So I had another post planned for today but after seeing how EXCITED you guys were about the upcoming launch (April 23rd, 8am PST!!) of our “FUNEMPLOYED” shirt, I decided to change gears. First of all, holy cow! Thank you for all the love!!! But back to the point… we were talking in the office as I was going through all your comments and all of us were so curious about what YOU guys do for a living. One of my favorite blog, Cup of Jo, asked this same question recently and I loved reading through the comments so we thought we’d flip it to you guys and ask…
What do you do for a living!? If you have a 9 to 5, what is it!? If you’re an entrepreneur or freelancer, tell me about your biz! Are you a student? What are you studying? Stay at home mama? How old are your kiddos!? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
Update: Thank you for sharing your stories with me. I really love hearing about how you all spend your days! We have such a diverse group here and it’s so wonderful to see. Our intention with this shirt was to focus on the way my peers in the freelance and entrepreneur community use it – “employed by fun”. That being said, we are aware of the word’s original meaning and know how hard being unemployed can be. We would never intentionally make light of that. Instead, this shirt is meant as a celebration of any way that you spend your day, whether its a 9-5, freelance, at home with your kiddos, or anything in between.
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Nikki Morales says
I should start to sling knock offs of your “funemployed” shirt to help pay my medical bills because I had to give up my career because I have terminal cancer. Because I know what actual unemployment and NEEDING money to LIVE everyday is life. My life isn’t sponsored. There’s nothing cute or glam or Instagram worthy about it.
This shirt is absolutely vile. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Kaitlin says
This shirt is simply stating that she has fun where she is employed. In no way is she making light of being unemployed. Just because you do not understand what the shirt means does not make it “vile”. It is a beautiful representation of being proud of what you do and is inspiring to see that she has fun doing it.
Rebecca says
The last time I was completely unemployed, I had been laid off unexpectedly and I was going to lose my apartment. My clinical depression consumed me, I got into a toxic, unhealthy pseudo relationship with someone who was also emotionally unavailable, and then I tried to kill myself and ended up in the hospital. #funemployed
Dessy says
To the first commenter, I’m so very sorry that you’re going through this. I’m sure there are many emotions that you’ve had to deal with. I can’t say that I understand because I’m not going through it myself. I hope you find peace!
Kelly, I LOVE that you’re able to do what you’re passionate about and make a living at it! I’m striving towards that goal! Currently, I’m a mostly stay-at-home Mom who volunteers as the Art Teacher at my sons school. I enjoy the beautiful colors and upbeat vibe your page displays in a world that has so much negativity!
Kaitlin says
LOVE LOVE LOVE this shirt! I am in the process of creating my own blog and etsy account! You are such an inspiration because I have always dreamed of being an entrepreneur, and you are rocking it! So excited to be on my way to FUNEMPLOYED!!
Lila says
Hello lovely
I’m a digital illustrator and animator working full time at a high-tech company, we make virtual worlds for kids and it is fun!
But- currently staying at home with a sweet baby girl which is fun and scary and full of emotions.
Love your energy! Sending a hug.
Kelly says
LOVE it! I’m a part time graphic designer/product photographer for a large catalog company. My part-time status at the office allows me to be at home with my girl after school and work on my freelance art the rest of the day. I design t-shirts for a local boutique where I live, make stained glass and fused glass art, sew, bake like a crazy woman – basically if I can find a way to make something by hand and sell it, I will. Having fun with my freelance work helps pay for my crazy hobbies. While it’s a long way off for me, I hope to keep funemployed even past retirement age -because it’s fun! 🙂
Chelsey G says
This shirt is EVERYTHING! I am so excited to rock this. I’m a mostly-stay-at-home mama to my sweet Ollie man, who is 16 months! But I also rock the side hustle – I manage social media accounts for small businesses, and I’m starting my own bakery! Love being Funemployed!
Jackie says
LOVE THIS TEE SO MUCH! I’m a full-time graphic designer for an electric company, but I also have an Etsy store on the side that I just opened up selling tees for grown-ups and kids/babies! I had been daydreaming about having a place to sell my tee ideas for years, and when I had my daughter last July, I decided to just go for it! I hope that as she grows, she’ll see that she can and should go for her dreams too and not let fear or doubt hold her back! I named the store Hello Sky, after her (her name is Skylar). 🙂
Katie Hodge says
I have been following all things Kelly Mindel for awhile now and I’ve loved being a part of your colorful world!! I think I’ve especially loved seeing your journey with Arlo unfold. We are foster parents and are actually in the process of adopting the little guy we’ve had since he was born! It’s quite an adventure!!
