When I was recruited I had worn makeup about 2 times in my life. I did not own any makeup and I did not want any. I had cystic acne. I had tried Mary Kay products in 1992 or 1993 and broken out with hives. The ONLY reason I had that facial is that my friend begged me to have it so she could get her free item. To my surprise, the skin care did not burn my face. I spent about $150 on Timewise skin care and on some body care. I had the money to spend as I had my cleaning business.
The Mary Kay person who did the facial was a director. I later called her up about being a recruit because I wanted the 50% discount for myself. I told her I had no intention of having parties. After I signed my agreement, she pressed for an inventory purchase. I purchased $1800. And I sold about that much the first month I was a consultant. Then I got distracted with my cleaning business and worked on expanding it. I was working 50 or more hours a week. I am a single parent. It was difficult.
My 5 year old son got sick and was pulled out of school 7 months later. I closed my cleaning business in 12 hours.
For the last 2 years I have been home with my son. We live with my parents and count costs closely. The Mary Kay meetings I go to (not often enough) and the functions have been really helpful. Just meeting and talking with other adults has been wonderful.
In 2 weeks my son will start school again. I will not be able to work a "normal" 9-5 job as he will still get sick frequently. However, I will be doing my Mary Kay business full time. My son knows that I am there for him, but he also knows that when I make my schedule on Sunday he needs to tell me what events during the week are important to him. I have found ways for him to help me in my business and we track how long it will be until we earn a house. We have drawn out the plans. My son and I have talked about building a business and how important it is to spend time on it during the first year. My Mary Kay business is our business and will allow us to achieve our goals.
In 3 years, my Mary Kay business will provide the income that I need to move out of my parents' home and into one of my own. I will be a director before Seminar 2005 (July).
I cannot think of anything else that I would rather do than be a Mary Kay Consultant and then Director. I am determined and I am capable and I like working for myself. I love the lack of politics and I love being able to be flat out honest about all of it.
This is why it works for me.
And to those who are thinking about a Mary Kay business I have these thoughts for you: 1. This is your business from the moment you sign your agreement.
2. You are responsible for what you choose to do, regardless of the advice of others.
3. In the 2 years I have been in Mary Kay, I have met 3 people I do not like and who would have turned me off the business if they were the only MK people I had met. Note, they are not bad people, just not ones that I like. Choose who you want to be like and who you want to be around. Don't complain about the others, just don't associate more than you have to with them.
4. Live the golden rule in your business. Tell everyone you want about it, just tell them about it straight.
5. Search the web. There are a ton of websites with great ideas. Somewhere there has to be at least one that matches your personality. For example: I am lousy at warm chatter. I don't do it. But referrals are wonderful things and become repeat customers.
6. Inventory is your own choice. I bought what my director selected. My recruits have bought what they wanted, if they wanted to buy anything. If they do not, then I am here to help and they know it. As far as the items that my director selected for my inventory - the colors I could not use or sell, I donated to a Women's shelter and wrote them off on my taxes.
7. Talk to an accountant. Read about accounting. It's important. Know what you need to do.
8. Smile. Enjoy it. Have fun. Mary Kay takes effort and work, but it is a blast.
And finally, this is from someone who has started a business before - expect the first year to put in long hours. You are building a business. It takes time. How fast you build depends on how much time you want to invest. For the first year of my cleaning business, I spent 70 to 80 hours a week working.
If you want to talk about anything I wrote here, email me at LauraAC at domain aol.com.
I hope that if you choose Mary Kay as a career it is the one for you and helps you achieve your goals. I hope it will work as well for you as it has worked and continues to work for me
Laura Collins - 16 Aug 2004
- 13 Jan 2005
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Revision r1.2 - 13 Jan 2005 - 19:33 by LyndaLucas
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