What Do You Think I'm Doing?
Just what do you think I am doing? I know you have faced the same issue I have because you are an affiliate marketer. You sit on your computer all of your free time, and you play. I mean no one can see what you are doing and when you try to show them they don't want to see.
What Do You Think I'm Doing?
So many people judge you and think you are playing games and wasting your time.
What will you do to convince them that you are really working to earn a living? So you haven't made any money yet. But they don't understand because all online business makes money right away.
Get Rich Quick
At least that is what so many get rich quick programs tell us. You know the ones like China Cash Clone and The Great Heist. They say you can make $100,000 a week. So why are you wasting your time?
All of your friends are out partying, but you sit on your computer. Your family is at the park, you went with them yesterday, but now you are on your computer. You visit friends and spend all day with them, but when they go to bed, you are on your computer.
Oh my goodness, you are on your computer all the time.
How can you convince them?
How do you convince them that you are trying to make money, and it takes time and effort to build a business? You begin to doubt yourself and start to feel guilty for the time you are on your computer.
For those of you making money online and have been doing this for six months or more, this is not as big of an issue. You just show them your income, and they shut their mouth. They are speechless.
But for those of you who are new at this, the solution is not so easy.
You can sit down and show them everything you do. But there is no income to validate what you are saying.
How will they understand?
So how do you convince loved ones and friends you are working?
I say you don't try to convince them. Explaining and showing and feeling guilty will not change a thing. Everyone still has doubts. Then you begin to have doubts.
When it comes to your family like a spouse or children (if they are old enough), you will need to ask them to trust you. Trust your decision that what you are doing will make a difference.
As for your friends, you don't need to explain anything to them. They will be skeptical no matter what you say.
Personal example
Here is an example that happened in my life. My husband and I have a couple that are really close to us. We go on vacations together and spend time together at the lake.
They see me on the computer, and they know I am working because I have told them more times than I can count. I actually thought they understood. Until one day, the guy said to me, "you need to break your computer habit and get away from it."
I was shocked because I really did think he understood why I was on the computer. But no apparently, he did not.
I was dumbfounded and said, "no, what I need to do is stay on the computer and continue to make money."
Do you think that changed his way of thinking? No, it did not!
They Don't Know
For those of you starting in the affiliate marketing business, remember no matter what you try to explain to people they will not understand.
The public, in general, will not understand. It is like the American state senator, Maureen Walsh who said that nurses in general, "probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day."
When people see anyone on a computer, they think they are playing and not working. Just as the senator indicated that nurses are playing cards on the computer the majority of the day, it is a stereotype.
Don't waste your time.
So, don't tell people what you are doing. Let them think what they want and when you start making money, show them and say they too could do this if they would change their mindset.
This is your business and your life. What they think does not affect what you accomplish. Wipe it from your mind and move on.
Work hard, work diligently, and work with a purpose but don't waste your time trying to convince others that you are working. Just do it and keep keeping on.
Recent Comments
53
All about the money. You're battling against centuries. Get a 'real' job. Work however many hours you're told, take home money. It's hard wired.
If you tell someone you're an artist, the first question is "Have you sold any of you work ?"
If you're an author, the question is "Have you had anything published ?"
How about a musician ? A sculptor ?
Interesting that many of these are in the 'Arts'
What we do is neither in the arts/sciences yet is 'creative' and business orientated all rolled into one, which pigeon hole does it fit neatly into ?
This is what people do between jobs or alongside jobs. It's not a 'real' job. They should stop wasting their time and do something productive.
Luckily, apart from my immediate family, who 'get it' there are a couple of others who are 'happy' that I'm happy and don't pass judgement.
Everyone is welcome to their opinion. It will not cause me to lose any sleep, that's for sure.
Hey there, we are all artists, we build, create, tweak and beautify then we write and then grow. But it all takes time.
Laura
I'll start caring about what "they" think when "they" start lining up to pay my bills or scratch my itches. Until that time "they" have no vested interest in what I do with my time.
I just smile at them with my best "I know something you don't know" smile, say nothing, and keep on keeping on.
I love it, the "I know something you don't know" smile. It is true because we do know something.
Laura
I totally hear you, it is a waste of time telling anyone that doesn't understand what we do. Only if someone is interested in doing the same is it worth telling about. Thanks for you post!
Great blog post Laura.
If we believe in what we are doing that's all that matters.
As you say when the reward comes then that is the time to try and tell people what you were doing, and even then some of them will try to knock you down.
Best wishes
Gaz
Thank you Gaz, We just need to do what we do best and not worry about what others think.
And all the best to you also.
Laura
Good Morning Laura,
I am not a technical person and people did not understand that I was not keen to have technology enter my life.
I got a computer late in life, the end of 2013. I belonged to the handwritten letter generations. Then in January, I started with 2 websites, that surprised them very much.
Now, after 2 and a half year, I can show them why I have been and still am so much on the computer. I am proud of my creation.
I do not tell them it has cost me sometimes my nerves, tears, discussions with my better half, the computer nearly flew out of the window a couple of times, well you get the picture.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
I know what you are saying. I was not a techy person either, so when I started affiliate marketing, it was foreign to those around me.
It doesn't do any good to explain the work you put into it. A lot of times without a comparison, others can not understand.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Great words.
Laura
For sure, the whole social media platforms, designing a website that will be intuitive to use and attractive to land your eyes on, making sure everything operates smoothly is overwhelming at times
You have pretty much summed up my thoughts on this topic in your post. I don't even bother trying to explain what i do any more.
It's a completely different mind-set. No point trying to convince anyone. It's the difference between employed and self-employed. Very few realise there are no "free-lunches" when you are self-employed.
You are so right. Others think that an entrepreneur is a cool thing to be. While it can be, it does take hard work and time without gain before one will see the fruit of their labors.
Laura
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Hello Laura! Gosh!! Does that ever ring a bell. Thanks for the post. Just keep on keeping on. Bob
Yes, Bob, we will keep keeping on together.
Laura