I was never one to really wear make up. I think that in junior high and high school, I liked to wear it because it was the thing to do, but after that I never had time. I was first introduced to Mary Kay at the beginning of my make up wearing days. I remember going to a class one of my cousins put on when I was very young, and then as I got a little older and got involved, I remember my mom, my sister and I going to a Mary Kay Makeover. I remember all the pink, and the cleaners and moisturizers, but most of all, I remember her inventory closet. It was huge, and it was FULL of make up. I faithfully wore my Mary Kay makeup for a few years, and make sure I was cleaning my face, but after running away from home at 17, I found that things like make up weren’t really on my list of priority's. After finding myself pregnant, I found that I needed to finish high school. I had dropped out the year before, 2 weeks before graduation. I technically graduated, but the school did not give me my diploma, they wanted me to finish the 2 classes that I needed for the course I was on.
So I did it, and then I went from working at McDonald’s to working in a call center. I have always loved working with people and helping them. I met my husband working in one of my call center jobs, and he loved me, without make up even. I could live with this. We got married, and after years of infertility we found ourselves pregnant. Just as we started telling everyone, we lost the baby. The job I had just started before finding out I was pregnant was just a temp to hire. After losing the baby, they decided not to keep me. I had missed to much work, and they didn’t feel it was justified. I got another job very quickly after that, and I had explained what happened. My new supervisor was awesome, so when I found myself pregnant again, he advised me not to tell the others. We had a very small company, I was the 7th employee. So, we didn’t qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act. At my 90th day, I was informed my services were no longer needed. One reason, I had missed to much work, even though it was scheduled. My supervisors hands were tied and he let me go. That was my last “real job.” I decided at that point I was going to work for myself. At the time of my release I was 4 months pregnant. I had no idea what was in store. When I was 28 weeks (12 weeks before full term) I found myself in the hospital, very sick. The night before they were going to release me, my water broke. I found myself then having to be in the hospital until my baby was born. That was 6 days later. She was only 2 lbs 15 ozs, but she was my miracle baby. And she was a fighter. I knew at that point that I would not be able to go back to work for someone else. Her care needs were going to be too high. 6 weeks after birth, she came home to not only me and her sibling and dad, but to the kids I was babysitting as well! It was certainly a juggling act as I had to keep her safe. Over the next 3 years, I had another baby and I found myself getting to a point where I really needed to get out of the house. Babysitting and being home all the time was becoming more than I could bear. I started another home party business, which was great fun, but due to the nature of the product, a lot of people were embarrassed to throw parties, or people would book them and nobody would come so they would cancel.
About the time that I was getting frustrated with my home party business, I got a message on Facebook from a friend I used to play high school with. She had just started a Mary Kay Business and wanted to know if I wanted a free facial! So, we set up a party. I was actually pretty excited, because I did want to buy Mary Kay makeup, if I was going to ever wear makeup. And I knew that I needed to get into skincare again, I just didn’t know how. I felt like I didn’t know anything about cleaning my face (and I really didn’t, trust me). Melissa came over and we gave her a run for her money. Kids everywhere, no tables, not even tv trays. But, we had a blast and while I know things weren’t done perfectly, we didn’t care. We had a blast, we saw the product and we had beautiful faces when we were done. Shortly after, Melissa came to me asking if I’d be interested in doing a Q&A session with her director. I was going to say no, but instead I told her sure, and I was very upfront in letting her know I didn’t have any money for a new business, but that I’m more than happy to help her out and get the experience of doing the interview.
So, we went to coffee and I was really impressed with her director. Lucinda wasn’t pushy, and she listened to me and even took notes when I was talking about my life. When I told her why I don’t like to sell, she told me why that would make me a great Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. I walked away from the meeting wondering if it was something I should do. I called my mom. At that point, I think the only thing that was stopping me was money, and fear. I had already started a home business that wasn’t working. What was I thinking. I had been given a CD to listen to, and I promised I would. But, I found that I wasn’t listening to it. Well, Melissa, the persistent friend that she is, invited me to a Career Breakfast Brunch. I didn’t have to bring anything other than my face. I was going to hear a guest speaker, National Sales Director Cindy Towne. I had no idea what a National Sales Director was, but it sure sounded like someone I wanted to meet. I talked to my mom because I knew I was getting my tax return soon, and there was a possibility that if I signed up that day, I would win 50% off my sign up fee. So, my mom had already told me that if I decided to do it, the money was in my account. The night before the brunch I was a mess. I kept thinking to myself, why are you even going to do this. First off, you aren’t getting any sleep and second, you already know you can’t do this. You have to much going on with the kids, and with Chloe’s autism, and all her therapy. You’re just going to fail at this like you did the other party business. What makes you think this will be any different. Well, I tried to push all that aside and I promised myself if I was asleep by a certain time, I would go. So, I did. I got up, I put my jeans on. I didn’t really care to look presentable, I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I really was just going to support Melissa, and maybe sign up, IF I thought that it wasn’t really all just a scam. I knew I liked the products, that’s not what I was worried about. Well, I get in the car and remember that I have this CD that Melissa and Lucinda gave me to listen to. It was called Platinum Choices, and it was by Linda Tupin, who is also a National Sales director. Her voice was really nice to listen to, and she said something that really stood out to me. She said that a turning point is when you have a day in which you think a different thought, you then take action on that though, and because of that action, you change your life forever. As I was driving and listening to this cd, I started bawling. That was exactly what I needed to hear. I knew that I needed a turning point. I had been going downhill for so long at that point, I knew I needed to turn myself around and do something different, think different! I will sign up, I said to myself as I drove. The doubt was still there though. Then I get to this brunch, there were so many women, and only seats in the front were open. Oh great, I thought to myself as I went up to the front row. But, to be honest I was happy I was going to be so close, have a table in front of me. As Cindy Towne was speaking, it became even more clear to me what I needed to do. I needed to sign that agreement. She said something along the lines of, when God wants you to do something, Satan will do whatever he can to make it so you don’t do it. He’ll tell you that you can’t and try to make it harder. At that point I realized that all the questioning of myself and all the doubt and rejection, that was all from Satan. Mary Kay was something I was supposed to do.
When I tell people why I started Mary Kay, I am honest. It was to get me out of my house and sane again! I love my children dearly, but sometimes I just need a break. Melissa is also a reason I joined Mary Kay. She was, and is, my friend. Friends are something I have been lacking lately. I joined Mary Kay to also make friendships. What keeps me in Mary Kay is the amazing products, the friendship, and the flexibility to make my own hours and not be told that I’m not doing my job right because I need to take a child to the dr. I also love not having to schedule time off to take care of myself, or even to go have a fun day when the weather is nice. I love being able to help women feel beautiful, and to be able to do it at times that work for them. But, the main reason I stay with Mary Kay is because of what it has done to me, inside and out. I know I am not done transforming, so I will stay with Mary Kay so I can bloom to my full potential. I believe that I will be able to make it far in the Mary Kay business, as long as I put my mind to it. And, while I am not yet at the point where I don’t want to be seen without my makeup on in the morning, I am getting much more comfortable with wearing makeup, and trying new techniques. I am also finding that instead of changing how I look, I am able to enhance the beauty that is already there, which is what I want to share with everyone.
If this sounds like something you would like to do, let’s chat.
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