[hbien]

For me, older relatives are way more impressed if you get a full time job at a established/well known company (Google, Cisco, etc...) than if you're a business owner.

I was employed at a small company (under 10 employees) and my Aunt wouldn't stop calling me about Cisco.

"Cisco is a really great place to work at... it's stable, good pay. Even though your Uncle just got laid off, I still think it's a great place."

I'm a recent graduate, just moved back to my hometown in Silicon Valley. All of my old buddies are so eager to land jobs at BigCo. I'm completely shocked that no one wants to work at a startup, do their own business, or even work for a small company.

Since when did "I work at Google" become a damn pick up line?

I think being an entrepreneur is only impressive after you're successful (ie. get RICH). I'm pretty sure the Reddit guys had a hard time impressing their family/friends with their startup, until they got filthy rich.

[litewulf]

I tried it. Never works. ;)

I think family wants to see you secure. I think future spouses want to see a willingness to take on risk. So tailor those pick up lines to the audience.

(Wonder if startups got less sexy with the economy going down...)

[Chocobean]

+1 on point about family wanting to see you secure. I don't usually like quoting Paul Graham, but he really did write the best essay I've read on the subject of "Inequality and Risk".

With family it's tricky; they're not as really interested in "what you do" as "how will your chosen source of income ensure your happiness?"

I'm from Hong Kong, so the standard reply for family is usually "I do IT"; over there IT doesn't stand for Info-Tech, it is an umbrella term for all things technology related, from using accounting software to engineering boeing 747's. Implication: It's a safe desk job out of the sun and rain, it makes money, and you're fairly smart and able to take care of yourself.

Then during the bust they worry again, and I tell them nono I'm fine, my company builds buildings. The city I live in has been experiencing a massive boom in property value in both residential and commercial sectors, so then they didn't panic about my job. Plus, I'm still out of the sun and rain, so, to them things look pretty good.

So this time with the US housing melt-down, they worry again. So this time the emphasis is on what an awesome guy my boss is, that in the past even when things are slow he doesn't let anyone go, that the company is financially sound with everything paid for in cash, and all he has to pay is wages. So the office is here to stay for sure, keeping me out of the sun and rain.

PS: I work in a rough area of the city, and on my bus commute there are a lot of construction workers, day labourers, unemployed individuals, folks slightly intoxicated or look like they have had a rough night outside. I have the luxuary of telling them I work for a construction company.

yeah Chinese people try to stay indoors as much as we can