PinkLighthouse.com

Kristen Almost Joined and Wants to Tell You Her Story

L J — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:59:21 +0000

Your Name: “Kristin”

Date Joined Mary Kay: Didn’t! (Almost did recently)

When Left Mary Kay or Still Active?: Just a customer

Initial Inventory Purchased: Nothing, thank God!

How were you recruited?: OK, so I’d like to share my story, because I *almost* joined recently.

It all started when I was duped into “winning” a “facial” over a year ago by an MK rep who had staked out my gym. After this disappointing facial “party”, where I sat in a run-down building next to strangers and applied teeny bits of product to my OWN face, I was pressured until I caved in and bought a skin care product. Over the next year, I occasionally got catalogs in the mail.

Then one day, I got a call from a woman who had taken over the other lady’s customers. She invited me to a training session.

Memorable experience you had in Mary Kay:
So I show up to the training thinking that my new MK consultant is going to be there. The director asks me whose guest I am, and I tell her and mention that I’m wondering if the consultant will be there. Of course, the director says she knows her but she fails to inform me that this woman lives clear in another state and never had ANY intention of being there! The director asks me how I met the consultant, and I tell her that she took over for another lady who once sold me a product. Then the director goes, “Well, she must have thought an awful lot of you to invite you here!!!”

…wtf? Do you REALLY think I can’t see through that fake smile of yours? …I shrug it off and sit down.

Suddenly there appears another consultant next to me who doesn’t know that I’m “taken.” If we were in a bar, I’d say she was seriously coming on to me. Suddenly the director interrupts us and informs her that I’m already spoken for.

“That’s OK! No problem! Golden rule!” the woman next to me blurts out awkwardly.

So I sit through the meeting and listen to the director drone on and on about herself the ENTIRE time- how she’s been selling MK since the age of the dinosaurs, how this is her 50th free car, etc.

And then I watch as people compare notes on how much they sold. I see the cheesy pin prizes, and I watch as the director congratulates one of the consultants on her accomplishment of being eligible to… guess what… BUY an ugly red jacket with an MK logo. (No offense to anyone who particularly likes that jacket but seriously, it’s like having to buy a bridesmaids dress that you will never wear again.)

After the meeting they give me one of those facials. That’s right, the one where I actually give MYSELF the facial.

And then all of a sudden, the director is on me like a badger. “So which skincare set are you interested in purchasing?” Umm, didn’t I just say like 50 times that I like the cleanser I already have? Why are you trying so hard to sell me the ONLY thing I specifically DON’T NEED???

“Well, I really don’t need the cleanser,” I protest.

“They are all designed to go together,” she says, smiling.

After about 5 minutes of this, she gives up and starts trying to sell me the new EXTREMELY SPECIAL and RARE $50 kit. Everyone ELSE had to pay $100, you see.

“Well, what’s in it?” I ask.

Silence.

“I mean, you sort of need product up-front in order to sell, right? Is there enough in here so that I can start selling?”

You should have seen their faces! They looked like deer in the headlights. I watched them all look at each other and pause and not know what to say. So instead they just hand me a pamphlet which shows how much MORE I’d get with the $50 kit and why I shouldn’t delay. Of course, it fails to mention that the size of the kit is SMALLER than the $100 kit and isn’t even enough to hold a class.

Meanwhile, I ask, “Does anyone have a kit that I can see, so I know exactly what comes in it?” Of course, nobody does. One woman pulls out a few of those one-time use samples and says how I’d get a bunch of them and how there is enough in them that customers can use them 2 or 3 times each.

In the end, I bought ONE product- the one that I actually NEEDED.

I don’t have any hard feelings for any of the MK girls. I know they’re just doing their job and trying to get by. The director rubbed me the wrong way, but luckily I’m not her customer. I don’t mind paying full price for MK products when I need them. I simply don’t appreciate being badgered- especially when the person is wearing a totally fake smile.

What did you learn from Mary Kay?: I learned not to be afraid to ask the “hard” questions and to always check stuff out on the internet and talk to people if I have a funny feeling. And most importantly- to follow my instincts!

What are you doing now?: At the moment, I’m enjoying a nice glass of wine.

Additional Comments: Good luck to everyone out there!

Your Name:                      "Kristin"
Date Joined Mary Kay:           Didn't! (Almost did recently)
When Left Mary Kay or Still Active?: Just a customer
Initial Inventory Purchased:    Nothing, thank God!

How were you recruited?:
OK, so I'd like to share my story, because I *almost* joined recently.

