I agree, people (many people) are pretty set in their thinking about how the world works. For instance, when I tell people what I do for a living they look at me funny. It looks like their response is a combination of two thoughts. On the one hand, pity, as if to say, man you are behind the times. On the other hand, total bewilderment, or cognitive dissonance, I like to call it. I think the reason why people respond this way, is because they may not understand that freelance translation (not just interpreting) is a profession.
The thing is that people assume that because you don't belong to a specific institution that you are not successful, which is obviously not always true. It's more of a problem with people subscribing to typical thoughts.
Why is that a bigger problem? can I ask you a huge personal favour? Can you resteem my article, I want to try it out and see what happens...
Done, always willing to help.
Great thanks!