Support of friends and family is super important, no matter your career. For business owners who can sometimes experience loneliness, it’s even more important.
But if your business is online, it can feel like you're living on another planet to your friends in traditional jobs as teachers, nurses or lawyers.
- “What is it you actually do all day?”
- “So you just sit on social media all day? I could do that!”
- “Do you reaaaally have a job?”
Whether it’s family who grew up before the internet, or friends who work in traditional jobs and don’t quite believe you can make a living from Instagram, here’s how to get your nearest and dearest on board with your career choices:
Nail your elevator pitch
It’s likely that your family and friends don’t fully support what you do because they just don’t get it. Make sure your offering is super clear – not just to you, but to everyone else.
Boil down your business into one sentence, so next time your aunt asks what you do, you can neatly and concisely explain it (even if it’s through gritted teeth…).
Put it in context
Your BFF might not understand your niche B2B offering, so try putting it in terms that everyone can understand.
- “It’s the AirBnB of party venues”
- “It’s the UBER of makeup artists”
- “It’s like Tinder, but for pet owners”
Explaining your business in language that others can contextualise and relate to will help demystify what you do. And when they actually understand it, they’ll get why you’re so into it, too.
Help them help you
However well-meaning they might be, if your friends and family don’t work in the same industry as you, it can be difficult for them to know how to help.
Be explicit about the help you need. If you’re looking for a copywriter or freelance marketeer, maybe one of your sister’s colleagues will know someone. Tell your mom you need an accountant, and she might spot an advertisement on Facebook that she could forward to you. Your family and friends can only help you if they know exactly what you need.
Be patient, and over time your close circle will understand what it is that you do all day. They’ll celebrate your wins with you, and be there when business is tough. After all, isn’t that what family is for?
Do you have great tips for explaining your online business to family and friends? Let me know in the comments!
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