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Pretty interesting article. Maybe when I get sick of "Will do tech for food", I can pivot into that. But it also happens here to. There is a kid that mows my

Pretty interesting article. Maybe when I get sick of "Will do tech for food", I can pivot into that. But it also happens here to. There is a kid that mows my neighbor's (who is 85) yard and he's there for three hours. 45 mins to mow and the rest of the time talking. He gets about $35 for it, makes both of them happy.

gist 10y ago
I know someone who is an Apple Tech certified consultant (don't know the exact wording but he's listed at Apple or something like that). Anyway he was telling me about some rich clients, people that pay him to come and do things as simple updating the software (you know a menu option) and it sounded to me like a version of keeping someone who is lonely and giving them a chance to talk to someone more than anything. (Not discounting some (especially older) people's fear of tech which is real, but the time he would take wasn't exactly 'get in and get out as quickly as possible'). Plus he is a super friendly nice guy (who really talks to much) so I kind of got the impression that was actually a benefit to his clients.
- Spooky23 10y ago
  I had a few gigs like this in college. It's more than lonliness -- people like being connected to people outside of their circle, especially young people. One couple I did computer and odd electrical jobs for were a semi-retired power couple (neurosurgeon, big cheese at med school + big attorney) who were not at a loss for company. I got the sense that they liked talking to young folks without the baggage that comes with interacting with their own kids. Also, many rich people enjoy paying people to do things for a variety of reasons.
  - gist 10y ago
    When I was younger I had an older guy (who was sort of an admired quasi mentor type) that would always want to take me out to dinner. He usually had an agenda and something that he wanted to know. But at some point he said that "he really liked out interactions" and I got the idea he just liked hanging out with younger people. I didn't need the free meal (he always paid however I owned a business and made money at the time) but it felt good that someone who was older and successful took an interest in hearing what I had to say. > I got the sense that they liked talking to young folks without the baggage that comes with interacting with their own kids For sure. Your kids don't always realize that you are acting in their own interest (but of course there is also an agenda as well typically) whereas a non-kid-of-yours thinks you are acting in their interest.

gist 10y ago

I know someone who is an Apple Tech certified consultant (don't know the exact wording but he's listed at Apple or something like that). Anyway he was telling me about some rich clients, people that pay him to come and do things as simple updating the software (you know a menu option) and it sounded to me like a version of keeping someone who is lonely and giving them a chance to talk to someone more than anything. (Not discounting some (especially older) people's fear of tech which is real, but the time he would take wasn't exactly 'get in and get out as quickly as possible'). Plus he is a super friendly nice guy (who really talks to much) so I kind of got the impression that was actually a benefit to his clients.

Spooky23 10y ago
I had a few gigs like this in college. It's more than lonliness -- people like being connected to people outside of their circle, especially young people. One couple I did computer and odd electrical jobs for were a semi-retired power couple (neurosurgeon, big cheese at med school + big attorney) who were not at a loss for company. I got the sense that they liked talking to young folks without the baggage that comes with interacting with their own kids. Also, many rich people enjoy paying people to do things for a variety of reasons.
- gist 10y ago
  When I was younger I had an older guy (who was sort of an admired quasi mentor type) that would always want to take me out to dinner. He usually had an agenda and something that he wanted to know. But at some point he said that "he really liked out interactions" and I got the idea he just liked hanging out with younger people. I didn't need the free meal (he always paid however I owned a business and made money at the time) but it felt good that someone who was older and successful took an interest in hearing what I had to say. > I got the sense that they liked talking to young folks without the baggage that comes with interacting with their own kids For sure. Your kids don't always realize that you are acting in their own interest (but of course there is also an agenda as well typically) whereas a non-kid-of-yours thinks you are acting in their interest.