I'm very flattered

Well, it has been well over a year since I posted anything on this blog, made a video on Youtube, tweeted much, etc. Yet oddly enough, I still have people reading this blog. I even get emails, comments on my blog and a phone call or two from people interested. I'm very flattered that I have a following of some kind. My sole purpose is to assist those who have questions. Feel free to ask any questions. I'll do my best to answer them as quickly as I can.

So, it's a new year and some changes have happened in my life. Mostly, I plan on building my Mary Kay business. I want the things I talk about in this blog. I want to be able to drive a free car from Mary Kay (yes! I will drive around in a pink Cadillac if I earn one--why not? it's free!). I've never owned a brand new car before. Even though I won't technically own this car from Mary Kay, it's still brand new and I get to drive it. And I love that I get a new one every two years, so long as I meet the requirements to earn one. Where else can you go where they'll take your "old" car back and give you a new one every two years? I don't know of many places. Feel free to let me know where these places are. I'm sure others wouldn't mind working for such companies.

I want the trips around the world, the jewelry, the cash bonuses, etc. I am looking for people who want that as well. I want to be a Director, where I can inspire many people to achieve their dreams by teaching, coaching and guiding. I know many ladies who I think would be incredible Directors, if they would just give Mary Kay a chance. I can see them as powerful business women who mentor other ladies. I also know there are men out there who understand the opportunity. I want to inspire them to know that men can sell skin care and make-up just as well as ladies--and the ladies don't mind at all.

I want to find people who want free products from me just for being my customer. I want to spoil those who introduce me to new customers. The only way I am successful at Mary Kay is if I have customers who enjoy the product. I am not a pushy salesperson. I am a CONSULTANT. I consult with you on your skin care needs and help you find the products and tools that help you achieve those needs. And if you can't afford some of the products I have, I am willing to help you earn them for free. What would you buy from Mary Kay if you could get $100 worth of product for free? Contact me and I'll let you know what we can do together so you can earn this $100 shopping spree. I love to give away product (see, I'm not a pushy salesman or I'd not give you anything for free).

In short, I am going to be more dedicated to social media. I am actively interviewing people who want a job. For now, I can only interview those in the United States and its territories. International will come, but one step at a time. I am looking for hosts who want $100 in free product and I am looking for customers who want top customer service and expert consultation.

Feel free to share this with your friends.

Take care!

The Perfect Mary Kay Party

If you've met a Mary Kay Consultant before, no doubt you were asked to host a party. It's always interesting to hear the reactions to this request. It's not as complicated as you may think. I have a few suggestions to make the party easy (and if you use ALL of my suggestions, your work will take about 10 minutes).

First of all, you need a date, time and location. Most ladies like to have the party at their house or apartment. It just makes things easier for the host and all the guests usually know where to go. Plan for an hour and a half. The first 30 minutes, the Consultant will work with you, the hostess and make you gorgeous before the party starts. Every Consultant likes to arrive BEFORE the guests. This gives us time to set up and ask you about your guests. The hour is for your guests (some Consultants like to get out faster--all the better).

You do NOT need to clean your house top to bottom, pull out the good china to serve refreshments on or change to the "guest" towels in the powder room. Since most of the people you invite to your party are your friends, chances are they have been to your house before and seen it in every condition. Your friends are coming to your party to have fun, not check out your cleaning skills. Trust me, most don't care (except for the hostess).

In order to have a successful party, you need to have guests show up. People are busy these days, even in the recession. People forget. Most people need an invitation and 2 reminders to remember to come to any event (not just a Mary Kay event). You do NOT need to plan a party months out in advance. A week or two is really all that is needed. Remember, you will never plan an event that is convenient for all your guests. Just know that some will not be able to come no matter when you schedule it. Just pick a date and time that works for most.

If you host a party with me, I will do the initial invite plus the two reminders. I'm sure if you ask your Consultant, she'll be happy to do the same. You don't need to do anything except provide me the guest list. A guest list includes the name, phone number and preferably the email address of each guest. Most of the time, you can get this off your smart phone. I do understand that some people want permission to give out their name and number. If that is the case, than please get their permission first.

Just be aware that some of your friends will try to talk you out of holding a Mary Kay party for many reasons. They hosted a party before and it was terrible. They didn't like the product. Someone they knew was allergic 20 years ago. If YOU really want to have a party, don't let them talk you out of it. Which is why I suggest you invite 10 people. That should guarantee that 4 will show up. The other six will either be busy, not interested or forget to show up.

If I can, I like to send an email invitation, that includes a personality quiz (which you can post on Facebook and get more interest in your party), the current Mary Kay catalog and the Virtual Make-over. The Virtual Make-over tool is a great way to look at the different make-up styles on various models (or your own picture!). But more on the Virtual Make-over tool in another blog. In addition to the email invitation, I like to call and introduce myself over the phone to your guests. This helps me to get to know them and find out what they are interested in learning. My call also lets them know that a man is the Consultant. It makes a better party. Finally, if I have enough time before your party, I like to send out a post card reminder.

If I do not get the guest list from you, the party does not usually happen. The hostess is frustrated as to why nobody showed up. It then becomes hard to give away any product for free, since the Consultant is not making any money. It is not a win-win situation. The guest list is the single most important step in hosting a successful party.

So who do you invite? You invite friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, people from church, your child's teacher--anyone who you think would like a night out with the girls. The more you invite, the more you will have at your party. It's also a good idea to invite the skin care divas, the make-up goddesses and anyone who might be interested in selling Mary Kay. That usually leads to more sales, which means you get more for free!

So, to wrap things up . . . the Perfect Mary Kay Party has a hostess who decides on a date, time and location with the Consultant and gives a list of guests to the Consultant as soon as possible (the same day or the next day after the party is scheduled is easiest and you won't forget). The Consultant takes care of the invitations, the introductions and the reminders. The Consultant sets up, shows everyone a great time and gives away free product to the hostess. The hostess is only responsible for the guest list. No cleaning, no food preparation, no invitations are necessary. Do them only if you choose. Parties can be in person and even online (although the online parties tend to sell less and aren't as fun).