It all started when I was duped into "winning" a "facial" over a year ago by an MK rep who had staked out my gym. After this disappointing facial "party", where I sat in a run-down building next to strangers and applied teeny bits of product to my OWN face, I was pressured until I caved in and bought a skin care product. Over the next year, I occasionally got catalogs in the mail.

Then one day, I got a call from a woman who had taken over the other lady's customers. She invited me to a training session.

Memorable experience you had in Mary Kay:
So I show up to the training thinking that my new MK consultant is going to be there. The director asks me whose guest I am, and I tell her and mention that I'm wondering if the consultant will be there. Of course, the director says she knows her but she fails to inform me that this woman lives clear in another state and never had ANY intention of being there! The director asks me how I met the consultant, and I tell her that she took over for another lady who once sold me a product. Then the director goes, "Well, she must have thought an awful lot of you to invite you here!!!" 

...wtf? Do you REALLY think I can't see through that fake smile of yours? ...I shrug it off and sit down.

Suddenly there appears another consultant next to me who doesn't know that I'm "taken." If we were in a bar, I'd say she was seriously coming on to me. Suddenly the director interrupts us and informs her that I'm already spoken for.

"That's OK! No problem! Golden rule!" the woman next to me blurts out awkwardly.

So I sit through the meeting and listen to the director drone on and on about herself the ENTIRE time- how she's been selling MK since the age of the dinosaurs, how this is her 50th free car, etc. 

And then I watch as people compare notes on how much they sold. I see the cheesy pin prizes, and I watch as the director congratulates one of the consultants on her accomplishment of being eligible to... guess what... BUY an ugly red jacket with an MK logo. (No offense to anyone who particularly likes that jacket but seriously, it's like having to buy a bridesmaids dress that you will never wear again.)

After the meeting they give me one of those facials. That's right, the one where I actually give MYSELF the facial. 

And then all of a sudden, the director is on me like a badger. "So which skincare set are you interested in purchasing?" Umm, didn't I just say like 50 times that I like the cleanser I already have? Why are you trying so hard to sell me the ONLY thing I specifically DON'T NEED???

"Well, I really don't need the cleanser," I protest.

"They are all designed to go together," she says, smiling.

After about 5 minutes of this, she gives up and starts trying to sell me the new EXTREMELY SPECIAL and RARE $50 kit. Everyone ELSE had to pay $100, you see.

"Well, what's in it?" I ask.

Silence.

"I mean, you sort of need product up-front in order to sell, right? Is there enough in here so that I can start selling?" 

You should have seen their faces! They looked like deer in the headlights. I watched them all look at each other and pause and not know what to say. So instead they just hand me a pamphlet which shows how much MORE I'd get with the $50 kit and why I shouldn't delay. Of course, it fails to mention that the size of the kit is SMALLER than the $100 kit and isn't even enough to hold a class.

Meanwhile, I ask, "Does anyone have a kit that I can see, so I know exactly what comes in it?" Of course, nobody does. One woman pulls out a few of those one-time use samples and says how I'd get a bunch of them and how there is enough in them that customers can use them 2 or 3 times each. 

In the end, I bought ONE product- the one that I actually NEEDED. 

I don't have any hard feelings for any of the MK girls. I know they're just doing their job and trying to get by. The director rubbed me the wrong way, but luckily I'm not her customer. I don't mind paying full price for MK products when I need them. I simply don't appreciate being badgered- especially when the person is wearing a totally fake smile. 

What did you learn from Mary Kay?: I learned not to be afraid to ask the "hard" questions and to always check stuff out on the internet and talk to people if I have a funny feeling. And most importantly- to follow my instincts!
What are you doing now?:        At the moment, I'm enjoying a nice glass of wine.    
Additional Comments:            Good luck to everyone out there!

Sherri Is Trying to Make Mary Kay Work for Her

L J — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:42:09 +0000

Your Name: Sherri

Date Joined MK: 01/15/2008

When Left MK or Still Active?: Active

Initial Inventory Purchased: 4800 (nieve) Big mistake

How were you recruited?: Lovely facial I though would be given to me!

Memorable experience you had in MK: My Jan 2009 Skin Care Class! I couldn’t do it quick enough. No one listened, everyone complained, rude and disrespectful!

What did you learn from MK?: Alot and paid the price as you can see by my inventory! That is what happens when you put faith in someone you think is looking out for you because I had not clue in sales and feel I was taken advantage of! Don’t come into MK with a large inventory until you know how your sales are going to be and how you work it. Only buy 1 or 2 of the new products until you find out if it selling. Just be cautious with how much you buy. Mary Kay is not bad company it is the people you come in contact with who are making it bad. People definately disappoint you, which includes customers, referrals, directors. Not all of them but alot of them. Difficult to know who you can trust in MK, there is alot of misrepresentations with leaving things out. Some not being completely honest. with things. Very shocked with alot of it because I truly don’t believe Mary Kay would have run her company the way I have seen it!

