What do you do? (Originally a Night Owl post)

[Doombot]

We haven't done this in a while. What do you do to bring in money?

I do freelance graphic design and marketing.

I do SEO writing and other types of writing. Examples include: press kits, press releases, reviews, and blog postings. I also do graphic design assignments when needed but the writing seems to be more easier and more profitable. Sometimes I'll get hired 9-5 and other times I'll just work part time and do other projects. It's a wonderful setup. I save money on gas when I work at home, I can sleep later since I don't have to dress as nice.

The assignment I have right now involves working for a Information Marketing company. The owner is a marketing person that puts his products on CD and will make many websites to promote his product. eg. How to Market on the Web, Tax Secrets for Real Estate Owners, How to Increase Your Credit Rating, etc

I set up websites to entice people to sign up for more information or just buy the product. Usually one for each product or service. Write e-mails for upsells for when they do buy. Set up blogs, purchase domains, set up hostings, make the web pages and all that related stuff, design the CD and Box covers, edit video, make e-books, set up affiliate programs, set up membership sites, etc. I'm the one that makes "Uh... well... COUGH Blogs are a great uh... way to promote COUGH your business. ACHOOOOOOOO Excuse me...." into "Blogs are a great way to promote your business". I'll then make tracks, turn it into a real live CD, upload mp3s for podcasters and such. The job has a great many assignments but I never really feel overworked. It's been a bit hard to work at all due to the accident but the owner's never on my case to finish something. Usually priorities change and things get left undone and he seems to be ok with it. "Oh don't worry about it. I want to do this instead."

It's pretty cool because even though my rate for this job is under what I charge, I'm learning quite a bit though osmosis so it makes it worthwhile.

[Solwyn]

Probably a lot of IT folk on here.

I got my degree in music composition, so that's where I spend most of my effort, but it doesn't pay the bills. I went to grad school in English for a bit but it's looking like my day job should be IT so I can focus on music/writing in my offtime without spending more money on school or trying to rely on them for food.

In the world of IT, I'm a web developer. For every company that I've worked this means something completely different, so I do anything from slicing up design comps, to making new designs, to optimizing css, scripting, and more!

So I guess the short answer is that I'm literally a jack of all trades. Pays real well.  :rolleyes2:

[Hoopy Frood]

I do the same thing I've been doing since graduating college 10 years ago:  Software Engineering at the same company.

In that time I've been promoted twice (with a likely third one either happening at the end of this year or the next) and gotten a masters degree.

[Sylvee Bee]

I am a mommy. And darn good at it. It doesn't bring in any money, but worth more than millions to me and my family.  Plus the comfort and stable feeling I bring to the home makes it so my hubby can go out and work and do better at his job.

But really, some people seem to look in disdain at ladies who choose this as a life style. I don't get why, I'd think that raising the next generation of adults to grow up and be the best people they can be...would be something to be respected. 

I take pride in both my kids accomplishments. They both rock, and I like to think my choice to stay home and raise them - instead of sending them off to strangers for  hours and hours a day, has a little to do with that. *nods*

Oh, and to add how long I've had this job...going on 14 years.  

[BlueCross]

I am a mommy, worth more then millions

Hmm...

Would you be my mommy?

[Doombot]

I am a mommy. And darn good at it. It doesn't bring in any money, but worth more then millions to me and my family.  Plus the comfort and stable feeling I bring to the home makes it so my hubby can go out and work and do better at his job.

But really, some people seem to look in disdain at ladies who choose this as a life style. I don't get why, I'd think that raising the next generation of adults to grow up and be the best people they can be...would be something to be respected. 

I take pride in both my kids accomplishments. They both rock, and I like to think my choice to stay home and raise them - instead of sending them off to strangers for  hours and hours a day, has a little to do with that. *nods*

You are awesome in my book. I always thought we had a damn if you do and damn if you don't situation.

1. You're a full time Mommy. "Oh... you're JUST that."

2. You go career instead. "Oh... you don't have kids. Mmmmmph. You're one of THOSE!"

3. You mix both. "Oh... so you work instead of spending time with your kids."

Either options is ok. I just wish people would stop judging.

[Night Owl]

I'm a self-employed writer.

