I confess, I'm an ex-Mary Kay sales rep. I still use the products, I still love the company.... sometimes I really miss those crazy meetings. (It's a sickness, I know). Seriously though, I learned A LOT as a MK sales rep. These are some of my favorite lessons....
1) Shoot for the Moon & even if you miss, you'll still land among the stars! - You see, I came from a home where I was taught never to wish for anything. If I did, and didn't get it, then I would be disappointed. If I didn't want anything then I wouldn't be upset that I didn't have it.... um yeah.... like that really works! I loved the MK philosophy and have enjoyed my time in the stars!!!
2) The room is brighter when we light other's candles - Basically speaking this means that we share our info & knowledge. Our candle is not brighter because you blow someone else's candle out. Together we can light the world, but only if we share our light with others!
3) Don't take yourself too seriously! - Have you ever been to a Mary Kay Monday Meeting? OMG they are hysterical. The meeting typically began with us dancing and ended up with someone in big glasses, fluffy boas, a tiara and holding piles of fake cash. If you didn't have fun then you are simply too stiff..... (this coming from me, is really saying something, if you know me, you know I'm a very serious person!)
4) Everyone has skin! - Well, what this really referred to was the fact that we should never rule anyone out because of perceptions we have about them. Everyone has skin, they need to wash it - rich or poor, black or white, pretty or well... not. Don't presume anything about a potential client. We all live somewhere.... this maybe is more appropriate for the real estate industry.
5) I may not know about _______ but I can be taught! - When I started selling MK, I had never worn eye shadow. How on earth was I supposed to be able to sell it. My director simply told me that if I was willing to learn, I could be taught. The same still applies. I may not know everything about my business, but I keep learning... I learn something new every day thanks to wonderful AR members just like YOU!
6) It's all a numbers game - Pass out 5 business cards a day, mail 5 handwritten cards a day, call 5 people every day. Do this without fail and YOU WILL NOT FAIL! When I quit MK, I was in car qualifications. (My husband still is upset about this!) I was done, I had done it & succeeded and was ready to move on...
7) If you don't 100% believe in the product, you cannot sell it - Have you ever seen a Mary Kay salesperson use Clinique makeup? I have - they didn't last long. When I sold Mary Kay (and was successful) I used nearly all of their products. My husband used their men's line & my kids did too. (My girls & I still use it - my son occassionally uses the men's line) I've worked with people in sales who can't seem to close the deal, or lose to a competitor too frequently. When I ask why I've heard things like, "Hey, they've got a better product at a better price" .... it really was that first part as to why they lost the deal.... not that the competitor actually had a better product, but that you agreed with them. If you don't 100% believe in your heart of hearts that you are offering something better than anyone else can then you can't be successful.
8) People will do unbelievable things for gifts they wouldn't spend $1 for. Seriously... I've seen women make 30 phone calls in 10 minutes scheduling appointments for a gaudy jeweltone calculator given to the winner. Sure, they got their datebook full and sold a bunch of stuff in the process (woo hoo!) but they did it for the goal of winning the calculator... If you had just told them to make the calls for the money they would never have picked up the phone.
9) Most people won't work for the money - but they will work for a goal. - See above. Don't decide that you need to work for a given paycheck for some silly reason like paying the bills. Instead set a goal that has some other value. Create a competition for yourself or with someone else. Do it for a new pair of shoes, a new handbag, a new hockey jersey... whatever you won't normally do for yourself.
10) Create goals, view them often and be accountable for them - Create a goal chart and put it where you can see it every day. Almost everyone I know who made it in MK had goal posters everywhere. Everyone they knew, knew what their goals were. (Hey, part of your motivation in #9 may be showing the naysayers they were wrong about you!) If you don't know what your goal is, how can you ever achieve it?
It is kind of funny, but very true.... I am successful in my staging business because of what I learned from Mary Kay, my fellow skin care consultants and my directors (Thank you Caroline & Mitch!)
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. She now operates as the CEO of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign as well as an instructor for Staging And Resign and regularly speaks at the StagerList Expos and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.822.2622 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
If you would like Marro's team to provide information on staging a property in the state of South Carolina, or the Greater Charleston Area, please visit www.WeStageSC.com, email marro.melissa@gmail.com or call 843.822.2622.
Melissa .you are so right as a past (no pink cadi) Mary Kay had human nature and our need for worth figured out. Thanks for reminding me that what I learned 20+ years ago in Mary Kay helped me get to today.
Marie
Woo hoo! I'm a former MK consultant, too (years ago) and I still have my jeweled calculator.... The things I learned in MK are definitely useful in my staging business. Thanks for a great post!
