“Playing Ball” in Mary Kay
The concept of “playing ball” in Mary Kay is simple. It’s a fancy way to say that if you aren’t ordering, your director won’t help you. It doesn’t really matter if you have a ton of inventory that you’re working to sell off. All that matters are your current orders. No new orders, no help.
Here’s how one Mary Kay nsd explains it:
Let’s Play Ball!
I made a decision many years ago, that I would work with working people. This does not mean that I EXCLUDE people from my life as they are walking through difficult times, but it does mean that from a business perspective, I will pour my energy and effort into those women who are READY now to work and who make themselves available for learning and instruction. I have experienced this truth, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears”.
I only play ball with those that play ball back with me. What does that mean? When someone throws me the ball I immediately throw it back. When I throw a consultant the ball I wait with positive expectancy that she will throw it back. If she doesn’t, I throw the ball to someone else. For example: I asked that all consultants send in weekly summaries. (I throw the ball) The consultant sends in her summary. (She throws the ball back.) I recognize her accomplishments through various mediums— praise and/or make suggestions. (I throw the ball back.) After several weeks and months our communication is open and progressive. The consultant builds her business through her own consistent efforts.
What if I throw the ball and the consultant doesn’t throw the ball back? I assume the consultant doesn’t want to play ball (her prerogative) and I move on to the next consultant until I find the one who wants to play ball.
What are some other examples of throwing the ball?
I put together a program (success meeting, training, retreat, etc.) available for her to attend and she comes!
I put out a message and ask for a response and I get one back!
I put out an email message and ask for a response and I receive one!
I call a consultant’s home and leave a message and she returns my call.
I make suggestions on how a consultant might improve her business and we brainstorm together.
As you can easily see it is not difficult to work with a lot of people. I work with ones who respond to my guidance and are good students.ÃWhen you think about this it is no different than how you work with your customers. Who do you spend the most time with; the ones who follow your guidance and advice or those who don’t return your messages or don’t attend your skin care classes? Don’t ever be afraid of growth, it is easier to work with larger numbers than it is small. I invite you to Play Ball with Me. I have my uniform on, my whistle around my neck, and the practices have been scheduled. Are you ready to play?
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Comments (8)
onelessSD
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To carry on the sports analogy… if the coach isn’t giving proper guidence at ‘practice’… the team still fails. Doesn’t matter how many ‘practices’ they schedule, how much time they devote- if the method they use isn’t good- it still fails.
And we all know that their ‘methods’ are bad, and we are seeing in the Golden 50th year of MK… ‘teams’ failing. Enough said.
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NeverWasPink
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To take the analogy even further, this is like going to practice for five years only to find out that your team isn’t even acknowledged by the “industry”, and that ball you’ve been playing with is only a grapefruit. Boo…
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gettingoutofdebt
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“I”… “I”… “I”… it’s all about the NSD in this message. So, NSD, if a consultant calls you and asks for help without ordering first– do you play ball or act as if you’re so busy you don’t have time!
All I can say, is you can take your ball and go home.
GOOD
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enorth
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So much for “owning your own business.”
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ttp
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I heard “I’ll match my time with your efforts” so many times I could scream. And yes, I had stopped ordering.
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gotheart
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“When you think about this it is no different than how you work with your customers. Who do you spend the most time with; the ones who follow your guidance and advice or those who don’t return your messages or don’t attend your skin care classes?”
This NSD is a contriving to make logic out of her insane statement!
I spent very little time with my customers. I gave them good service, called them quarterly when the Beauty Book/Look Book went out, re-facial when asked, used the suggested scripts to turn it into a show/class, not as successful as I would of liked to of been. Close to never.
I spent most of my time looking for new customers. Ya know the “10 in 10 days and you’ll have 100 new customers” NOT LOL!, type of cold booking, false hope now this is what she would call training. NOT either. The 10 in 10 did not return my phone calls nor attended skin care classes. So her training that she is so willing to give is false hope, bogus.
This is not how it is explained when a woman first signs up.
“I’ll match my time to your efforts.”
Doesn’t not say.
When you order I will work with you,( LOL again), when ya don’t I won’t cause I make my income off of those who order.
That is how it needs to be said.
“You are in business by yourself but you are not alone.”
Hog wash you are not in business, and you sure ta hell are alone.
You have signed up to be a customer MKC.
You are taking your time and your money to promote the MKC company with your inventory purchase as their customer.
This is a company that uses you, the women that they give the title of Independent Beauty Consultants, which are really Independent Contractor to do most of the advertising for them through the Look Books, purchased by you and handed out by you. MKC makes a huge profit off of their ability to use you as their advertising department.
YOU PAY TO WORK FOR THEM!
Then they get away with not having to provide any insurance, 401K, Social Security etc. NSD and MKC are the biggest scamming so many women and getting away with it!
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Punkedbypink
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Does she throw before or after making the “pitch”?
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raisinberry
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Well the funny thing is…how much help did ya get even WHEN ya ordered?
Did a SD ever attend your SCC and critique you? Did she ever teach, practice or conduct “closing”…the most important part of the sale?
Let’s just be honest. You got “help” when you had guests.
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