I’m primarily a SAHM to a 5yr old beauty, 3 yr old handsome little man, and a now 1yr old miracle. BUT-last year, a dream of mine came true and I started working for a BAKERY!! I can seriously say I BAKE for a living lol!! It’s a lot of fun and it gives me the creative outlet I need while still spending the majority of the day with my kiddos!! We specialize in French Macarons and pastries!
You can check us out in IG @lapetitedelicat!!
Thank you for being such an inspiration!! 💞
Abbey says
I teach 5th grade and spend my days with my 23 creative hilarious 10 year old coworkers. Though it is challenging, my days are inspiring and never the same. In my “free” time, my hubs and I are renovating our first home and we love to travel!
Amanda says
I’m a research coordinator in a psychiatry lab by day, MBA student by night!
Jonel says
I am an insurance agent looking forward to retirement in 10 years. People always think it is something boring but it is something very necessary. I enjoy working with my commercial insureds and helping them get the insurance they need to go into or stay in business.
Rebecca says
ALSO! To everyone who doesn’t get it – the term ‘funemployed’ doesn’t mean that OMG MY JOB IS SO FUN. The term means ‘f-unemployed’ like f being unemployed. It’s a sarcastic term for when you don’t have a job and you’re terrified of what’s going to happen, but you don’t know what to do.
If you don’t believe me, Google it.
Jonel says
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=funemployed
It means being unemployed but using your time that would normally be spent at work do to fun things.
I think – since it isn’t a true word – that it can mean whatever you want it to. It can mean being employed in a place where you have fun, it can me F – Unemployment or it can mean the definition about. If you don’t like the meanings, then don’t buy the t-shirt.
Emma says
I am the Assistant Director of Marketing for a management company who oversees 3 hotels, 3 golf courses, 4 restaurants and private membership. I wish I could say I work a 9 to 5 job, some days it feels like I live at work. I would love to one day dip my toe into the world of entrepreneurial (girl boss) business. I enjoy the creative aspects of my job and would love to explore that aspect more vs. the support function a traditional marketing position has.
Melody says
I am a project manager for a clinical research company. We manage/run research studies all over the world for our pharmaceutical company clients to bring new drugs to market. I have an art degree I have never “used”, but I am thankful for this job and the random path that got me here. I like knowing I have a part in bringing new drugs into the world that will improve quality of life or possibly cure people that are lacking treatment options for lots of different conditions and diseases. Plus I do get to travel some for work which is usually fun. Next month I have a work meeting in Prague and am going a few days early to make it a little bit of a vacation!
Eleanor says
I feel like I want this shirt even though I’m conventionally employed… I have fun at work! I write for an environmental and social justice magazine out of a nonprofit and also do social media and web work for the organization. I was a freelance writers/on the hustle before I started here but I love being a little more settled and being able to have benefits and take vacation! I mean the topics I write about do make this a total dream job of mine.
Gwen says
I have been many things in my working life. For a long time I was a lab technician for an orthodontist where I poured and trimmed plaster models and learned to bend wires and solder and use a dremmel, I was a graphic designer for a major chemical company where I laid out all of their warning labels, I was even an airbrush artist for a tanning salon where they paid me to give people beach bodies (they were only slightly orange but I could draw some mean ab definition!)
Last year I made a very very scary move to quit my cozy weekly pay check job and open my own business. Now I run “Happy Gwensday!”which is a one woman shop where I design and make embroidered toys and I have never been happier. Some days I’m not sure how long it will last and self doubt fills me to the top but honestly I’ve never been happier or more proud of myself. The work I do now is all mine and it’s hard and sadly it did not come with a manual or code of conduct like all the other jobs I’ve wored but for the first time ever I can proudly say I’m funemployed.
Katie says
Gwen, just checked out your shop. Your dolls are amazing! About to open my own shop of baby items (coming soon to Etsy: Tip Top Tot!) and am bookmarking your shop for inspiration and future kiddo gifts. Keep working it!
Kristina B says
GWENS-DAY! I love it!!!!
BRIANNE says
I’M AN ARCHITECT WHO DESIGNS K-12 SCHOOLS! ITS A 8-5 (WELL, MORE LIKE 8-5 THEN AGAIN 8-11) IN A TRADITIONAL FIRM SETTING.
Kristina B says
I love this! I was actually thinking when I opened your blog today “Oh this is like the chat posts on Cup of Jo!” Fun!!
