A Man Tells Us How It’s Done
Apparently we just did it all wrong. There is a contract. We should have read it. His wife is successful. But he just wants to encourage us!
As a husband of a wonderful woman who was a Mary Kay consultant for over two decades, I saw a lot of water flow over the dam. There has been much about this business I do not like but on the other hand, it hasn’t been entirely bad.
Once my wife realized the power in the “independent” status of her business, she was able to make huge changes that allowed her to see profit rather than deficits.
What this amounted to was a simple decision to control her own business – not to be subservient to anyone else. After the costly areas of operating were identified as non essential, she made changes and cut out all non profitable activities. She concentrated only on activities that were cost effective. She eliminated the non productive and costly events and dedicated herself to personal monthly profit.
When she became truly independent of her area and began making sound business judgments, her profitability exceeded the average weekly wage for our State. This, of course, was the goal. Dollars finally found their way to our wallet instead of being constantly put back in her business.
From a man’s point of view, and after reading posts on your site, I have come to the conclusion that many Mar Kay consultants have lost sight of, or never quite knew, the power of the word “independent.” The very foundation of your status in Mary Kay is contained in that one word which is within the four corners of the Mary Kay agreement you must sign.
What really jumps off the pages of pain in Pink Truth is the fact that consultants feel they’ve been treated unfairly, with manipulation, and how DEPENDENT they were for the support they didn’t get. If indeed someone has done this to you, it is a sad and sorrowful thing. I know the motivation for keeping the truth of your contracted power away from you. Simply put, it is so they can exercise pain, humiliation, and hatred toward you if you cross them, and you’ll think it’s within their power. I urge you to take back your power of the “independent” status of your business.
In these next few lines I’d like to say being familiar with any contract language is paramount before you sign any contract no matter what! Forget the driving force behind the pressure of ”you’ve gotta do it NOW“ because that always benefits the one applying the pressure, not you! Independent is an easy word in this contract but generally not emphasized for the obvious reason some in your organization want to maintain the illusion of authority and control over you.
Since your first impression of your recruiter was probably when she was dressed in a costume that made her look like a generalismo of a third world country – adorned with glittering achievement badges, you probably, and wrongfully thought she was going to be your boss, or supervisor in the chain of command. Nothing could be further from the truth, and if anyone made you believe otherwise they’ve breached the contract between you and the corporation. Keep forever in your memory cells that no one stands between Mary Kay Corporation (the contractor) and you – (the independent subcontractor).
You are not dependent, nor are you subject to control by others not affiliated with the larger controlling unit – (the contractor) and that means everybody from the rank of recruiter to the very highest NSD. If these people are not actual paid employees of the contractor, you are not required, nor do you have to rely on anything, or anyone else in the contingent for their opinions or for guidance in your conduct. The others who hold large titles prefaced with the word “Independent”, have only one function – to inspire, encourage, and excite you about the company so you will buy product, and recruit others – just like they do.
The company wants you to maintain the highest levels of integrity, honesty, and responsibility towards the company, customers, and your peers, and to hold the company harmless for any damages or misrepresentations by the independent…
This is standard language found in any sub-contract – there’s about 20 general terms and conditions on the agreement which all consultants have a copy of.
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Nice try OP. No matter how you slice it, you are dependent on the financial losses of your own downline if you hope to turn a profit in MK. I have a very hard time believing that your wife exceeds the “average weekly wage” for your state through selling MK product personally.
I also noticed no specifics with your platitudes about eliminating things that create cost and concentrating on things that generate a return. Examples please!
I call BS on your story. If your wife is making decent money in Mary Kay (which is doubtful), she’s doing it just like everyone else…by exploiting her downline.
Dependency on a high churn, money-losing downline is the opposite of “independent”.
At the beginning of the week, we had an expose of the 2025 Canadian Income Disclosure. We saw the the figures from Mary Kay Corp, figures which prove this man’s wife isn’t making much money. She may be the rare bird making enough worms each month but the chances are she’s not raking in cash hand over fist every quarter.
Maybe he needs to read the agreement (contract). If you were truly an independent business owner you would be able to buy your product at a wholesale price and sell it in any way you choose. It could be at vendor shows, in beauty salons or other retail establishments and online markets with your own website all of which are forbidden by the “ contract”. A Mary Kay consultant has never been nor will they ever be an independent business owner.
Someone shut the window. There’s a lot of hot air blowing in here.
Shockingly, there are wimminfolks (like the forensic accountant who runs this site) who can wrap their girlbranes around complicated stuff like contracts and mathifying, and who won’t just take a man’s word for things because he’s A Man.
Let’s see those tax forms showing how much she actually made, that exceeds the average weekly income of your state (hint: Denial is a river, not a state). How’s about sharing some of these lucrative things she did once she had the epiphany that independence = dolla bills? Especially considering that MK strictly limits where, how, and when you’re allowed to advertise and sell, and can cut you off at the knees if you go too far off script.
I mean, if all it took was a little independence and reading a contract that’s posted right here on Pink Truth for all to see, why has it worked for her and no one else?
Gosh, it must be all because of you!!!!!!!!! Rock on with your contract- understanding, testosterone-laden self!!!!!!!!!!
How does a mansplainer drink water?
From a well, actually….
OMG YES!
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Can I have a side of ranch with all that word salad?
Seeing that mess reminds me I need to go scoop my cats’ litter box.
I did the same thing. I figured out ways to eliminate ALL extra expenses and concentrate ONLY on selling. I I can tell you that you cannot sell enough MK to replace a full – time income. Let’s say he’s from my state, Indiana, which averages $80,00 per household. I make more than that alone, but for his sake, let’s halve it. So, she makes 40K which means she needs to PROFIT – after expenses $770. If she follows the 60/40 split:
0.40 × (Total Sales) = 770
Total Sales = 770 ÷ 0.40
Total Sales = 1,925
No one sells that much each week. No one.
He doesn’t say if she is a director, but that’s the only way she could come close – frontloading new recruits. Which, by the way, is so unethical.
Oooh, thanks for mansplaining!