[bettylou]

When will I learn to not let it get to me when people think this is what I actually do?

Last night, we were discussing how much my husband can eat (it is truly amazing!). Then someone says, "Well he actually works, so of course he would eat more than you!"

Argh!

[writerguy]

In the immortal word of that lovable beatnik Maynard G. Krebs -- "Work?!"

You simply can't let 'em get to you. It took me several years, but my adult kids finally "get it" that I really do work. They don't really understand what that work is, but they finally accept that it IS work. LOL!

P.S. For all you youngsters out there who don't understand the term "beatnik" and know nothing of Maynard G. (the "G" stands for "Walter") Krebs -- I feel great pity for you. Hint: Bob Denver wasn't always "Gilligan" and stranded on an island. Aw, heck, check it out in wikipedia.

[meadowmufn]

Originally Posted by writerguy

In the immortal word of that lovable beatnik Maynard G. Krebs -- "Work?!"

You simply can't let 'em get to you. It took me several years, but my adult kids finally "get it" that I really do work. They don't really understand what that work is, but they finally accept that it IS work. LOL!

P.S. For all you youngsters out there who don't understand the term "beatnik" and know nothing of Maynard G. (the "G" stands for "Walter") Krebs -- I feel great pity for you. Hint: Bob Denver wasn't always "Gilligan" and stranded on an island. Aw, heck, check it out in wikipedia.

The Many Love of Dobey Gillis. And I didn't even have to check wikipedia. LOL. The show was off the air before I or any of my siblings were even born, but I've got a head for useless trivia. LOL.

My family understands what I do, but I don't think they'd be quite as supportive if I quit my day job and tried AM full time before I was making enough to replace my current salary. LOL.

If only it WAS as easy as being a couch potato and letting the $$$ roll in...

[Lanadili]

Oh dangit! You mean I have to actually work ?!?!

Seriously though, people who usually say things like that either don't understand what you do, or they are jealous they can't do it themselves.

I'd like to know what you said in response to that, if anything. I would have personally said something along the lines of, "Oh I work, I just don't work for someone else, I work for myself".

[bettylou]

Originally Posted by Lanadili

I'd like to know what you said in response to that, if anything. I would have personally said something along the lines of, "Oh I work, I just don't work for someone else, I work for myself".

In all honesty, I said nothing.

This person would not have understood. To them, being a stay at home mom/work at home person is not a real JOB, therefore it counts for nothing.

It just really gets to me because one of my husband's nieces asked me once why I just sit at home and don't go out and get a job. Five year olds don't just come up with something like this, she had to have heard it from my in-laws. And to top it off, I received a phone call from my sister-in-law (the neice's mother) telling me she had just quit her job and asking me how she could make money with that online survey stuff that I do.

Online survey stuff?????

[Trust]

I would have a squirt gun nearby and just hose em' down next time.

[bettylou]

Originally Posted by Trust

I would have a squirt gun nearby and just hose em' down next time.

I love this idea!

I have been secretly thinking of ways in my mind to carry out my revenge. Many of them involve items I could purchase through affiliate links that would further sweeten the deal.

Sorry, showing my evil side there

[Bill]

Work? You call this work? I tell people it's magic. I stay home, push a mouse around, pound on a keyboard and people send me checks every month. That HAS to be magic, right?

More seriously, my family does understand but a lot of other people do not. I'm sure a couple of neighbors think we are wealthy or something - they have no clue what it is that I do.

[bettylou]

Originally Posted by Bill

Work? You call this work? I tell people it's magic. I stay home, push a mouse around, pound on a keyboard and people send me checks every month. That HAS to be magic, right?

Ha! Ha! Granted, I suppose were are not out digging ditches from dawn till dusk but sometimes my fingers get real tired.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by bettylou

Ha! Ha! Granted, I suppose were are not out digging ditches from dawn till dusk but sometimes my fingers get real tired.

Yeah, but I think being mentally tired is more wearing than being physically tired and the end of a long work day. Over the years I have had it both ways. But I find I can earn more $$ with my head than with my back.

[Lanadili]

Originally Posted by bettylou

In all honesty, I said nothing.

This person would not have understood. To them, being a stay at home mom/work at home person is not a real JOB, therefore it counts for nothing.

You shouldn't let it get to you. Some people can't comprehend that if your not working for someone else, or actually leaving the house to "go to work" then your not working. That's nonsense, and we both know it.

It just really gets to me because one of my husband's nieces asked me once why I just sit at home and don't go out and get a job. Five year olds don't just come up with something like this, she had to have heard it from my in-laws.

Oh I have had this happen with my own children before. They have both asked me why I don't "work" and I sat them down right then and there and actually showed them what I do, how I do it, etc. Then I had them repeat back to me what I told them, LOL.

