct income?






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