Quote from PT; "It is so frustrating to see the "Optimistic Consultants" of the world come on here and give us the "I think they can do it better, it won't happen to them, you didn't work your business" spin. Do you think we just sit around tapping our pencils against the desk making up stories?
SERIOUSLY, IT WON'T HAPPEN! You're no smarter than any of us.(depends) You will not beat the system.(don't need to beat it, just work with it) Thousand and thousands have tried before you.(many have succeeded and many have failed.)It's a flawed business model, it's a flawed business model, it's a flawed business model." The business model is not flawed, it is the individual that runs it flawed and tries to manipulate it into a pyramid scheme that flaws the system.
I would like to say, I am sorry that someone (actually many someones) CAN make Mary Kay work for them honestly and earn a profit frustrates everyone so on pt. I know I can do better than those complaining on pt that it can be done because I am doing it along with many others. I run a successful MK business, I manage between 500-600 clients and my unit is usually around 100 (non terminated consultants), I strive to maintain a personal team of at least 30 (the idea of the unit within a unit). If one builds a strong client base and then builds a team and continues to develope both of these lines, you will develope a strong, profitable venue. Selling must be the key.
No I am not making 6 digits (yet) but I am not willing to sacrifice more of my time to do that right now in my life. But I make good money!
I do not encourage new consultants to begin building a team right away. Let's develop a clientelle that will be reordering before worrying about a 4% check. Let's face it, one will be making alot more money earning 50% off of a sale as oppossed to 4% of one wholesale order. (Also why bring a woman in at $3000 just to get a big 13% check..... check it out... you will get the same amount if the consultant does 5 -$600 orders @ 13% - the very same amount - and chances are the consultant that is consistantly ordering won't get unhappy and quit! What a novel idea!) (sorry for the sarcasim) and if a consultant isn't overstocked and wants to take a leave of absence or quit for awhile, she may be able to sell her existing stock off to her clients and then NOONE has to worry about a chargeback, duh!!!
I have noticed a common thread in many of the "stories of doom": the length of time with the Company is fairly short. I feel it takes at least two years (of course there are exception) to become proficient at being a good consultant. It takes time to develop a good presentation, to learn all the products, to learn color techniques, people skills, and financial skills. Upon becoming a director one has even more to develop. First and foremost juggling your personal business and your unit, and if a consultant thinks it is tough keeping customers happy, baaa, try keeping a unit of mostly woman all happy! yikes! between pms and menopause- full moons- hot flashes, zits, etc.. - it gets pretty interesting at times. Personally I feel it takes a good three years before one should bite off directorship. (jmho). Sell the product. Don't get caught up on the "treadmill", we work hard at the beginning of the month, what comes in at the end is the icing on the cake - that way production is still coming in on the first and second day of the new month. Don't always be begging from the future, it will make the present much more pleasant. I am proud to say, if for any reason I have to call a consutlant on the last day of the month, even the ones with caller id, they answer my calls! Why, because I don't dial for dollars. If they need product, they will order, if you need one favor, ask but calling a consultant every month to "help" save the Unit, or "help" keep the car, come on, it is going to get old. It isn't their unit, it isn't their car... this will only drive them away.... oh .... what about the line..... "If you don't order this month, you won't be active - YIKES!!! omg.... hmmm, she doesn't need product, she doesn't have a team, so why exactly does she NEED to be active. Let's think about her needs not your needs. Once you have lost the trust of a unit member, how in the world do you think you will get it back??
My best advice to anyone taking the time to read this - work til the last minute, do whatever you can do to acheive your goal but DO NOT - MAKE (BUY) IT! It is tough enough being a brand new director. But a brand new director with 29 other newish consultants are going to be able to sell enough to justify production HOWEVER a director with 15 newish consultants and 15 fake (pretend) consultants are NOT going to make production. NEWFLASH*** FAKE CONSULTANTS DO NOT PRODUCE REAL PRODUCTTION - NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL. If one gets caught up in the trap of "buying" production every other month, the stress is going to win. The more one resents what they are doing and the more pressure they are under - the less likely anything good will come from it. When you start your directorship under these conditions it would be like starting a race from the parking lot insteadof the starting line - you are never going to catch up to the pack.
If your car is costing you more, get your PRIDE out of the way and step down to a lower lever or take the cash. This is nothing to be ashamed of.
For those that want to continue to bash the big mean manipulative MK, perhaps since there is so much Bible slinging over on PT - some should read the scriptures on greed, pride, and temptation. Are we not tested to stand against these sins? Don't blame Mary Kay for your shortcomings. It is up to us to withstand the temptations.
My unit runs with almost zero debt and I am not talking about just myself, I am speaking of my consultants as well. We sell product, we order product, and we sell some more. It is really quite simple. WE EARN our prizes. For me, I pay quarterly local, state, and federal taxes, and my social security is in place as is my life insurance. My husband has our health insurance so that is one expense I do not have but my IRA is in place. We are a middle class family. My income is needed, I am not a giddy stay at home mom who can do without an income. For two years of my life, I was a single mom while fulltime MK, yes I was earning money, no I ws getting no financial aid and my child was well cared for and feed. YES IT CAN BE DONE- HONESTLY!
No!! you are not going to make 6 digits working two hours a week, the second week your are in business. the product is great but no it doesn't "sell itself", I have never seen a 3-1 cleanser hope off the shelf and call a client we musth show it and... if you believe this I have some prime property in the everglades I would love to sell you, it is going to be "hot" property in the future! You can get in early now while it is still cheap and make a killing later - or sooner if you run into my pet gator -Wally! lol
I disagree with bringing in consultants with large inventories, I do think it is overwhelming to the consultant and I don't believe she gets a good balance of what she will or will not move. I prefer for them to pick a level they are comfortable with and then as she builds her customer base, build her inventory. It does pay to have inventory on hand. People do not like to wait despite what pt says. When I do my openhouse weekends 4 times a year and move between $2000-$5000 in product, I don't want to have to run around and deliver that product at a later date. It would defeat the purpose of the open house and servicing a large number of clients in a short period of time. Do I sell product? I believe I have EARNED/Achieved the National Court of Sales over 13 times. (I lost count- stopped taking the rings and opted for the cash)! Fun!! ( couldn't figure out how to grow more fingers and they didn't work on my toes with my shoes) - My current inventory fits on two bookshelves.(not a full basement or warehouse) come- on.... really...???people really do that?? no way.... that's just plain nuts...
Before my article turns into a novel, I would like to add before MK, I was an accountant/financial analyst working 60-80 hours a week (salaried) and my kiddos were being raised by the babysitter because "I" was going to be CFO of the Company. I was climbing that Corporate Ladder! A life tragedy made me take a good hard look at my life and my priorities and... enter MK..... more of my story to come!! Have been fulltime MK since the day I left Corporate and have never looked back!
So poo poo to those that say it CAN NOT BE DONE - it can but doing it right takes a conscious decision and it is very easy to be tempted to "cheat" and there are many doing it wrong. I do believe you truely must put others first and then your success will follow. You must be true to yourself and respect yourself, your clients, unit members, and the Company. You must enjoy people, love and believe in the product, and be self motivated. MARY KAY WILL NOT SELL ITSELF, you must market yourself and the product, and Mary Kay will not work for everyone but it will for some. Bottom line is one will never know unless they try.
Okay, signing off for now... hope I didn't put anyone to sleep but I feel this is a very important message and I hope it reaches individuals that it will help.
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