What are you doing now?: Continuing my full time job and trying to make Mary Kay work for me!

Additional Comments: Just trying to hang in there and ge as mucht info from as many as I can to make this work! Being the honest person I am and being true to myself!

Angela Realized It’s Cheaper to Buy Your Own “Star Consultant” Prize

L J — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:06:34 +0000

Your Name: Angela

Date Joined MK: April 30, 2009

When Left MK or Still Active?: Active

Initial Inventory Purchased: Just the kit

How were you recruited?: My friend sent a mass email telling everyone in January stating the commission was 50%. I never knew this and I certainly didn’t want to keep paying full price so I asked for more info. Her director called me up and kept houding me to sign, but I didn’t have the $99 on hand to buy a kit. That’s when payment options were mentioned, etc. Huge red flag! I held off, but still wanted to give it a try if I was able. The minute I did sign up I was asked to listen to a Calling Tree option about inventory purchase. How did I miss that in the fine print?? I had just had a baby and wasn’t working and my husband was leaving the military so the money definitely wasn’t there and wouldn’t be there for a while.

Memorable experience you had in MK: The day my recruiter called to tell me she was losing her team because she wasn’t getting he sales in. Our director, who is hell-bent on having a Cadillac by Christmas, told her to go sell plasma, have a yard sale, and take out a loan from the bank to buy some inventory. It’s getting really bad because it’s close to the 15th- End of Quarter! Oh no! *hearty eye roll*

What did you learn from MK?: People who really do want the best for me won’t pressure me into making bad decisions that really only benefit themselves in the end. I’m so thankful for websites like these that help women though the toxic pink BS that’s heaped on daily.

What are you doing now?: Exploring other options. I just emptied out my kit and am keeping things for personal use. I’ll just quietly go inactive (hopefully it’s possible?) I have no problem with the products just some of the people and their questionable practices.

Additional Comments:

The prizes. Seriously? Right now there’s a Motorola® Bluetooth® Speaker for the car in the Star Consultant brochure if you make 3,600 Emerald. I just bought it for my husband for father’s day for $90. I didn’t have to have inventory or badger all my friends or Satin Hands strangers at the mall. I just went out and bought it myself.

Jen is a New Consultant Trying to Sell Enough to Place Her First Order

L J — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:12:20 +0000

Your Name: Jen

Date Joined MK: July 2009

When Left MK or Still Active?: Active

Initial Inventory Purchased: 600 dollars or less

How were you recruited?: I had been looking to work at MAC or Sephora since makeup is one of my loves, but never got hired. Then, I met a consultant at Eat N Park, and knew it was a sign hehe.

Memorable experience you had in MK: My first party… I only had 2 women there besides my mother and sister, and I still made tons and tons of money! And I got to do what I love- beauty and make up!

What did you learn from MK?: To be responsible and stop procrastinating in everything I do.

What are you doing now?: Trying to sell as much as I can so I can put in my first wholesale order. I hope I can sell 600 dollars of product, but I might have to do $400 wholesale. Either way, I wasn’t pushed into paying anything, my recruiter even paid for my starter kit because I couldn’t afford it! And gave me a whole satin hands kit to use, too! She’s awesome!

Additional Comments: So far, everything has been awesome for me in Mary Kay. I read other stories on here, and couldn’t believe that people would treat others that way… however, I don’t think that has anything to do with Mary Kay in general, it just has to do with the individuals you are dealing with. If someone is a bad person in general, they are a bad person whether they work for Mary Kay or not. Luckily, all the women I work with are so helpful and understand my situation as far as not being able to afford orders on my own. So I am selling my way into making my first wholesale order. Wish me luck!

Donald Trump Starts His Own MLM

L J — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:48:27 +0000

Donald Trump has jumped on the MLM bandwagon with the debut of his Trump Network.

Great. Just what we need. Another celebrity lending their face to an MLM scheme.

After all, if Donald Trump has gotten into MLM that must mean that MLM is a valid business structure as all the MLMers tout, right? If Donald Trump is in MLM it must be great, right?

Wrong and wrong.

Obviously associating Donald Trump’s face with a “business opportunity” is an attempt to add legitimacy to not only his little MLM venture but the industry as well.

I can just hear all the MLMers now, in their recruitment schpeels: “MLM must be great. After all, Donald Trump apparently thinks so.”

