Comments on: Get a Real Job http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/ the business of blogging and new media Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:49:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jame kingsted - domain inform http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2630 jame kingsted - domain inform Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:46:02 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2630 I was wondering if the people that say get a real job are one your site, then why are they here in the first place. if they think blogging is nothing and not real work then they can also say that all books and writing is not real work. writing is about getting people to think. generate ideas. It's a lot of mental work. So I have to disagree that it's not a real job! I was wondering if the people that say get a real job are one your site, then why are they here in the first place. if they think blogging is nothing and not real work then they can also say that all books and writing is not real work. writing is about getting people to think. generate ideas. It’s a lot of mental work. So I have to disagree that it’s not a real job!

]]> By: Jeffrey Keefer http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2571 Jeffrey Keefer Tue, 17 Apr 2007 01:24:50 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2571 Get a real job? Hey, it is great to do what you love and get paid for it (without harming everything around you!). If you can do this full-time AND teach others things in the process, it sounds like a win-win all around! Keep up the blogging, Chris. Get a real job? Hey, it is great to do what you love and get paid for it (without harming everything around you!). If you can do this full-time AND teach others things in the process, it sounds like a win-win all around! Keep up the blogging, Chris.

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2496 Chris Garrett Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:46:43 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2496 You would be surprised how long it takes me to write the posts here, most of them have taken me over thirty years ;) You would be surprised how long it takes me to write the posts here, most of them have taken me over thirty years ;)

]]> By: Nic http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2493 Nic Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:36:39 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2493 I know one too many people that work 9 to 5 yet produce less value then what you do in the short amount of time you spend putting you daily blog together. Kudos to you for spending time thinking rather then rotting you brain away watching Lost. Or better yet, wasting your time telling other people they are wasting their time. I know one too many people that work 9 to 5 yet produce less value then what you do in the short amount of time you spend putting you daily blog together.

Kudos to you for spending time thinking rather then rotting you brain away watching Lost. Or better yet, wasting your time telling other people they are wasting their time.

]]> By: dandellion http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2460 dandellion Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:58:20 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2460 I don't understand why "getting a job" means going to office every day. In last nine years (my working part of life so far) I spent eight months in office. And I don't wanna get back there, it is almost like prison. I felt better at army service if you can believe that. What is wrong with freelancing? It is even more "real" job. Being in office puts one in position to sell its time being on some place, as freelancer I sell only product of my work. I don’t understand why “getting a job” means going to office every day. In last nine years (my working part of life so far) I spent eight months in office. And I don’t wanna get back there, it is almost like prison. I felt better at army service if you can believe that.
What is wrong with freelancing? It is even more “real” job. Being in office puts one in position to sell its time being on some place, as freelancer I sell only product of my work.

]]> By: Parag Shah http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2459 Parag Shah Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:24:10 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2459 Chris, Anything that produces value in a honest, ethical way, is work that is worth undertaking. Blogging has the potential to produce tremendous value. True, there is a lot of flak out there, but that's only because the barrier of entry is is low. One finds so much crappy stuff on TV even though the barrier is significantly higher. Blogging has tremendous potential in being able to reach out to people, share knowkedge and skills and actually provide value to people ad communities. But it might take some time for perceptions to change. People still view new media as something that is juvenile is nature. However if survey reports are to be believed, most young people use the online medium to get their news, information, and connect with others. So even though it migth take time, the onine medium will be a force to reckon with in a few years to come. -- Regards Parag Chris,

Anything that produces value in a honest, ethical way, is work that is worth undertaking. Blogging has the potential to produce tremendous value. True, there is a lot of flak out there, but that’s only because the barrier of entry is is low. One finds so much crappy stuff on TV even though the barrier is significantly higher.

Blogging has tremendous potential in being able to reach out to people, share knowkedge and skills and actually provide value to people ad communities.

But it might take some time for perceptions to change. People still view new media as something that is juvenile is nature. However if survey reports are to be believed, most young people use the online medium to get their news, information, and connect with others. So even though it migth take time, the onine medium will be a force to reckon with in a few years to come.

–
Regards
Parag

]]> By: James http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2457 James Sun, 15 Apr 2007 09:57:44 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2457 There are a lot of people in this world that are making money in worse ways lol. I think it stems from resentment. You are probably making more money than they are and they despise the fact that you are working smarter not harder. That's just my take on it:) There are a lot of people in this world that are making money in worse ways lol.

I think it stems from resentment. You are probably making more money than they are and they despise the fact that you are working smarter not harder.

