This Sounds Awfully Familiar, Charlie Brown!

Written by The Scribbler

As far as I’m concerned, it’s not Halloween until I’ve watched It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! at least once.  Back in my tender grade school years, I can remember the giddiness I felt when the local TV station teased me with commercial after commercial, my heart leaping each time the screen faded to black – would they show the multicolored “SPECIAL PRESENTATION” screen that heralded the once-a-year, 23-minute Snoopy-worship session?  Or would it be yet another advertisement for Craftsman tools?  TVs that antagonize children like that get reincarnated as ugly abstract art on some aging hipster’s lawn – I think that’s in the Bible somewhere between Jude and the maps of Israel, but I could be wrong.

If you haven't yet seen this Peanuts classic this year, tip your hat to technology and give it a view on YouTube.  This time, however, try watching it with your Mary Kay experiences in mind.  Be you an IBC or director, active or former, I'm confident that you will see frighteningly accurate similarities between the Mary Kay world and this simple Halloween cartoon. For me, the biggest parallel I drew was between women on the Mary Kay career path (especially directors and above) and Linus.  Linus is absolutely relentless in his belief of the Great Pumpkin and the riches he brings.  Linus has never seen those riches, but that doesn’t stop him from telling anyone and everyone within three feet what he knows (or has been told) about the giant gourd.   It’s a simple gospel that can fit into anyone’s life:  The Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch he deems is the “most sincere,” shuns unbelieving kids, and gives toys to the faithful ones.  There’s a catch, though; no matter how sincere or faithful you are, if you falter in your belief, the Great Pumpkin will drop you like a flaming marshmallow.  Clearly, he's not down with negativity.

Charlie Brown’s little sister Sally represents women in two stages, the first of which is prospect-turned-trusting recruit.  Bright-eyed and bubby, Sally can’t wait to experience trick-or-treating.  Sally looks up to Linus, so it’s not surprising when – after Linus tells her about the many blessings of the Great Pumpkin and offers her the opportunity to witness the Great Pumpkin’s appearance - Sally agrees.  Interestingly enough, when Sally questions Linus about the Great Pumpkin, Linus retorts with the uncharacteristically manipulative, “I thought little girls always believed everything that was told to them; I thought little girls were always innocent and trusting.”  Linus’s recruiting tactic is successful, and Sally decides not to go trick-or-treating with her friends.  She will come to regret her choice later, even though some will argue that no one held a gun to her head.

Once Sally’s hooked, Linus continues to keep her interest and emotions high with the promise, “You’ll see the Great Pumpkin with your own eyes!”  Moments later, we get an insightful peek at what Linus is really thinking:   “He’s got to pick this [pumpkin patch]; he’s got to!”  Poor Linus is selling Sally on something he hasn’t seen himself, nor is completely sure about.  Yet he dare not voice his concerns, as you’ll see later.

Suddenly, there’s a rustling in the leaves!  A figure rises above the vines and Sally is now nose-to-nose – not with the Great Pumpkin – but with Snoopy.  It is this brief brush with reality that transforms Sally from trusting recruit to educated seeker.  And there is backlash, dear readers.  Sally flickers through the emotions of rage, regret, and frustration as she realizes that she’s not only been played, but is paying the high price that comes with making choices based on emotionally-charged (and scant) information:  “Halloween is over and I’ve missed it…I could have had candy apples and gum; and cookies and money and all sorts of things!  But no!  I had to listen to you, you blockhead!  What a fool I was!”

To Mary Kay culture, Sally's choice to leave the patch must seem quite negative.  After she decides that the pumpkin patch isn't for her, Linus offers the self-righteous-sounding, “If the Great Pumpkin comes, I’ll still put in a good word for you!” before his expression turns to one of sheer fear.  “Good grief, I said “if!”  I meant, “When he comes!”  I’m doomed; one little slip like that can cause the Great Pumpkin to pass you by.”  I can’t help but feel a little sorry for Linus.  How can he pour so much work, time, and faith into something that is so quick to shun him the moment he expresses his true concerns?  “Oh, Great Pumpkin, where are you?”

