I did the first part of my growing up in Pittsburgh, where both pickles and ketchup are Heinz. And much of the chocolate was Hershey’s. However, my dad also liked chocolate and there were always a couple of bars of Baker’s Chocolate around. True, the Baker’s Chocolate cost more, but it was better. And then I did some more growing up in college before coming to Japan and continuing to grow up. This is an on-going process.
Along the way, I lucked out with some very good clients who furthered the process, including showing me how to think about some things, including both being willing to pay for value when it is important and positioning myself as value that is worth paying for. Part of this was deciding that I did not want to do anybody-can-do-it work. And then pricing my services appropriately—which means pricing them so that people would only ask me to do things that are important to them. Like going to Europe with groups of businessmen, not because I was the interpreter or the tour conductor or anything but just so I’d be there and could take care of whatever might happen. Like 30-page policy speeches that have to be translated, client-checked, put back into real English, and ready for distribution in two days or so. And like a lot of other things.
Of course, this cuts both ways. When sending thank-you gifts to people, send stuff that indicates you think they are important. Not waxy Hershey’s chocolates from Don Quixote but Godiva from the Godiva shop, for example. Godiva costs more. But the fact that everybody knows it costs more means it has more value—is worth more—as a gift. Perception counts. (I am reminded of the Johnnie Walker story. Johnnie Walker Black Label used to be the prime gift in Japan. But then the non-Japanese brewers complained about the high tariffs, the Japanese government lowered the tariffs, Johnnie Walker slashed its prices, and lost vast expanses of market share because it was no longer a prestige brand. Perception counts.)
Kamagra is available in many viagra no prescription Read Full Article soft versions. I hope you follow these instructions and you would enjoy buying medication the same way you enjoy sildenafil buy online shopping any other commodity. Actually, it was presented by Parker’s own trainer known as Teacher low cost viagra Bill (Willie) K. Men will surely get rid of erectile dysfunction and will allow you to lead a promising sexual life along with your bulk cialis partner.What does this mean for us as translators? It means perception counts. How are you perceived? As someone who will work for bottom-feeder rates, presumably because that’s the only work you can get? Or as someone who charges premium rates, presumably because you provide a premium product? And while some of this is product, much of it is packaging. Are you a “this is what it’ll cost you” person or a “please throw me some crumbs” person? I know the market has changed somewhat since I moved off the front lines, but I suspect this principle still applies. Translation is translation but the translation business is still a business. Part of how you get where you want to be is assuming—and projecting an image conducive to other people’s assuming—you are already there.
– – – – – – – –
(originally written for the Japan Association of Translators (JAT) 2021 Translator Perspectives anthology)