That’s just my take on it:)

]]> By: Tamar Weinberg http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2456 Tamar Weinberg Sun, 15 Apr 2007 07:26:06 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2456 Perfect timely post. I just finished reading <a href="http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/04/14/online-presence-and-why-you-need-it/">Paul Stamatiou's post on why blogging is important</a> before I found this one. :) Perfect timely post.

I just finished reading Paul Stamatiou’s post on why blogging is important before I found this one. :)

]]> By: Jonathan-C. Phillips http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2453 Jonathan-C. Phillips Sun, 15 Apr 2007 03:42:03 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2453 You should definitely get a job Chris! (kidding, kidding!) I've heard that a lot, from friends, familly, acquaintance... that i should get a real job and work for a company or something (wait! that would mean having to wait 2 weeks to get that paycheck? no way!). Well i've been there. I don't get it why people feel we're not "working" i mean i put way more work into writing/blogging/online stuff than most people i know who work for that big company doing 40hrs per week (and on top of that i'm a musician, working on an album, teaching guitar...but you know what they say about musicians...). I can easily work 12-16 hours in one day working on different things, and on week-ends too. I really liked the reply by Jennifer/The Word Cellar, it's true you have to value your services and talent, since it is most definitely a business. Great post Chris! You should definitely get a job Chris! (kidding, kidding!)
I’ve heard that a lot, from friends, familly, acquaintance… that i should get a real job and work for a company or something (wait! that would mean having to wait 2 weeks to get that paycheck? no way!). Well i’ve been there. I don’t get it why people feel we’re not “working” i mean i put way more work into writing/blogging/online stuff than most people i know who work for that big company doing 40hrs per week (and on top of that i’m a musician, working on an album, teaching guitar…but you know what they say about musicians…). I can easily work 12-16 hours in one day working on different things, and on week-ends too.

I really liked the reply by Jennifer/The Word Cellar, it’s true you have to value your services and talent, since it is most definitely a business.

Great post Chris!

]]> By: Renée http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2448 Renée Sun, 15 Apr 2007 00:55:33 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2448 I would ask that person (asking my to get a real job) to define what real job is. If he or she says... ~ To have a physical office with a min. of 2 staff. ~ To be able to get a fix wage every month, including yearly bonus, benefits, designated parking lot, and all other Hocus Pocus stuff. ~ To have lunch with bosses, staff, and clients. ~ To have market share. (go ask this question to the convenient store or barber shop owners!) ~ To have board of directors, blah blah blah than he or she is so living in stone age. Any SOHO can have all the above and more. I would ask that person (asking my to get a real job) to define what real job is.

If he or she says…

~ To have a physical office with a min. of 2 staff.
~ To be able to get a fix wage every month, including yearly bonus, benefits, designated parking lot, and all other Hocus Pocus stuff.
~ To have lunch with bosses, staff, and clients.
~ To have market share. (go ask this question to the convenient store or barber shop owners!)
~ To have board of directors, blah blah blah

than he or she is so living in stone age. Any SOHO can have all the above and more.

]]> By: shane http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2446 shane Sun, 15 Apr 2007 00:47:39 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2446 HIPPIES !! Granola crunching teva wearing tree hugging hippies abound on the net. They think everything should be free and no-one should ever make money "sharing information" let alone selling info. Yet they're the first ones bragging about downloading the latest catchy tune from a torrent site to their Ipods. These poor soles are so misguided and have yet to realize that being an employee is a poor business model. Case in point my room mate is an IT security guy. Uber geek he calls himself. He makes decent money doing what he does. And does nothing but scoff at affiliate marketing, google cashing and blogging for money. And whines and complains about his "job" I have no doubt at all that if he put his geeky mind to it he could make a killing with what he knows. BUT he'd rather extole the evils of e-commerce and all its problems....YET he constantly hacks and cracks and rips product from torrent sites, basically stealing product from hard working net-trepreneurs. Another point id like to make is there is so much elitism surrounding blogging. You want to go on about what ever it is you wanna go about in your blog, fine by me. You want to share open source stuff go ahead and do it. Want to be a blogging tory go ahead and do it. I want to share and sell info let me go ahead and do it and spare me your dribble. Not like its a contest or a p-eeing match or anything but I bust my nut doing what I do and make ok money doing it, which is more than I can say for people who work a 9-5. I spend my time as I chose and see fit I dont think I should be railed for it, nor should anyone else really until the put their heads on the chopping block with their narrow minded blathering HIPPIES !! Granola crunching teva wearing tree hugging hippies abound on the net. They think everything should be free and no-one should ever make money “sharing information” let alone selling info. Yet they’re the first ones bragging about downloading the latest catchy tune from a torrent site to their Ipods. These poor soles are so misguided and have yet to realize that being an employee is a poor business model. Case in point my room mate is an IT security guy. Uber geek he calls himself. He makes decent money doing what he does. And does nothing but scoff at affiliate marketing, google cashing and blogging for money. And whines and complains about his “job” I have no doubt at all that if he put his geeky mind to it he could make a killing with what he knows. BUT he’d rather extole the evils of e-commerce and all its problems….YET he constantly hacks and cracks and rips product from torrent sites, basically stealing product from hard working net-trepreneurs. Another point id like to make is there is so much elitism surrounding blogging. You want to go on about what ever it is you wanna go about in your blog, fine by me. You want to share open source stuff go ahead and do it. Want to be a blogging tory go ahead and do it. I want to share and sell info let me go ahead and do it and spare me your dribble. Not like its a contest or a p-eeing match or anything but I bust my nut doing what I do and make ok money doing it, which is more than I can say for people who work a 9-5. I spend my time as I chose and see fit I dont think I should be railed for it, nor should anyone else really until the put their heads on the chopping block with their narrow minded blathering

