What I learned from selling Mary Kay - (it was years ago & no I didn't have a pink caddy)

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!)