Igor in Odessa

[Nando]

While the controversy has aroused sometimes I just want to recommend Igor (Stirlitz) who lives in Odessa.
I used his services and he was a professional guide and even in the beginning used his advice about some particular behaviour of some Ukrainian women or cultural differences.
I considered him more then a business partner now but also a friend, and it is always pleasant to discuss very different subjects with him like cars, travelling trough Ukraine.
I also enjoy meeting him in Odessa for a green tea.

[2tallbill]

I have used Stirlitz to do many things several different times. I consider him very reliable, honest,
professional and trust worthy. He has steered me away from more than one fiasco.
I would recommend even to the experienced traveler who is traveling to Ukraine to have his contact information.
If things turn to SH!T it's nice to know someone who will come running to help you.

Udachi! good luck

Bill

[Shadow]

While I belief that Stirlitz can be regarded as a good professional if used for translation there are two things that I object. First of all his disrespect against colleagues that charge less (even if they charge prices that he once charged but found the opportunity to raise). Secondly his tendency to become 'friends' with his clients

[groovlstk]

Secondly his tendency to become 'friends' with his clients

Shadow, do you mean his clients or his client's girlfriends? 

[TwoBitBandit]

Secondly his tendency to become 'friends' with his clients

Presumably when you say "his clients," you mean "the ladies that his male clients are meeting."

I've seen some accusations about this but does anyone have direct knowledge?  A lot of people seem to like Igor.  I've spoken to him on the phone, he was helpful to me and gave me some good advice.  I'd hate to see that we're starting a rumor that "Igor picks up on the girls his clients are dating" by people without direct knowledge.  Surely, Shadow, you're not just repeating a rumor started by others on this board?

[William3rd]

Oh boy, another fight over whether the guides are any good or not. . .  make sure that you read what the guides themselves have posted when they participated in the previous arguments to get perspective.

[Nando]

Oh boy, another fight over whether the guides are any good or not. . .  make sure that you read what the guides themselves have posted when they participated in the previous arguments to get perspective.

The same applies to other people involved on the threads

And about my girlfriend I am not worried  Maybe the girls I have dated while he was my terp where ugly
About considering him a friend well I can assure you I didn't payed the gree tea while in Odessa only the juice

[Stirlitz]

Thank you Bill and Nando. I do not usually post here but I feel I have to come up and thank you for recommending me.

While I belief that Stirlitz can be regarded as a good professional if used for translation there are two things that I object. First of all his disrespect against colleagues that charge less (even if they charge prices that he once charged but found the opportunity to raise). Secondly his tendency to become 'friends' with his clients

Let me put it straight: agency interpreters who are mostly college students studying English are NOT my colleagues. Just compare what I write in this forum to some letters they translate. For a mistake in my writing you will get hundreds if not thousands of mistakes in them. In fact, I challenge you to find a single mistake I have made in this board. I do not mean you cannot find it but it is sure going to take some time. Back to the girls, they just know some English and need pocket money while their parents provide their living and many of them are actually hoping to meet someone while working as an interpreter. So, they do not make a living interpreting and are in a position to offer ludicrous fees to attract those who cannot afford paying more. However, they are not professionals at all and can by no means be regarded as my colleagues. And if they happen to charge prices I used to charge 5 or 10 years ago when gasoline was not $1.2 a liter but 25 cents, it is a mere coincidence. I did not find an opportunity to raise prices, I was forced to do this following general trends of inflation. It may be a surprise for you but the prices I charge are average for professional interpreters. Research the web and see for yourself if you don’t believe me. If some of my clients come for dating reasons I do not see why I should charge them less than I charge the rest.

As for becoming friends with my clients you can object it as much as you like but unless you have an agenda I do not know if it makes sense. What’s wrong if I am in contact with people I helped even if they no longer need my help and become friends with them? Am I forbidden to do so? LOL

Oh boy, another fight over whether the guides are any good or not. . .  make sure that you read what the guides themselves have posted when they participated in the previous arguments to get perspective.

There is no fight unless you are eager to start it. I also urge my would-be clients to read what I write in the boards and my web site. What I post there is my attitude, experience, opinion and beliefs and I do not see why I should conceal them. Clicking on my profile and then following the ‘Show the last posts of this person’ will help. It’s me as I am, ignore me or adore me, you are welcome either way and I do not try to make a false impression, I always speak my mind.

