Profile - Praying4Courage

My name is Praying4Courage and I am a former MK Senior Consultant. I signed up during my freshman year of college (I was 21 because I had taken some time off before starting school). I believe it was January of '07 when I signed my agreement. I was recruited by a "hotshot" who was in car qualification and DIQ at the time. Our director had just become a director. I made the mistake of buying a lot of inventory (I was a Ruby star). That was probably my downfall in the business. I do feel I was pressured to buy the inventory but I know that ultimately I made the decision to use the credit card when I knew that I shouldn't.

My goal in MK was to earn some money myself (I receive disability payments). My hope was to eventually work my way off of disability and become self sufficient. I was working part time hours and not missing meetings while balancing my life as a full time student. My earnings were extremely low while I was a consultant. I probably only earned around $400 the entire time that I was in MK. I was not good at sales and most of the people I facialed were college students who didnt have the money for makeup that wasn't from Walmart. In May of 2007 I made the decision to send my product back to the company. I had already cancelled my voicecom and stopped working my business. Sending back the product was more of a formality than anything else. Besides that I needed to pay down my credit card. My blue check was for about $1200 give or take a bit. I had used a lot of products myself and had used others as demo products. For a while I hated MK and hung around pink truth. Was I bitter? Yes. Was I taking responsibility for my role in getting into debt? No.

Eventually the administrator of PT got upset with me because I defended the pro-mk visitors and said that they didnt' need to be treated so harshly. I was banned from the site. At that point I spent days readng pro and anti mk sites and came to realize that I was responsible for my actions and also realized that there was a lot of bitterness at PT that wasnt' getting those women anywhere. I didn't want to be stuck like they are.

At this point my views on MK are mixed. I did not have a good experience with the company myself but I think that some other people do. I recognize that part of my falling out with the company was my fault. I am glad however that I can not rejoin since I sent my product back.

Since I have left my recruit also left. My hotshot recruiter is no longer involved in MK. In addition, our director who was a new director has stepped down to being a consultant again. It is hard for me to see that and think that MK is a stable company. So all in all I guess what I am saying is that I'm not a big fan of MK but I also dont' agree with PT. I'm somewhere in the middle of the road. But that place is good for me. I'm still a full time student and just finished my second year as an undergrad psych student on the deans list every semester. Indeed MK was a mistake for me but I've bounced back.

Profile - mk4me

Hi, this is mk4me and I am a MK director for 13 years now. I live in a small town and it is very rural and I must yield for Amish buggies on occassion. Prior to MK, I worked mega hours as a Corp. Accountant/Business Financial Analyst (salaried). My kids were being raised by the babysitter and some nights, I didn't even see them before they went to sleep. A very tragic personal event, opened my eyes and I saw we don't know how much time we have in life and my priorities were really messed up. I wanted more time with my kids so I went from parttime MKer basically personal use to a car driver in four months and two months later became a director. It took me a few months as a director before I was confident enough in myself to give my notice, but I did and I never regretted it. I never knew anything but selling the product. Production has never been an issue in our unit. Recruiting is secondary. I love this Company and I love the fact it gives me the opportunity to earn good money and have very flexible hours. I love being able to put the kids on the bus in the morning, be there when they get home from school, and volunteer to chaperone the Cheerleading competitions, field trips etc..and with a 3rd shift hubby, I get to see him!

I have met incredible people that I never would have had the opportunity to meet if it weren't for MK.

Some of the things I have accomplished in Mk, Monthly Company Director Go-Give, Court of Sales 12x, Court of Recruiting 5x, Star Consultant 13 years straight, 1 Triple Star Achievment, 4 Double Star Achievment, Unit Clubs, and just finished qualifying for the 7th Company Car and other stuff.

I know MK is not for everyone but I love what I do and it works for my family and our lifestyle.

Profile - Kare

Hi, I'm Kare. I usually just lurk here and rarely comment. I feel like I'm learning a lot though! :) I started using Mary Kay when I was 19. I have extremely sensitive, somewhat dry skin. I couldn't find ANYthing to use that didn't either leave me too dry or aggravate my sensitivity (burning, irritating, redness, breakouts--I had it all). In college, a friend of mine had an SCC in the dorm, so I tried the old 5-step Classic Basic line. I fell in love! My skin felt soft, smooth, moisturized, and with no irritation, redness, or burning! I bought the set and have been using it faithfully since. I bought from several consultants over the years, but never once considered becoming a consultant myself until my daughter was born. Soon after that, a friend of mine held her debut. I didn't attend, but I contacted her a couple of months after that to simply ask her some questions. She answered them all very patiently, and I never once felt pushed by her. After much praying, thinking, and talking it over with my husband, I signed my agreement.

I have had kind of an up-and-down experience since then. I will say with all honesty that I have made some money management errors, and I blame no one but me for those. But I'm learning to use the spreadsheet that hubby set up for me to avoid those. I'm enjoying reading here for extra ideas. I am building my customer base slowly but surely. And although I hate making booking calls, I love holding classes! It makes me feel like a teacher again, teaching proper skin care and color techniques. :) At this point, I have no interest in recruiting, although if someone came to me asking questions like I did, I of course would answer them. I am just trying to be more consistant in making those booking calls and holding those classes. :)

Profile - mkhonesty

My name is "mkhonesty", and I too am a MK husband. My wife has been a consultant for over 20 years, and a director for over 15 years. The highest level she has achieved is Executive Cr Director. Currently she is a Senior Director. (Yes, she has lost offspring: one for non-production, one for personal/family health reasons, and one for an unknown reason (we suspect she "got religion" big-time.)) My wife has been a car driver for 17 years (team leader, then director), and picked up a SRX 8 months ago.

