A consultant's letter to her Mary Kay sales director.

I want to discuss my feelings with you in person, but I won't be able to say to your face what I'm feeling in my heart. Therefore, here's an email on my future Mary Kay plans. Some of this may hurt; however, I truly feel that you deserve my honesty, so here goes:

 

I'm done…. Over the next two months, I will liquidate all of my Mary Kay inventory in an attempt to recoup my original investment and pay off my debt. I probably have $12K retail of inventory, so I need to move it. Once my two month SALE is over, I will box up whatever's left and return it to corporate for a 90% refund. Even though I have over 250 customers stored in my Beauty Advisor database, I have only about 10-15 that purchase exclusively from me on a regular basis. That's less than 10%! I can't justify thousands of dollars in inventory to service less than 10-15 people. My team members are about to get some new customers.

 

I'm done…. I'm looking for a "REAL J.O.B!" For starters, I desire a job that will respect my intelligence and not play me as a puppet. I want to use my creative, intuitive, and knowledgeable mind and talents to enrich all of society (not just women) in a much larger way. I am a college-educated, professional business woman, and I will exercise my education, knowledge, and experience in a way that doesn't require me to "stalk strangers," push products on unassuming women, and beg friends and family to "financially support" my business. These methods are not only unprofessional, irrational, and unsafe, but they are totally illogical, unacceptable, and reprehensible. Call my dissention "corporate snobbery" but it is THE TRUTH!

 

I'm done…. Every upline director that I know, including you, doesn't even subscribe to the local community newspaper; what is that about? You ask me if I wage your level of intelligence upon this? Yes, I do! It is wrong how sales directors profess your love to change the world by enriching women's lives when you don't even subscribe or know about what's happening in the world, much less your local community! I'm outraged by this lack of awareness. Moreover, I don't want my validation to be contingent upon your constant coaching for me to "move up the MK ladder of success." That is so shallow, and I don't agree with it at all. Also, the 60's style dress code, upline phoniness, and constant secrecy that is reinforced makes my stomach turn.

I'm done…. To hide behind the philosophy of "God First, Family Second, Career Third" is just ludicrous! The current business structure relies heavily on this lie, and you know it is true! I am guilted into feeling like less than valuable whenever I miss an MK event because of a family obligation. Regardless of what you say, the reaction you give, speaks louder than words ever could! This business clouds my judgment of priorities. This is not how I want to live the rest of my life!

 

I'm done….. Unfortunately, this MK business is all about trying to turn water into butter. It doesn't work, no matter how much you want it to. The ingredients have to be there, before you can make the substance. You train us to warm chatter every woman within 3 feet of us, but really the only woman worthy of our time are the ones with some credit. Ironically, though, it's the women fallen, in destitute, and looking for a "window" of opportunity that really want to join the sisterhood of MK. We shovel all kinds of wonderment into their brains and lead them down a path of "bright illusion" only to cause them more despair and financial debt down the road, 99% of the time. So much for enriching women's lives, right?

 

I'm done…. We "aren't allowed" to question; therefore, we can't really know the answers (truth). This is MY business, and as an Independent Business Owner, I NEED to question! If I'm struggling, I need validation, not condemnation! It's so wrong to make me feel bad when I sincerely share my concerns. To acknowledge such concerns is far more healthier than avoiding it or condemning it! God built His entire Word on Truth. The Bible quotes Truth as the emphasis for life action, direction, and future! Without it, we are nothing. Therefore, I feel that staying involved in a company that doesn't readily share the truth or validate mature, responsible questions and concerns, is simply placating corruption, manipulation, and emotional turmoil.

 

I'm done……. in closing, I have made a choice not to engage in this facade anymore. Sales Director, you are not the source of my ultimate decision, BUT you are a great contributor. I have watched how stressed you are, and I feel that your directorship status has a direct influence on your myriad health issues. The pressures will only intensify the higher you climb this MK ladder! I wish you well, and I truly hope that you get all that you want and deserve from MK. However, what I wanted/deserved & what I actually experienced are two GROSSLY different things!