However, as Nando pointed out, it does apply to others.

[Shadow]

Stirlitz I have clearly stated my opinion, based on what I saw in the past from you.
At that time you managed to double your price in one year, and I doubt that inflation was at the same rate at that time.
As long as there are clients willing to pay, you are doing well in getting the price you want.

The mixing of clients and friends is something that is not professional. Yes you can become friends with some clients. But when a guide starts handling all clients as friends, in order to get a more positive reaction, that is not a professional attitude and makes me personally question the true feelings and intentions. Not directed at you personally, it is an attitude I have had since my youth.

And you seem to have missed that I regard you as a highly skilled professional in your job. 

[Simoni]

The mixing of clients and friends is something that is not professional. Yes you can become friends with some clients. But when a guide starts handling all clients as friends, in order to get a more positive reaction, that is not a professional attitude and makes me personally question the true feelings and intentions. Not directed at you personally, it is an attitude I have had since my youth.

And you seem to have missed that I regard you as a highly skilled professional in your job. 

What?  The mixing of clients and friends is not professional?

I'm a consultant and work with many clients.  Because I do good work, most clients do become friends.   Many are friends far beyond the time I work for them.  Others are friends as I continue to work for them.

Shadow, you'll just have to accept that there are different views on this.  I won't say your perspecitve is wrong, but I will say that it differenent from my view and the way I conduct my professional business.  And hence, I do think you should treat me with the same respect that I treat you when I simply say you have a different perspective.

[KenC]

What?  The mixing of clients and friends is not professional?

I'm a consultant and work with many clients.  Because I do good work, most clients do become friends.   Many are friends far beyond the time I work for them.  Others are friends as I continue to work for them.

Shadow, you'll just have to accept that there are different views on this.  I won't say your perspecitve is wrong, but I will say that it differenent from my view and the way I conduct my professional business.  And hence, I do think you should treat me with the same respect that I treat you when I simply say you have a different perspective.

Simoni,
You are correct, there are many ways of looking at this.  I for one would prefer to keep things professional first and formost.  In services provided like Igor's and others, it is too easy to blur the lines of professionalism with friendship.  Some of the criticisms of the services provided have been that they are less than professional and more playing off of assumed friendships.

I have never used a service like Igore's in Russia before, although some can say that an agency really does act in the same capacity.  But I have used outside consultants many many times through out my professional career and I have always used the same measurement regarding "friendship vs. "business acquaintance", if I am paying for their time, they are not a friend, just an employee and it is best to keep it straight.  Nothing wrong with being "friendly" though.
KenC

[Shadow]

KenC expressed it better than I did. 

Simoni I fully respect that business relations can become friends and vice-versa, it happens to me as well.
However I have witnessed many cases where the friendship was related to the flow of money and lasted no longer.

[Stirlitz]

Shadow, in my case it is usually reverse. I become friends with some of my clients after they are happily married and no longer need anything from me. Well, not sharply after, but we gradually become friends since we meet and by the time we are done with our common business. It is just for the record, but I disagree with your attitude anyway. I see nothing wrong in treating my clients as my friends. I even tend to help them for free sometimes.

As for doubting double inflation, it is your idea. Yet gasoline (just one example) cost 1.50 UAH a liter in 2003 when I charged $50 a day and it was 2.70 a liter a year later in 2004 when I started charging $90. Tell me that my rate was unfair after you do your math dividing 90 by 50 and 2.80 by 1.50 By the way, if you remember when exactly I increased my rates, you will see that it was a few months after gasoline soared, not before. By the end of that year I raised my rate to $120 which happened after the ‘Orange Revolution’. I do not need to prove that prices went up during the turmoil as it usually happens at all times and nations during revolts. For some reason they are in no hurry to decrease back after everything is back to normal. And, it is gasoline but I do not even want to mention property prices because I am going to get too angry. Just research the web and find out for yourself how many times they went up then. The thing is I do not wait for a few years to realize my rates are obsolete.

