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.