Synergy – on the advantages of being a freelancing couple

 

[A rainy tinny celebration]

There is a power in being a couple not just in dealing with life’s crises but also as working as a freelancer. My wife and I just celebrated our 10^th wedding anniversary. We are both freelance translators, even having met at a translator conference, albeit in different but complementary language combinations (Hebrew – English for me; the opposite for her, in different specialization areas). We can both see how much our individual business have benefited by sharing a profession. These advantages are reflected in the technical, emotional and financial stability.

Giving that not only is no man (or woman) is an island but also no person can be proficient in all areas of business, partners can complement each other’s skills. My wife enjoys technology (and house repairs) and views any hardware or software problem that arises as  an interesting challenge. She eagerly checks out the new features of any new program or upgrade. I, on the other hand, prefer the language aspect of this business. Finding the ideal phrasing for a delicate email  in English to a project manager is a fascinating intellectual exercise for which my American background has prepared me. Furthermore, as we work from opposite source languages, we help each other hone the exact meaning of any word in question and discuss which word or phrase in the target language would best express that sense. Occasionally, we agree to disagree. Having an in-office expert is a great asset.

Clearly, no less important is the emotional support we provide for each other. Freelancing, especially translating sometimes is a lonely, frustrating and unpredictable life style. The nature of the job is  to spend many hours sitting in front of a computer interacting with text whether in the form of a document or email. While written words are far less annoying than most people, it is also far less human by definition. The actual business aspect can be frustrating as, despite our best efforts to avoid them, misunderstandings occur with clients. Even worse, quite often  a job that the translator perceived as a short easy task turns into a translation from hell due to a technical issue or simple misjudgment. Of course, unnecessary and sometimes even incorrect feedback from editors is the bane of all translators. All this friction creates a tension, even anger. In terms of work pace, freelancing in general tends to be feast or famine, i.e., not enough or too much work, with occasional an unpleasant surprise on Friday night or other inconvenient time. Sometimes, there is no choice but to work too many hours, which is ultimately beneficial for the bank account but not enjoyable at the moment. As a couple, we can empathize with these feelings and provide the human element, understanding and logistical support (cups of tea and making dinner) required to ride through these crises. In simple words, you are not alone.

As for income, two freelance incomes are more stable and higher than one. Translator monthly income tends to vary significantly by field and month. For example, financial translators tend to have very busy first quarters of the year due to tax reporting requirements while certain offices push projects in November and December to take advantage of remaining budget to avoid future cuts. Moreover, technical changes, notably neural machine translation and ChatGPT, as well as new laws, such as in regards to translation or certification requirements, have varying effects of the landscape of the language industry. Spreading our income over a wider area helps protects us from “slings and arrows of outragious fortune”. On a more spiritual level, the technical and emotional support we get for each other creates positive vibes, which leads to better productivity and clearer thinking about all aspect of our business. This synergy leads to more business.

Admittedly, working with a spouse requires certain ground rules. First, what happens outside the office does not enter the office. Secondly, it is acceptable to discuss but each person reserves the right to make the final decision for his/her task. Finally, it is necessary to accept that each person approaches business differently, not better or worse. We do the best with what we have at any given moment.

There is a song in Hebrew “yoter tov beshnayim”, or, loosely translated, two are better than one. As we celebrate our tin anniversary (tinny does not ring very pleasant to my ears), we are aware that we have profted not only in our private but also in our business lives. I am looking forward to many such years.