Poll: On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), how would you rate your own business-running skills?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Sep 7, 2019

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), how would you rate your own business-running skills?".

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Abdurahman Haji
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 06:06
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
I don't know (between 3 and 4?) Sep 7, 2019

I would say between 3 and 4. I’m very organized, I’m hardworking, I’m a good time manager (I'm known to deliver often ahead of time), I communicate effectively with my clients, I have a flexible attitude and I’m very easy to deal with, I’m detail-oriented, I like solving problems, but I lack sales and marketing skills and my bookkeeping/accounting skills are minimum (that’s why I have an excellent accountant). Anyway, I must be doing something right as my business has been around for... See more
I would say between 3 and 4. I’m very organized, I’m hardworking, I’m a good time manager (I'm known to deliver often ahead of time), I communicate effectively with my clients, I have a flexible attitude and I’m very easy to deal with, I’m detail-oriented, I like solving problems, but I lack sales and marketing skills and my bookkeeping/accounting skills are minimum (that’s why I have an excellent accountant). Anyway, I must be doing something right as my business has been around for a long while (since 1985, first in Belgium and now in Portugal).Collapse


Abdurahman Haji
Muriel Vasconcellos
 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
some four (about 80%) Sep 7, 2019

Considering that my lowest rate ($0.25/word) is higher than most 'highest' freelancers' rates -AND- there're customers (direct clients) who are ready to pay me even in advance, I must be doing something right  

Abdurahman Haji
 
Lincoln Hui
Lincoln Hui  Identity Verified
Hong Kong
Local time: 14:06
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
0 Sep 7, 2019

I make it in spite of, not because.

[Edited at 2019-09-07 15:25 GMT]


Abdurahman Haji
 
Elizabeth Tamblin
Elizabeth Tamblin  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:06
French to English
Oops, I put 5! Sep 7, 2019

I don't really have much of a business, but I manage to run it quite well. I thought you meant the admin side of things...

Abdurahman Haji
 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 03:06
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
5 - No modesty here Sep 7, 2019

I graduated in Accounting, so I never needed an accountant.
I'm extremely organized, and I keep everything up to date.
I have complete historical data and statistics of every job since 2010.
I pay all my bills and taxes strictly on time (in advance mostly).
Sorry for not being modest, but this is something I take very seriously and dedicate myself to. It's a 5.


Elizabeth Tamblin
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 23:06
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
3 or 4 Sep 8, 2019

I'm very good at meeting deadlines, dealing with clients, keeping track of assignments on an Excel spreadsheet, and making sure that every step is taken to get paid promptly. I don't spend time drumming up business because I'm comfortable with my work flow; more work would be overwhelming. I have a complete record of assignments dating back to 1992. I often save my work, when clients allow, and can find it quickly if I want to consult it later (for example, an 800-page manual with summaries on a... See more
I'm very good at meeting deadlines, dealing with clients, keeping track of assignments on an Excel spreadsheet, and making sure that every step is taken to get paid promptly. I don't spend time drumming up business because I'm comfortable with my work flow; more work would be overwhelming. I have a complete record of assignments dating back to 1992. I often save my work, when clients allow, and can find it quickly if I want to consult it later (for example, an 800-page manual with summaries on all the zoonotic diseases).

On the other hand, when tax time rolls around, I find that my receipts are in disarray, I don't have a good record of my expenditures, and I rely on my accountant to prepare the forms.

On technical matters, I manage to solve some problems, but once or twice a year something new turns up that requires me to call in my tech. Right now, my email inbox is flooded with some kind of worm that's coming through on the server. We are going to change servers on Monday. He always fixes several things at once and sets me on a new path of temporary freedom.

[Edited at 2019-09-08 06:26 GMT]
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Poll: On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), how would you rate your own business-running skills?






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