Active directors and career-path consultants, maybe you see a bit of Linus in you today.  You’re doing the work of sitting in the pumpkin patch and waiting for the Great Pumpkin to appear.  You have the faith that so many of your mentors proclaim is necessary for success.  And you possess a sincerity that is unmatched by your peers.  Why, then, does the Great Pumpkin continue to elude you?  Is it because you’re not sincere enough?  Is it because you didn’t share him with enough people?  Maybe you’re struggling with the haunting notion that the second you express your true concerns with a sister consultant or a friend, the Great Pumpkin will pass you by.

If you’re doing the same things year after year above and beyond the call of Mary Kay duty, and it feels like you’re tossing your Halloween candy into a bag with no bottom, is it possible that it’s time to hitch your wagon to a star like Sally and leave the pumpkin patch altogether?  Or is it possible that all you need to do is book some more, recruit some more, order some more, listen to more NSD CDs, go to more Mary Kay events, and repeat to the mirror 20 times every morning,  “Just wait until next year…I’ll find a pumpkin patch that is REAL sincere!”

There are many fulfilling life paths and opportunities waiting outside of Mary Kay’s pumpkin patch, my friends.  Perhaps the time has come to explore yours.
Comments (38)
  • 30 Oct 2009 02:05 | pinksedition

    Scrib, your post was very earnest but completely adorable. :cheer:

  • 30 Oct 2009 02:07 | onelessSD

    That is amazing Scrib! I absolutely love anything "Peanuts" - but I've never made that connection before. You are quite insightful!

    As you were describing Sally & Linus, I kept thinking - I was Linus for soooo long. I blindly trusted, kept bee-lieving, went to every "pumpkin patch" imaginable. (it's amazing my husband is still with me - I'm nominating him for sainthood) Then I transformed about 5 years ago into Sally. Sally is still excited, but needs more proof. When things don't happen like she suspect they should - her belief wavers. I started to really doubt at that point, and raised questions, and was told to just bee-lieve.

    Well, just having the bee-lief wasn't paying the bills, so I up and left the patch.

    Thanks Scrib for sharing - that's priceless!

  • 30 Oct 2009 02:26 | kenpomom

    Awwwwwwwwww . . . :(

  • 30 Oct 2009 02:28 | chopportunity

    Oh Scribbler my Scribbler you are indeed the great and wise oracle of PT. One reason I passionately adore Peanuts is each story is filled with lessons for living life. But who knew that one could find such info in 'The Great Pumpkin'?
    This just further illustrates in a powerful yet simple way, the flawed logic and perils of MK. And in such a lovely and entertaining way! Chop gives this one a thumbs up. :lol:
    Scrib, I just adore you woman! :silly:

  • 30 Oct 2009 03:17 | Pax

    Wow! That was so dead on accurate it was scary. You know poor IBC's across America are preparing their Haloween candy with some kind of gimic to snag those mommies and we all know that very little if nothing will come of it.

  • 30 Oct 2009 03:37 | freshoutofpink

    Thank you Scribbler for this insightful post!
    I haven't watched the Charlie Brown special since my girls were little but I'm headin' over to You Tube to watch it with what you said in mind.
    I myself stayed way too long at the pumpkin patch. Waiting and waiting for the Great Pumpkin to appear. I was baited and conned with tales of "candy", jewelry, prizes, trips etc. I bought in just like many others.
    Well the Great Pumpkin never showed up at my patch. Was it because I didn't "language" :X my goal of top director often enough? No, it's because I couldn't believe anymore. I no longer would share this company with anyone. Not even my worst enemy!
    I made a lot of money for my director when I was a consultant. I wanted to believe what she and the company told me about the dream. I kept my eyes on the patch!
    It took my becoming a director to see the lie for what it really is. At that point I began to not believe. The problem is that by the time I became a director, I had worked so, so hard that I couldn't imagine giving my position up.
    If MK can get you to believe the lie, they have you where they want you. Come to think of it, if they can get you to participate they make you an accomplice and it will be harder for you to tell the truth because you too will look bad. I know because I was there.
    One day in May, I faxed MK a letter of resignation. It was hard to do. But it would have been even harder if I hadn't!
    There was much emotional pain involved when I realized the Great Pumpkin was not real.
    For 29 years I believed but now I am free and it is so good! I still experience some grief but I am getting better.
    Thank you Scribbler for making this analogy today! It's because of the AHA moments that you and others have provided on Pink Truth that I am healing from the lie called Mary Kay Cosmetics. I am so grateful!

