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Poll: Do you have a written business plan for your translation/interpreting business?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:50
English to Spanish
+ ...
American hubris Apr 29, 2014

I live in America (and I'm American), and Americans love to steamroll over the world with their one-size-fits-all business mentality.

Every business, big or small, has to have a business plan. Okay, Mr. American impresario, define for me what you mean by that. Stumped? I thought so.

Then, you are not taken seriously unless you have a mission statement and a vision statement. What do you mean by that? Isn't it enough that I say Mr. So-and-So, Spanish (or German or Italia
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I live in America (and I'm American), and Americans love to steamroll over the world with their one-size-fits-all business mentality.

Every business, big or small, has to have a business plan. Okay, Mr. American impresario, define for me what you mean by that. Stumped? I thought so.

Then, you are not taken seriously unless you have a mission statement and a vision statement. What do you mean by that? Isn't it enough that I say Mr. So-and-So, Spanish (or German or Italian) translator, or that I provide language services or plumbing services in my downtime? Mission and vision statements are invariably foamy and useless fluff.

Why can't we listen a bit to Thoreau with his motto Simplify, simplify, simplify!? Next up, our kindergarten kids will introduce themselves with a Hi, I'm Brian, and my mission statement is “I am likable and I want to be your friend”

Nonsense.
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564354352 (X)
564354352 (X)  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 16:50
Danish to English
+ ...
No, but maybe not a bad idea Apr 29, 2014

When I do my annual accounts, I write a half-page report on the main developments of the year. That neatly leads to my thoughts on what to focus on over the next year, but it is really just a few lines. However, I actually quite like the idea of being a bit more specific about where I want to take my business, so maybe it's not such a bad idea to verbalise those vague plans that are all contained in my head...

 
Philip Lees
Philip Lees  Identity Verified
Greece
Local time: 17:50
Greek to English
Business plan Apr 29, 2014

Dilbert's business plan.

 
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Poll: Do you have a written business plan for your translation/interpreting business?






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