Evolution From Freelancer to Agency

From the relatively idyllic life of a freelance translator to the nine-to-five (and then five-to-nine) grind of an agency manager: how did it happen? Why did it happen? And why me? Honyaku Plus was incorporated on March 11, 2003, (an ominous date in many ways) by Paul Flint and Phil Robertson: two freelance translators just looking for a better life in the translation world.

Starting as a mildly successful experiment in synergy—if we work together, can we make more money in the same amount of time?—the company bumbled along in the black, revenue inching up year in and year out until 2007, when everything went desperately wrong . . .

In this presentation, Honyaku Plus founding partner Paul Flint will describe the milestone events that faced these two daring translators, the decisions they made—good and bad—in the first four years, how they overcame adversity to survive the next six, and how they put the company on a trajectory for success in the next ten.

Speakers