Mary Kay Opinion 12b

26 Apr 2003 - KateCartmell

I've been a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant only since the end of this past February, 2003, and I've been uneasily reading articles about MLMs for the past two hours or so. There are some negative things being said out there about MLM companies - Mary Kay included - that are disturbing. Perhaps the most disturbing points being made are about how MLMs are basically predatory -- the few profit from many in their "downline" who spend more than they make. It's implied that they spend more than they will EVER make. MLMs tearing apart the social fabric of communities and churches as human interactions are reduced to nothing more than interpersonal prospecting. It's all there for the reading. Scary stuff.

But, you know, reading some of the messages here reminded me of something: I earned the money for more than half of my $3000 inventory purchase in about two weeks. I did it by selling products to my friends as an invited, welcome guest at a relaxed and fun event. No one was pressured; no one was used. They loved the products, which are legitmately among the best I have ever used. The skin care and color cosmetics ARE the best I've ever used.

I am under NO pressure from my Sales Director to sell or recruit. I can grow my own business in my own time, and bring others into this business who truly want to be here. That was Mary Kay's dream and the one I captured. The women I admire in the MK organization are not the ones who succeeded very quickly, but rather those who suceeded over time - decades even -- through thoughtful growth and tenacity and living outside their comfort zones. They built businesses and have helped hundreds of other women succeed, too.

I decided that is the crux of much criticism of the Mary Kay organization and other MLMs I've read: to succeed with Mary Kay requires you to change, grow and stay outside your comfort zone while you're working. Human beings don't like to do that and will fight hard to avoid going or staying outside that comfort zone. I'm learning that everything I want is attained by staying in that uncomfortable place.

I can and do go to church, socialize with good friends and remain a good person, all without ever prospecting! Can business come from these relationships? Yes. Am I soiling the fabric of society by taking business initiative when opportunity presents itself? No.

I know I can make good money with Mary Kay because I've done it. I know no business can be built only on friends and family so I am going outside my circles and marketing more broadly. ANY small business must do that, MLM or not. I am making a full 50% commission on everything I sell which is generous by any business standard. If I step out and sell, I make money. My team members will make a 50% commission, too, and their commissions come from Mary Kay, not me. At best, I will eventually make up to 26 percent commission on my entire unit, again the commission paid from Mary Kay, not my team.

Am I surrounded by May Kay reps here in my immediate area of about half-a-million people? There are many, but there are plenty of customers and team members for all of us when we step out to meet them. This isn't a zero-sum game. Most women I meet do not have a Mary Kay rep and have not experienced our products. And many -- enough -- are happy to try them and share them with friends.

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