Confession: I almost ventured into the realm of direct sales. A friend reached out to me, delivering her enthusiastic pitch. I was captivated by the idea of recruiting seven individuals who would each recruit seven more, leading me to unimaginable wealth and a luxurious life—all from the comfort of my own brand-new car! While that scenario was more fantasy than reality, my fear of phone calls ultimately kept me from diving in. I couldn’t even muster the courage to ask my neighbor to borrow an egg, let alone reach out to distant acquaintances for sales.
During my brief flirtation with direct sales, I sold a grand total of zero items. It’s safe to say that I’m probably on a no-contact list with the company. What became of the “friend” who tried to convince me to join her venture? Not a word from her since my direct sales endeavor flopped. It was clear: our friendship was, at best, superficial.
Let me clarify that I genuinely support mothers striving for personal growth. I wholeheartedly champion small businesses and mothers establishing their brands. If you’re thriving in direct sales, more power to you! However, the aspect that irks me is the faux friendship that often accompanies these sales tactics.
We’ve all experienced overly cheerful messages from long-lost friends peddling the latest miracle products—be it hair removal cream, weight-loss supplements, or an array of organic oils. Recently, I received a message from an old friend I hadn’t spoken to in years. Excited to reconnect, I clicked on her message only to find, “Hey! Your kids are adorable, but you know what would make your life even better? My latest product!” Wait a minute. We haven’t connected in years, and now you’re trying to sell me something? My instincts immediately detected a false friendship.
I was even approached by a friend who messaged my husband on Facebook, attempting to sell him skincare products she believed I needed. Seriously?! First, let’s keep my husband out of your sales tactics. Secondly, am I missing something about my appearance? Have I become a haggard version of myself at just 29?
Moreover, more than half of my Instagram requests come from individuals seeking to sell products. Recently, a woman I had only briefly interacted with on Instagram sent me a picture of her children, followed by an offer to help me earn a full-time income from home. This felt like a red flag for a fake friendship. Making a full-time income in direct sales seems unrealistic without selling an immense volume of products while also balancing multiple responsibilities.
As a working mother, I often found it frustrating when people assumed I was unhappy with my job and longing for a work-from-home opportunity. Not all working moms aspire to be June Cleaver!
The most aggravating aspect of all this is the insincerity of such friendships. If I haven’t spoken to someone in ages, it frustrates me when they reach out, add me to groups, and attempt to sell their products. I’m aware of what they’re promoting; I see their posts cluttering my feed. While I don’t mind their advertisements, it’s the pretense of friendship that drives me crazy. If I’m interested in a product, I will reach out to that person directly. I promise I will prioritize purchasing from my actual friends before anyone else.
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In summary, while I support entrepreneurial endeavors, I find the insincerity of faux friendships in direct sales to be disheartening. It’s essential to differentiate between genuine connections and relationships motivated by financial gain.
Keyphrase: direct sales and fake friendships
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