Pink Cadillacs, high heels and lipstick are probably what you think of when you hear "Mary Kay." While you aren't far off, there's much more to this business than just the makeup. I grew up a Mary Kay child. My mom started selling it when she was my age, and when I became old enough, I decided to give it a go. It couldn't be that difficult, after all -- I had been around the product my whole life. I thought I knew everything I needed to know about selling Mary Kay, and while I did know more than some, there was a lot I had (and still have left) to learn.
If you are familiar with Mary Kay at all, you'll know that she was very adamant about the "six most important things list." This idea comes from her time management rules. She believed that one of the first things to do in the morning is to create a list of the top six most important things to complete for the day as it helps to focus and jump start your day. After all, there are only 24 hours in the day. Can you afford to waste a single one?
In my first few months as an Independent Beauty Consultant, I've learned many things, but there are six that stick out to me. As I continue in my business, this list may change, but these lessons are life lessons that I will never forget.
1. Confidence is everything.
2. I am providing a service, not selling make up.
"I don't know, I'm just not really the salesperson type," is a response I have heard several times in regard to other people joining Mary Kay. Totally logical response! I had the same apprehensions myself. In a conversation I had with my mom shortly before signing up, she told me to remember that Mary Kay is about helping women to feel like their best selves. When you look good, you feel good. Mary Kay is dedicated to enriching women's lives. When I go out to give a facial or meet with someone who is interested in the product, I remind myself that I am providing a service. Selling the makeup is not my top priority. I have found a passion in helping women feel like their best selves. Having these priorities makes me put the women's interests ahead of my own.
3. Believe you can and you will.
I signed up for Mary Kay just weeks before spring finals and summer break. I was stressed enough about my upcoming finals, but now I had product that I wanted to sell. I wanted to get the word out to campus that I had joined this company. While I could have succumbed to my stress and nervousness, I instead harnessed my energy into belief. I turned my energy into excitement and was able to get some interest. This all goes back to the first lesson about confidence. Belief and confidence go hand in hand.
4. The Golden Rule.
A leading value of Mary Kay, the Golden Rule, is ingrained in the leadership of the company. While it may seem elementary, you should never underestimate the power of treating others the way you want to be treated. Mary Kay liked to say, "I never cease to be amazed at how positively people react when they're made to feel important."
5. The importance of setting goals.
We've heard it in school for as long as we can remember. I can't count how many assignments I have had requiring me to discuss my short term and long term goals. Actually writing down goals is the first step to making something happen and, while it may seem mundane, it is an essential step in taking a leap of faith and meeting your goals. Every month, I get an email from my Independent Sales Director, challenging us with goals for the month. Sometimes they are challenges to hand out a business card during a day of shopping, but other times it is a challenge to book a certain number of facials. Setting goals can be scary because it indicates a change. I have found, however, that when I have a goal, I am more motivated to keep pushing forward. It not only increases my confidence, but I am more excited about what I am doing, and that confidence and excitement draws people.
6. Failure is OK.
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." During my second month of Mary Kay, I didn't reach the goal I had originally set for myself. I was disappointed, thinking of all of the things I should have done differently, but being disappointed wasn't going to change the end result of that month. I could, however, take what I had learned from my previous failure and apply it to my new endeavors. One of my favorite quotes from Mary Kay is about failure. She said, "For every failure, there is an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. When you come to a roadblock, take a detour." If everyone gave up every time they came to a roadblock, nothing, nothing would be accomplished. Allow yourself to be challenged and don't be afraid of failure.
