My Mary Kay Story

Like most of her friends, my daughter had tried various part-time jobs to make money while in high school. One day in her senior year she told me that she wanted to start a Mary Kay business before she started college - of course I was surprised, and skeptical, especially since I really didn't know anything about this business.

It was the idea of one of her school friends, who was actually recruiting her and a couple of others. I knew this friend's mother so we talked and decided we wanted to find out more from the director, so had a meeting at my house. I think I gave her a hard time, asking lots of difficult questions - pretty sure she thought our girls wouldn't be signing up! But, with some trepidation, we agreed and my daughter became a consultant. I still remember when the box arrived to start her business, with all the products, samples, materials, and even a book called "Miracles Happen" packed inside. It was like Christmas!

I thought I should learn more about the Mary Kay business so I immediately started reading the book, which is the autobiography of Mary Kay Ash.

Then I got to her business philosophy and was amazed. In her job as a sales rep Mary Kay had often tried to offer suggestions and had been told "you're just thinking like a woman!" When she designed her dream company, she wanted to sell products to women so she figured (correctly) that thinking like a woman might be a great asset. I liked that!

Mary Kay Ash's business philosophy recognizes that people need to feel important, and at the same time stay true to yourself and your values. She knew that women need to feel beautiful and be happy, and that each person has such a beautiful potential inside just waiting to be brought out. And they need appropriate rewards for their efforts (yes, pink Cadillacs feature here!). She thought that the typical competitive nature of business (stab your competition in the back and put others down so you can rise up) was not the way to go. Women tend to prefer harmony and a supportive environment, and she believed that this could work in business. She was right. 

Finally, and very important to me, I discovered that Mary Kay was a woman of strong faith. There were stories in the book of how she trusted in God and He came through, way beyond her expectations. So one of her basic principles is to prioritize "God first, family second, career third." This allows women to be wives and mothers and have a successful career, without the constant stress of wondering which has priority. When your family needs you, take care of them, and then come back to your work. But underlying both is your faith. Mary Kay was a Christian woman but her business philosophy makes no demands on a particular denomination or even religion, just faith in a power beyond us that guides our lives. She calls that power God.

By this time I was really happy that my daughter had started a Mary Kay business!

I spent five years as a happy Mary Kay customer! In the first months I was a "guinea pig" for my daughter as she learned the business. I attended several of her local unit meetings as her "model" and I even invited some friends over so she could practice doing a "party."

Not to sound like an advertisement for Mary Kay products here, but I did enjoy trying all the skincare products, and bought almost all of them, to my daughter's delight!

As you can imagine (as a writer here on Wizzley and other places) I spend a lot of time on the computer. To be honest my passion is writing so I am either writing, researching, or reading most of the time. How does my Mary Kay business fit it?

Well, Mary Kay designed her business plan to be flexible - she was thinking of wives and mothers who had to be available for their families. So you set your own work hours, I just have to make sure I'm available at times that are convenient for my customers and potential customers! And while Mary Kay herself may not have had the internet in her business plan (not invented yet!) her staff who carry on the tradition certainly have adapted to make great use of it.

You can easily set up your own Mary Kay website where customers can view all the products, do virtual makeovers, and of course order their products online. 

Usually when we talk about a business, especially one that involves retail sales, you think the most important aspect would be making money! And of course making money is important in the Mary Kay world.

But, if you talk to Mary Kay consultants most would say that it's not just about money, it's about making women feel good about themselves - by becoming beautiful. Skincare and makeup are the external aspects, but that is not the only type of beauty Mary Kay nurtures. The Mary Kay organization supports women in realizing their dreams, whatever they may be. If a person is lacking in self-confidence and self-esteem, they will develop it through the training program. If they are tired of being under the control of a boss (or bosses) who don't appreciate them, they can be their own boss and they will receive recognition from other consultants and the Mary Kay company itself (lots of rewards, not just pink Cadillacs!). And if their dream is a pink Cadillac, they just have to work hard and they can have one!!

What I like, too, is that our customers benefit. I just had two customers tell me, with great sincerity, that they really love the Mary Kay products and they are so glad I started this business. I can see their skin looking beautiful, and that makes me happy too.