]]> By: Avinash http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2441 Avinash Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:48:28 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2441 Chris, I'll recommend to ignore such comments as much as possible. I do the same. I really feel like there was an option to track them down who use all the possible methods to prove themselves stupids. Sometimes I wonder what'd be the condition if people were able to commit crime and hide themselves even in real world. If there are many good people on the net, there is also a great majority of crap, evil, unethical minds surfing the WWW. Chris,

I’ll recommend to ignore such comments as much as possible. I do the same. I really feel like there was an option to track them down who use all the possible methods to prove themselves stupids.

Sometimes I wonder what’d be the condition if people were able to commit crime and hide themselves even in real world. If there are many good people on the net, there is also a great majority of crap, evil, unethical minds surfing the WWW.

]]> By: Douglas Karr http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2440 Douglas Karr Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:46:34 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2440 I've not heard that one, but I am surprised at how terribly vicious some people are that leave comments. I suppose it's an anonymous forum where they can get away with it - but it's still nasty. I’ve not heard that one, but I am surprised at how terribly vicious some people are that leave comments. I suppose it’s an anonymous forum where they can get away with it – but it’s still nasty.

]]> By: Barrett http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2439 Barrett Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:38:11 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2439 I get this all of the time from my wife, to the point it affects my productivity. A little support now and then would be nice. In fact if I had it, my blog, and any number of other potentially profitable 'online only' ventures would be well off the ground by now. Instead I sit around filling out resume forms and pouring my writing efforts into cover letters for jobs I don't really want just to keep her placated. I get this all of the time from my wife, to the point it affects my productivity. A little support now and then would be nice. In fact if I had it, my blog, and any number of other potentially profitable ‘online only’ ventures would be well off the ground by now. Instead I sit around filling out resume forms and pouring my writing efforts into cover letters for jobs I don’t really want just to keep her placated.

]]> By: Brendan http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2438 Brendan Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:21:37 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2438 Haven't heard that much as it pertains to blogging, but I can't say that it surprises me. I think people find it baffling (and probably somewhat jealousy-inducing) to learn that some are earning 4 or even 5 figure monthly incomes from blogging. Haven’t heard that much as it pertains to blogging, but I can’t say that it surprises me. I think people find it baffling (and probably somewhat jealousy-inducing) to learn that some are earning 4 or even 5 figure monthly incomes from blogging.