The Trump Network products are a strange lot: There’s an in-home test to assess whether you’re getting the proper level of nutrients; The Silhouette Solution, a meal plan that looks similar to things like Jenny Craig, to help you shed that unwanted weight; and QuikStik, described as a “Mood Infusion beverage.”

Oh brother…another supplement and nutrition MLM. Why? Because you can make up anything you want and market it as effective. The FDA doesn’t regulate these types of supplements, so you can basically claim what you want without fear of having to prove it. Then charge a pretty price.

And like a good businessman, Donald makes sure that if you sign up to sell his products, you must accept a monthly auto-ship of the products, which will cost you $129.20 per month.

All the typical trappings of an MLM are there, including a “fast start bonus” for recruiting others quickly and your own website, which you can have for $19.95 a month.

Donald Trump is a businessman who’s counting on his name recognition to add credibility to his MLM business and thus make him a fortune. With this venture, however, he’s completely lost any credibility in my eyes. His MLM is just the same old hype in a new package.

Did Bill Clinton Endorse Network Marketing?

Erica Was Drunk at Many of Her Mary Kay Meetings

L J — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:58:24 +0000

Your Name: Erica W.

Date Joined MK: July ??? (guess it wasn’t that important since I can’t really remember.. LOL!!) of 2008

When Left MK or Still Active?: As of right now, I am considered “IN-active”.. And I don’t plan on becomming active again any time soon! But I think I went inactive this last May??

Initial Inventory Purchased: $2600?? Yeahup.. Still pretty dissapointed in myself about that one too!

How were you recruited?:

Ugh!! Well, I havta say that it all stemmed from me having the YEAR FROM HELL! I was going through a crappy divorce.. Living in a new town (away from my friends and family) that didn’t even have a WAL-MART! And I just felt so desperate and lonely. I lost my factory job, I was humiliated, I had to fight tooth and nail just to get unemployment, and I had also formed a nasty little drinking habit too by then.. This made me even MORE gullible and easy to take advantage of! =( So, I visited a nearby tanning salon and seen a little box encouraging customers to fill out their name and phone number to “win a queen for a day makeover”. Silly me.. I assumed it was a makeover AT THIS PARTICULAR SALON!! Well, needless to say.. I found out that I “won” when my future-recruiter had called to tell me all about MK and to set up a day for this alleged “badgering”.. OOPS.. I mean “pampering”!! LOL! And, hey.. Like I said.. I was in a dark place in my life at this time and really wanting to snap out of it and bring some positivity into my life, so I went for it. I went to her house, had her try all these products out on me. And to be honest, YES.. I liked the product and I liked the consultant. Alot. And she picked up on it b/c I am just so damn “readable”. Well, then she started inviting me to all these little “glamour meetings” and whatnot, and I had found them to be very uplifting. It was a breath of fresh air in my life and I really felt like all these women were really terrific. I don’t think I had ever been a part of such estrogen-fueled bonding in my whole damn life and I loved it. Well, THEY all picked up on it. Lo and behold, a week or so later, I am at a local restaurant w/ recruiter and sales director for the “gang-bang-initiation”.. OOPS.. I mean “coke or coffee”. Miss Director didn’t even let poor Mz. Recruiter get a word in edgewise. It DID seem a little shady.. But I couldn’t say NO!! These women were so damn geeked up on MK, that I wanted to snort 20 starter kits to get on their level!! Hehe! And, seriously, like, it is ONLY $100 .. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOOSE?!?!?! This is the opportunity of a LIFETIME!!

So after the paperwork was signed, fast forward through the next month or so, I attend my director’s director’s house (or I should say MANSION!!) and the “Black and White Ball” and a host of other MK “rah-rah” get-togethers and I really thought that given enough optimism and practice and endless pursuit of nagging the bejezuz outta my pals.. I could really turn this into a career!

Hmmmm…. It’s harder than ya think!

The MK girls always preached about “never giving up”, hanging in there, being strong… blah, blah, blah…

But when you are the only “girly-girl” out of all your tomboy friends (who don’t even know HOW to apply makeup).. Or your friends are so friggin’ poor that going from “Wet and Wild” brand to Maybelline is an UPGRADE for them… You KNOW your gonna have a hard time trying to get them to purchase let alone come over for a facial.

Fast forward over the NEXT few months.. I am now happily employed FULL-TIME at a new factory job that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, have LESS time for the MK, can’t attend the monday “glamour meeting” at my director’s house ~25 minutes away!!

So, now I am the “failure”.. That is how they were making me feel!!

