TWiki . Edumacation . MaryKayOpinion112	TWiki . { Main | Edumacation | TWiki | Test }
	Edumacation . { Home | Users | Changes | Search | Go }

I have a challenge....since many women are searching these boards for answers or (entertainment, in some cases), regarding the value of this opportunity.....let's quit comparing the masses of women in this biz to the handfull of Nationals....yes there are women right now who will be a National in the future of MK, that's great, however, I want SOMEONE, ANYONE and EVERYONE who has posted how wonderful this business is to not only tell us their emotions about the loyalty they have to 'the company', I want cold hard profit facts.......

Let us know. Everyone seems to boast how much 'successful' they are, yet, with the exception of one director, I have yet to see proof of profits.......I DON"T mean, 'show me a copy of your check" or boast of a couple of successful product previews.....let's say for example, someone who "WORKS HER BUSINESS" like we all should have done.......how much, taken into consideration, all the work involved before and after that successful debut, do you take in an hour?? Or, since the biz is set up the way it is...'work it when you want', maybe let us know your monthly income after expenses, etc. Give us something to chew on besides emotion, it's supposed to be about an INCOME opportunity, so let's hear it. Or, if you want to sum up the year, and since everyone should have their 1099's in hand........let us know your profits for 2003, those of you who are writing on this message board.....I want to know.

Profits being how much you made after your expenses and due taxes. What could someone expect from this business if they were to seek out this opportunity??????

Oh, and this IS YOUR INCOME FROM YOUR BUSINESS THAT YOU WORK, not your National or anyone else who's made it to the top.....unless a National wants to write, I'd LOVE to know how much those women fork out in PRIZES and MK related expenses!!!!! I can only imagine..not slamming them, but the higher you go, the more expensive the prizes get. Our National was gennnnnnerous, gave awesome prizes, but I hear some don't and ours spoiled us.

Anyway, lets' get some facts......k?
LauraRyan  - 11 Feb 2004

Hear, hear.

I've been asking for this since I was first approached to be recruited, and have looked for it on the internet, as well, to no avail.

Another thought: does this (MK) work best, in terms of income and taxes, if you (or a spouse) keep a regular job and/or other self-employment, and use MK primarily as a source for extra deductions?

Very curious.

Bunny W - 12 Feb 2004

Wendy here: Is there anything else you would like us to do Laura? It is one thing to ask out of curiosity to possibly help people who are surfing the internet to try and get a better understanding and it's entirely another thing to take on the attitude that is so clearly apparent in your words. Where do I get that from? Your tone. This tone doesn't exactly inspire me, and I'm sure not many others, to open up their tax folders and spill the beans on the INTERNET of how much they make every year!!!! Your question is quite intrusive and I won't be surprised if you try to imply that my not sharing is because I don't make enough to want to share...this is just how I can see you twisting my unwillingness to share around on me. If you are thinking this, keep reading.

Before I even try to begin to give you an answer that you will be happy with, I have to share something. It seems to me that you have WAY too much bitterness about this whole thing Laura, WOW!! Let it GO! I can see wanting to get people to see the "dark side of MK" as you have put it but come on, THIS is ridiculous! Who is going to respond to a request like that, especially when you ask the way you did?

Now to go back to your question, I will not be pressured, persuaded or taunted into giving my numbers out on the internet. You can call me paranoid/cautious/whatever you want to call it. It just seems a ridiculous request to ask that of someone!

I share my income, if asked, with my consultants. I will share every detail if it will help them. I have nothing to hide from someone I am sharing the business with and who I am helping to succeed, especially if sharing will help them succeed. The following is a glimpse back on what life dealt me financially and how my MK supported me. I know this is not the "cold hard facts" you are looking for but I doubt anyone will share those with you. Maybe I will be wrong. It's just not something you share with a complete stranger...sorry. In a much earlier post I give my average monthly commission check amount so I will not do that again. Here goes: I went full time into MK 3 1/2 years ago after abrubtly losing my job. I was not a Director but also did not want to seek out another job, I was ready to be my own boss. I supported myself on my sales and that's where my strength came from, straight from the beginning. The sales should be the foundation of this business for it to be successful. In about 5/6 months I was a Director and I was working at this point around 30-40 hrs/week. I was just divorced so I was my main source of income and I had NO OTHER INCOME! I didn't even collect unemployment because I wanted to feel the stress of having to make this work! I built my customer base and my unit base for the next few years and my income grew. Now I am remarried to my high school sweetheart (actually a neat story if you ever want to hear it!) and he was laid off for almost all of last year and I supported the two of us and my grandmother who is 93 and lives with me. She gets a pittance for SSI and it goes to her medication and personal items. I also, while my husband was laid off, had the entire outside of my house painted, put in a bay window and built-in curio cabinet, remodeled my kitchen and overhauled my garage and I paid for all of this with my MK income and paid the bills. So I don't have to give numbers but I can tell you that by continually selling $700-$1200/week on top of my commission checks, I have no financial worries. If you need anymore then this for proof, you will have to wait for someone else to come along and feel impelled to tell you. My husband got a job about 4 months ago and is again, laid off due to lack of contract work. His unemployment is small because he has a child he pays child support for. So you can clearly see that I obviously make a good income to be able to do what I do and not have another job besides MK.

