Full time IMers: How do you explain that you actually "have a job"?

I pretty much look forward to hanging out... Usually it is them who can't hang out with me because they have to work...

I just tell them I own an internet company. Sounds better and stops the so you're unemployed comments

Don't ever say you are an entrepreneur, that has so many preconceived notions both positive and negative.

I used to say I do Internet marketing but then that gets you lumped in with those Ads that annoy people.

So now I say I buy and sell websites, never say you design websites even if you do, unless you want their business. Its the curse of death if you say you can design websites, because you will get hounded by all your friend to make them one lol.

But saying you buy and sell websites people usually say "oh thats neat" and never ask anymore questions.

Most people think I'm an unemployed bum. But, I am an unemployed bum that apparently can pull cash out of his... since I'm not homeless or starving.

I get what you are saying. It's hard for people to understand that...

NO, really, I'm not sitting at my computer all day watching porn, playing WOW or updating my FB status. I really am working.

Strange companies don't just randomly send me checks every month, I really do have to earn that money.

I think they are all still skeptical of what I do.

Oh yeah, I have used variations of that line from The Social Network and the reaction is dead-on So you're unemployed?

It is a different mindset altogether for those who have 9-5 jobs--and that's the problem. Unless you can show them your money stats, they won't understand. Even if you show them the money stats, they still won't understand because then they will just want to get on the internet and try to make fast money rather than building value and they would ask you to do the work for them! That same 9-5 job mentality will never understand the mind of an entrepreneur which explains why they will always be employees.

Why wouldn't you just say that you are a self employed and work in sales and marketing. If you are an affiliate marketer, then you can explain that you promote products for other companies using a wide range of mediums, including and mostly the Internet. If they ask for more details, say, "what are you my mother?"

It beats saying you are an "entrepreneur". If you told me that, my first instinct would be that you are unemployed too... or a drug dealer.

Nah you're definitely not alone in this. There's been quite a few threads similar to yours that have popped up around here and on other IM forums.

Everyone answers it differently obviously, but me, I just try to say as little as possible when people ask me "what do you do?". It seems that the more you try to explain it, the less they understand and the more questions you will get.

What I've found to work for me is saying "I build websites". Since everyone out there knows what a website is, they usually don't go any further into it and just leave it alone.

Of course there's much more to what we as IMers do than building websites, further explanation to those that don't understand is kinda pointless.

When you work out how to convince people let me know!!!

I always have my Mum angry at me because I wont drop everything and spend the day at the shops with her. I tell her I have to work and she just gives me a weird look like I'm in dream world or something.

But my sister who has a 'normal' job isn't expected to drop her work and go shopping, it is completely understood when she can't go out because she's working.

Even my husband keeps telling me to go out and get a real job!

When people ask me what I do, I always say "as little as possible" that always ends the conversation quickly.

It's not just you man.

I do say though when I tell them "I run the biggest online identity theft ring that's yet to be discovered," that ends that convo really quick.

Good question...

I've always found it kinda hard to explain what I do, so I just stuff it under the umbrella of "I make and sell software" - even though more than 1/2 of what I do isn't software... It's just easier to say that

I just say Im in marketing... only I do it on the internet.
Its funny because then they think they know what im doing.

When I say I in "internet marketing" they look at me in a strange way and say nothing. I know they're thinking "so you do nothing"

Just say im in marketing and I do it for clients and that would usually end the conversation, unless you have a curious one on the other end in which case its actually fun explaining what you do.

I too used to get hung up about this...annoyed sometimes. But you know what now...I do not care...I'll even say "yeah i am almost unemployed..just do a bit of managing here and there, have tons of free time to spend with my boy, etc..." But I pay the bills, have good holidays etc..." So no problems. One guy asked me last wek what I "did" I told him i was semi retired.....The look on his face was priceless. LOL I almost am. Once my mortgage is paid off i am virtually retired. And I'll keep doing this until I die I guess. ANOTHER HUGE BONUS with this work.

I just have to start getting used to it. We are not 9-5 clock punchers. Often we can make a lot more, work our own times (which is HEAVEN to me) and are self employed.

I'll tell you what now as well, I used to think this was so unstable. Get a job I would tell my-self years ago. 2 of my friends have just lost jobs with the Governemt and with all the cut backs i am now so glad I am self employed.

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LOL I told a group i was into I.M...next thing I am handed a request to build them a site....I treid to explain this was not my line of bizz....to no avail...

When I first moved into my last house, I never thought much about the fact that neighbors would notice that my office light was on at odd hours (late...very late), that I never went to work in the morning, and that I was a single guy in a good neighborhood full of married couples and families.

As I got to know the people that lived around me, it was confirmed: yup, they thought I was a drug dealer. Of course, after learning that I "did something with computers" I was immediately thought of as a computer wiz so guess who got called every time someone had a virus? Yup.

Right now I'm proud to say that "I'm a writer", which I actually am.

It doesn't imply that you do any internet marketing mumbo jumbo, which is a turn off to people here.

It sounds intelligent, since not everyone can become a writer (at least that's what people think).

It peaks the interest. They start wondering, what am I writing about, what books have I written, etc...

My neighbours used to tell me they thought I was a drug dealer. They said they never saw me leave for work or come home as I was always there. I know my kids teachers used to look at me funny when I'd drop them off and pick them up not wearing business attire like all the other Dads who could get time off work would.

I used to say I was self employed too and left it at that, but then I'd get the follow up, "but what do you". I tried things like I'm VP of TCB, (taking care of business). But ended up just saying I own an advertising agency. People seem to accept that, except when I throw in that it's all online.

Don't feel sad for unwanted people's comment. People who don't know about IM make "Work at home" as a negligible one. We earn a certain amount of money and have less dependencies with companies. That's enough

I used to tell people I am a trainer (which is but now my focus have shifted) and now though I am still in training, I wanna be known for building membership sites. So I am trying to get used to say I run membership sites....Think that should sound good enough!

Technically everything done online from buying a site, domain or investing your time building and managing is an investment you intend to generate a profit from.

Tell people you are an investor.

Unless you are trying to sell something change the subject. It's not worth even trying to explain the details.

When people ask what I do I just say I can't tell
them because if they know they may be called as a
witness...

I'e gotten some really strange looks from that.

Tsnyder

I tell people that I'm a content writer and that I have the luxury of working from anywhere. If they want me to do anything that I don't want to do, I say I'd love to but I'm at deadline. Deadlines can extend out for months BTW. "I can't commit to anything next month because I'm facing the deadline for my eBook at the end of the month."

When I want to do it, well that's different. I'm easily distracted unless I'm really under deadline. Working from home is a double edged sword. I constantly feel guilty about the housework that I didn't do and the work that I didn't get done because I was doing housework (or watching TV-BAD)

Personally I don't bother explain to others what I do unless they specifically ask?

But seeing that I'm on the computer 16-18 hours a day I hardly ever give others a chance to ask me anything to tell you the truth.

But I don't bother with having to prove employment. I don't do anything on credit and most everything is payed for in cash. I've been making a living on the internet sense 1995, so been doing it awhile.

CyberSorcerer