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Wednesday, August 24, 2005

it's...what i do

Hi. My name is Jenny, and I'm a Mary Kay lady. AND I LOVE IT!!! I love the products, I love the company and its philosophy and all it stands for. I love the women (and men) I meet in the company, whether they be clients or fellow consultants. Yes, I am a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. I'd like to tell you my story of how this came to be.

Since right before li'l ~j. was born, for about six and a half years now, I've been a stay-at-home mom. (As they're getting older, I'm getting to be a never-at-home mom.) I feel very blessed to have been in a position to stay at home and raise my children. But, I finally came to admit, I felt unfulfilled. I LOVE that I've been able to stay home, and I love my children, but I had lost any identity that I might have had that was anything other than a diaper-changer, a lunch-fixer, basically, a person who solely associates with tiny people who need me and has primarily 3-year-old conversation.

I had used Mary Kay skin care for a few years, and the cosmetics for a few months (when I was 27 and decided - "Uh, maybe I should learn about, and wear, make-up now.") when I signed up to be a consultant. I was at a collection preview event (checking out all the new products for that quarter), when I started to shake. I know this may sound weird, but I knew I was supposed to sign up to be a consultant. Maybe it was the signing bonus of a cruise that caught my attention, but there I was, with my friend Jen, laughing quietly but hysterically about how I was "totally going to be a Mary Kay lady!!" I went home, still laughing, and told Darin that I was going to sell MK, to which he replied, "Okay. Why are you laughing?" Darin grew up in a family of boys, so I guess he didn't know all that's associated with being a "Mary Kay Lady". That night, I went to Jennifer's house (she is my recruiter and my director) to sign the paper, and there I was. I had my training a few days later. That was last October. And I can honestly say that I have found more fun, friendships, and success in this business than I ever could have dreamed.

I love when people that I know are pleasantly surprised at my new hobby. Before last summer, the only make-up I had ever worn was stage make-up. I think that on my wedding day, I may have worn some mascara, and that was because someone caught me walking out the door and put it on me. I love that I know about make-up now, I've learned some really great skills in that area, and I've learned TONS about skin care.

Along the same lines, it bothers me when people pre-judge my being in this business. See, my primary interest is people. Honestly. Always has been. And, lucky for me, this is a people-based business. I don't look at people and see a dollar sign, that's just not my style. Creating friendships with as many clients as I can is more what I tend to do. I have heard too many horror stories about women who are pushy and make people feel obligated to buy things from them, and that hurts my feelings, because it reflects poorly on the company, and it's not how I run my business. I teach skin care. That's what I do. I also teach make-up application techniques. I can help people get the product they'd like to get. I know this sounds cliche, but I don't even feel like a salesperson. I love when people try the product and love how their face feels - they get healthier skin and feel better about themselves.

My family LOVES that I do this. They are behind me all the way. Darin constantly asks me what he can do to help me. And he loads and unloads the car for me when I do Skin Care Classes. Li'l ~j. tells people, anyone, her friends' moms: "My mommy sells Mary Kay. You could just buy some from her, if you want." (Initially that may seem funny or cute but I've asked her to please NOT do this because I don't want it to seem like I've put her up to it.) Curly loves when I let her try "lippy stuff", and waits up for me each night so that we can wash our faces together. Superstar's too young to know, but I've bought her some really cute clothes & toys with my MK money.

Worst question I've ever been asked: "Do you drive a pink car? (chuckle-chortle-snort)" Okay, you're not the first person to ask this...come up with a better "funny" for me. And to answer your question, no, I don't, why, have you ever seen one driving around? Well, the next time you do, keep in mind that the woman (or man) driving that car earns $5,000 - $100,000/month.

Best question I've ever been asked: "Do you have anything that can cure bacne?" Thanks, Dustin.

As with most of my other posts, I just needed to put this out there. Being a consultant doesn't define who I am, but I love being associated with such an outstanding company.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I loved the "hand facial" you gave me when I got to stay with your family. (My hands look like crap, now. I gotta be more disciplined. I also gotta quit scraping barnacles off boats, but that's another problem)

Anyway, I like that you described MK as a "new hobby," which tells us that you will never be "pushy" (nor probably drive a pink car), but your family comes first and that's why they are so supportive and proud of what you do. (Even if you take an order on the Sabbath ;>)

Anonymous said...

Although the $100K would be nice, would you really want to drive a pink car anyway? It's great that you see it as a hobby, so you don't think of it as work. I'm an accountant, and I like my job. (Don't even ask what's wrong with me...I have no idea.) Some days it's definitely work, other days it's more rewarding. But all in all, a job you hate will drag you right down and make the paycheck not worth it...so keep it up MK lady!

La Yen said...

Whatever. I will always tease you. I will always also buy from you. Is it lippy stuff instead of yippy stuff? So sad..the end of an era

C. Jane Kendrick said...

I loved this post a whole bunch.
Here is a question. I moisturize my dry skin with pure olive oil, is that weird?

P.S. I also brush my teeth with baking soda, straight up.

~j. said...

Aww, thanks, ladies.

Su - I really didn't mind taking that order on Sunday...our ox was in the...I don't know how to spell that word.

