JUST ONE THING : Maintaining Friendship After Multi-Level Marketing Dispute

Prompt: "Coerce"

She was my dearest friend. At least I thought so before the whirlwind sales company took control of her life. The soft spoken, mild mannered woman I'd known for over 10 years became unrecognizable.

I received a phone call early one Saturday morning. Bubbling with excitement, I couldn't tell what happened within the last week I saw her. She could barely finish one sentence before starting the next.

Here's what happened.

The morning of the call, I was busy with household chores. As always, I gladly took the call from her since we hadn't spoken in a week. Apparently, she'd been invited to join a company's sales team. I thought this was the break she needed to get back on her feet after she lost her job. However, I didn't understand why she wanted me to accompany her.

She insisted I go. I'd never seen her so excited, so I agreed. On the road, I made several attempts to question her about the organization. She was uninformed about it.

We arrived at the venue and was seated as guests of her sponsor. I had no idea what was in store for me. Remember, this was the late 70s. Persuasion techniques were practiced heaving in face-to-face advertising as it pertains to coercion in product sales. We were handed brochures about the company and their products.

Next, a representative stood before the crowd explaining how one could reap huge benefits selling their products. In fact, they were introducing passive income before the term was brought home to the ordinary citizen. The company's representative touted only the six figures a sales associate could make.

My eyes widened. The representative made it seem so easy to earn. Also, he was extremely persuasive in convincing us of the urgency in getting started. If not, we'd miss out on the promotional items we could earn ourselves. But the items were for a limited time only. We were given enrollment forms. My friend insisted I not enroll. Instead she wanted me to sign up under her as a referral. That way, she could earn part of the sales I made.

Now, I've never been good at selling. I told her I didn't feel comfortable joining at that moment. She seemed to accept my decision. Then, she joined under her recruiter.

We left the meeting. I didn't give it any thought as I placed the brochures aside. However, she had it figured out for me. Since I was working full-time, all I had to do was to take the brochures to work and ask co-workers to buy the products. Seemed simple enough. But I was hesitant.

She called me daily over the next two weeks asking whether I'd maden any sales. I didn't want to disappoint her, so I took the brochures to my job. I couldn't believe I did that. Again, making me feel guilty for not helping.

The moment I approached one of my co-workers, I was shocked at his reaction. He informed me that I didn't want to get involved with this company. He actually referred to the selling tactics as manipulation and coercion. Then, he stated that the practice was merely a multi-level marketing (MLM) strategy built upon persuasion and modifying one's behavior.

I felt uncomfortable asking anyone else. I decided not to pursue this. She called the next week. I told her of my decision. I was again shocked at her attitude toward me. She definitely made me feel guilty by not helping her out during her unemployment.

I didn't hear from again for a year. I was helpless to prevent her, though, from diving into the murky pond of MLM.

I detest manipulation in any form. During the next year, I learned more about the company and it's tactics for recruitment. I wanted to be able to fully explain to her why I chose not to become involved.

When next I spoke to her, she called and apologized. She stated that she was no longer associated with the group. Apparently she'd lost more than one friend and alienated family as well trying to persuade them to either purchase products or join under her. I feel the real reason was the inability to sell to receive anywhere near the six figures that mesmerized her.

I can say a happy ending on the part of distancing herself from the MLM environment. BUT...she found another promising venture!

Our friendship dissolved into the murky pond.