Magic Words to Help You Recruit
You read that right. Here are the “magic” words to help you recruit women into Mary Kay. In other words, these are more scripted phrases intended to hit on some of the most common “hot buttons” for women. Is there anything inherently wrong with that? I suppose not. Sales in different industries are all made with some sort of pitch that shows you how their stuff fits your need.
I just continue to object to the extreme manipulation used in Mary Kay. Yes, I think it’s extreme and I think it’s manipulative. Mary Kay has a real “kick ’em when they’re down” mentality behind everything they do. You know…. she tells you that her husband works long hours and you’re supposed to exploit that. She says she misses adult interaction, and you’ve got to pimp that out for all it’s worth. She mentions being on a tight budget, and you have to make her believe that Mary Kay is the answer to all money troubles.
So here’s the list put together by an ex-director. She put it together when she was at the top of her game, unit clubs and all… and within a year she had disappeared from Mary Kay. I don’t know how magic these words were for her.
“Magic Words” to help you Recruit!
- Are you happy doing what you’re doing .. Do you want to do it the rest of your life?
- You are so sharp .. I would never forgive myself if I passed up the opportunity to give you my business card and tell you about what I do.
- You might think I’m crazy .. Have you ever been approached to teach skin care?
- Mary Kay Cosmetics has asked us to expand in this area .. We are looking for sharp women to teach skin care and I’d love the chance to tell you about how it works. Have you ever tried our wonderful products?
- Excuse me, my business is looking for faces like yours .. I teach skin care for Mary Kay Cosmetics and I’d love to feature your face in my “Before and After portfolio.”
- I couldn’t held but notice how efficient you are .. you’d be so great doing what I do .. I teach skin care with Mary Kay Cosmetics and you are EXACTLY THE KIND OF WOMAN I’M LOOKING FOR!
- Would you consider hearing about what I do? I’d love to sit down over a cup of coffee and tell you why I love my business so much.
- I’ll bet this is not the first time you’ve been approached to become a skin care consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics is it? You are so attractive (so sharp .. Or whatever it was that drew your attention to her.)
- Excuse me, but I’m certain you must be in the glamour business the way you look .. (wait for her reply.) If she says “No”, tell her she ought to be! Invite her to a model night or feature her in your portfolio. ….and, in closing your recruits!
- You’ll never know if you never try.
- Think how many times in life that we hear people say “Oh how I wish I had,” be an “I’m so glad you did it”
- If I taught you everything I knew, do you think you could learn? (No one like to admit they’re not trainable)
- Look your possible recruit right in the eyes, touch her arm, have a sincere look on your face and say with conviction, “You be great doing what I do .. I look for people of your caliber every day! I’d love to work with you.
- What do you like about the job you currently have? What would you change? (That’s the key question for your direct approach.)
- If you knew you would not fail, would you try Mary Kay? We’ve never had anyone we couldn’t teach!
- We don’t want sales people… just caring women to teach skin care.
- Are you ready???? For a new career??!!
- If something happened to your husband, could you take care of yourself and your family in the style you’re accustomed to?
- How soon do you want to start making money? How long can you afford NOT to make money?
- Do you feel like you need a change in your life? I believe Mary Kay comes into our lives when we need it the most.
- $100 won’t change your standard of living… but it could change your life.
- When faced with any objection, the “Magic Words” are…”That’s exactly why you need Mary Kay” Try in on. “I don’t have any money” *** “That’s exactly why you need Mary Kay!”
Visit the
“When faced with any objection, the “Magic Words” are…”That’s exactly why you need Mary Kay” Try in on. “I don’t have any money” *** “That’s exactly why you need Mary Kay!”
Nope, it means you need the OTHER magic words, “no, thank you.”
One thing all of these have in common is that they are leading questions, meant to get you talking so that you’ll let something slip, and once they have an opening they’ll exploit it like an octopus opening a clam. Just keep repeating “no, thank you” and if they persist, they’re being the rude ones by ignoring your clearly stated “no” so you can safely ignore or flee them as the situation demands.
I’ve found it also works with pushy service providers who are determined to upsell, but that’s a rant for another day.
