Sister telling entire network of family and friends im a liar and a fraud...

Guys.. weird deal.. My sister had created a company and hired me on briefly to provide design services. She started being really demanding like asking me to get 30 graphics in in a week... Demanding so much that sometimes I couldn't keep up.. it took me working sometimes till midnight 2 weeks in a row type thing.. but the graphics were good and her clients were happy.. But a few months into it.. It got to be a lot and she truly couldn't pay me on time.. or sometimes at all... so i did what id been wanting to do for a long long time.. I've worked for several fortune 500 companies in marketing in bus dev.. and I understand and have experience with marketing.. sooo I combined all of that together with this weird feeling that my sister was going to fire me.. and created my own company. Very different from hers but some services we did offer like social media management... and all of sudden it was this.. I betrayed her.. I lied.. am a horrible person.. all of this stuff.. it was awful...well its bled over into a client that we are both providing services too.. The client has asked us to buy books of hers to boost her numbers.. and because i was the one who put the numbers together telling her what that would take to hopefully make a list.. she made a comment about just asking a pathological liar.. and then laughed with my sister...That I guess.. Im the liar..even though she asked for the project and is funding it...My sister has also said all of this stuff to my mom.. That i'm a liar and also a fraud... just horrible stuff.. and whatever shes saying is working because now my mom has asked me straight up if i'm lying to people.." like what?????!...my business is going so well.. im learning a LOT about marketing.. and admit it didn't know it all and still don't.. But know enough to help people accomplish their goals.. I have 4 very happy clients including a health clinic with 10 locations, a huge apparel company, an exec from a top 5 tech company, and a dermatologist office... and I just hired my first employee etc.. i just cant wrap my brain around that Because my sister felt SO betrayed and I guess couldn't handle the me starting my own business.. The best way she knew to bring me down was to call me a liar and a fraud to not only me.. but all of these people im close with.. And ill admit I can be an introvert. so maybe i don't come off as the most bubbly person.. But i definitely am none of those things.. Im blessed with a good head on my shoulders and a wonderful relationship with the lord.. I feel he has blessed me and is pushing me to keep going with my business... I dont know how to manage these accusations.. .. im floored and truthfully just sad.. Very very sad that my sister would say these things and make me out to be this horrible person because she couldnt handle that I took on a line of business that her company also provides.. not to mention im on the complete opposite side of the country completely avoiding her "sell zone"...and ive never stolen a client or anything... Just awful. And weird. and sad... any advice? how the hell do i keep my head up...

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

curiosi · 61-69, F Best Comment

" I feel he has blessed me and is pushing me to keep going with my business.." Right there is your answer. I get the same feeling. Thing is He wants to strengthen us so he sends us hardships. We hate them while going through them but when we look back these things did grow us.
The calmer you can be the faster the growth process is. Let her say what she will, let others think what they will. Your business is growing and this is preparing you for that. As hard as it is try to not respond. Hopefully one day she will see how this bitterness is bring her down and she will need to let go of it. We can't change anyone they must come to that conclusion themselves in their own time. You just keep reminding yourself that you are growing and this is part of the process.

Brassm0nk3y · 36-40, F

@curiosi Thank you so much for saying this. Just wonderful advice.. and I feel at peace hearing you saying it will help me grow.. Thank you for your kind words and taking the time to write this out.

SW-User

No advice, just questions.

You say the job was temporary and you were there for a few months and left because she couldn't pay you on time or couldn't pay you at all, and you had this "weird feeling" she was going to fire you. But, she didn't fire you did she?

Were you up front & honest with your sister, telling her the job she hired you for wasn't going in the direction you wanted, you needed to pay your bills, and you were going to start your own company which might overlap in some services with hers? Or, did you just start the company and leave hers without explanation?

Brassm0nk3y · 36-40, F

@SW-User I actually started my company before i went to work for her..in fact she hired me as a vendor.. I wasnt specifically providing social media services. As soon as I told her that I was going to branch out and add that to my list of provided services (because i knew I could offer it, and i got this weird vibe based on her inability to pay and crazy demands) she freaked out.. and then yes totally fired me because she would never work with a direct competitor..and quote.. I have a husband who has a job and she doesnt feel sorry for me... followed by you're a fraud..and a liar who betrayed me.. My mom sort of has the same tendencies.. just to vilify someone when maybe they dont agree with them or like their behavior.. it becomes an all out war.. and i think my sister has those tendencies too. As soon as we had that conversation and I heard her reaction, and she fired me.. I kicked up my sales efforts and secured my very first social media client. then grew over a couple of months to now having 3 more.. I tried very hard to respect her insecurities about me being in the same line of work.. But it doesnt overlap with her.. I do business marketing and she is NYC working with artists, and in the author space etc. stuff i would never do.

SW-User

@Brassm0nk3y Thanks for clarifying. It's truly a shame she has decided to play victim when she wasn't paying you and knew you had your own company. There's not much you can do with someone like that. She and your mom sound toxic. But, you can tell her on the FBI posts or wherever she's posting publicly that, if she continues to attempt to undermine your business by spreading malicious lies about you, she'll leave you with no choice but to sue her for defamation of character along with the money she owes you for all the work you performed and were never paid for.

revenant · F

This sounds like a smear campaign against you
It is hard to deal with especially when it is family and it really sends daggers to your heart
Unfortunately those people exist as I have had to deal with them myself and it can ta ke a long time accepting that some people are really not your allies but probably very jealous of you
Best thing is to stay away and yes it is much easier than said and can take a long time wrapping your head around the fact that some people are really malignant

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

View 2 more replies »

Brassm0nk3y · 36-40, F

@PainfulTruth Thoughts and prayers help me sleep at night.

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

Brassm0nk3y · 36-40, F

@PainfulTruth after a restful nights sleep along with a new sense of peace.

SW-User

Arrange to meet her for a coffee outside of work, good luck to the pair of you. You’re sisters .... I hope you remain civil towards each other whatever happens

Add a comment...