When I started transcribing over 18 years ago I began to build relationships with people transcribing in other official South African languages. It became evident that there was a need for translators and a gap where they should be.
There were also people with the skill and talent but no knowledge of how to market their abilities. Skilled translators from other countries came on board when I needed them and I realised there was a far wider market for translation, and translators to fill that market, than I had initially anticipated.
Now I have a multilingual bouquet of translators!
At times I had more proofing and editing than I could cope with, so found and built relationships with other editors. Now there are more than enough professional editors to cover all the work that comes in.
My working relationships have become friendships based on mutual respect and pride taken in a job well done. I value the symbiotic relationships with others with strong language skills that have developed over time.
What this means to my existing and prospective clients is that the people who make up Intelligent Verbatim take pride in the work they do. Also, each of our reputations is based solely on the last job that went out.
I have a very personal investment in my skills cooperative - it is my livelihood and that of others too, and we care about each other. It is not a cold, soulless ‘business’, people are not ‘resources’ – they are human beings who have skills and talents that interlink beautifully.
Do I love my job? Oh, yes I do!
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