Written by SuzyQ

Um, not so much.  Mary Kay Seminar will change your economic picture for a while.  I wonder if MK has paid attention to the economy.  It would appear not.  Gas prices and the prices of airline tickets (and their added costs—that seems to change daily) are really really high!  Note to Corporate:  Watch the news, any channel.

It’s interesting.  We are told that the training at seminar will change your business. You will go from mediocre to stellar after your classes.  And then Mary Kay tells us there is nothing new…  it’s the same thing… no magic:  Book, Sell, Book, Recruit.  So simple. 

Written by SuzyQ

“If you do not have a full store, and are attempting to sell out of an empty wagon…  not only will you have an upset customer, she might even call another consultant who has a full store and not only will you lose that sale, you will LOSE THAT CUSTOMER!”

Oh the drama trauma.  That part of the inventory talk goes something like this:

Director:  Mary Kay does not require you to carry an inventory, and I don’t require you to carry an inventory, but my job as your director is to give you my best business advice, wouldn’t you agree?

This lies in Mary Kay are not restricted to consultants, directors, and national sales directors. The husbands regularly get in on the action, trying to add an air of legitimacy to the “business.” Sure… if the husband says it’s legit, then it must be! The following untruths come from a letter signed by the husband of a Mary Kay nsd:

• I have never run across a business opportunity such as this where someone can work part-time or full-time, depending on their own wishes, name their own hours so they can be home with children if they desire, spending $100.00 minimum to get into the business and have a 90% guarantee buy-back on all products they purchase thorugh Mary Kay, if returned within the first year of becoming a consultant.

Written by SuzyQ

I got out, why do I still feel bad?

As directors, even if we weren’t wildly successful, we still were Mary Kay in our minds.  We made it to the TOP 2% of the company and our poop was in a group.

In part one, I talked about obsession.  Obsession is defined as: “1. the act of an evil spirit in possessing or ruling a person. 2. the fact or state of being obsessed with an idea, desire, emotion, etc. 3. such a persistent idea, desire, emotion, etc. esp. one that cannot be gotten rid of my reasoning.”   (Webster New World Dictionary)  I am not wild about the first definition, but the other two certainly do ring true.  Obsessions are very difficult to dismiss. 

Written by SuzyQ

This is not a myth, unfortunately.  It happens to most of us.  We become Mary Kay, not the woman, but the “dream,” the “vision,” the “company.”  So much of our day is consumed with Mary Kay, it becomes an obsession for many.

Once again, I am writing as a former director, I can’t remember what being a consultant felt like.  When I became a director, I had only been in the company for a year, and my goal was to work full time as a MK director, because that’s what Mary Kay herself wanted for her directors. My initial goal was to quit my day J.O.B. and get on to the business of becoming wildly successful and get this nsd thing done quickly.  I had pretty much succeeded in everything I had tried before, so I assumed this would be no different.  It was very different, but that’s not what I want to talk to you about today—we’re going to talk obsession.

Written by SuzyQ

I secretly love it when directors have a “good” month.  In my former wannabe area, we competed for silly little prizes from the dollar tree we earned with contests for highest monthly production and most recruits.  It was terribly exciting.  And very competitive.

If I were still in MK, in this wannabe area and with the rest of my former BFF’s, we would be applauding Mary.  She has had quite a run this seminar year, so far.  Did way higher than ever before as she wrapped her car in June (whew, extended quarter and all) and aced it again this month.  Go Mary! She was able to bring in a diamond AND an emerald star and her base production came through for her, too. Wow.  She now has some car credit socked away and a great bonus.

Mary Kay Cosmetics was founded on our belief in the Golden Rule. We strive to provide opportunities for women to achieve their maximum potential. And we tell all our consultants and directors that God and their families come before our company – and that whenever they experience a conflict, the company should be put in third place. (Mary Kay: You Can Have It All 1997 Calendar)

Unfortunately, Mary Kay consultants, directors, and corporate employees do not believe in the golden rule. Rather, they believe in (and use, teach, and promote) dishonesty on a regular basis. It begins with the recruiting talk, in which you will be provided select information. You will be told lies of omission, you will hear false earnings claims, and you will be told many other lies to convince you to sign up.

Written by SuzyQ

This is a favorite line from directors to new consultants.  I love this line.  It’s used so frequently, and it has sort of moved from myth status to urban legend. Gee, it even appears on some top director’s web sites, so it must be true!.

And it only makes sense, doesn’t it? Of course the director will want to work with those who are really working. It sounds so logical, yet we know that in the Mary Kay world, nothing is quite the way it seems.

Written by SuzyQ

This is a favorite line used often in the context of seminar speeches and uplifting motivational “I stories” to answer the question “How did she do it?”

Let’s talk about that a little.  The “god” that is used in Mary Kay is a little different than the One we were taught to worship.  Mary Kay’s god has an amazing facility to “bless” unethical, immoral and dishonest practices.  Mary Kay’s god blesses Cadillacs, recruiting pitches, skin care classes, unit clubs, top director trips, seminar openings, and warm chatting adventures. 

Written by SuzyQ

Geez, if only. If Mary Kay worked when many of us did, we wouldn’t be here. We are not the lazy “loosers” the foggers make us out to be. In fact, it wasn’t all that long ago we were sugar sharp and recruitable, with slammin’ hair, a professional resume, and damn fine credit. We were director’s dreams because WE WANTED IT ALL AND WERE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TOOK.

We went around, through, under and over all obstacles. We prayed. We asked God to bless our businesses. We asked Him to give us the words to touch the hearts of all those women placed in our path.