People Who Lie About Being In Business (collection agency, transaction, CPA)

[pvande55]

These days so many unemployed, many of whom gave up looking, are calling themselves in business. True, in many cases they have no clients or income, but it sounds better. It also looks better when attending conventions, on your badge.

[Wartrace]

I had a friend that years ago cleaned offices at an office park he worked at as a maintenance person during the day. It was more or less the office managers asking him to clean their offices after he clocked out from his day job.

I don't know what exactly happened but I do know he didn't bother reporting the income and had some sort of tax issues.

Whether or not he was a "businessman" is irrelevant however he always referred to himself as being a "former business owner" when he was trying to pick up girls..... it didn't work too effectively but it was worth a try.......

[NJBest]

Originally Posted by Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus

exactly. i know someone who owns 15 franchise grocery stores... does that mean he's not "in business" for a living?

He certainly is. By the post, it appears that calicali01 hasn't a clue about business.

[montanamom]

I once knew a guy that was always dressed in business type attire, walked around with a brief case in hand, cell phone up to his ear all the time, talking real big like he was a successful business guy with "connections."

The truth was, he was a twice divorced 40 year old living at home in with his Mother, and was totally bankrupt. He couldn't even qualify for a small loan at the local Check 'n Go. How do I know? I dated this loser for 6 months until I realized what a fraud he was. He had a drinking car and totaled his car - he had his Grandmother sign for a Lexus and drove it around like a hot shot - until it got repo'ed. It was the day I saw his car payment book for that Lexus - in his Grandmother's name and not in his - that I got wise and broke it off.

I also have to wonder about the posts here on City Data that read something like "We have a budget for $400,000 for a house in our new location. Jobs/Employment are not a concern - we work from home and can move anywhere...."

Really? How about letting us in on these terrific work-at-home jobs that pay these amazing salaries and are completely mobile, especially in these economic times? Does E-bay really pay that well?

Really?

[NJBest]

Originally Posted by montanamom

I once knew a guy that was always dressed in business type attire, walked around with a brief case in hand, cell phone up to his ear all the time, talking real big like he was a successful business guy with "connections."

The truth was, he was a twice divorced 40 year old living at home in with his Mother, and was totally bankrupt. He couldn't even qualify for a small loan at the local Check 'n Go. How do I know? I dated this loser for 6 months until I realized what a fraud he was. He had a drinking car and totaled his car - he had his Grandmother sign for a Lexus and drove it around like a hot shot - until it got repo'ed. It was the day I saw his car payment book for that Lexus - in his Grandmother's name and not in his - that I got wise and broke it off.

I also have to wonder about the posts here on City Data that read something like "We have a budget for $400,000 for a house in our new location. Jobs/Employment are not a concern - we work from home and can move anywhere...."

Really? How about letting us in on these terrific work-at-home jobs that pay these amazing salaries and are completely mobile, especially in these economic times? Does E-bay really pay that well?

Really?

I know someone who made $212,000 last year selling event tickets on eBay.

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by calicali01

During my life as a REAL businessman, I have always been amazed at people who consider themselves businessmen/businesswomen, but yet, they don't even run a business, or never even built one! Hell, they never even bought an existing business and ran it!

I'm so sick of these people! For example:

Case 1. I knew a woman who said she was in business for herself (boasting about it) and that she makes pastries (mind you, she has no bakery and makes only a handful of cakes a year!) and come to find out she went through a divorce and had to get a full time job because she lost the husband who was paying her bills. In other words, she was a stay at home wife, but she was posing to the public that she was a businesswoman.

Case 2. I know of a gentleman who got involved with a muti level marking scam for a few months then quit because he made NO MONEY in it. But yet, when he's pressed for his background qualifications, or when he feels like boasting to someone, he tells people that he was a businessman, and that he has experience in running a business.

Case 3. I know of another gentleman who worked for the Government all his life and is now retired collecting a pension. He survives entirely off his pension, but yet, when he meets women, or hell, anybody, he tells them that he's a businessman based on his little odd projects that he has on the side that have never generated any actual successes OVER DECADES!


And I could go on! But the point is, these people are LIARS, and they are trying to accept credit for accomplishments that they have never actually achieved!

These people remind me of guys who walk around telling others that they were a Navy Seal but yet they never really were. There are so many people that lie and say they were a Navy Seal there are news articles written about it.

Example: Pastor admits lying about being Navy SEAL - US news - Life - msnbc.com


Let me spell it out for you, you're a real business when you sell an actual product, or service, in repeat fashion over and over again with some form of predicable consistency. Also, you need to be generating at least a few thousand dollars each year, otherwise, what you really have is a HOBBY. And lastly, it needs to be your OWN BRAND.

Also, people who prepare taxes, real estate agents who don't own their own company, people who are involved with multi-level marking and so forth; I don't care what people tell you, you're NOT really in business for yourself!

What you are is an employee that has been given the power to make up your own schedule (while you solicit their product and use their established trademark name) which as a result makes you feel like you are in business for yourself, but when it all boils down to it you're just an extension of that company and I doubt you would be successful if you started your OWN LINE independent of that company.


Rant Over!

I don't think I need my own brand since I own my own Semi Truck and those wheels turn more miles in a month than most others turn in a year.
I also don't have my own brand name according to your definition but I do help people regain their financial security and gain independence from debt. Since I only have a couple clients I guess it is just a hobby.

[MrLemon]

Originally Posted by dad2jules

Also, people who prepare taxes, real estate agents who don't own their own company, people who are involved with multi-level marking and so forth; I don't care what people tell you, you're NOT really in business for yourself!

What you are is an employee that has been given the power to make up your own schedule (while you solicit their product and use their established trademark name) which as a result makes you feel like you are in business for yourself, but when it all boils down to it you're just an extension of that company and I doubt you would be successful if you started your OWN LINE independent of that company.


Rant Over!


Add to this most- not all because nothing is absolute- franchise "owners".

How do you figure tax preparation isn't a business? You sell time and expertise, like any service based business (lawyers, plumbers, etc.). There are large firms that have billions of dollars in income derived from tax compliance and planning.

[AnthonyB]

Originally Posted by Teak

Yeah, really.

For example, Case 1 is a sad story. I can imagine the woman is just trying to keep up appearances for her own feelings. I doubt that she is boasting about being a business-woman out of arrogance or a feeling of superiority. Buy some of her pastries; help her out! Don't point out the obvious.

In some parts of our society it seems that people love to jump on the band-wagon and put down those who are already down.

Agree. The Original Post says more about the poster than about the anecdotes, he seems to be badly in need of validation.

If truly successful why care what other people call themselves, especially if it hurts noone? Claiming to be in business is nothing like claiming to be a doctor, or a Navy Seal for that matter.

[dnalsI gnoL]

I agree with you. Nothing more annoying than someone trying to tell you that getting into their MLM is equivalent to running a business. Now if they wanna do MLM that's fine, but don't lie to yourself and me and say it's a business when you don't even know the difference between an asset and a liability.

[ambient]

Meh... People like about all kinds of stuff.. Don't see much reason to get more wound up about these cases than the others.