I’ve learned that if I have a good answer for the most asked social question in North America, that it means I’m not doing the right thing.

“Hey, so what do you do?” If your answer is reassuring or even makes you more likeable. You might be doing the wrong thing. The best answers to these oh so common social questions should at least beg for follow up questions. Maybe they should even shut the topic down. The person asking this type of question doesn’t really want to know. They want to be reassured that you are a productive member of society. Even worse, they want to put you in a category, a caste, yuck.

I was asked this question by a doctor once, who was interested in my friend (a civil engineer by training). My answer was “I’m an aspiring truck driver.” What a horrible anwer. My friend mocked me after the conversation, mercilessly. But it was the truth. I did become a truck driver. I made more money after 3 years in that trade than I have ever made before, and more money than most doctors make. I could remain a truck driver, and have a fine financial outcome.

I don’t want a fine financial outcome out of this life. I want more. Now my answer is “I’m learning to build websites.” It’s true and I’m okay with that anwer even though I’m over the hill and get odd looks when I say it out loud. I’m old, I shouldn’t be starting over at my age. It’s what I want do though, and I know I will make more money building websites, and be more fulfilled, eventually, than I ever would being a truck driver, or a doctor for that matter.

There could be one simple reason why you are not rich right now. That reason could be that you’d rather have a safe answer.