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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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..

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

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

Buy them all big screen plasma TVs.

That ought to quiet them down.

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?

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.

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

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 >

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

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.