Marie - You are absolutely right! I have to admit they still hold a warm fuzzy for me. I was excited to see them advertising (give away) on The View & then a TV Commercial! Mary Kay herself would probably be rolling over in her grave, but times, they are a changing. It's good to see them in the new millenium....
Nancy - lol.... so, reading that must have been pretty funny for you then (calculator). I still have my pink director's chair (in my daughter's room) and a few other inspirational items myself. I saw a pink cadillac business card holder at a store the other day and almost had to buy it, but then I thought better about it.. lol
I like #'s 8 & 9 the best; who knew I could learn so much from Mary Kay????? Thanks again!
Melissa,
I am always intrigued by your fabulous insight! I wish that we lived closer so that I could meet you - I think that you and I have a lot in common and share similar philosophies!
That being said, I believe that companies like Mary Kay are as successful as they are because they inspire and compel their salespeople to succeed and to exceed expectations. Whether that is done through goal setting or rewards, the outcome is still positive.
Thank you for sharing your story!
Val
Melissa, I never sold Mary Kay but do know people that did.. I always LOVED their makeup-always looked perfect but when I tried it - NOT !! I don't have that perfect complexion that you do. Great info and it still works.. God bless,
Hi Melissa...I would think those tips would be helpful in any career.
Thanks for sharing.
Kathleen
Hi Melissa,
Great insights and post on your adventures on Mary Kay. Life lessons in anything you do and achieve in setting goals, community, and having fun with whatever you do. Keep sharing, great ideas to share for your upcoming classes, too in Staging. Have fun!
Have a Colorful Day!
Hi Melissa, you are so right! I was a MK Director many years ago and I learned so many valuable things from being involved in MK.
Melissa, Ahhhh... that is where that beautiful skin comes from. Great post. I agree that most people will work toward a goal. Thanks for sharing!
You always share very inspiring information with us, Love your posts, Oh ya I am big fan of MK too.
Shobha
Melissa, Great advice. I'm actually going to print this and read it often. THanks, Kim
HI Melissa! Cute post! Isn't great to aim high and even if we only make it part way there, it is still fun trying! Staying motivated is the name of the game....even if it is just to win the 'freebie'. The psychology of winning is a whole other post! LOL.... Thanks! Regards-Kathleen G
Thanks Melissa that was very inspiring!
Amber
Tori Lynn - You'll find I'm a huge goal girl! This stuck with me pretty darn well!
Val - NY isn't that far is it?
Cheryl - The complection is definately courtesy of MK! Thanks for the compliments....
Kathleen - I agree! That's why I thought I should share it....
Irene - Thanks again... you are always so upbeat! I love your enthusiasm!
Patty (and Scott) - Cool! I thought they were such great women - the way they motivated other women to succeed and step out of their comfort zones!
Patty H - You are so sweet, thank you! The hard part is remembering to keep focused on the prize!
Shobha - Thank you for your kind words! I won't wear any other foundation. I've tried others but always come back. I love the new tinted daily moisturizer spf 20 (gotta keep that spf!)
Kimberly - I'm so glad you liked it so much!
Kathleen - I'll be looking for that post! I definately agree with you!
Amber - I love to do that you know....
Thank you for the post. I used to sell Mary Kay years ago also and had forgotten some of the things you mentioned. I look forward using some of your suggestions!
Gosh, how it all comes back! I was an Arbonne rep for just over a year... when selling Staging services became just too hard and I decided to try something else. Mercifully, HGTV came along and opened people in the North East's eyes and my staging business got back on track. I was HORRIBLE at selling Arbonne, for so many reasons. The hype, the language, the way they all spoke in aphorisms made me crazy! And then my skin took exception to the product and ... I still use the makeup - but only becuase I have so darn much of it!!
"You've got to give to get" and "Don't reinvent the wheel, just follow the system" and, and, and.... oh, I thought I'd never forget them!! Phew! You can get your brain back after all!!
No means NOT NOW or.. you're just one step closer to yes.
Meet people where they are.
BTW, we're arriving on Sunday July 13th.
jj
Thank you for reminding me much I enjoyed working with the Mary Kay company and the great Directors I had there. The freindships made have lasted years. My own recruits still keep in touch. What a sense of family Mary Kay created and how it has flowed down to where many of us are today. Wise lady!I too am printing off these words!!
Thanks for sharing your words of inspiration. There's a lesson every step of the way...we just have to be paying attention and learn to apply it, that's all.
Shanna - I'm surprised at how many people actually did! Thanks for sharing!