Let me tell you the things that happened over the course of my short MK “journey” that made me despise mostly everything about my Director and recruiter (ok, so I STILL like the recruiter… but there were moments where she REALLY ticked me off!) If I have ANY negative feelings about this company, it is because I felt BULLIED and TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF!

These women KNEW that I wasn’t planning on being a “full-time” MK girl. They KNEW I was looking for a job.. So why PUSH ME INTO BUYING $2600 WORTH OF PRODUCT??? HOW STUPID IS THAT?? Absolutely RIDICULOUS!!

Plus.. what makes me even MORE upset, is that after KNOWING everything I went thru that year, and KNOWING that I was desperately seeking a REAL job with a GUARANTEED income, my MK recruit was actually UPSET when I had gave her the news that I had been hired at a new factory. Yup.. She wanted me to “work my business” full-time just like her… BUT, I didn’t even mention this yet.. I take a $170-a-month medication.. And after being kicked off of my ex-husband’s insurance AND losing my old job, paying that amount of money for monthly medication is HARD! I NEEDED health insurance. My recruiter?? Guess what. She gets MEDICAID! That’s right! She milks the system!! Lives with her “baby-daddy”, get’s free food and health care and she STILL struggles. Hmmm… I guess she heard of that one saying that’s popular in MK~ “fake it til you make it”?? B/c she has the latest and greatest when it comes to computers and cell phones and gadgets, and her bf is remodeling the house they live in. Who knew that welfare could look SOOOO GLAMOUROUS?!?!?!

Excuse me, but WHAT A CROCK OF B.S.!!!! How could she have so little sympathy for me? How could she be so self-absorbed? Oh, I know the answer to that one!! Because she was USING me to accomplish HER personal MK goals.. She wasn’t encouraging me to achieve MY GOALS!!! Whatever my goals should have been at that time, the “hurricane Mary Kay” swept through, setting me back about a year or two!!

My recruit actually pressed me to apply for the MK credit card, and I did… Well, my initial inventory order was her key to the red jacket. At the last minute, I was starting to back out of making a HUGE inventory order and I told my recruiter this.. 10 minutes later the friggin’ DIRECTOR calls me and explains that she had this HUGE celebration planned for my recruitor and it ALL depended on MY inventory order.. ” Oh, but she is even inviting family from out of town for this event, and it would just be SOOOO dissapointing and embarrassing if you went back on this now”… GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! You wanna talk “humiliation and dissapointment???!!!! Watch the movie of my life this last year and you will see HUMILIATION AND DISSAPOINTMENT!!

There were also times when the director REALLY pushed my buttons.. Like, when we were at a big ol meeting, and I was talking to my recruiter.. the director came over to me and actually KNOCKED ON MY HEAD with a CLOSED FIST and piped, “pay attention”!!

Heck, I guess as long as you “say it with a cute little smile”, that makes it okay to physically assault someone…

Maybe next time I get ticked off at somebody I will kick them in the groin with a SMILE on my face and talk really cute.. Because that will make it legal and acceptable.

So, anyways, once I really start training at the new job now, I didn’t have time to return the annoying phone calls of my recruiter. At first, I guess she thought that I’d be her “puppet” and place an order every MONTH (yeah, like I needed MORE product after ordering $2600 worth of it the month before?!?!?!)..

Later on that month, me and the bf go downtown to the bar because the town is having their annual Cruise Night celebration, and we bump into the husband of a gal in my unit. The bf tells him that what HE thinks of the MK crap (and believe me, it aint positive!) So, the hubby runs and tells the wifey, then the wifey runs and tells my director, who in turn tells my recruiter at the next meeting, but does it in a way that could humiliate Satan himself.

Thus, the recruiter calls me in TEARS , ranting and raving.. while I’m driving home from work. And it took EVERYTHING I had inside of me to try not to laugh and/or freak out and hang up. I eventually calmed her down and reassured her. Ugh. That was a “challenge” in itself!

After that whole ordeal, I think she finally realized that she cannot PUSH a human being into doing whatever she wants at all times.. Also, this was a time where I was finally starting to sober up as well. I went from drinking from morning to night EVERY DAY (back when I first joined) ~ probably atleast 10-20 shots of vodka a day.. to just drinking like that on weekends.. to now, NEVER drinking!!!! Truthfully, I almost want to say that I felt like I HAD to regain control of my life because whenever I got drunk, people knew it… Like they had “drunken idiot pushover” radar. My recruit was one of them (with that particular radar).. And the only way to stand up for myself was to regain sobriety and, in turn, re-growing my balls in order to JUST SAY NO!!