My National talks about her income and her prizes are mostly her giving of her time in training...that is the best prize ever. She makes $500,000/year and yes I have been shown her 1099 and she pays around $30,000/quarter in taxes ($120,000/year). She doesn't hold meetings and she does travel a bit but she obviously writes that off. She remodeled her house and did over $150,000 of home improvements in 2 years. Her husband retired from his job and works with her. She just bought him a brand new Harley. So I don't know what you are looking for but unless I am reading my savings and checking accounts wrong, I am doing just fine. My expenses? Laura I specifically covered this one awhile ago too. There does not have to be outlandish expenses. I have my meeting room for free and if there are expenses left over, which there almost always are, I split those with the other 2 Directors I meet with and then it's very small. My newsletter is $40/month. My "prizes" are Section 1 prizes mostly and this way they (consultants) can sell them. I do some Section 2 prizes too but we are talking no more than $10-20/month if that. My office gal is $5/hour. I have my husband employed for extra tax deductions and he helps me too. I buy my copies at Office Max, $35 for 1,000 copies. I cannot think of anything else. Oh postage, $40-60/month.

I'm sure there will be some reason that this wasn't enough proof but again, if someone else wants to share their earnings, then they can. If not, then this post will soon be history and a new issue will be thrown onto the table. Wendy T.

Laura here.........You know Wendy, enough is enough of you. I had some respect for you in the beginning of all these posts and hurrah, hurrah to you for doing great, however, I hadnt' even finished reading your 4 opening lines and I am sick to death of your defensiveness, your rudeness, your lack of any critical (insightful) thinking whatsoever. You act as if this is a personal vendetta against you and your repeated defensiveness is annoying. How's that for tone.

You know Wendy, I emailed you with a very heartfelt personal mail and you NEVER wrote me back to even acknowledge you got it, yet you write on here how wonderful and loving you are. Your directorship is not in question, we are not writing about Wendy World here, won't you EVER GET THAT??????? There is crap going on in this business and because of women like you always on the high of a "positiveness addiction", women are left to feel guilty and fearful to express an opinion of critical thinking in this business. Talk about putting 'lids' on people as the companies precious John Maxwell teaches (like John Maxwell teaches many other MLM's).......you 'upbeat' elite individuals in your hose and closed toed shoes always boast of all your love and kindness, but when the heart is squeezed and realities of the not-so-pink parts of this business are exposed, we see the 'real hearts' of these loving Mary Kay ladies.

I see more bitterness in your mails than I have ever written and that says alot about true character. One day, I hope you figure it out that this is a free world, this is a message board where opinions can be rightfully expressed without FEAR which so many in MK and every other MLM subliminally instill in their counterparts. This is not about YOU Wendy, really it's not even about the company......all I asked was for women to show US THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wendy here: Laura, if you don't like positive people and a feeling of abundance which I feel God wanted for all of us, then that's fine for you. That's how I choose to live my life, in a positive environment. It's a choice. I have a feeling that many women are striving for a positive warmth in their lives and since this a chat room for mostly searchers or complainers, I've chosen to share my positive feelings for those who are open to them. I speak my truth and I'm sorry you don't feel it's truthful. You can choose whatever you want for yourself. I choose to spend a few minutes on this everday to share hope for women who are looking for something positive in their lives, however I am not going to engage in anymore arguments with you because I am out there changing lives and building my business and living the life that you say does not exist. I strongly suggest you don't bother reading my messages anymore if they bother you so much. Why would you do anything that irritates you? Wendy T.

Topic MaryKayOpinion112 . { Edit | Ref-By | Attach | Diffs | r1.6 | > | r1.5 | > | r1.4 | > | r1.3 | >... }

You must register before editing pages or using other extended features on this TWiki system.

Revision r1.6 - 13 Feb 2004 - 16:47 by WendyTurnidge  Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2000-2005 by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration tool is the property of the contributing authors. Collect email addresses here. Ideas, requests, problems regarding TWiki? Send feedback.