Friends and Family

As a rule I don't try to influence a direction of choice here. There is one thing however that I really feel you should carefully consider.

Steer away from opportunities that lead you into making pitches to family and friends. Why? These people have already "bought" you. Isn't that the first of the three parts in a sale? Yes it is, but...

It's precisely because they've "bought" you that I wouldn't pitch to them. It's a matter of time and context. The way they know you is not as a salesperson. Their very history with you can likely be a solid reason why they shy away from buying from you. It was all well and good selling to family and friends as a kid boosting the local team, band, or UNICEF. It's quite another to ask them to part with their hard earned for something that may require some effort on their part as well as an investment. Now, they feel ambushed and quite often, rightly so.

I don't need to mention names here but several companies over the years discouraged any mention of their names until well into a "sales meeting." This very practice guides you down the road of needing to go to friends and family to get any kind of start. And, because of this ambushing procedure, their names got out through word of mouth and regardless of product quality their reputations suffered and took the potential salesperson's along for the down-hill ride.

Your product may be fantastic and it may be something they really should have but you're better off if you position yourself as doing well and have them ask you first. In general, the company you represent should be a name that you can take pride in mentioning right off the bat. Concealing it should be like a big, bright red alarm. However, even if there's no divisiveness about how the sales are performed, family and friends feel a certain pressure that isn't good for you or your relationship. Furthermore, just as the axiom that familiarity breeds contempt, it is often hard for them to understand how you found this great opportunity before them. A far wiser head than mine once noted that it's impossible to be a prophet in your own home town. The same is true in sales. Again, better to do well amongst strangers and then help them along when they ask.