When approached by a stranger spouting this garbage, I find it most helpful to respond this way, kindly and respectfully…
“I am not a speculative investor. I only put my time and money into proven systems. Once you have personally achieved 3 consecutive years of six figures of taxable income from this, as shown on line 31 of your IRS sched C, let’s talk. Until then, I don’t want to hear another word about this ‘opportunity’, understand? You need to show me it worked for you before I will spend even a minute of my time listening.”
If another word about Mary Kay follows, simply reply, “Not another word until you share your personal Sched Cs, remember?”
What if she is a 1%er? With this message, are we not implying that we endorse, or are impressed by MLM as long as they can show us they make money?
Even if she is not a pyramid topper, the sentiment is still there: “I’ll consider your “opportunity” if, or when!, I see you’re making a profit.” We are validating her efforts. It also sounds like we acknowledge this as a business venture.
In MLM, it’s not about the “if”, or proof that you make money. I think the message should be that scamming your downline for MLM commission in a pyramid scheme is never okay.
I do agree that if you’re trying to get rid of them fast, this tactic might work, but I feel the educational moment is missed.
There’s still educational value. It’s highly unlikely the recruiter is a 1%-er, if so we’d recognize her name from the monthly top commissions list ($10,000 and above).
For the 99%-er it still calls out that they’re not making any real money and maybe it plants the seed that the system is the problem and not their efforts.
You are absolutely right about the educational opportunity. But notice, I mentioned this is for strangers. Educating strangers is likely as challenging as changing minds on social media. Shut them down and move on.
If you know the person, I agree with you to proceed very differently.
And as is my way…
1% do not make six figures. Not even 1% break even. Only 0.4% break even. A much, much, tinier slice makes six figures. A back of the napkin estimate indicates more like .02% of MK reps are pulling six figures (100 or so out of roughly 500,000). And Sched C shows NET proceeds. After deducting expenses, an even smaller number of MK ladies is likely reporting six figures in taxable income on their schedule C.
This means by doing what I propose, you silence over 99.98% of (unknown) MLM recruiters, and possibly 100%, because six-figure folks are more likely to be grooming existing participants than recruiting strangers.
Educate the people you know. Shut down the strangers. If we all did this, the world would be a better place.
PLEASE, I beg you: approach me uninvited in a public place and tell me that you want a face like mine for a “before” picture.
LOL totally missed that. “Hey, can I use your face to show people what to *not* to look like, you hideous warthog?” She’d be able to pose for her own “before” photo if she asks the wrong person that question.
it can never go wrong and result in a slap upside the face…
Such creepy and predatory behavior.
It’s just so slimy.
The one Mary Kay thing I absolutely refused to do while I was a consultant was that sickening warm chatter with a perfect stranger. I got the majority of my customers and recruits from skincare classes. I thought that whole “a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met” was total BS.
“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.”
That mindset will get you chained up in some pervert’s cellar.
I was 23 years old in the Chicago area and we had a lady come into our office. She took one look at me and said “Would you like to be my Mary Kay model??” . Of course I said YES (this was the mid 80’s).
I put on my best dress and showed up at this event. It was so HOKEY . I did my little ‘turn around’ down the stage and went home. I knew I had been used. I felt so foolish .
Ya I got snagged by that too. Late 80s and I was in my mid 20s. A plus sized women’s wear store clerk said they were having a “fashion show” and I would be the perfect model. I said YES. Got to the store on Saturday bright and early and it turned out to be a MK bait and switch. I didn’t know diddly about MK or MLMs at the time. Fortunately I was too poor to sign up or even buy any product. Not sure what the connection was. Maybe the consultant worked there or had a friend who did.
“If something happened to your husband, could you take care of yourself and your family in the style you’re accustomed to?”
Hell yes, I could! My husband and I have worked very hard to get to where we are today, and we enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. If something were to happen to him, I know I will be just fine. (It also helps that I now make more than him in my new role, which has him all kinds of giddy.)
“Looking for a SHARP woman like you!” “You’re SUGAR SHARP!”
Gee, am I also rad, bitchin’, and groovy?
Their slang is so stale.