Hello everyone,
This is a question for entrepreneurs who are just starting out or already successful ones who don't mind to share their early days when they started.
My situation is the following: I am currently single, quit my job last year and moved to a new city. Now I am working on my Self-Publishing business, I write and publish eBooks on Amazon. Currently I am making more than 1K per month, it is enough to pay my bills but my goal is to earn 5 figures per month next year. For now I live on the cheap, but I feel rich because I am finally in control of my life.
Most of the time I am working on my business. I don't go to clubs or partys, I don't "just hang out", I value my time and don't waste it. But we are all social animals and it is not good to be always alone. Therefore from time to time I do go out to meet new people. It always goes well until I get this one question that I really hate: 'What do you do for a living?'
At first I had no issues to talk about what I am doing (Self-Publishing). But the reactions are different and often I receive negative comments about it. On several occasions people said something like: "I don't want to offend you, but don't you think you should get a 'real job' ?" or "Can you really make a living as an author?"
First of all, most meople don't get the difference between being a regular author (most authors have indeed day jobs and write as a hobby) and treating Self-Publishing as a business. It is really hard to explain this to a non-entrepreneur. But moreover, such comments are kind of insulting and bad for my productivity, because afterwards I waste to much thought on those comments.
Therefore I decided it is enough and I will be more private about telling what I am doing. Last time somebody asked me this questin, I answered that "I am selling digital products online, but it is hard to explain and I don't want to go into details". - The result was that people then assume that I am doing something illegal.
My question for you: How do you answer the 'What Do You Do for a Living' question?
Especially if you are just starting out, bootstrapping your business or doing something unconventional?
Please share your experience here.
This is a question for entrepreneurs who are just starting out or already successful ones who don't mind to share their early days when they started.
My situation is the following: I am currently single, quit my job last year and moved to a new city. Now I am working on my Self-Publishing business, I write and publish eBooks on Amazon. Currently I am making more than 1K per month, it is enough to pay my bills but my goal is to earn 5 figures per month next year. For now I live on the cheap, but I feel rich because I am finally in control of my life.
Most of the time I am working on my business. I don't go to clubs or partys, I don't "just hang out", I value my time and don't waste it. But we are all social animals and it is not good to be always alone. Therefore from time to time I do go out to meet new people. It always goes well until I get this one question that I really hate: 'What do you do for a living?'
At first I had no issues to talk about what I am doing (Self-Publishing). But the reactions are different and often I receive negative comments about it. On several occasions people said something like: "I don't want to offend you, but don't you think you should get a 'real job' ?" or "Can you really make a living as an author?"
First of all, most meople don't get the difference between being a regular author (most authors have indeed day jobs and write as a hobby) and treating Self-Publishing as a business. It is really hard to explain this to a non-entrepreneur. But moreover, such comments are kind of insulting and bad for my productivity, because afterwards I waste to much thought on those comments.
Therefore I decided it is enough and I will be more private about telling what I am doing. Last time somebody asked me this questin, I answered that "I am selling digital products online, but it is hard to explain and I don't want to go into details". - The result was that people then assume that I am doing something illegal.
My question for you: How do you answer the 'What Do You Do for a Living' question?
Especially if you are just starting out, bootstrapping your business or doing something unconventional?
Please share your experience here.
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