Generally, I'm similar to Jen in that I write stuff for companies, etc. Any company that needs writing, I handle it. I have a pretty good client base, from people needing a cover letter to Fortune 500 companies needing a proposal / website / internal documentation, etc. My strong suit is marketing copy - I write the words that make people buy (we could make a song out of that!)

I'm also an author - I have a book out now, and am working on my second book as I type (literally, Chapter 8 is open and being worked on right now - it will be done by month's end.) I write non-fiction stuff (first book was about working at home, second book is entitled "Do the Web Write", which will cover writing for the web, how to setup your website, etc.)  I'm pretty sure I have another book or three in me. I'd like to do a book on business motivation, I'd like to do a book on being your best self and living a good life, and I'd like to do a book on relationships. Those three at the least.

Along that line, I'd also like to get a little more into speaking / consulting in regards to marketing / business / success motivation. I like to think I'm a pretty engaging speaker, and definitely think I have something useful to say on these topics. So many of my efforts are with that goal in mind - I'd like to make myself a "brand", if you will.

So that's what I do.

And Sylvie - your job is just as important and valid as any job out there. Don't let anyone tell you different.

[Doombot]

I write the words that make people buy (we could make a song out of that!)

I've worked bad jobs forever
Where everything went wrong
So I put words and marketing together
I am Night Owl
And I write short and long

[Chorus:]
I write the words that make people buy
I write the words for market things
I write the words that make the young girls buy
I write the words, I write the words

[Night Owl]

ROFL!!!!!

That made my night, Jen!!

[Doombot]

ROFL!!!!!

That made my night, Jen!!

Thanks! =)

[Jeff]

I'm a high-powered criminal prosecutor with a shady past. Last week I was an surgeon, skilled in the operating room but drifting through a series of unfulfilling relationships with married women. Next week I'll be a hard-drinking cop who just refuses to play by the rules.

[AcdQueen89]

But really, some people seem to look in disdain at ladies who choose this as a life style. I don't get why, I'd think that raising the next generation of adults to grow up and be the best people they can be...would be something to be respected. 

i'll probably end up doing this, but if my bf and i stay together... he's going to be a hs english teacher. i'll probably write in some sort of attempt to even out the bills. what we want to do if/when we get enough cash is to open a mom and pop style used book store with a coffeeshop/bakery. i've always seemed to want a bakery and to do something with books, he's wanted the small town type of shop.

in the mean time i'm a second year college student who should be looking for a part time job but cant seem to get off her ass. i help out grandma and grandpa instead.

[Brugdor]

But really, some people seem to look in disdain at ladies who choose this as a life style. I don't get why, I'd think that raising the next generation of adults to grow up and be the best people they can be...would be something to be respected. 

Unfortunately this seems to be quite a wide spread attitude. 

You reminded me of a friend's mom who was talking about being at parties and being asked what she does. She said she had people ask her and then just sort of walk away when she told them she was a stay at home mom as if she had nothing of value to say after that. It just blows me away that people can look down on someone for actually wanting to spend the majority of time raising their kids.

Anyway, I appreciate what you do.   

[Solwyn]

I don't think anyone has any right to look at anyone's lifestyle with disdain.

Granted, if you're Jeffry Dahmer, then maybe people should be looking at it with horror.

But if you want to be a stay at home mom or dad, you should have every right to. And if you don't want to, same there.

Personally, I would love to be a stay-at-home dad and write music/literature when I'm not chasing the kids down and cooking/cleaning. But with the wife at school I gotta pay the bills somehow. And to be honest, having an 8-5 really makes me appreciate my house a lot more.

Besides, we don't have kids yet... yet being the very operative word.

[Tink]

I'm a stay at home Mom that works where I live. My landlord has a lot of property to maintain, and thats what I do. It allows me to stay at home and keep an eye on my kids, while working. Doing the lawns keeps my rent locked at a low rate and in the fall when school starts back up, I watch his 6 yr. old daughter and clean his house. I get paid for that, on top of having my rent locked. To me, it's a win-win situation.  This is not a town that you can leave your kids alone constantly with no supervision. I've tried working outside the home and it always ends terribly. Besides, I love my tractor and I get to play with real Tonka trucks and it's fun!

Doomsie, that whole Barry Manilow thing was just wrong...I'm going to hear the damn song all day long now. Ack!