Former College Friend Pitches Career Coaching Program

Reconnection turns into sales pitch for expensive personal development services.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 1:05am

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A woman reconnects with an old college friend, Davey, over a video call. Their casual catch-up conversation takes an unexpected turn when Davey reveals he has started a career coaching business and tries to pitch his services to her, despite her just wanting to reminisce about their past. The woman is left feeling taken advantage of and conflicted about how to respond to Davey's persistent sales tactics.

Why it matters

This story highlights the challenges of maintaining genuine friendships in an age where personal connections can sometimes feel transactional. It explores the ethics of blending business and personal relationships, and the delicate balance between supporting a friend's endeavors and protecting one's own time and boundaries.

The details

During their video call, Davey tells the woman he has quit his corporate finance job and is now working in "human development." When she opens up about feeling stressed at work, Davey immediately tries to pitch his "Unleash the Lioness" coaching program, complete with an expensive hourly rate. The woman is taken aback by Davey's shift from friendly reconnection to aggressive sales tactics, leaving her unsure how to respond.

  • The video call takes place on a rainy Tuesday.
  • The woman says she hasn't seen Davey in 15 or 20 years, except for some social media posts.

The players

Davey

The woman's former college friend who has started a career coaching business and is now trying to pitch his services to her.

The woman

The narrator of the story, who is reconnecting with her old college friend Davey but becomes uncomfortable when he tries to sell her on his coaching program.

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What’s next

The woman is unsure whether to respond to Davey's persistent sales pitch or simply ignore his messages, leaving her conflicted about how to handle the situation.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges of maintaining genuine friendships in an age where personal connections can sometimes feel transactional, and the delicate balance between supporting a friend's endeavors and protecting one's own time and boundaries.