[KenC]

Igor,
Are you driving your clients around?  It seems so as the gas prices seem to have impacted your prices so much.   I thought you coordinated drivers and taxi service so their prices would be up?  Just a point, as you can charge whatever the market will bare.  Wow, you even do some things for free for your "friends".     What a guy!
KenC

[Simoni]

Simoni I fully respect that business relations can become friends and vice-versa, it happens to me as well.
However I have witnessed many cases where the friendship was related to the flow of money and lasted no longer.

Not my style.

Nor in other sincere, successful consultants, IMHO.

Personally, when I'm hiring people who work for me, I want warmth and caring, not just a job done.  Because, people who care work harder and do a better work.   

Like my friend George Bush says, "I can look a man in the eye and know his soul."  I did some work for him back in his pre-prez days.  Bush looked me in the eye and firmly shook my hand, and then gave me a nickname.  But of course he did the same for his FEMA director "Brownie," and then fired him after Katrina! LOL

So in life, you like some people that work for you and you don't like some.  But liking them is ok. In fact, it's a good thing.

[KenC]

Well Gawd damn!  If it's good enough for Bush, then it should be good enough for anybody?  What a crock.

Not my style.

Nor in other sincere, successful consultants, IMHO.

So, those of us that seek to keep "professional" relationships "professional" without all the BS trappings of fake friendships are not successful or sincere?  Get over yourself, Simoni.  I don't care who's butt you been kissing, if it was for money, it is tainted.  If I gotta pay you for your company, you aint no friend of mine.
KenC

[Stirlitz]

I wanted to explain to KenC that for some idiotic reason the store where I buy food uses trucks to deliver the food here, but I changed my mind after the last message of him. I think that I should just put some people back on my ignore list. It is easier. Why explain obvious things?

[Admin]

Well Gawd damn!  If it's good enough for Bush, then it should be good enough for anybody?  What a crock.
So, those of us that seek to keep "professional" relationships "professional" without all the BS trappings of fake friendships are not successful or sincere?  Get over yourself, Simoni.  I don't care who's butt you been kissing, if it was for money, it is tainted.  If I gotta pay you for your company, you aint no friend of mine.
KenC

Well, here is a good example of 'different strokes for different folks.'

As you (Ken) know, I am getting ready to release an updated version of The GoodWife Report, which addresses the 'backoffice side of running a site like RWD. In the past, I tried to do my best to maintain positive (a/k/a 'friendly') relations with many (or all) of the agency owners who offer affiliate programs. This time, I found that - no matter what I did - at least a few of them are disinterested in the friendly relations and do not mind playing fast-and-loose with the terms of the affiliate agreement - all to the disbenefit of the affiliates. As a direct consequence, this edition of the report will tackle that issue head-on.

I honestly see both sides of this debate. Some people prefer a more friendly style of interaction - others are more formal in their interactions. Both work OK. The problem comes when there is a crossed expectation. That is - one party wants a formal professional (distanced) interaction, and the other party wants (or expects) a warmer, friendlier form. Sparks can fly and it makes for an unsatisfying business encounter.

Life happens like that sometime.

FWIW

- Dan

[Shadow]

Shadow, in my case it is usually reverse. I become friends with some of my clients after they are happily married and no longer need anything from me. Well, not sharply after, but we gradually become friends since we meet and by the time we are done with our common business. It is just for the record, but I disagree with your attitude anyway. I see nothing wrong in treating my clients as my friends. I even tend to help them for free sometimes.

Hey I just put my opinion, I might be wrong. If I ever get in the neighbourhood we will have a drink together as you have a good taste in cars. 

[KenC]

Well, here is a good example of 'different strokes for different folks.'

As you (Ken) know, I am getting ready to release an updated version of The GoodWife Report, which addresses the 'backoffice side of running a site like RWD. In the past, I tried to do my best to maintain positive (a/k/a 'friendly') relations with many (or all) of the agency owners who offer affiliate programs. This time, I found that - no matter what I did - at least a few of them are disinterested in the friendly relations and do not mind playing fast-and-loose with the terms of the affiliate agreement - all to the disbenefit of the affiliates. As a direct consequence, this edition of the report will tackle that issue head-on.

