[TSE 77] How to Tell People What You Actually Do For a Living

https://media.blubrry.com/suitcaseentrepreneur/traffic.libsyn.com/tse/Ep77.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

If I’m really honest, there are still a lot of people who have no clue about what I do and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this.

In fact in any given week I have to explain myself to at least a few people who have no idea what it means to work in this information age.

I still get tweets asking what type of suitcase I sell and my reply is “Suitcases? I sell freedom my friend.”

It probably doesn’t help that I like to test out different pitches and intro lines depending on the people I meet. I mix it up saying:

• I’m an author, speaker, podcaster and medipreneur
• I’m a freedom fighter
• I’m a homeless vagabond
• I’m a professional moocher…

That last cheeky reference came from the rather major press I got on the home page of Yahoo last week in an article and video titled: Why I choose to be rich and homeless.

It sent a crazy amount of traffic to me and informed more people that I even existed and that this type of business and lifestyle is real.

Of course with that you get the naysayers who refuse to believe it or misunderstood what I actually stand for.

But how do you define what you do and make people understand it’s important to you and it’s real work?

Generally they’re of the older generation and since they didn’t grow up in an era where you couldn’t build a business online, I get that earning revenue from packaging  your skills, knowledge and often freely available, but highly overwhelming information, seems pretty far fetched.

But it’s your colleagues, close friends and new acquaintances who really should know better, right??

Having all those friends and family look at you in disbelief or utter confusion when you try to explain what you do is really tiring.

And that’s what the topic of this podcast is all about – how to eliminate or minimize this misnomer that when we’re working on our laptop and perhaps on Facebook that we are actually working!

This was actually thanks to a listener question from Vanessa at bookofness.com

I’m lucky in that since writing my bestselling book (now Mum knows what I actually do), and being featured all over the interwebs in interviews and videos, there’s no shortage of information explaining what I do – at least to some degree!

But if you’re not quite at that stage and fed up with being questioned on the legitimacy of your chosen career or business, then listen up!

Here is what you will learn in this podcast:

• What you need to do to stop causing this mass confusion
• How to deal with well meaning family who don’t get you
• Why communication and education is so key
• How to play up your role as a pioneer in this unconventional space
• Natalie’s quick tips (yep I’m talking about myself in the third person) for creating boundaries to get work done!

Click on the play button at the top or download this in iTunes or on Stitcher Radio (and do not forget to leave a review as we might feature yours in the next show!).

Even better pick up my completely free book on `How to Start a Podcast that Matters’ at suitcaseentrepreneur.com/free by leaving a short review on my podcast.

Share this on social media in one click

How do you tell people what you actually do for a living? @suitcasepreneur https://bit.ly/1vN60vQ

Just like this one from Vanesssa actually (she’s now @bookofness on Twitter) – note how she explains what I do in her own words – perfect!

Key sites mentioned in this podcast:

• 7 ‘digital nomads’ explain how they live, work and travel – great article even if you’re not a traveler (and I might be in it…)
• Episode 77 on saving thousands of dollars with Kyle Durand

Liked this session? Please let me know!

If you enjoyed this episode and have 3 seconds, please use the share buttons to spread it far and wide!

Leave me a voicemail!

Every once and a while, I’ll be recording podcast episodes based on precisely you want to know, so if you have any questions that you’d like potentially answered on the show, feel free to leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page! 

Love listening to podcasts? Then try listening to audio books, too.

I know a lot of you listen to my podcast on the move and enjoy the fact that you can listen and learn from anywhere. Well why not do the same with books you haven’t had a chance to pick up or read yet? Listening to audio books is an ideal way to enjoy your favorite books on the move and get to listen to the author read it in the way it’s meant to be read!

That’s why I’m thrilled to announce my new podcast sponsor Audiobooks who have over 40,000 audio books including best sellers, new releases, and classic favorites for you to choose from. You can simply download audiobooks to your Apple or Android device for offline listening or stream them instantly.

What’s more if you sign up at Audiobooks.com/suitcase you’ll get your first book free!