Confession Time: I nearly joined a direct sales venture—yes, I was almost sucked into that whirlwind. A friend reached out to me, and I listened to her enthusiastic pitch. It was enticing; I just needed to recruit seven people who would each recruit seven more, and before I knew it, I’d be rolling in the dough, living lavishly, and driving a brand new, free car! Well, that’s not quite how it turned out. Thankfully, my fear of phone calls kept me from diving in too deep. I couldn’t even muster the courage to ask my neighbor for a cup of sugar, much less reach out to old acquaintances to sell them products. In the end, I sold exactly zero items and probably landed myself on a company’s do-not-contact list.
What became of the “friend” who tried to rope me into this scheme? I never heard from her again. Not once. It was a faux friendship, plain and simple.
Let me clarify—I wholeheartedly support mothers striving for success. I’m all for uplifting small businesses and moms building their brands. If you’re flourishing in direct sales, power to you! However, there’s a facet of this industry that irks me: the pretense of friendship that often accompanies these sales pitches.
We’ve all received those overly-friendly messages from distant acquaintances trying to sell everything from weight-loss supplements to miracle oils. Just the other day, I spotted a message from a friend I hadn’t spoken to in years. At first, I was thrilled to reconnect, but my excitement quickly faded when I read her message: “Hey girl! Your kids are adorable, and your life seems amazing! But you know what would make it even better? My latest product!”
Wait a minute! We haven’t spoken in ages, and now you’re hitting me with a sales pitch? My fake friendship radar was on high alert. I didn’t even bother to check what she was selling; I felt completely duped. She wasn’t reaching out as a friend; she simply wanted my money.
I even had a friend reach out to my partner on Facebook, suggesting he buy her latest skincare line for me. Seriously? First, let’s keep him out of this faux-friend nonsense. Second, is there something about my appearance I’m oblivious to? Have I morphed into a worn-out version of myself at just 30? Please tell me that’s not the case.
And don’t get me started on the flood of Instagram requests from “friends” trying to sell me something. One lady I interacted with sent me a picture of her kids with a message that read, “Want to earn a full-time income from home? Contact me for details!” Really? I’m pretty sure I’d have to sell millions of dollars of products in a fortnight while juggling flaming torches and sleeping on a bed of nails to even consider that.
As a working mom, I found it incredibly irritating when people assumed I was unhappy in my job or fantasizing about staying home. Not every working mom yearns to be the next June Cleaver, okay?!
There’s nothing more frustrating to me than insincere friendships. When someone I haven’t communicated with in ages suddenly messages me with a sales pitch, it drives me up the wall. I see their products cluttering my social media feeds, and I’m fine with that. Promote away! But don’t act like we’re best buddies while you’re trying to sell me your wares. Sorry, fake friends; I’m not interested.
If I’m genuinely curious about a product, I’ll be the one to reach out. And if I decide to make a purchase, I promise I’ll prioritize buying from my real friends first.
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Summary
Navigating the world of direct sales can often feel like traversing a minefield of faux friendships. While supporting fellow moms is commendable, the insincerity of reaching out under the guise of friendship can be frustrating. It’s essential to recognize genuine connections versus those seeking a quick sale.
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