“Oh that sounds like a fun little project”
Little project? I’m out here building a business, not sewing a quilt.
“How much money do you actually make?”
Unless you’re about to offer me investment, then my financials are absolutely none of your business.
“But you’re so young.”
I’ll admit, I don’t hate this one. Although slightly patronising, if someone wants to remark on how youthful I look, I’m not about to stop them!
“What you need to do is…”
Ring the Mansplain alarm, we have a classic over here! It is ironic just how much unsolicited advice is foisted upon me by people who have never themselves run a business. Predictably, it ALWAYS comes from men.
“What? YOU run it?”
It’s difficult not to take offence at this one. I’m strolling around thinking I look like a boss, when the whole time it would seem I actually have “Completely incapable. The last person you’d expect to be running a business” written in Comic Sans on my forehead.
“How long are you going to give it a go for?”
Until I succeed! This ain’t no gap year excursion to ‘get zen and find myself, bro’… I’m in it for the long-haul. Falls and all.
“Make sure you have something to fall back on…you know, just in case!”
Put it this way…Plan A is to succeed. If Plan A fails, then Plan B is to get back up and try again. As is Plan C. As is Plan D. If I run out of letters in the alphabet, I’ll let you know. But until then, please don’t write me off before I’ve actually failed!