    PS. there is no Great Pumpkin and he will not be visiting your patch. So till up the patch and plant some flowers for yourself and your family to enjoy! It is a good day indeed!

  • 30 Oct 2009 04:03 | Lazy Gardens

    Fabulous parable.

    How much money did Linus spend on pumpkin-related stuff, like the convention every year in Duluth for True Believers, CDs to keep his faith strong, special clothing to wear as he waits in the patch, etc.?

  • 30 Oct 2009 04:25 | stinkinpinkthinkin

    Srib:

    This is fantastic! Awesome insight and explanation of the type of "myth" of success MK perpetrates on their people.

  • 30 Oct 2009 04:41 | nosucker

    Sorry this so long but I wanted to share what is happening to my friend t I met through Mary Kay. The same sales director recruited us both. She is a single mother who lost her JOB last April. She thinks that being in Mary Kay and becoming a director will change her and her daughter’s life. By the way, this is her third time in Mary Kay.
    On September 15th, the last day to place an order to qualify for the star program, she had a plea on her facebook page begging people to buy from her because she needed $1300 more to be a star. The next morning I got an email from our director with my friend’s smiling picture explaining that she was a sapphire star! I knew there was no way she sold $1300 between 7pm and 12am but I said nothing.
    In the beginning of October I found Pink Truth. The posts and comments confirmed everything I had thought and felt about Mary Kay. I decided to return my inventory. I called my friend to tell her, thinking this might be something she would be interested in but instead she tried to talk me out of selling back my stuff! She told me that she had at least $2000 in inventory in her small apartment and the last skin care class she did was in August where she sold $40 (why did she place an $1800 order last quarter?) But she believes that she will be director and earn a car and everything will great as long as she stays in her “pink bubble”. I feel sorry for her and her daughter. How do you talk to someone who is in such denial and so brain washed?

  • 30 Oct 2009 05:05 | whatwasipinking?

    Nosucker, give her the link to this website, and say a prayer. That's what I did, and it worked.

  • 30 Oct 2009 06:25 | recoveringmkaddict

    Thanks Scrib! Love the ending. It reminds me of a line from one of my favorite Dave Matthews songs, "Best of What's Around"

    And if you hold on tight to what you think is your thing
    You may find you're missing all the rest.

    I'm so happy to be trying new jobs and looking at life in a whole new perspective. I met with a good friend who is a former Director too and she is so happy to be relieved of all the stress and time away from home. Life is way better NOT being a MK Director.

  • 30 Oct 2009 06:26 | freeandempowered

    Great analogy! The most important piece of this is that Linus has never seen the Great Pumpkin!!

    That's what so amazing about the hold that MK has on women. The very people selling success have rarely - if ever - experienced it themselves.

    3+3+3 - most directors have never seen it.

    5 classes a week (or even 3) - most directors have never consistently had 1 class a week.

    God first, family second, career third - most directors have NEVER been able to have that balance.

    An executive income - ask to see your directors Schedule C and see how defensive she becomes.

    For the lurkers and those that have a tinge of doubt tugging at your heart, please know that success in MK does not exist. Get out of the patch today and send your product back.

    BTW, the fastest way to shut down MKC and every NSD is to not place an order. It's as simple as that. If you are still a consultant get out the patch and NEVER place an order again (and return as much as you can).

    Or, at the very least do not place an order until you sell at least half of your current inventory at full price (good luck with that!)

  • 30 Oct 2009 07:49 | Black Nova

    Great correlation, Scribs. And, as usual, so fun to read. Actually, the Peanuts cartoons are full or irony and very adult philosophical themes like that. They're true commentaries on human nature. Glad you pointed this one out! :)

  • 30 Oct 2009 08:09 | ttp

    Interesting analogy, Scrib. I think you're on to something.

