How Many Of You DREAD The Family This Holiday Because Of The INTERROGATION?

[pheonix44]

I know it's the holidays and people will have their families over or they will be visiting them. How many of you are dreading the questions that seem to come up when you are surrounded by family and friends? Questions like what do you do for a living? Why don't you get a real job? These types of questions when asked in the company of others can be very awkward. How do you guys handle this kind of thing? Do you just avoid being backed into a wall all together?

[jazbo]

If you are making the money (or more) a "real" job would bring in, then who cares what they say or think? I personally just say, "I do enough to keep a good roof over our head" and change the subject.

[Colin Palfrey]

Tell them your a marketing consultant.

I've tried explaining it all properly before, and they walk in the other room and
I hear "I think he's looking at porn"

Whats the point? Just tell them your in marketing and they probably wont ask
any more questions....If they do ask, say you design adverts

Colin

[Stephen Root]

Just say you run your own company that does marketing for various products online. If they still say "get a real job", just reply "and work for somebody else? No thank you, I prefer working for myself" ... works every time.

[Steven Wagenheim]

I don't get the questions anymore. I've already been labeled a "loser" and
thus don't have to deal with them anymore.


In fact, it's almost as if I am a non existent entity.

Comes in handy when family goes around asking others for favors. I'm the
last one they ask.

[Andyhenry]

I tell them about all the fun I'm having and how many options I have to be happy and make money - they don't understand it but it sounds great so they're happy.

[geoffcruz]

This is my first year to go full time with internet marketing, so i am also dreading the interrogation from my relatives. They will probably ask why the hell i left my job and stuff.

Ill probably just say, "yeah i dont have a job and i dont have money, maybe you could lend me some", that should stop them from asking anymore questions.

[JayXtreme]

I love it!

I spend the holiday season, lounging around, drinking good wine... and generally baffling the in-laws with what I do to earn a crust.

It's no different than any other time of year, apart from extra wine, and the in-laws visit more frequently

My own family have followed me along this whole journey, so they completely understand, but the in-laws are a whole different ball game..

Peace

Jay

p.s. My advice to anyone "dreading" the upcoming season for the reasons in the OP... Flip it right onto it's head and enjoy the fact that they don't have a clue and their ill-judged attitude is wrong on so many levels..

[Jill Carpenter]

I had a car ride with a friend this past weekend, and she was actually very good with the questions and listening to explainations of how affiliate marketing works.

It was almost getting through to her, but she was stuck on the "you pull money out of thin air" kind of thing.


I get away with "I do video work" with my parents. They know I shot weddings, etc - and someone would get handed an actual tape or DVD in the end so It became more real in that regard.

Of course, I don't do those types of videos anymore. Too much work.

[mywebwork]

You might be surprised - for years I kept my IM activities a secret from my family, fearing that they would be disappointed that I left my "real" job to "fool around" on the Internet. Earlier this year I let them know what I was doing, and to my surprise they were fascinated by it!

The concept of making money online interests a lot of people, you may have family members who not only support you but envy your ability to make money wherever you have an Internet connection. Give it a try!

Happy Holidays!

Bill

[dorim]

I must have a great family because no one interrogates me! When they ask about my job I tell them I "work from home." If they ask doing what I tell them I run a couple of online businesses and I give them my business card for my webhosting business and that puts and end to any further discussion.

[Kelly Verge]

If you spend your life trying to please others, you likely won't be happy with the life you're living. Make your choices then stand firmly behind them. If someone in your family doesn't understand or is negative, their attitude only affects you when you let it.

This isn't anything new with IM. Think of those who want to become an artist or a musician, or of those who want to go into full-time ministry. If you have a family full of doctors, there might even be resentment if you choose to be an attorney.

If someone really gets negative, gently remind them that each of us has our own path to walk - remember to smile, and it will be fine.

[ocon9316]

I've only just started in IM (hence my low post count haha) but I have already made some decent money. That said, I have also already gotten some of these style questions this past week at Thanksgiving...the way I spin it though when I explain it to them makes it sound like I'm a genius and know more than they do and really have found a way to "work in my pajamas."

