Fluke

I'm not that smart, y'know, at least not in the down-to-Earth sense: it seems I chose my profession poorly.
One cannot get rich translating, simply cannot. You may have a comfortable life, yes, you might travel, but in the final run it boils down to servant role and you cannot earn vast sums at a stroke. As for example lawyers do.
This is further exacerbated by the contemporary neglect of language: it is amazing how little profession is admired and sought opinions from.
True, you might end up a writer but I have a theory anything except for the first novel is drudgery, comparatively speaking. This is NOT a vocation and is not to be pushed. (We have had these ridiculous one hundred thousand local currency awards for the best novel during the past five years or so.)
After all, it would look the best principle would be the ancient one of mecenas, or patrons. It is the appaling order of today's nouveau riche not to have a philosopher or artist on your estate.
And it is probably in such constellations that best cooperations are realised: just think of the Pope and Michelangelo or the proverbial clash between the investor and the architect. Reigns are good; sometimes spurring you on. To evade the constraints of the assignment or reality itself has always been one of favourite techniques of art. Why? Constant flux requires a tireless arranger. And that's as clear as I can be.