I honestly see both sides of this debate. Some people prefer a more friendly style of interaction - others are more formal in their interactions. Both work OK. The problem comes when there is a crossed expectation. That is - one party wants a formal professional (distanced) interaction, and the other party wants (or expects) a warmer, friendlier form. Sparks can fly and it makes for an unsatisfying business encounter.

Life happens like that sometime.

FWIW

- Dan

Dan,
I agree with you completely.  I have no bone to pick with Simoni, if that is his choice of how he wants to do his "business."  However his one quote:

Not my style.

Nor in other sincere, successful consultants, IMHO.

seems to indicate that those of us who seek a totally professional relationship with paid consultants are less successful or not sincere.  That is what I take exception to.
KenC

[KenC]

I wanted to explain to KenC that for some idiotic reason the store where I buy food uses trucks to deliver the food here, but I changed my mind after the last message of him. I think that I should just put some people back on my ignore list. It is easier. Why explain obvious things?

Igor,
You have a lot to learn about capitalism.  Your living expenses have nothing to do with the price you are able to charge for your services.  If your target market accepts your higher prices, fine, then your service is deemed valuable enough to support the increase.  What you have to pay for your food has nothing to do with it though.  (it's called "supply & demand")
KenC

[Admin]

Igor,
You have a lot to learn about capitalism.  Your living expenses have nothing to do with the price you are able to charge for your services.  If your target market accepts your higher prices, fine, then your service is deemed valuable enough to support the increase.  What you have to pay for your food has nothing to do with it though.  (it's called "supply & demand")
KenC

LOL - I cudda sworn I wrote the same words to Igor about three, or so, years back.

FWIW - it isn't only Igor that misses this fundamental concept of a capitalist society (I actually like Igor - though I doubt he believes me). In fact, one of the cornerstones we usually don't discuss outside of business schools is that capitalism is based on exploitation - usually in the form of exploiting an attractive market opportunity - but as we know, some people apply the concept of exploitation to other people.

Like I say - FWIW

- Dan

[KenC]

LOL - I cudda sworn I wrote the same words to Igor about three, or so, years back.

FWIW - it isn't only Igor that misses this fundamental concept of a capitalist society (I actually like Igor - though I doubt he believes me). In fact, one of the cornerstones we usually don't discuss outside of business schools is that capitalism is based on exploitation - usually in the form of exploiting an attractive market opportunity - but as we know, some people apply the concept of exploitation to other people.

Like I say - FWIW

- Dan

Dan,
I have made a very good living off my ability to exploit the market over the years!   God bless those that can survive the perils of business by charging enough.  My experience is that most do not charge enough for their service or products and that is the root cause for their eventual failure.  There are many justifications for a higher price, but the sellers cost of living is not one of them.
KenC

[Stirlitz]

I may not know anything about the capitalism but what does it matter. What I know for sure is that had I been following the market, I would be charging $2.5 an hour now just as I did back in 1999 when I interpreted freelance for the first time. Perhaps $3 Point is you have to increase prices sooner or later or else you end up a beggar. However, if you listen to some people it is always too expensive to them, however much or little it is. So instead of being a scholar and learning capitalism, following market trends, estimating paying capacities of would-be clients, etc I just see how much I should charge to stay on the same level or higher according to the rest of the prices, and leave the science to the wise.

[KenC]

I may not know anything about the capitalism but what does it matter. What I know for sure is that had I been following the market, I would be charging $2.5 an hour now just as I did back in 1999 when I interpreted freelance for the first time. Perhaps $3 Point is you have to increase prices sooner or later or else you end up a beggar. However, if you listen to some people it is always too expensive to them, however much or little it is. So instead of being a scholar and learning capitalism, following market trends, estimating paying capacities of would-be clients, etc I just see how much I should charge to stay on the same level or higher according to the rest of the prices, and leave the science to the wise.

Igor,
The simplest way to understand all this is that the "market" is the only control over your pricing.  If the "market" will pay your quoted prices, then your volume will be good.  If competition or other factors erode your volume, then your prices will need to be adjusted to increase the demand for your services.  That is what is meant as "whatever the market will bare."

Sometimes, (often IMO) people underprice themselves, work harder than necessary for the same amount of money as could be made with higher prices and a slightly smaller number of sales.
KenC