Should you admit that you are a trader?

One of the most valuable things in life is peace of mind, and one of the components of peace of mind is how people treat you.

Once I started earning money as a trader, I began to consider it my specialty, and when asked, "What do you do for a living?" I'd confidently answer, "Trader."

This answer, in most cases, only evoked negative emotions in people, which affected their attitudes toward me.

Some began to consider me a slacker who sits at home and does nothing and began suggesting I get a real job; others assumed I had a huge amount of extra money and tried to borrow it.

But in one case or another, my honesty was punished by these people's negative attitudes toward me.

Talking to trader friends, I discovered that almost everyone who is open about their profession faces this problem, not only in Russia but also abroad.

After several unpleasant incidents, it was decided that telling the truth in our lives is not at all necessary, and no matter how beautiful the profession of "Trader" may sound, shrouded in myths and legends, its owner cannot count on a normal attitude from others.

But what should you tell your friends and relatives when they ask how you live and what you do for a living?

I tried a lot of options until I found the optimal answer.

• I make money online – as a rule, after such a phrase there follow a multitude of additional questions that you have to answer, and people still look at you with suspicion.
• I work as a web designer – after this phrase, it turns out that everyone needs a website, and everyone starts trying to order one from you. I have to turn down such work for a long time.

Finally, the correct option:

I work for a company that deals with online advertising.

This phrase immediately implies you're in a real job; most people aren't interested in that field.

And if anyone asks about setting up an online advertising campaign at my company, I reply, "I don't recommend it. It's too expensive; you can find a cheaper alternative." After that, people are only grateful, because I didn't try to make money off them.

As a result, for several years now, I've experienced peace of mind when I hear this question; no one looks at me askance or offers me a job.