Juliet - Thankfully my MK directors never made us learn crazy things that were too 'sales pitchy'... but I do agree with the last ones that you quoted. I've got you in my datebook now... can't wait to meet you!
Nicola - another MK person... wahoo! I loved my time with MK and always think of it findly.
Abby - wow, isn't that true? If we actually pay attention we learn that we are always being taught something!
Hi Melissa,
I think any MLM helps prepare a person for "life" as a business owner because of the PMA aspect of the group dynamic. I was not in MK - my husband and I were in Amway for years - and actually went "Direct." We had a fabulous support system that helped people build businesses (as Amway only sold product and did not teach how to be successful). I spent a lot of time in seminars where we were taught how to talk to anyone - and about instilling a positive belief system in us that was needed in order to succeed, and creating a dream, setting goals and having a plan. The principles of success we learned in that business have served me well in this Staging business. Attitude is so important - and often trumps experience and even talent. People want to work with people that are excited about what they are doing and are confident about what they have to offer. - Jennie
One of my dear friends who just shines with a zeal for living was a Mary Kay consultant. She just knows how to make things happen. I always admire her for her initiative, enthusiasm and team spirit. She says she owed her business acumen to her Mary Kay training. Reading your post reflects her attitude totally.
I can feel your passion and enthusiasm for what you do! I bet those homes you stage shine once you're done.
Love it! I've actually witnessed a Mary Kay meeting first hand about six years ago when a friend of mine, wanting to win a contest her director put forth, begged me to be her guest at a brunch meeting. Knowing going in to it, I wasn't going to sign up to sell the products, I went anyway wanting to do her a favor. We all met at a parking lot where the directors shuttled us down the road to the country club in their Cadillac's, we had brunch, I won a prize at the meeting, I think it was called Miracle Hands or something like that. It was funny to watch how excited they all were and got. What I liked was the aspect of women helping empower other women. Always a good thing.
I never sold Mary Kay, staying true to the decorator in me, I did however sell (for a VERY brief time) Southern Living. Okay who am I kidding, I was my best customer and never held a single "party".
Another great post, Ms. Melissa. Thanks again for sharing.
Sandi Gregory, details
Wow, great ideas, Mary Kay has some great thoughts for the day, if you will
Melissa- It's all about selling, no matter what it is you have for sale. Staging should be easy to sell, because it's proven that it works, and the homeowners usually get their money back in one way or another. Now, I'm going to get out there and sell some staging!!!
What a wonderful post. Thank you so much for sharing! I'm going to refer back to this over and over. (And I, too, was a Mary Kay consultant and learned a lot of great marketing from that experience. I even wrote a little about it in one of my marketing books for designers!)
I've used Mary Kay, but haven't sold it. Actually I learned many of my decorating techniques from having many Home Interior parties so I could earn the stuff! Having my own medical transcription business taught me to work at home. Working in the educational field taught me to work with people. We learn from everything if we're open and willing to keep working.
Thanks for a great post - you're right on!
Jennie - You are definately right about attitude being most important! This is why sometimes new salespeople actually perform better than seasoned ones. They are still excited about their job and what they do!
Rhonda - exactly the qualities I loved about the meetings!
Sandi - women empowering women - such a great thing, huh?
Patrice - glad you enjoyed them!
Elaine - you go do that.. lol!
Nika - funny how many of us were MK consultants, isn't it? It's great that you took some of the same things away from the experience.
Beth - learning from our past experiences can really magnify our next ones..... the great thing is that you did learn them!! so many people forget to learn what's great about their last jobs (even if they hated them there is still something to learn!)
Hi- I really enjoyed this because I have a home staging business and am now a Mary Kay Rep!!! Haha This makes tons of sense and will help me all the way around. Love staging and Mary Kay!
Kathryn
www.marykay.com/kathrynmartin
www.palmettohome.net
Kathryn - good luck with your new MK business!!
Melissa - Hey Sister - you go girrrrrrll. I once attended those Monday night meetings. Love MK and still use it to this day. You are right...the motivation we received from those meetings will last a lifetime. Eye cream queen.
Hi Melissa, I see this is an old post but going to chime in anyway.
I was and still am a consultant. You can make some really good passive income (helps pay the yearly dues). Also, I love being able to get the discount on a great product. I use my meetings as a great networking tool. You meet a lot of really nice ladies who know who is moving in or out of town. Let me know if you need product or to sign back up :) Would love to work with like minded people.
Mary Kay Cosmetics and Army Wives are giving away lots of freebies, including a trip to Hawaii -- register at http://tinyurl.com/nrwb7e