DEAR HARRIETTE: I know a woman who is active in a multilevel marketing company. She hounds me to become part of her network, and I find it annoying. I like the woman enough, but I think I have to cut her out of my life because she doesn’t know how to just be a friend. She’s all about sales. I understand that we all have to work. I work, too. But in my downtime, I don’t want to be hustled. Is there anything I can say to her to get her to back off, or will I just be wasting my breath? -- Stop the Hard Sell, Jackson, Mississippi
DEAR STOP THE HARD SELL: You should know that the training for many of these multilevel marketing firms pushes people to be persistent and to work to get others into their network. The woman in question is likely following the steps she has been taught and may not realize her behavior can seem off-putting and invasive. Chances are, she will continue to try to sell to you whenever she engages you. If you want to give it a try, you can speak to her and be blunt. Make it clear that you do not appreciate the constant sales pitch. Let her know that if you are to even try to become friends, you need her to back off. See if she is willing to make the effort. If not, stop including her in your activities.