August 10, 2020 What A Topcoder Member Does For a Living Finally Explained

Mom thinks I’m an online stripper. My dad thinks I’m an airline host. My neighbors think I sell drugs. I was glad to discover I was not alone in this dilemma of explaining to people what I do for a living. The Topcoder Nation dauntless members made collective efforts to define what it is that we do.

Is it that difficult to explain what a Topcoder member does for a living? Why? I’d say it depends on the target audience. Someone who has never been exposed to crowdsourcing, for example, would need an easy-peasy introduction. It’s not difficult to explain if you describe it as you would to an eight year old. That way, any audience can understand that you don’t sell drugs for a living.

It is needless to worry any longer, today we solve this problem. Here you will find easy ways to explain to your lender, bookkeeper, hedge fund manager, or any lurker what it is that you do for a living.

In a nutshell, when I am asked what I do for a living, I say: I am my own business. I [design / code, / or produce] projects for clients overseas from the comfort of my couch while wearing soft delicate feminine underwear – Yes, I wear them, they are very comfy indeed 💁‍♀️

For a start, that should work. Short, concise, straight to the point. But let’s break it down for the curious inquirers who will ask where do you work, who your clients are, and bla bla bla.

WHAT IS TOPCODER?
A platform where I make money online as a freelancer.

Avoid saying “company” or “enterprise”. From the moment people hear this word, they think you are an employee, then you have to explain more.

WHAT IS CROWDSOURCING?
The most simple way I found to explain this is using the chair analogy. I lend it to you now.

Do you like comfortable chairs? Imagine you want to build a custom one, as per your personal preference. You would normally hire a specialist, share the requirements and she would build it for you. That’s the regular way; the “crowdsourcing” way (The Topcoder Way), is to share the requirements to a pool of specialists who will all build chairs for you, then you select the chair you liked the most among all the different options. That’s crowdsourcing.

HOW DO YOU MAKE MONEY?
I gamble with my chances through rough, wild, adventurous competition. I am the Indiana Jones of the nerd world. I risk my life through the mysteries of fortune by competing against top international designers and developers of chairs.

Topcoder posts specifications of chairs, I select the type of chairs I am good at building, I send my chair. If it’s a great chair, I win and I make money. By chair I mean design or code projects, Mr. Hedge fund manager.

That is all, a toolkit of answers for the next time you are questioned about your way of life, my dear reader.

Peace out.

TOPCODER NATION
Are you living the gig economy lifestyle at Topcoder? Want to join fellow members? Share your story, your travels, and experiences about the ultimate goal of working at Topcoder; the freedom, the flexibility, and the earnings that make it happen! Join Topcoder Nation.

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