I have a BS and ME in Mechanical Engineering. I am a retired US Navy officer, with subspecialities in Nuclear Power and weapons systems. After I retired from the Navy, I worked for a high-tech manufacturing corp for 5 years. While I was working as a corporate middle manager, I also part-timed as my wife's "back office". I quit corporate because it was killing our family life (60-70+ hrs/week. On call a lot, because in manufacturing there is no such thing as 9-to-5 except for people in support positions like finance and HR.) I've been my wife's back office full time for over 7 years. I can do just about anything, except match colors (I don't wear too much lipstick or eye shadow) or describe a fragrance (I seem to only have a nose for solvents.)

Yes, we do make a high 5-figure income before expenses, and I take advantage of every deduction I can to reduce that down. Yes, a self-employed person does pay both the employer and employee shares of FICA (social security tax), but you get to deduct half of that tax on the adjusted Gross Income section of Form 1040 (2006 line 27).

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Profile - love4mk

My name is love4mk and I've been a consultant since July '07 - so 6 months.

I also teacher parent/child music classes (don't you just know I'll be using my PINK ELECTRIC GUITAR FOR CLASSES) and am an acting coach for younger performers (under 18 set) in the Chicago suburbs. I'm a former actor (SAG member) who is now focusing on my family - so no acting right now.

Mary Kay has replaced my coaching income and thus I'm devoting more time to this business than the coaching which traditionally takes me away from my family in the evenings. So this year, I'm going to build my Mary Kay business, while still retaining a few acting clients who are working professionally.

I work MK about 10 hours a week and average $1000 a month.

I have one team member, and thus I'm now a Sr. Consultant. I've thought about adding more team members, but unless I can give them adequate time to really get them started (our Director is in California - and while I have a great adopted Director my team member can't make the meeting night, so I have been training her) I'm reticent. My Team Leader is FANTASTIC and devoted ALOT of time answering my questions over this past 6 months, but this is her only gig. I'm not sure I could devote as much time to recruits as she does. But, we'll see. I'm not opposed.

I'm attending Chicagorama this weekend for terrific MK training and motivation. Due to my Diamond status last quarter I'll also be attending the formal dinner Friday evening with my husband, compliments of my Director.

I desire more from my MK business, but not at the expense of spending time with my family (this was the issue with coaching). I still feel like I'm getting my feet wet.

It's 12:43 AM here, so forgive me if this post sounds disorganized. I'm staying up to organize Boulevard - my gift to myself this year.

My skin rocks.

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Profile - David Shepherd

My name is "David Shepherd" and I am a Mary Kay husband!

My wife (of 4 1/2 years) has been in Mary Kay for almost 2 years.

She achieved DIQ, but decided to take time rebuilding her team and is currently a team leader.

Her goal is to achieve a full time income (and perhaps an executive income)!

I don't know specifically about her earnings, but I believe she sells about $750/week (retail) and so earns about $375/week. I know that she has had some really good weeks and some pretty rough weeks as well. I couldn't tell you off hand what her "highest" anything was and she is not right next to me right now! (I will update that later!)

She runs her business full time which for us means that she probably puts in about 40 hours/week (between phone calls, visits, meetings, etc.) I think it is probably less than that (hours) but is a pretty safe estimate.

I like Mary Kay and think it is a great opportunity.
My wife LOVES Mary Kay!

My other job (currently) is Account Executive for a small advertising/marketing agency in the Los Angeles area.

I live in lovely, beautiful southern California! Los Angeles area specifically. For those of you familiar with the area, Sherman Oaks to be exact.

I enjoy my wonderful wife, photography, social observations, blogging, my dog, boogie boarding, the ocean, driving and I am sure many, many other things!

I will add more "unique" things as time passes!

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Introductions

So we have been chatting together for about 3 months now. I know many of you have said a great deal to describe yourself and your business.

I am thinking that it would be good though to consolidate this information into one place. I will outline my plan below, but I want to make sure that everyone knows that:

a. you should not share anything you are not comfortable sharing
b. PLEASE don't share any personal information (Real name, address, phone number, etc.)
c. If you ARE using your real name, don't change it. We will all most likely assume that it is a made up name.
d. If you understand the nature of sharing personal information on the internet and still would like to do so, I will not stop you. Just wanted to ensure that everyone understands that they should use caution!

That said, please introduce yourself here!



I recommend the following;

Everyone leave part or all of the following information:

1. Name (Online identity, not "real" name)
2. Years in Mary Kay
- How many times (if signed, resigned, re-signed)
- If no longer in Mary Kay, how long ago, for how long, etc.
3. Level achieved
4. Current Level (if different)
5. Goals - hobby, part-time, full-time, executive income
6. Earnings - average, highest, lowest
7. Time spent - average, most, least
8. Opinion of Mary Kay (the company)
9. Other job (if you have one, and you feel comfortable sharing)
10. Region (Where you are from... again, only be as specific as you feel comfortable)
11. Other interests (When you are not doing Mary Kay, you are...)
12. Anything else you feel makes you unique and others would like to know.

I will take that information (as I have time) and create a post for each person that leaves their information. This will serve as your "profile" here and you can update people about events in your life (via the comment section). Other people can leave notes for you there as well. This will be experimental and hopefully everyone will respect each other (as they all have so far) and not try to "win each other over"!!

If you do not want your information placed on a post as a profile, please just indicate so when you leave your information (or don't leave your info!).

I will go first!