Well you already know this but I own a stationery shop named Calliope Paperie and I am about to open my second location very soon! I am point-blank TERRIFIED. I have no control over anything since it’s a marketplace-type situation and not a stand-alone storefront like my first shop but I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing. The other day I wondered what it would be like to go back to an office and I pictured someone coming up me “Hey can you do this?” and I’m like “No. Bye.” HAHAHAHAHA
Living my dream every day.
Justina says
My 8:30-4 is working as a victim advocate for people who have experienced domestic and sexual violence. I went to school for Criminal Justice and knew I wanted to go into advocacy. It’s a tough job, but also very rewarding.
Outside of my day job, I am the president of the board for my local community theater. I spend all summer working in and around the shows and all winter planning for the shows. If I could get paid to do that full time I would! I love it.
Lauren says
I’m a web developer/designer who reads this blog while I should be working, but I love it so!
Gwen says
Thank you so much Katie, add me on instagram when you open your shop and I’ll pay it forward! @happygwensday
Megan says
LOVE LOVE LOVE what you are doing and have to ignore the negative comments. This is why we can’t have nice things…
Anyway!
I’m an Event Manager for Baltimore’s Inner Harbor by day, blogger by night and I have launched two Instagram accounts that allow people to log on and “takeover” the account. @TheBaltimoreBaton and TODAY was the launch for @TheBrideBaton. I’m so excited to see where the accounts lead me!
Love you guys and am currently chugging my DD iced coffee. WOOHOO!
Jeff says
Yes Megan!!! #teamDD
Amber says
I work in the Onboarding and Training department in an office in downtown Chicago with a young, fun and hip vibe. I like my job and the company I work for but it doesn’t allow me any outlets for creativity. I hope one day to go back to school for interior design and eventually to start my own interior design business. Thank you, Kelly, for continuing to serve as a positive role model and for adding brightness, fun, inspiration, and overall BOSS LADY-ness to our days!
Staci says
I’m an editor for trade magazines. I have a degree in journalism, but I also am a licensed massage therapist – so it’s fun to have an “other” life where I don’t have to be consumed with deadlines or “what will sales think of this headline” type concerns. I love the idea of “funemployed” because while at my stressful editing job, I try to keep things as fun as possible. Thank you!
Mikyla Miller says
I am a full time graphic designer, and also just started a flower cart business (@floraflowercart) as my side hustle, which has been so fun!
Victoria Shingleton says
I was “funemployed” for a few months after grad school. Now I work in architecture at Disneyland Resort Architecture & Facilities Engineering. It’s not a 9-5… more like a 6-4 (because we have to do a lot of work before guests arrive). So if you see a construction wall when you’re at Disneyland this week, that’s my department making magic!
Leah says
I’m a lawyer at a biotech company by day and a wedding planner by night (or by weekend, really.)
My day job supports my family and my side hustle supports my soul!
Lindsay S. says
I’m a marketing & social media manager for a company that owns three wedding venues. I just started six months ago, but before that I did pretty much the same thing for a nonprofit maritime museum. I think my current job could be perfect for me, but I’m still getting to know the company. It’s technically a “9-5” job, but I find when you do social media, you’re kind of thinking about it nonstop. I’m always checking my notifications, making sure there’s no crazy comments on anything, seeing how my posts are doing.
I do love weddings, but I think in my perfect dream job, I would be a full-time blogger/content creator writing about whatever I want! Or interviewing celebrities on the red carpet for E! But that’s always been the dream 🙂
~L
Sarah says
I´m a freelancer and I give theatre courses and workshops for grown ups. It is my dream job and I love working in groups, picking costumes, designing flyers and all that stuff. 🙂
Greetings,
Sarah
Megan says
I am a Speech and Language Pathologist from Australia. I work with kids in primary school (K-6) and love every minute! On my days at home, I get to play with my amazing 16 month old little boy.
Taylor says
I am the co-owner of a coffee shop focused on rural economic development and job creation! It’s really hard work building a new company, especially on the side of employee management and being open 7 days a week! I love the fact that every day at work is a day someone else gets an opportunity. To that end, I also just recently launched a small shared studio/coworking/mentoring space next door to our shop for women-owned businesses. It’s rewarding and exciting!
Joseph Gillian says
I work as a freelance copywriter and provide essay writing services. It’s actually a very interesting position! Thanks to it, I always learn a lot of new things, because the essay’s topics are different every time, and a high-quality text requires a deep knowledge of the subject.