Working online is quite a bit different from working in what some people call “the real world.” Not only am I self employed but I have no set schedule. One of the things I like best about being an Internet entrepreneur is the flexibility the lifestyle offers me. I can take the afternoon off and play Xbox or plan a trip months in advance without having to clear things with my boss. The lifestyle of an Internet entrepreneur has several positives. You can work from home, there is no dress code, you can sleep until 10 AM, you can relax with an afternoon workout, etc.

I love my career and the flexibility it gives me. However, there are several miss-conceptions about working online that annoy me. There are also downfalls to working online. I just wanted a chance to rant about some of the myths about working on the Internet.

Because you work online…

You are an instant millionaire. A lot of people think just because I work online I’m guaranteed hundreds of thousands of dollars a year with little to no effort. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Ryan, John and I spend more hours working in three days than most people do in two weeks. Our jobs literally never stop. There is always work to be done and there is no excuse not to get it done because we can work wherever we have a computer with Internet access.

You are a computer genius. This is one of the most irritating myths about working online. I have extraordinary knowledge in HTML, website development, creating profitable campaigns, etc. but I am in no way a computer expert. If you’re computer breaks, don’t call me. I don’t know how to fix nor do I care how to fix it. When something goes wrong with my computer, I call a computer repair specialist. You should do the same. I don’t know what’s wrong with your wireless router or why you are getting the blue screen of death. I’m not A+ certified and never intend to be.

You have no social life. Most people stereotype a webmaster as a 400 pound virgin that is 40-years-old and working out of their mother’s basement. Not us. Ryan, John and I all go to the gym regularly, dress fashionable and love to have a great time. We have beautiful girlfriends and are able to carry on conversations with anyone. We do not spend our weekends at LAN/computer parties trying to beat some ridiculous video game.

You are lazy. A lot of people think because of my job I have no conception of how the “real world” works. They think because I can take time off whenever I want or go to the gym at 2 in the afternoon I don’t have a “real job.” Again, this is another irritating myth. I may sleep until 10 in the morning but that’s most likely because I was up half the night tweaking a campaign or following up on a story for my wrestling website. I might have time to lift weights in the middle of the day or sneak in a game of Madden 2010 on my Xbox but while you’re sprawled out on your Lazy Boy eating Doritos at night, I’m expanding my company.

You must be into pornography. I cannot tell you how many people upon first meeting me think I’m some type of smut peddler because I work online. First of all I do not look at porn. I have no desire to start looking at porn nor do I have the time to do anything on the computer that does not involve business. I will not help you start a porn website because no amount of money is worth burning in hell for. If you’re into this sort of thing, there is nothing I can do to help you and I find it offensive when I’m accused of doing such.

I’m sure this blog post will continue sometime in the future but this is all for now. If you work online, feel free to share your myths and rant along with me.