]]> By: Jennifer/The Word Cellar http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2434 Jennifer/The Word Cellar Sat, 14 Apr 2007 20:40:34 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2434 I recently read an analogy comparing publishing a blog to publishing your very own newspaper. I think this type of comparison can be helpful for people who are new to blogging or unsure of its purpose and value. It's easier to "get" blogging when it's compared to a form of traditional media (like a newspaper, newsletter, or magazine), at least as a starting point. And it's given me a new perspective on how to approach my own blog. I'm building a list of ideas of regular and special features, types of content, ways to generate interactivity with readers, and how to monetize all of these efforts. I blog because I love to tell stories, but it's also part of my business. I like the connection of passion and profit. As far as people undervaluing blogging, it's the same with writing in most forms. I think that this pervasive attitude is also what makes some freelancers work for so little. Too many writers embrace the "starving artist" mindset, are simply desperate for work-any-work-at-any-price, or are just not very good writers. When I first started freelancing, I had to constantly remind myself that I was running a business and needed to value my talents and services appropriately. After all, if I didn't value them, others wouldn't. I always knew this in a business sense, but it took awhile to know it with every fiber of my being – in other words, to be able to quote my rates without secretly cringing. For awhile, I kept thinking, "Who pays for this shit?" It's not that I thought my work was crappy. But I marveled that people would pay good money for something that came so easily to me. Then again, I pay people to mow my lawn and do my taxes – two areas outside of my own expertise. The moral of the story: People will pay for what they want/need. Which we all knew already. I recently read an analogy comparing publishing a blog to publishing your very own newspaper. I think this type of comparison can be helpful for people who are new to blogging or unsure of its purpose and value. It’s easier to “get” blogging when it’s compared to a form of traditional media (like a newspaper, newsletter, or magazine), at least as a starting point. And it’s given me a new perspective on how to approach my own blog. I’m building a list of ideas of regular and special features, types of content, ways to generate interactivity with readers, and how to monetize all of these efforts. I blog because I love to tell stories, but it’s also part of my business. I like the connection of passion and profit.

As far as people undervaluing blogging, it’s the same with writing in most forms. I think that this pervasive attitude is also what makes some freelancers work for so little. Too many writers embrace the “starving artist” mindset, are simply desperate for work-any-work-at-any-price, or are just not very good writers. When I first started freelancing, I had to constantly remind myself that I was running a business and needed to value my talents and services appropriately. After all, if I didn’t value them, others wouldn’t. I always knew this in a business sense, but it took awhile to know it with every fiber of my being – in other words, to be able to quote my rates without secretly cringing. For awhile, I kept thinking, “Who pays for this shit?” It’s not that I thought my work was crappy. But I marveled that people would pay good money for something that came so easily to me. Then again, I pay people to mow my lawn and do my taxes – two areas outside of my own expertise. The moral of the story: People will pay for what they want/need. Which we all knew already.

]]> By: raj http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2433 raj Sat, 14 Apr 2007 19:51:20 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2433 Ashwin, I agree with most of what you said. But "great bloggers don't blog for money"? Can't agree with you there. If you mean they don't necessarily start out blogging for money, okay. In fact, most of the blogging I do I would do even if there was no money. But obviously not forever, since bills need to be paid. Ashwin, I agree with most of what you said. But “great bloggers don’t blog for money”? Can’t agree with you there. If you mean they don’t necessarily start out blogging for money, okay. In fact, most of the blogging I do I would do even if there was no money. But obviously not forever, since bills need to be paid.

]]> By: Ashwin http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2427 Ashwin Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:53:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2427 People think that they should work hard to earn money. They want to go out of the house to earn. They're afraid of the cash flow. In short they still think the only way to make a living is by the traditional way. Anne-Marie - You are right. I almost toil hard and work 3-4 time I work for my 9-5 job for a single blog post. Blogging is really hard work which many people fail to see because great bloggers dont blog for money. They live their dreams and like doing it. People think that they should work hard to earn money. They want to go out of the house to earn. They’re afraid of the cash flow. In short they still think the only way to make a living is by the traditional way.

Anne-Marie –
You are right. I almost toil hard and work 3-4 time I work for my 9-5 job for a single blog post. Blogging is really hard work which many people fail to see because great bloggers dont blog for money. They live their dreams and like doing it.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2426 Stephanie Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:20:55 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2426 I think there's also the old view of the starving writer, where it's all but impossible to earn a living writing. Writing is not valued, even though if you ask most people to write an article, they'll feel they can't do a good job at it. I think there’s also the old view of the starving writer, where it’s all but impossible to earn a living writing. Writing is not valued, even though if you ask most people to write an article, they’ll feel they can’t do a good job at it.

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2425 Chris Garrett Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:57:04 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/get-a-real-job/#comment-2425 Yes I think design, writing, photography and to a lesser extent SEO/PPC/Marketing have misleadingly low barriers to entry, people think "how hard can it be?". It doesn't help that there are so many ludicrously low-bidders in the freelancer sites :) Yes I think design, writing, photography and to a lesser extent SEO/PPC/Marketing have misleadingly low barriers to entry, people think “how hard can it be?”. It doesn’t help that there are so many ludicrously low-bidders in the freelancer sites :)

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