Don’t get me wrong.. Along the way I DID bond with my recruiter. We are around the same age, and I am perceptive enough to see that this is her living. MK is her everything. She is not very happy with her personal life. She hurts inside and her bf isn’t so nice to her. The MK meetings are uplifting to her. It’s HER escape. But it is a costly and hard to maintain one. Mary Kay is her “crack rock” and could very well be just as costly. Sorry. But I just happened to give up the crack when I gave up the vodka.. So to hell with it. I’m BACK IN CONTROL BABY!! =D

Memorable experience you had in MK:

Uhm, well.. There were quite a few. Actually, I am shocked that I DID remember them b/c I was drunk at many of them (even though MK frowns upon that sorta thing..) But I must say that the most memorable experience was throwing my “debut party”.. I called almost EVERYBODY in my address book. Emailed EVERYBODY.. Made huge lists of ideas, people, suggestions. I put 100% of my effort and focus into it. I scrubbed this house from top to bottom. Bought sushi as hors’devours. Bought PLENTY of booze. Bribed friends. Did whatever I could to get people here. PROMISED them a great time!! Well, needless to say, it was a HUGE disappointment! I felt so much pressure come “party time”, I ended up doing 5 shots of vodka in a row. The director was being a bossy loud-mouth and interrupting my friends when THEY wanted to talk. The recruiter stood there like a puppet for the director with one thumb up her butt and the other one displaying MK product. Then, my poor mother calls in the middle of the meeting, UPSET because she got lost in this town on the way over here.. I had to leave the party to go and find her.. And the director acted upset about that!!!

Most of my friends LEFT in the middle of the party and it was OBVIOUS that they were ticked off about my director’s pushy and overbearing attitude. I only made about 26$ in sales. I had 4 bookings and followed though with only 2 of them. After the party, I called my recruiter and she told me that the director was dissapointed with the party because nobody seemed serious about it. HELLO?!?!?! It was suppose to be a PARTY.. Not a Nazi meeting with Hitler!! She also told me that I should be grateful because our director is one of the more “easy-going” ones… LMFAO!! She said if it were any other director, they would have WALKED OUT!! Can you believe that?!?! It’s not like we shoved cheetos up our butts and danced around nekked!! Granted, yes, we were drinking. BUT, I was NOT sloppy drunk. If anything, I was a nervous wreck because I had worked so hard for this party and did not feel like it was a success AT ALL!!

What did you learn from MK?:

Hmmm.. Numerous things. If anything, it was an EXPENSIVE refresher course of important lessons in life that I learned before..

That people will tell you ANYTHING to benefit from you. That you are nothing but a “rung on the ladder” for them to step on and climb over. That as long as you ALLOW people to walk all over you, they will. That I really don’t NEED to “belong” to any group or anybody… I am my OWN person!! That vodka makes me susceptible to being taken advantage of.

I’ve learned that it is incredibly easy to be fake. I’ve learned that as long as you have a fake smile and a sweet voice, you can hit somebody in the head and insult and humiliate them and make it appear of “constructive critisism”. I’ve learned that no matter how glamorous people dress, look or act… They still have just as many (or more) issues than you. I’ve learned that you will never get true sympathy from hardly anybody for unfortunate life circumstances unless you are suffering a terminal illness and laying on your death bed. I’ve learned not to EVER give anybody a clue about my credit score or savings or finances WHATSOEVER because they will try to find a way to manipulate me into benefitting them somehow. I’ve learned that beauty is only skin deep (Or that inch layer of MK Foundation deep). I’ve learned that your TRUE friends won’t make you wear a skirt and “bring a dish to pass” in order to hang out with them… Because they want you for your companionship, not for increasing their commission. I’ve learned that the more you push people, the more their feet are gonna be walking towards the door. I’ve learned that there is nothing MORE SATISFYING than a 100% GUARANTEED paycheck (which is normally acquired through an hourly paid REAL job). I’ve learned that health insurance is VERY IMPORTANT.. So up your pink cadillac if your packin’ the medicaid card!!! Hahaha… I’ve learned that if your bf has a 15-year-old daughter, you should probably HIDE YOUR MK INVENTORY and/or keep very good track of it!!! And last but not least… Probably most IMPORTANTLY.. ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.. (O.K.. AND BOYFRIEND..) IF THEY SENSE THAT SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO HARM YOU INSTEAD OF HELP YOU… AND DON’T INVEST MONEY IN THESE MANIPULATORS!!

