"Day Job" survey

I'm curious as to how people here are earning their "base income".

WHAT is your "regular" or day"...job?

I sell advertising (and other business) programs to local businesses and consumers and then package these programs and sell to others to duplicate in their areas.

I've had 2 "jobs" in my life where others have written my paychecks....otherwise, I have depended upon myself to write my own paychecks.

I work in my home office. I call myself the 14 second commuter because it takes 14 secs to go from my kitchen, with a hot cup of coffee, to my office in my daylight basement.

If I'm doing a "program" I then go out and make contact with others.

I'm curious as to what some others do for their major income.

Thanks....Don Alm




Some of my work from home programs.

Hello Don,

You may recognize me from FIB.

My day job is also in advertising. I sell custom printed promotional advertising. I don't do the co-op programs like you have mentioned. I prefer working with my clients throughout the year with whatever needs they have.

In January, I'll be writing a lot of repeat calendar orders for 2004. Drives the competition crazy when they have to wait 8 to 12 months to have another shot at the calendar biz.

I'll writing a lot of other "residual" orders at that time. Currently, it's Christmas Card orders (I'm not into political correctness), last minute calendar orders, and lots of business to business and business to employee gift orders.

Through in the usual repeat orders for pens, casual Friday shirts, embroidered camouflage caps, and the usual specialty items.

And since my alma mater's football team is headed to the 1-AA playoffs and possibly Chattanooga bound for the champtionship game, I'm also working on some orders for the Rah-Rah spirit products. Might also do an order for #1 T-shirts for the game also.

As a matter of fact, the McNeese Cowboys game against Nicholls State will be on ESPN on the 23rd.

I spend a lot of hours taking care of business from my home office, but also get out at least 2 to 3 days each week seeing some of my clients face-to-face.

In addition, I spend a lot of time training/mentoring new dealers that I've sponsored into the industry.

Best regards,

Dennis Bevers




My home-based business in promotional adv.

Good thread Don...

I'm doing two different things at this point.

#1. I'm contracted out by people in this part of the state to help small business owners get started and to help established businesses grow. Mostly I help create business plans and with marketing issues (over 100 business in the last 6 months). I also help administer a small loan fund that loans up to $25,000 over 5 years at 5%.

#2. Lots of projects... I especially like joint-ventures involving direct marketing. See the thread below (started by Dien) for some details.

Take care,

Mike Winicki

Hi Don,

Up until this past June my 'day job' for the last three years was the Network Administrator/PC Hardware Specialist for a large Pest Control Company. They sold out to their main competitor.

Since then I've been doing private pc maintenance and Network troubleshooting for small companies while reevaluating what I want to do (definitely something on my own again and not in computers) but as of yet I haven't defined anything.

In the past I served 11 years with the U.S. Marine Corps (a change of political climate (1992) was the reason I got out after that length of time).

For three years my wife and I owned/ran a successful healthy frozen treat franchise that we sold.

For several years I successfully sold both home and commercial fitness equipment (out of a retail store and knocking on doors). This company also mismanaged funds and closed their doors.

Odd jobs that didn't last very long (due to extreme boredom/incompetent leadership) were: security guard, new car salesman, health club manager (largest health club in the US), sales rep for gym memberships, mail room supervisor for a large law firm and finally as the Accountant/Office Manager for an Awning Manufacturing Company.

I enjoy the experience of trying new things and feel I always learn something even if that's only 'what not to do'.

Other Job? I quit my job as an Engineer in 1994 and have never worked for anyone else. My entire income is from the Internet. Although, I have been looking at some offline projects.

I really admire you guys that can do the face to face selling. I have balls the size of BB's when it comes to that stuff. I have never done a joint venture, although I did email a friend about working on a project together. We have a market but not a product. I might post the outline here and see if anyone has any ideas, that might be fun.

I am beginning to believe that going offline might be more lucrative that being 100% online. I would probably follow the Jeff Paul formula and sell a high dollar product.

I am curious as to how many people whose only income is from the Internet.

Dave Roberts

Hi,

Did you post the message from "Dave Roberts" on 11/5 (or was it an evildoer?).

If you posted that message and would like me to write, please post an addy and I'll do so. BTW I didn't reply to the addy in the 11/5 message, if you got an email from me it wasn't really from me.

Best,

- Boyd (always on the lookout for evildoers) Stone

Hi Boyd, I have had some serious computer problems and lost most of my recent email addresses. So, yes it was me that posted the 11/5 message. Here is one email address I am using that is pretty uncluttered: [email protected].

Dave Roberts

I "retired" from my day job last month and derive my income entirely from the internet. I have found that the internet gives me a much quicker way of testing business ideas than offline methods.

I will never work for anyone else again.

> Other Job? I quit my job as an Engineer in
> 1994 and have never worked for anyone else.
> My entire income is from the Internet.
> Although, I have been looking at some
> offline projects.

> I really admire you guys that can do the
> face to face selling. I have balls the size
> of BB's when it comes to that stuff. I have
> never done a joint venture, although I did
> email a friend about working on a project
> together. We have a market but not a
> product. I might post the outline here and
> see if anyone has any ideas, that might be
> fun.

> I am beginning to believe that going offline
> might be more lucrative that being 100%
> online. I would probably follow the Jeff
> Paul formula and sell a high dollar product.

> I am curious as to how many people whose
> only income is from the Internet.

> Dave Roberts

> I am a distributor for a personal emergency response company. In other words, Help I feel down, I can't get up! Funny, unless it is your mother who was laying on the kitchen floor for 16 hours waiting for a neighbor to check on her. That's why I got in the business. Also we have modified the system to make it silent so it is used by 24 hour convenience stores for their employees to signal for police when the need arises. And in Chicago it does arise.

> I'm curious as to how people here are
> earning their "base income".

> WHAT is your "regular" or
> day"...job?

> I sell advertising (and other business)
> programs to local businesses and consumers
> and then package these programs and sell to
> others to duplicate in their areas.

> I've had 2 "jobs" in my life where
> others have written my
> paychecks....otherwise, I have depended upon
> myself to write my own paychecks.

> I work in my home office. I call myself the
> 14 second commuter because it takes 14 secs
> to go from my kitchen, with a hot cup of
> coffee, to my office in my daylight
> basement.

> If I'm doing a "program" I then go
> out and make contact with others.

> I'm curious as to what some others do for
> their major income.

> Thanks....Don Alm

Well first of all im new to this board and have found some great posts. I enjoy business forums i only wish that they were around when i was in business. Anyway back to the question, i am presently in sales for an industrial supply and caster company. This is the first time in my adult life that my paycheck is written by another.
Fankly, i can sum up this situattion in one word and that is "SUCKS". I have owned three companies over the last 25 years all automotive related and successful. I know this is a long response to Dons question but i just feel like maybe i can give some encouragement to asnyone out there thinking of going into busiess.... ITS scary but its VERY VERY worth the effort,i can remember working an average on 90 hours a week and never realized it.
Well,,,, i should try and bring this all to a conclusion by saying this.... As i said i am working for someone else now and let me tell you this..... i am out there and here looking for something interesting and profitable to get into, being on both sides ill tell you working for yourself is the BEST expereince you could have.
If anyone has any questions and if i can help and draw on my business experience for anyone who is contemplating going on there own i would be glad to share.
Good luck to all
Sorry Don that this response was sooo long.