Melissa - I'd drive a pink car if it had an engraved plaque on the shotgun side dash that read, "This car was custom-made for Jenny Eckton", which is what it would say. Have you had that baby yet?!

Jen - It's Lippy stuff. And it's not Cway-wa, it's Clara. You should hear her prayers.

cjane - I've never heard of such a thing. Does it work for you? I have a theory, though...a water-based moisturizer might work better. Let me know if you want to try my stuff. And I brush my teeth with Tom's.

C. Jane Kendrick said...

jenny,
i have never tried mary kay...latley i have been, well, not wearing anything. i need to sell something to get my "jucies" flowing...i get bored,

with love stephy

~j. said...

Stephanie - I'll send you some samples in the mail, if you want.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you are a MK Lady! I would never have been able to have such a soft face without your products. Aunt Cathy used Comet Cleanser on her teeth when she was in college. They were dazzling white. Now she has no enamel! or teeth, for that matter.

C. Jane Kendrick said...

hey you got a face lift here hu...i like, does that go with the mary kay package as well?

wendysue said...

Ok, as a dental hygienist I have to comment here. . .

Comet and Aunt Cathy--ouch! Didn't she know that song. . Comet, it makes your teeth turn green, Comet, it tastes like gasoline. . . (We would always sing this while cleaning the tub.)

Cjane-baking soda, straight up? "ouch, ouch, who's rubbing that sandpaper on me?"

Jenny, I think you should be using your own toothbrush and not Tom's.

p.s., I'm not a big make-up wearer either, but I have fond memories of the fabulous MK pink shiny lip gloss EVERYONE wore in 7th grade!!

~j. said...

I changed templates so that I could have a Link List with my favorite blogs on the side. I just can't figure out how to put the links on there. Help a sistah out?

~j. said...

Oh, WendySue...He said I could use it.

And that's something that I love about MK - I used it for years before I ever wore one ounce of make-up. I love the focus on skin care. And that shiny lipgloss popular with the 7th grade crowd...now it's called pink diamonds. Did I mention my website? www.marykay.com/jeckton - go get a virtual makeover.

Bek said...

Jen,

I changed my format initially too to add links and I STILL can't figure it out. Christopher Clark can do it--we should all ask him to tell us.

Mary Kay--While we were at Stanford we had a friend that not only put her husband through school with CASH from her MK job, she took awesome vacations, had a car (but I don't think it was pink--maybe I am wrong) and had 4 kids. It can be done. It takes a certian kind of personality, but it can be done. Good for you. I LOVE the makeup brushes and I think that everyone should own the hand facial stuff. It makes them SO SOFT.

Bek said...

Courtney,

I put straight olive oil on my sons hair. I have been known to use that and avacado oil on his skin too. Granted, his skin and hair doesn't creat it's own oil....It also can rot so it isn't my first choice. It IS the only thing that makes it look nice and shiny, everything else makes his hair look dry again 10 minutes later.

When we were in Italy this year our guide told us that the reason Italian women have good skin and hair is because they use olive oil on it. Then again, I think that if you asked an Italian what their first choice of medicine would be for...cancer...they would skip chemo and guzzle olive oil. They may be a bit biased.

~j. said...

Bek - That's awesome, about your friend from Stanford. I have heard so many success stories like that. My director just earned a car in June, and she'll get it in October - a _silver_ grand prix. I'm glad you like the Brush Set - doesn't it make putting make-up on a million times easier?!

C. Jane Kendrick said...

Bek,
Thanks for the props about the olive oil, I haven't had a blemish since I started using it twice day. Now, the question is, will drinking olive oil cure morning headaches?
WendySue -What is wrong with Toms? And yes, I do love that sandpaper feeling on my teeth, tongue AND gums every morning and night. (That covers all the proper hygiene areas right?)
Jenny -Links. Have you followed the steps on
http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=110&topic=22 ?

C. Jane Kendrick said...

That last ? was mine, don't copy that!

~j. said...

Yes, I've tried that nine times. (Ni-i-i-ine times.)

cabesh said...

Thanks for being my MK lady--I don't have to let anyone else no that I know NOTHING about beauty products.:)
I can help you with your links...even on your old template if you'd like.

~j. said...

Jill, I LOVE that I am your MK lady. And we shall visit teach tonight, and we shall discuss linkage. YAY! (i hope it's okay that i call you jill in this forum...)

cabesh said...

Jill, as always, is fine. Excuse the english oops in my last comment--talking to your 3 year old while typing isn't the best idea.

La Yen said...

As a tribute to you, I finally checked out all of your friends blogs, like you have been telling me to. I want them to be my friends, now. Will you be my friend pimp? (Also, I have a golf-ball retrieval business in Northern ButtTucky, and you might want to check out my link so that I can sell you things. Keep it up!)

wendysue said...

Ok, I have no other comments about HOW people brush their teeth, I'm just happy they do! I think it had been a LONG time for a couple of my patients I saw this morning!!! NNNAAAAAASSSTY!! So, whatever works for ya, keep it up!!

Jenny--I'm heading for a virtual makeover right now! I might need to get me some of those pink diamonds!!

~j. said...

I'm happy to oblige, WendySue. By the way, I haven't commented on your new-fangled thingey on your blog because I don't think my computer has the capacity to run it - it's old. I'm sure it's very cool, though.