What are you doing now?:

I am currently growing and learning every day. My life has done a complete 180 within the last year (or ever since I got hired at my REAL job!!) I work in a mill, I operate HEAVY machinery, I drive a forklift, I have a total MAN’S job and I put in over 60 hours a week… But I still wear my makeup and gel/acrylig nails! I’m still a girly-girl.. Just one who actually MAKES (not loses) money now!!

I am staying sober.. I’m trying my hardest to make my bf happy. I’m trying to build up a good savings account too… One that nobody (no divorce, no Mary Kay) can ever grab and take away from me. I am trying my hardest to build up and regain what was lost during my “year of utter hell”.

Additional Comments: I know… I didn’t give it a chance to “work my business”.. I’m a “quitter”, I’m LAZY, I didn’t “BEE-LIEVE” (ugh, gag-me!!) OKAY.. Well, maybe some of you MK girls CAN make it work… But it’s just NOT for me.. What else can I say?!?!?! I learned my lessons and I’m moving on. Best of luck to those out there who really know or feel that they can make a career out of it… Now… anybody care to trade any items?!?!?! I HATE the bella perfume and I got stuck with a bottle of it (director ordered it for me)… But I LOVE the subtle tan lotion and the mattifying lotion, Clean cotton perfume, and all shower gels!!! Hit me up on yahoo: purrcy_7880

Anna Would Like Mary Kay to Be Decent Supplemental Income

L J — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:52:17 +0000

Your Name: Anna

Date Joined MK: 5/2005

When Left MK or Still Active?: active

Initial Inventory Purchased: can’t remember if it was $200 or $600

How were you recruited?: I actually tracked down my director. I worked with her daughter as a missionary and had used the products a year and a half prior to that and LOVED them. She told me her mom was a director and I decided I wanted to join before I even met with her.

Memorable experience you had in MK: My first great week. I worked my business hard and saw direct benefits from it.

What did you learn from MK?: That your attitude really does determine your altitude. I used to have a tendency to think negatively but now I am learning to think positively and believe in my own abilities.

What are you doing now?: First and foremost a young wife and homemaker. I am also working at building my Mary Kay business into the best I can make it.

Additional Comments: I started Mary Kay 4 years ago after returning from an 18 month mission in South America. Another young woman I worked with and grew close to was the daughter of a Mary Kay director and answered all my questions about the company. After returning home I knew I wanted to become a consultant at least to get my 50% discount. Life happened and I was almost constantly inactive. I barely ordered enough to stay in the company. After my wedding three and a half years after signing my agreement I had to re-evaluate my position in life including if I was going to work my business into it or not. I decided that I want to be a part of this company and that it will help me fulfill my life long dream of being a stay at home mother while still helping me meet my emotional needs (seeing other women instead of being stuck in home with the kids all day, and feeling like I have some of my own money). Part of the reason I’d never worked my business was because I was afraid that all my friends and acquaintances would start seeing me as somebody who was constantly harassing them to buy something from me. I have learned that this isn’t the case. Mary Kay has helped me become friends with more people. I treat people like people and if they want to buy product that’s great and if not I’ve still made a new friend. I love being able to use my creativity to it’s full extent for the first time since I was little. I love using my business as a reason for making people feel good by doing things such as giving guests a gift at parties, sending thank you cards in the mail telling them I appreciate them. These are all things I love to do and my Mary Kay business gives me a reason to do it. Even if all I ever do is break even in Mary Kay it’s worth it just for me to be able to express myself this way. However, I do plan on it making me a descent supplemental income. I would like to become a director one day because I know I would be such an awesome, non-pushy, inspiring, director and help women develop self confidence. It seems to me that most women who got burned by the company either made too great of an inventory investment, had a crummy director, or didn’t feel comfortable trying to do sells. Mary Kay isn’t for everyone, but I’m sure glad that I have it.

A House Fire Cut Short Lori’s Time As a Sales Director

L J — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:07:19 +0000

Your Name: Lori Van Ryckeghem

Date Joined MK: 11/2001

When Left MK or Still Active?: Still Active

Initial Inventory Purchased: 600

How were you recruited?: A facial of course! By my Senior MaryJo Dallen I was a Mary Kay Sales Director for 2 yrs.Until the fire.

Memorable experience you had in MK: When I went to Dallas and was in the Queen’s Court of Recruiting! I won my Diamond Bumblebee! That was Awesome! I love being a Mary Kay Sales Director! Or I was a Mary kay Sales Director,I will be again!

What did you learn from MK?: I have learned a lot in Mary Kay! How to be a better person and care more about others.I had a fire,my house caught on fire by our Christmas tree,we lost everything.I turned my fire into a blessing,I gave to the soldiers in Iraq,made gift baskets for the elderly,and gave to the women of domestic violence with my Mary Kay products.My product was smoke damaged on the outside not the inside,I did a 50% off sale to feed my boys with no kitchen for a year,people would come to my garage and buy product to help me.I would say that is turning it into a blessing.

