Help w/ a friend

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2004
Help w/ a friend
8
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 5:06pm

I desperately need advice on what to do with a sensitive situation with a close friend. Here's the situation:
I'm Ginger, and I've been chosen to go to California to do a commercial for Cortislim, a dietary supplement company. My Friend, who will be referred to as "Red", works for a local newspaper that focuses on running ads and doing investigative reporting, which a lot of people don't appreciate (low budget and mostly unimportant around here). Anyway, she's acting like a bulldog with a bone and won't "let it go" about soliciting them to advertise in her paper. I'm so concerned about her pursuits ruining the best thing that's ever happened to me. I don't want Cortislim to think that I'm trying to take advantage of the situation by getting Red some new business. Red is easily offended at almost anything that she's deems "okay". We've been friends since high school and I don't want to hurt her but I want her to just drop this whole thing. What do I say to her??? Her last email to me was asking for their address so she could send them a newspaper and a sales rate card and you KNOW that she'll put my name on it! I responded to the email by saying I had already given them her contact information and that I was sure they would contact her as needed. Even as gentle as that sounds, I'm still afraid of her reaction to this. HELP!!!

Ginger

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 5:14pm

I'm sure the people at Cortislim know how to handle her. I'm sure they have many people soliciting them to advertise in many different mediums.


Also, I'm sure the department that handles those types of matters is totally different from the one you are affiliated with.


However, you may just have to be blunt and reiterate that you've given them your contact information. You don't want to do anything further at this time because you don't want to jeopardize this opportunity and hope that she understands.


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 5:36pm

Yikes.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 6:18pm

I tend to agree with Gretchen.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Fear

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2005
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 7:56pm

Ginger, I like all of the ideas given to you already. :) I hope she doesn't give you any more problems.

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 9:07pm

Ginger- so far I've agreed with what the other ladies have said; I believe Red needs to see things from your end of this situation. Hopefully she has enough professionalism to not go too far with this-


Positive thoughts sent your way~

~IslandGirl


*** Moderation Is Key ***


_____________________________________________________

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
Fri, 04-08-2005 - 10:12am

Personally, I'm a confrontation wimp and I would totally avoid her phone calls or keep them very short and sweet until the photo shoot is finished!!

~~ Steffy ~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2004
Fri, 04-08-2005 - 10:30am

I like all the suggestions and I will consider them all.

Steffy, you expressed exactly how I feel..like I'm being used. She's a true salesman at heart and I believe that this tendency is overtaking her conscienceness concerning me and how it could affect me. Honestly, it's affect on me may have not crossed her mind, I don't know, but I do know that she's never asked me nor asked permission to do these things. It sort of feels like she's "taken over" my opportunity and is now in charge. I hope that makes sense. It's like someone gave me a new car and she took the keys and is driving me around. That's how it feels. Like if I don't use my position to get her in the company I'll hurt her feelings. I just feel like I don't have a choice to say yes or no because she's never asked me if it was okay or not.

She didn't write back since the last message so maybe she took the hint. I was honest when I told her I'd already turned over her contact info, so hopefully that's enough for her.

Steff, how are you a confrontational wimp if you're almost a black belt?! LOL ;)

Thanks,
Ginger

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
Fri, 04-08-2005 - 11:41am

Verbal confrontations scare me!!

~~ Steffy ~~