donne du sens à ses actions

English translation: has a (real) sense of purpose

08:37 Mar 15, 2021

French to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Real Estate agent bio

French term or phrase: donne du sens à ses actions

From the bio of a real estate agent:

Il donne du sens à ses actions et met l’accent sur les résultats dans une démarche commerciale active.

This expression seems to be quite common in the business context, but I don't quite get what it means.

tatyana000 KudoZ activity Questions: 448 (5 open) (1 without valid answers) (31 closed without grading) Answers: 187
Local time: 08:00

English translation:has a (real) sense of purpose

Explanation:
see discussion box...

Selected response from:

Suzie Withers
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:00

Grading comment

Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +7

has a (real) sense of purpose

Suzie Withers

3 +2

he is driven

Shilpa Baliga

4 +1

He is action-oriented

Timothy Rake

his efforts are meaningful

Barbara Cochran, MFA

4 -1

Beliefs underpin his acts

Conor McAuley

is a mindful/attentive go-getter

Wolf Draeger

Discussion entries: 7

Answers

50 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

he is driven

Explanation:
This is not really what the original says, but it fits in naturally with the rest of the sentence (being proactive). I think the original really means that he is coherent in what he does (something that we all appreciate in real estate agents!), but I think you have some leeway here for a freer translation...

Shilpa Baliga
Local time: 08:00
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Genny Becchi (X)

20 mins

-> thanks!

agree

Nikki Scott-Despaigne: I agree with your reading and your suggestion. In context, this is essentially about motivation.

1 hr

-> thanks!

agree

philgoddard: Good idea.

4 hrs

-> thanks!

neutral

Conor McAuley: I don't see the connection with the French text

4 hrs

neutral

Francois Boye: Why not say 'he is goal-oriented'?

4 hrs

-> Because it's meaningless marketing-speak?

disagree

Timothy Rake: IMHO, "to be driven" has a much different sense (il est passioné/poussé). Similar to François, I'd say "action-oriented"

5 hrs

-> Why not suggest it?

neutral

AllegroTrans: This sounds a tad extreme in the context, it may be the reality but it hasn't the same meaning as the French

6 hrs

1 hr confidence:

his efforts are meaningful

Explanation:
Another way of looking at it.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2021-03-15 10:36:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or "he makes a significant effort".

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 02:00
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 16

5 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

Beliefs underpin his acts

Explanation:

Staying fairly close to a literal meaning.

Conor McAuley
France
Local time: 08:00
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 47

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

neutral

Shilpa Baliga: Wrong register for a real estate agent's bio IMHO.

1 hr

-> Thanks for returning the favour. "sens" is meaning and meaning arises from beliefs. He is driven = he gets out of bed on a workday morning without grumbling too much

disagree

Barbara Cochran, MFA: Don't think beliefs are at the forefront of what one is trying to convey here, on the surface. I don't think "acts" is the proper usage, either./But the most basic dictionaries often don't help too much when you have to consider an entire context.

5 hrs

-> I think that if you spoke the literal translation of this term to someone, they would laugh at you in ridicule. Meaning that it is essentially void of meaning. Act for action is Translation 101, to be found in the smallest FR>EN dictionary. / LOL

neutral

Daryo: in a sense yes, but you make him almost look like some mad street preacher ..

9 hrs

6 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

He is action-oriented

Explanation:
....as per my earlier comment. He gets things done, he’s organized

Timothy Rake
United States
Local time: 23:00
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

8 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

has a (real) sense of purpose

Explanation:
see discussion box...

Suzie Withers
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:00
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

SafeTex

10 mins

-> Thank you :)

agree

AllegroTrans: maybe "strong" sense of purpose

2 hrs

-> Yes, that works - thanks :)

neutral

Barbara Cochran, MFA: I really wonder if "purpose" is the correct term, since one is talking about the real estate industry. I think of "purpose" as being tied in with the helping professions/social agenices.

2 hrs

-> I get what you mean .i don't think purpose necessarily has that "worthwhile" aspect to it. He is just clear about what he wants to achieve, that's how I take it. .

agree

Conor McAuley: Best answer by far, hands down

4 hrs

-> Thanks, Conor :)

agree

Daryo

6 hrs

-> Thanks, Daryo

agree

Timothy Rake: Suzie, I think you nailed it!

7 hrs

-> Thank you, Timothy

agree

Shilpa Baliga: I especially like it with AllegroTrans' "strong"!

13 hrs

-> Yes, I agree it works really well with "strong" - thanks Shilpa

agree

Cyril Tollari

21 hrs

-> Merci Cyril !

2 days 5 hrs confidence:

is a mindful/attentive go-getter

Explanation:
The problem with bios, CVs and the like is that so much of the language tends to be meaningless (!) in efforts to make someone stand out from the rest. My sense (!) of the FR is that M. X is a "man with a plan". He's smart, knows what he's doing and takes the initiative. But really, what good agent isn't or doesn't?

Mindful has become a vogue word and attentive is often understood in a more personal way, but the idea is that he pays attention and thinks before he acts. What you really want to say is "he isn't a blithering idiot" which obviously makes for a fantastic bio. So instead you have to get your promo on.

Example sentence(s):

He is a mindful go-getter, focuses on results and takes the initiative.
He is an attentive go-getter, results-oriented and takes the initiative.

Wolf Draeger
South Africa
Local time: 08:00
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 34

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donne du sens à ses actions

English translation: has a (real) sense of purpose

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English translation: has a (real) sense of purpose

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