"Beware of friends who sell what they recommend."

They're continuing to come in, so I'll announce a raffle winner tomorrow.

(Interesting how many commenters seem to be in denial about this perception. Accept it. People have it. Many people would buy from us if they didn't. Easy to blame the people. The more challenging question is: how do we stop fostering that perception?)

I promised some suggestions to help minimize this perception...here are three.

1. Be transparent. Before you say one word, ever, to anyone you know, about the wonders of your product let them know you are selling it. First. So your comments can be taken with the right grains of salt by the other person.

2. Be out there about "why" you are selling it. Everyone wants to buy stuff. We all like to buy what we want from someone we can relate to - someone who seems knowledgeable and cares about what they're selling.

Everyone also needs to make a living, and we all know that.

So if you market earth-friendly cleaning products because you have long been an environmentally concerned person, let people know that about you. So the connection between what you do for a living and your personal passion is clear.

Plus your recommendations will mean more to someone who's not quite as conscious about the environment as you, but is becoming more so. You can assume a person will figure that you could have sold ANY earth-friendly product line. So if you chose this one, it must be pretty good.

3. Limit your gushing or crowing about the products. Other than your personal story about it, and why you are now selling it, limit the "It's just the best, life altering, one-of-a-kind, proprietary, patented, amazing, new and exciting, etc." verbiage. The more you say about its wonders, the more uncomfortable you make everyone else, because they know you are selling it. You start looking like the pushy sales type most women try to get away from quick.

Just tell your before and after story - that first date script.

Then, you can ask, "Uhh, do you know anyone who might like to know about a product like that? Or who might want to help me find more customers? Let me know, ok?"

Smile, let go and be first to change the subject.