    I bet if we thought enough about it, we could come up with a MK parallel for every Peanuts character.
    B)

  • 30 Oct 2009 10:08 | The Scribbler

    Thank you all so warmly for your kind comments and very insightful posts! :)

    One parallel that smacked me between the eyes was Linus's pushing of Sally' hot button when she gets all asky.

    Linus isn't a manipulative individual in Schulz's world. He is the wise one who is encouraging others with scripture or kind words and helping them gain perspective on their situations. He is both thinker and dreamer, and he has even functioned as Charlie Brown's defender by using his trusty blanket to whip bullies into shape.

    Why, then, would Linus make a comment like "I thought little girls were always innocent and trusting.” just because Sally wanted more information?

    Full circle: How many women out there know/serve under Mary Kay recruiters and directors who are kind and encouraging by nature, but these same recruiters and directors say and do things quite uncharacteristic of them when it's time to share about the Great Pumpkin and his $3600 inventory packages?

  • 30 Oct 2009 13:39 | Still Breaking The Basic

    Linus to Lucy on November 1st:

    "Thank you so much for coming to the pumpkin patch last night as my guest. I'm currently finishing my huge goal and I really appreciate your time."

    "Did you have a good time last night?"

    "What did you like best?"

    "Did you learn anything about pumpkins that you didn't already know?"

    "Were there any pumpkins that you didn't purchase last night that you can't live without?"

    "As you listed to the Great Pumpkin marketing plan and the opportunity it offers to patch sitters, what impressed you the most?"

    "Have you thought about doing anything like the Great Pumpkin, even part-time, for extra money?"

    "You're really sharp and would look wonderful in the orange jacket building your own patch."

    Welcome to the orange vortex.

  • 30 Oct 2009 13:41 | Still Breaking The Basic

    Oops, should be Linus to Sally!

  • 30 Oct 2009 13:55 | freshoutofpink

    Still breaking!
    That is too funny!
    You've really got the great pumpkin speech down.
    Pretty soon that pumpkin patch of yours will be full of pumpkins and you just might get a car out of the deal!!! :silly:

  • 30 Oct 2009 15:52 | raisinberry

    Scrib....this was brilliant. maybe Linus using manipulation and distraction (blame shifting) is a way to deflect ones own fears...

    Kinda like the recruit who says nobody is making any money, who gets met with, "How could so many women be doing this if they didn't make money?" The real question isn't addresed, just your lack of belief!

  • 30 Oct 2009 19:04 | Pinkslipping

    BRAVO Scrib!!
    :woohoo:
    Brilliant piece - I love it!!!

  • 30 Oct 2009 21:46 | PUNKEDBYPINK

    Still Breaking, I have a great idea for the enterainmant at your first "Patch" seminar...

    The group "Smashing Pumkins" :lol:

  • 31 Oct 2009 04:23 | orangecrushed

    How appropriate for the holiday! So glad that today I will enjoy Halloween with my family & not have to worry about giving away free facials with candy or worry about a SCC today!

  • 31 Oct 2009 05:36 | noproductionhere

    My 3rd month as a director and last!! Been enjoying reading here great infor I will not call for productions.

  • 31 Oct 2009 08:59 | onelessSD

    noproduction - wow, good for you! I always hated month end due to trying to wrap things up, and have the clock ever ticking. It drove me nuts!

    At least you figured out quickly that directorship isn't what it's cracked up to be. It took me 7 yrs - until I finally realized that I wasn't making any money, I was constantly stressed, and I was tired of living on someone else's potential. You can't count on that!

    (you are much smarter than I!)

  • 31 Oct 2009 09:05 | 2pink4me

    noproductionhere - I had no production every other month and was foolish to go out and work my tail off doing skin care classes, selling to my customers, anything I could do to make it happen.
    I never made any money as a Sales Director. Even the few commission checks that I did get went right back to MK for products when I was trying to make up the difference in my production. Just thinking about it makes me sick. I actually worked harder as a Sales Director for 3 years than at my fulltime job and never made any money and worked alot longer hours and had absolutely hardly any family time. I had real unit members too. They just weren't doing anything. You've been a Director for three months and not making your production. Please don't make the same mistake as me. Believe me it's not worth it. Resign as quickly as you can and cut your losses now. I promise you that you will NEVER regret it. I am only still a consultant because I have thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of inventory, accumulated because I wouldn't resign as Sales Director when I should have at three months and I now need to keep my customers to sell to. Believe me, other than that I would have already totally quit. Period.

