You Can And You: Real Success Stories With Mary Kay

Successful Businesswoman and Director Mom: Mary Kay independent beauty consultants on their path to success and the myths they encountered.

Throughout November, we refuted the myths that prevent girls from starting and developing their own business: we figured out the issues of time management, finance and sales. It would seem like a great motivation to master the business, but there is still something that will convince you to finally get on the road to your dream. We asked two successful women who have been with Mary Kay for a long time about how their quality of life has changed while working in direct selling. Independent beauty consultants Mary Kay, entrepreneurs - Alena Krasnobryzhaya and Christina Kurtz spoke about the myths they encountered and their profession.

Alyona Krasnobryzhaya, Mary Kay Entrepreneur and Lead Director

Myth 1. The main thing in business is earnings, the rest does not matter

Indeed, we all work for the sake of money, but without positive emotions from the lesson, you will quickly face professional burnout. Before starting cooperation, make sure that the company values and respects its partners and customers. “The first step is to take a closer look at the product quality: the higher it is, the greater your chances of success,” says Alena Krasnobryzhaya, independent sales director at Mary Kay. You definitely won't have to blush for Mary Kay products: the company has its own research centers, the brand's portfolio contains more than 1,500 patents, plus over the past two years the company has won more than 100 awards from beauty industry experts in the European region. Reputation is also important: for example, over 57 years in the global market, Mary Kay has become one of the most successful and respected, including thanks to the principle of “treat people the way you want them to treat you” formulated by the founder Mary Kay Ash. Mary Kay is fully supported by its Link & Learn portal for independent beauty consultants, with 24/7 access and free training at all stages of business. The portal contains information on core competencies, sales techniques and company culture.

Myth 2. Direct sales are always promises of "free cheese", which does not exist

If this is your point of view, you don't have to leave your comfort zone by all means - start from afar. “Fear and anxiety are normal, they are often caused by a small amount of knowledge and a lack of understanding of the real tasks of an independent beauty consultant, - explains Alena Krasnobryzhaya, - do not rush to start sales, be a client: this way you can find out what the business of a consultant is. and you will also form an opinion about the products from your personal experience. " In addition, the company does not make unrealistic promises and does not guarantee mountains of gold without effort, income directly depends on your efforts, motivation and competencies. It is especially important to develop soft skills - communication skills, thanks to which you can understand people, be friendly and customer-oriented. Many companies in the CIS are just beginning to develop these skills, and at Mary Kay they formed the basis of their business model.

Myth 3. Nobody in my environment is engaged in direct sales, and I will not

Take a closer look at your friends: would you like to imitate them in everything? In this case, there is a suitable quote: "Try to use less advice from people who do not live the way you want to live." Alena Krasnobryzhaya experienced this phrase from her own experience: shortly before the start of cooperation with Mary Kay, she moved to another city, and she had no confidence in success and stability. How did she manage to build her business? Alena shares: “I began to observe women who had already worked with the company for three, five or more years. I was inspired by their standard of living, their appearance, the quality of their thoughts and values. I drew a parallel with my previous career experience, and the comparison was not in its favor. I was firmly aware of what I would like to see myself in a decade and what kind of life to live at this time. An understanding appeared in me that with some effort I could live the way I would like it to be. As I studied how the Mary Kay business was organized, I understood better that this is the kind of company that can provide the support, support and knowledge that allows women to be successful and to control their own destinies. " It turns out that it is important to focus not on stereotypes from others, but on your goals. As the saying goes, if you want to get what you never had, you need to do what you have never done.

Mary Kay Sales Director Christina Kurtz is a young mom

Myth 4. The career ladder is possible only in working on a schedule in the office

No, no! Today there is an opportunity to grow in any comfortable area, for example, in business or freelancing. Another question is to what extent you are ready to take responsibility for your progress: in working for yourself, no one will say that you are now not a junior, but a senior employee - income speaks for itself. For example, independent sales director and young mother Christina Kurtz began her development in her student years, 8 years ago: then she bought Mary Kay cosmetics, and soon her classmates were inspired by her makeup and skin quality and bought products on her advice. So the first clients came to her. Since then, her income has increased significantly and far exceeds the average salary in her city, and she not only consults and sells products, but also leads a team of independent beauty consultants. She earned the status of an independent sales director by being extremely successful in her business, and now he brings her additional income - so only you decide how much you will grow in the profession.

Myth 5. If you want the task to be done well, do it yourself

You understand that it is no coincidence that companies are divided into departments: some people cannot manage finances professionally and cooperate with influencers in the same way. The same is true in your own business: at a certain stage, it is important to learn how to delegate responsibilities, otherwise the family will forget how you look. “It was difficult for me, before I started working with Mary Kay, I thought that if you want to do something well, do it yourself,” says Christina Kurtz. “But now my position has changed: there are many talented girls in my team who reveal their potential every day, and I just help them in this.” So, if there is an opportunity to entrust part of your responsibilities to someone else, do it: by maintaining a healthy environment for growth and teaching "newcomers", you share knowledge and help to go the path that you yourself have already overcome. Mary Kay has a decades-old system for this, in which experienced consultants help young people and form a tight-knit team.

Myth 6. I can't work on maternity leave

Mary Kay was created by a woman for women, so young mothers are welcome there. According to Christina Kurtz, online training and workshops, online tools and high-quality logistics at Mary Kay help make the business process comfortable even on maternity leave. “The main principles in combining motherhood and business are maximum delegation and daily routine,” says Christina. - In the status of an independent sales director, I was able to afford house helpers, so while the child is with the nanny, I can meet with clients, make business interviews, make calls, conduct training for the team - for everything I give myself 5 hours on weekdays, this noticeably increases my efficiency. " You build your own schedule, so you can spend less time on business and choose the weekend at your own discretion: Christina has Saturday and Sunday, and they are inviolable - no calls or messages.

Finally, motherhood allows you to learn useful work skills that you never knew before. “The combination of business and motherhood taught me to look at things easier, act quickly in a stressful situation, make the right decisions in the shortest amount of time, be creative, accept myself with my imperfections and enhance the qualities that have always been in me: the desire to learn, diplomacy, passion to being well-groomed, the ability to explain complex things in simple language”, - lists Christina Kurz.

We have told you all the intricacies of the direct selling business, so now you are fully armed: try your strength, study and earn money comfortably - it does not matter if you are a student or a young mother. And most importantly - do not doubt your decisions: there are enough people who will question them. But Mary Kay and I believe in you - success in the coming year!