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Ask: Stigma of the unemployed - a better job title for a lifestyle entrepreneur?

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Ask: Stigma of the unemployed - a better job title for a lifestyle entrepreneur?

#1

Post by dubeye »

I run a small, unsexy internet business in Europe, with a two person office and about 20 people working from home.

Around here, 'entrepreneur' is assumed to mean 'unemployed' or at best 'freelancer'. I'm dating at the moment and find it difficult to succinctly describe my occupation in a way that does not kill the conversation dead, as it either comes across as bragging or an attempt to disguise unemployment. It's major taboo here to talk figures or numbers.

So any ideas for pithy ways to describe a happy lifestyle entrepreneur without coming across as defensive?

Re: Ask: Stigma of the unemployed - a better job title for a lifestyle entrepreneur?

#2

Post by dylanhassinger »

instead of saying you're an entrepreneur, say what you do. for instance:

blogger = author

information marketer = teacher

outsourced app = product designer

affiliate marketer = international sales manager

ecommerce store = ceo of import/export business

and so on

Re: Ask: Stigma of the unemployed - a better job title for a lifestyle entrepreneur?

#4

Post by jacquesm »

Why not simply say 'run a small company'. Nothing says 'success' like success, I'm assuming that your company actually works and makes money. That's as good as any employment or better depending on how well you're doing. Any date that just wants you if you have a steady job is not worth having imo, then it's no longer about you but about a search for financial stability.

Re: Ask: Stigma of the unemployed - a better job title for a lifestyle entrepreneur?

#6

Post by porter »

jacquesm wrote: post #4

Why not simply say 'run a small company'. Nothing says 'success' like success, I'm assuming that your company actually works and makes money. That's as good as any employment or better depending on how well you're doing. Any date that just wants you if you have a steady job is not worth having imo, then it's no longer about you but about a search for financial stability.

'Run a small business' is a great phrase to test.

Re: Ask: Stigma of the unemployed - a better job title for a lifestyle entrepreneur?

#7

Post by porter »

patio11 wrote: post #5

I run a small software company which $BENEFITS_STATEMENT. You can tailor the benefits to whatever you thing the person you are speaking to values.

Can you give us some good, non-awkward-to-say, benefit statement examples?

Re: Ask: Stigma of the unemployed - a better job title for a lifestyle entrepreneur?

#8

Post by davidw »

patio11 wrote: post #5

I run a small software company which $BENEFITS_STATEMENT. You can tailor the benefits to whatever you thing the person you are speaking to values.

Did you A/B test those kinds of statements with girls prior to getting married? :-)

Re: Ask: Stigma of the unemployed - a better job title for a lifestyle entrepreneur?

#9

Post by 6ren »

jacquesm wrote: post #4

Why not simply say 'run a small company'. Nothing says 'success' like success, I'm assuming that your company actually works and makes money. That's as good as any employment or better depending on how well you're doing. Any date that just wants you if you have a steady job is not worth having imo, then it's no longer about you but about a search for financial stability.

I wonder about this. Why can't a person have some criteria to narrow the pool, and from that subset select for love? It would be different if they took the first person who came along with financial stability, if that was the only thing that mattered.

If a person aims to have a family, financial stability is important. Note, I don't believe that kids actually need financial stability all that much, but the stress and conflict between parents commonly caused by financial instability definitely do affect them.

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