Long story short, they both know that I am my own boss, and instead of working for someone else, I have people work for me. I know where they both got this from also (my ex) and I pointed out the difference between what I do, and what most everyone else does.

So don't let this type of stuff get to ya, most people just don't understand what we do. Just imagine them being miserable having to go to work everyday, while we get to stay home and "work".

[bpnet]

I gave up long ago with trying to explain what I do to people, I either got one of two responses when I used to try:
a) huh?
or
b) so, you're one of those people that sends me all that email junk? (which I'm not, of course)

Now, I just go with either "International Man of Mystery" or "Transaction Facilitation Specialist" depending on my mood.

I still get the "huh?" reaction, but at least this way is more fun for me and saves me a lot of wasted breath.

Don't sweat the haters though, pity them for their cubicles and chains

[Rexanne]

Originally Posted by bpnet

"Transaction Facilitation Specialist"

HA - Love this one!

Bettylou - we've all been through this, we've discussed it in other threads and it still sucks. I'm with the ones saying: Don't sweat it." People don't get what we do, so what? Let them not get it. Make something up, like bpnet. As long as you're paying the bills, no one has any right to question you and you don't owe anyone an explanation.

If we were "going to work" for someone else, we'd put in a lot less hours. I'm the toughest boss I've ever worked for. We put in our time and labor, too. Like Writerguy: he makes more money with his head than his back. Amen.

Enjoy your independence.

[simcat]

I used to say I did "internet marketing".
That got a lot of "huh"?

Now I say, "I put ads on websites"
That works good. & it's true.

[nsalman]

It's those same people who try affiliate marketing and then expect it to magically make them rich with little or no work.

bpnet: LOL. That's hilarious. Can I steal it?

[John Jupp]

Originally Posted by bettylou

I love this idea!

I have been secretly thinking of ways in my mind to carry out my revenge. Many of them involve items I could purchase through affiliate links that would further sweeten the deal.

Sorry, showing my evil side there

I order a case of wine every three months and the bottles I don't like make excellent presents to neighbors and relatives.

Originally Posted by bpnet

I gave up long ago with trying to explain what I do to people, I either got one of two responses when I used to try:
a) huh?
or
b) so, you're one of those people that sends me all that email junk? (which I'm not, of course)

Now, I just go with either "International Man of Mystery" or "Transaction Facilitation Specialist" depending on my mood.

I still get the "huh?" reaction, but at least this way is more fun for me and saves me a lot of wasted breath.

Don't sweat the haters though, pity them for their cubicles and chains

I just tell them that I'm the guy who makes them part with their money every time they're browsing online or watching television as at least half the things they own in their homes come from me or people like me and that because of their habits I get to eat in Relais Routier Guide Restaurants, sleep in five star hotels, take vacations when I feel like it and oh yes...stay in bed until noon. I don't tell them I probably worked all night on sites until ten to noon.

I like the "Transaction Facilitation Specialist". That sums it up really.

[bpnet]

@John Jupp, in my experience flaunting your success only leads to the questioner being more determined that you must be a spammer or doing something else unethical online. The problem is many hold a view that honest online business can only be an extension of a brick and mortar operation, and if you lack the brick and mortar than your business must be shady in some way.

It's all about perception, and when you challenge people's perceptions too much they draw lines in the sand and will convince themselves, against all common sense, that their belief of what you 'must be up to' has to be right.

@nsalman, absolutely, use it often and watch the jaws drop

[BurgerBoy]

Here's what you're going to look like before too long if you don't quit being a couch potato:

[writerguy]

BurgerBoy -- wow. And all these years, I thought you looked more like the LIVING Elvis, not Elvis after, uh, he, uh, well, anyway ...

[meadowmufn]

Someone on ABW once said something along the lines of "I sell products I don't have to people I don't know." If someone could find the exact quote and the person who said it, I'd appreciate them posting it here.

Just tell them you run your own ad agency from home. LOL.

People are conditioned from a young age to think you go to school and then get a job working for someone else. The concept of working for yourself is very foreign, although many people aspire to it. They don't understand everything that's involved in it though.

My mom owned her own business for 16 years before she "retired" to raise her me and my siblings. I think I inherited her entrepreneurial spirit. I've never been thrilled with the prospect of working for someone else and my intention since elementary school has always been to run my own business. Every idea of what I wanted to be was in terms of me being my own boss... an accountant (with my own firm), an architect (with my own firm), a computer consultant.

People who don't have that type of mindset just don't understand and probably never will.

[TerriFalcone]

The best way to handle stupid remarks like that is to visualize yourself as a dog who just jumped out of the bath shaking himself from stem to stern repeatedly with great attention to the ears. It works for me