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People will always have an opinion different from yours, no matter where you go.

This is only a problem when someone wants to force you to subscribe to their point of view. 

A woman online experienced this firsthand when her best friend told her to “get a real job.”

Let’s dive into this controversial topic.

Unemployed or Underemployed?

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The original poster (OP), who we’ll call Layla, is in her early thirties.

She’s known her best friend, Sofia, since they were 18 years old. Layla took the traditional path and got a corporate job after obtaining her college degree.

Sofia, on the other hand, took a different route.

One Woman’s Question Sparks Debate

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Sofia decided to start a small business selling candles and soaps.

Great, right?

According to Layla, Sofia is able to earn enough to sustain herself. This is already an accomplishment, as it’s challenging to make a business profitable.

Friendship Mistake

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Layla’s relationship with Sofia is a decent one. However, Layla has always had an odd way of pointing things out.

She mentioned that Sofia’s “parents are dirt poor,” so Sofia’s business must have generated a decent income.

Although Layla didn’t fully understand Sofia’s choices, she never questioned them.

Did This Woman Cross the Line?

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Here’s where things start to take a turn.

Layla agreed to meet up with Sofia at a local cafe on a Monday during a working holiday. Most friends would use this time to catch up and talk about positive things, right?

Layla felt differently because she was stressed from work. She vented to Sofia, who politely listened. Sofia, on the other hand, had great things to share about her business’s success.

“Honestly, I kind of expected her to keep her success on the downlow considering that I was down regarding my job but she didn’t hold back.”

When is sharing good news a bad thing?

To Work or Not to Work

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Sofia continued sharing her success with Layla.

She had finished editing her book and was preparing to launch a true crime YouTube channel.

You’d think Layla would’ve been happy for Sofia, but instead, Layla had a shocked look on her face.

“To say that my jaw dropped would be an understatement. This is a woman in her 30s who’s still playing around like a child. No real responsibilities, jumping from one thing to another without a care in the world.”

The Ethics of Pressuring Friends to Find Better Employment

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Eventually, Layla couldn’t take it anymore and asked Sofia when she was “planning on getting a real job.”

Stunned, Sofia asked Layla to clarify, but this only made things worse.

“I explained to her that I thought it was the right time to get a real job as she can’t play all her life and it’ll come back to bite her when she’s older and needs some professional experience when her little ventures fail.”

Sofia told Layla she didn’t expect this reaction from her and thought she was one of the few who supported her.

“She told me to **** off and left the lunch. I thought she’d call apologizing but no luck.”

What People Really Think About Careers

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“She is thriving doing what she wants instead of forcing herself into a position/field she doesn’t want, stop being bitter. If she’s making enough to live alone in the current market she is a lot better off than most people and it doesn’t matter what you think of her job, its working for her.”

Inside the Minds

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“That she can afford to branch out into other interests also tells just how well her initial business is doing.”

Breaking the Silence

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“Getting strong ‘you’re not a Real Adult unless you’re miserable’ vibes from OP.”

“People make money in all sorts of ways now. She is building a multi-media strategy with e-commerce, video content, a book, holy cow. She is crushing it! And she is able to live off that? 

A true friend would celebrate! Want to watch the vids and smell some candles.”

When Honesty About Career Choices Harms a Friendship

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No one enjoys feeling hurt and betrayed, especially when someone we trust doesn’t have our best interests at heart.

We all deserve to be surrounded by people who support and uplift us. In Sofia’s case, her best friend dismissed her accomplishments and assumed her business wouldn’t succeed.

In today’s digital world, it’s becoming the norm to launch online businesses similar to Sofia’s. Online entrepreneurs will resonate with Sofia’s experience.

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This thread inspired this post.

The internet has influenced the ideas presented in this article, and it does not necessarily align with the views or opinions of the Financially Well Off.

Author

Chris founded FWO, the ultimate destination for those looking to achieve financial independence, explore the world and stay motivated daily.

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