  • 31 Oct 2009 10:04 | didpinkawhileago

    2pink4me, I would return the amount you can and at least take a dent out of your inventory and sell the remaining stuff.

  • 31 Oct 2009 10:10 | 2pink4me

    didpink - I was thinking about it but I can only return what I purchased in the last 12 months and I only placed 2 - $200.00 orders in the past 12 months. All my inventory is from before I resigned as Sales Director. I resigned 1 year ago this month.

  • 31 Oct 2009 12:24 | noproductionhere

    Thanks you guys for making me realize I am making the right decison.I love my team but I will not call on them.Oh sure I could charge another 1.000. on the charge but what about the next month,I love skin care facials and classes but I dont like to talk people into inventory. :woohoo:

  • 31 Oct 2009 12:50 | freshoutofpink

    Well noproduction....Not pushing inventory orders will be the death of your unit. Unless you are willing to continually carry it all yourself.
    In my 4 years as a SD, I forced myself to frontload a few new unit members. I also added plenty to my credit card just to keep the dream, I mean nightmare alive. I wish it could have been different.
    I resigned directorship 5 months ago and I am so grateful that all by myself, stopped the maddness.
    You can do it too and you will never be sorry.
    So unless you're willing to frontload and charge the heck out of multiple cards, it's all downhill from here. You're smart to figure it out early! Kudos to you! :cheer:

  • 31 Oct 2009 13:52 | gotheart

    directorship in a nutshell.

    "So unless you're willing to frontload and charge the heck out of multiple cards"

  • 01 Nov 2009 07:08 | Still Breaking The Basic

    How many of you enjoyed Halloween with your families & friends instead of dialing for dollars trying to pull inventory?

    And for those of you glued to the phone last night, how much did you get? Was it really worth it?

  • 01 Nov 2009 09:06 | TheTruthShallSetYouFree

    :woohoo: Definitely made me think deep about the real MK Inc. characters and the Charlie Brown characters. MK Inc. is way too "evil" :evil: to be compared to the Charlie Brown characters. The Charlie Brown characters are sweet and naive. MK Inc. characters are tainted and malicious. I have perceived the characters of the movie "The Godfather" or "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" as very fitting for the real life MK Inc. characters. Thank you for giving my brain a workout. :s

  • 01 Nov 2009 09:47 | chopportunity

    Hey Truthshallsetyoufree, love the reference to "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"! My former SD could easily be the nurse, what was her name? :P

  • 01 Nov 2009 10:30 | TheTruthShallSetYouFree

    chopportunity, The nurse's name is Nurse Ratched. Google character analysis says she selects her staff for their submissiveness and weakens her patients through a psychologically manipulative program designed to destroy their self-esteem. Sounds like MK Inc. business tactics to me. :woohoo:

  • 01 Nov 2009 10:41 | Angelwoman

    :angry: Mary Kay Ash was the Anti-Christ. :evil: She started the hell on earth which is MK Inc. :woohoo: God bless the Charlie Brown characters and their cute little souls. :)

  • 01 Nov 2009 12:26 | raisinberry

    noproductionhere...how did you come to be a Director? What does your SSD say about continuing? Did you realize that back to back low production puts your unit in jeopardy before you debuted as a SD?

  • 02 Nov 2009 02:23 | noproductionhere

    Hi there Yes I knew that. My SSD is my NSD I talked with her this morning,it is no big deal we will just go back to her. I will still do SCC 2 times a month I just dont care if I build a team. Only if they want too it is there call. I will support but I will not ask them to put money on the charge cards or buy lots of inventory until they see if it is for them.

  • 02 Nov 2009 06:32 | chopportunity

    Wow Truthshallsetyoufree! That is the perfect description for a lot of MK SD's and NSD's. Thanks for the info. That made me laugh out loud, big time. I should have a name plate made for my former SD with Nurse Ratched on it! :D :D :D :D

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