What are you doing now?: I am still in MaryKay,but I had to step down from my Mary Kay Sales Director position,It was to hard to run my business while we were trying to rebuild our lives,my boys needed me since we lost everything we owned.

Additional Comments: Being in Mary Kay has helped me to overcome everything in my life! I have been through so many challenges,I am stronger! I have been through domestic violence my self,black toxic mold,skin cancer,loosing a close friend to Aids,my mother in law passing away, which I was very close to.And last but not least,my house catching on fire by our Christmas tree that we just bought.People do not understand how hard life can be,I do.I hope my story can Inspire other women to never give up! And God will use me in a special way for what I have been through.Thanks For Listening To My Story,Lori Van Ryckeghem

Stephanie Joined Mary Kay Twice

L J — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:19:05 +0000

Your Name: Stephanie

Date Joined MK: 2001 / 2005

When Left MK or Still Active?: 2001 / 2006

Initial Inventory Purchased: 3500

How were you recruited?:

2001: Went to a party at the dorm where the local director was the consultant and signed from there.

2005: Ran into a friend who’s mom sold Mary Kay. Signed under her.

Memorable experience you had in MK:

2001: Daily phone calls (even when I was in class) asking how much I sold that day.

2005: Director’s twice daily phone calls and her rude comment about my family ~~ We had just purchased a new puppy whom got really sick. So while she was in K-State Vet Clinic fighting for her life, the conference was a few weeks away.

I was getting daily phone calls from my director with her telling me that I NEEDED TO GO.

About 10 days before deadline the person whom I signed under (she was very nice – no problem with her) called and asked if I had made a decision. When I told her that I had decided I wasn’t going to go because I didn’t want to put my family in that financial pinch since I had just purchased $3000.00 in product. She said she would miss me, but understood completely and wished Opal (pet) luck in getting well.

The final straw happened about 20 minutes later when my director called me house DEMANDING to know why I wasn’t going. When I told her my reason she said: Did your husband know that this is training you couldn’t get here? Does your husband know that you will get nowhere if you don’t attend this conference? Does your husband realize this is YOUR business NOT HIS? Does he realize how stupid he is being right now? Do YOU realize how stupid YOU’RE being right now?

THAT WAS IT! I had enough of her! I had already told her why I, ME, and ONLY ME, had decided not to go – it had nothing to do with him. I informed her it was completely my decision and he was supporting me either way. And from now on, she was not to call my house or talk to my husband, EVER AGAIN!

What did you learn from MK?:

After the 2005 experience, I learned to stand up for myself and my family, so I am grateful for that lesson. Though, I will never say another good thing about this company.

After informing the person whom sign me up in 2005 I was stopping, I went to one last meeting and informed the director I did not appreciate her attitude toward my husband nor did I appreciate her comments about my family or me. I showed her the letter I was sending to Mary Kay so she knew what I was going to form a complaint about. She did not apologize. She said I was making a “HUGE MISTAKE and WOULD REGRET IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!”

After sending the letter to Mary Kay, I was at least expecting a phone call or a form letter – but I got NOTHING! My ex-director had never been contacted about her actions toward my husband or I.

Since leaving, I have found at least 15 to 20 people whom have been under that same director and have all left because of the same treatment of their families and themselves.

What are you doing now?:

I have my own home-based business with a woman’s company whom REALLY does not push…

You do your thing and they are there to help if you ask. But you must ask.

Additional Comments: I believe many experiences with Mary Kay depend on the type of people whom you are under. If you have people who support and not nag then you’re off to a good start. Though, this company does not support that theory – they support – MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN! FORGET WHAT OUR SLOGAN IS!

Lilly Says Don’t Trust Anyone

L J — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:17:10 +0000

Your Name: lilly

Date Joined MK: January 09

When Left MK or Still Active?: still active

Initial Inventory Purchased: 600+

How were you recruited?: Yes, by a so call friend

Memorable experience you had in MK: My first facial without any help.

What did you learn from MK?: I learned how to read people a little more. I have learned that not everything that sounds good is good. Richness doesn’t come so easily.

What are you doing now?: I continue to work. Short of money and with personal problems now, but will learn to survive. I just need to prohibit my kids and myself from having certain things until I pay my huge bill.

Additional Comments: Don’t trust any one, just because they say you can do it, you can make, you make over $8,000 a month. LIES!!!