My unemployed uncle wanted me to explain how to do it "step by step" and wouldn't understand when I kept telling him "really, it is not that easy!"

Originally Posted by Colin Palfrey

I've tried explaining it all properly before, and they walk in the other room and
I hear "I think he's looking at porn"

The "looking at porn" quote just made my day hahaha

[Kay King]

I've found some marketers can't resist telling others about marketing - and often answer the question "what do you do" in far more detail than necessary. You don't have to justify your income or your work habits but if you brag about it, you should expect questions.

As someone who will not be able to be with family for holidays this year, I think you should count your blessings and quit your bitchin'.

kay

[KenThompson]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

labeled a "loser"

a non existent entity.

I am in good company.

My phd'd, professional sibling once said to me, "... well,
if that's how you want to live your life."

Had to be there, though. The disdain was palpable. In
a different conversation...

"What exactly do you sell?" I gave a general explanation. The
reaction?

"Oh god, Ken." End of conversation. Cool, huh?

[Michael Motley]

If you are living on your own, paying your own bills, you dont have to worry about what other people think of your job.

What it boils down to is some people arent intelligent enough to understand the concepts in IM, thats all. And they dont need to, nor to YOU need their blessings. All they have to know is you are doing legitmate legal work and it pays your bills. Stop worrying about whether they approve of it or not.

[imon32red]

For the most part I don't really care what they think. But of course I do care about some of them. I have found that when I use the term business people become interested. Sometimes this can have a negative effect (they ask too many questions) but usually they are fine with the answer. I usually say something like; "I started a new online business", rather than "I make money on the internet".

[Radix]

I don't really tell anyone about all this. I have a day job that's strange enough to keep most focused on that.

I would tell someone if they asked, but I would have to oversimplify to the extent they would think I was just pulling their leg.

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by pheonix44

How do you guys handle this kind of thing?

Buy them all big screen plasma TVs.

That ought to quiet them down.

[Patrician]

Contrary to popular belief (you can't win if you don't play)

I refuse to play. I don't go.

I win!

I will not be subjected to a bummer again on a holiday.

Then the argument every year was why can't you come?

Then I got smart: Enough years where I held my ground and now I don't even need to go through this or any manipulation, etc.

They just don't invite me.

To me this is a win. I have my space and my peace.

Happy Holly Daze 2 U 2!

As for the 'why don't you get a job' - no brainer: "I work my own hours, take naps, don't commute and make the same money I made after 15 years in corporate within 2 years of having my own business. I've never been happier"... KMA (they are just jealous).


p.s. Dan - turns out I didn't have house centipedes - had cousins - they are centipedes from the Eucalyptus trees which are all over this property (and not native to this country). That would account for how mine were fatter and hairier than the pics of the house centipedes. (This is per the exterminator).

So I am back to the dilemma of who told them there is water in my apartment. What in nature/instinct told them? They smell it?

[Kurt]

You're a marketer, you should be able to sell your own family and friends on what you do.

I tell people I sell software, the same business model as Bill Gates, and joke that I'm not quite as good at it as he is.

Then I go on and say, "I don't mean to brag, even though I'm not rich, I'm the best damn boss I've ever had!" ...with a big grin and really meaning it...

Once I've made that point, I've never had a problem with what I do.

[webmasterfriendly]

I don't have to worry, the family goes out of state and I stay to keep working etc :P I like XMAS TIME!

[Emily Meeks]

I'm already the odd duck in my family, so I really don't give a damn what they say. I already got all their crap for my personal beliefs as well as tastes and am pretty much at the "ignore" state now when they start interrogating about money >:P

My extended family's not so bad though. They have their own dramas but it doesn't get too out of hand. They're always pretty nice to me on holidays

[bozz723]

My family knows what I do. What I hate is when I get into conversations with strangers and they want to know. I get into many convos with strangers so it happens often, and is extraordinarily annoying.

I just tell them I market products online. It all depends on who I am talking to though.