This has always been one of my favorites. Mary Kay recruiters and sales directors rave about the “benefits” of being a part of Mary Kay Cosmetics.

How the items on this list can possibly be compared to paid sick leave, a 401(k) or tuition assistance is beyond me. I was also not aware that the ladder of success pin is “THE most coveted piece of jewelry in ALL of Mary Kay.” Anyone can get one, all you need is a $1800 or available credit. What is so special about that?

Let’s take a look at one sales director’s take on the benefits…

Written by Lazy Gardens

Admin Note: This article was first published in 2007. But the results are still valid, so I’m running it again.

Just for fun, I analyzed a bunch of Court of Sales data that I collected. My collected data contained the estimated retail sales for 26,279 consultants in 519 units, mostly for July, August, September, October of 2006, with some data from the full 2005-2006 Seminar year.

What did I find? First, there is no evidence that anyone is regularly having $300 parties, $1,000 days, or any of the types of results shown in Mary Kay propaganda.

Written by Raisinberry

Many years back, I stepped through the doors of my first Mary Kay event, completely uncomfortable by what I saw. I thought it was me, since they appeared to be so close and having so much fun. I must have had “issues”. They were so happy and warm and huggy and supportive. I lived outside their world, and some part of me wanted what they had, while at the same time, I distrusted what I saw.

As a child, I learned not to trust my own instincts. When you grow up in a crazy dysfunctional home, you pick whatever coping skill works for you, and denial and humor were working for me. By the end of the event, I was interested in the ca$h these gals were making, but the huggy stuff still freaked me out. Something just wasn’t right.

Written by SuzyQ

Your director is the one who drives the Cadillac, you are not on the insurance. She gets additional recognition at events, you don’t. What you get from being a Cadillac unit is an additional name badge ribbon, 2 minutes going across the Career Conference “stage” and the ability to eat in a separate dining room at Seminar.

Doing it for the team/unit means doing it for the sales director. Period. The production must be there for the sales director to earn the Cadillac and to maintain it without a copay. She cannot do this without a big unit which means there will be a huge push on recruiting and ordering. Stars will be given extra recognition as will recruiters.

A former director remembers being “trained” on this as a new director. It is one of the many things that set off alarms in the back of her head. Sales direcotrs are being warned in advance of the exact path their businesses will take. Note the subtle brainwashing going on during phase three. The ex-director’s comments are inserted after each phase.

Four Emotions of our Business from nsd Rena Tarbet

Phase One: The first phase is excitement. You’ve caught the vision of where you can go and what you can do for yourself and your family through our Mary Kay opportunity! You don’t know or understand just how it will all come about but you just know that it will. Nothing can stand in the way of your pursuit of the Mary Kay dream – you’re ready to take on anything.

Written by Raisinberry

Have you noticed the big difference between the “story” told by Mary Kay Inc. and its representatives, versus the real truth here at Pink Truth?

It occurred to me the other day that “consulting” was the best part of the Mary Kay business. You know, the “one on one” with a real client. That happens every now and again. You get a chance to connect with someone you just met who is interested in skin care. If you left it there, all migh be well in MK land. You would make your 50% gross profit, give her a gift with purchase (which reduces your profit), offer her a discount as an incentive to purchase (also reducing your profits, if any), make a friend, and be on your way with a referral or two.

This lovely piece is credited as being written by Mary Kay national sales director Tammy Crayk. In the culture of Mary Kay it is considered a “Training Aid” which translates roughly to plain speech as “Propaganda.”

Why Do I Need to Attend My Weekly Unit Meetings?

What does YOUR EMPTY SEAT at SUCCESS EVENTS say? You have heard it said since you attended training that success events are very important. Have you ever really thought why? When you do not come, you’re saying…

To Yourself and your family: This is only a hobby. (Hobbies do not make money) I really don’t want to make money. My MK is only social. My business is not important and not a priority.

Written by MommyMindi

At a loss for what to tell the woman who joined your Mom’s group, church, or organization just to sell Mary Kay?

Dear New Independent Beauty Consultant:

Thank you for your interest in joining our club…. but we don’t want you here.

I know that you are excited about your new business. I know that your Director has told you that joining a playgroup or group for stay-at-home-moms is a sure-fire way to get new customers. Your Director is wrong.

Written by FortunateSon

As a family member of a disillusioned former director, who has spent ten years in the presence of all that nauseating pink optimism (“It’s only a flesh wound!”), I learned of this blog and relished the opportunity to repudiate some of the perfunctory platitudes that are given as explanations for why you’re a worthless, miserable failure. Let’s begin.

Written by Raisinberry

When I stepped away from Mary Kay, it was mostly due to reading Pink Truth, and a validation of finally seeing in print, what I thought I alone suspected, all along. The words we were never able to utter, were plastered all over the comments and articles on these pages. I felt naked and exposed. I was looking at my screen, and seeing “me”, in all my denial.

I have always loved the women in my unit. I think the world of them. And walking away would mean I would be leaving them defenseless. I had already stopped the frontloading and stopped recruiting guest/customers out from under my unit members who hadn’t even made a sale from them yet.