Yes, it’s true. There is one big similarity, and one important difference.
I will be the first to admit that I know next to nothing about Quixtar/Amway, but I have been talking to a friend who has been involved with the company. She pointed out to me that Quixtar/Amway itself, and its Independent Business Owners (IBOs) have “affiliates”–an agreement with various companies where kickbacks are received. These are name brand companies that give Amway a kickback for getting their IBOs to use them but the IBOs themselves can make money off of their own purchases. Some of Quixtar’s affiliates include MCI, Motherhood Maternity, Barnes & Nobles and Office Depot just to name a few. These certainly are reputable companies just like Tracy getting kickbacks from Target, Kohls or (oh my goodness) Barnes & Nobles!! Some of the exact same companies are affiliated with both Tracy and Quixtar. They both receive kickbacks from purchases made as a result of this affiliation.
The following are companies that both Tracy and Quixtar/Amway are affiliated with:
1. Office Depot
2. Barnes & Nobles
3. FTD
4. Sony
5. Disney Store
6. eToys
7. Bombay Company
Both Quixtar/Amway and Tracy have additional affiliate companies. Q/A will not affiliate with any company that offers the same products as it does (cosmetics, etc.).
So there is the similarity. What is the difference? Amway/Quixtar allows the IBOs to receive a kickback as well. Tracy does not. She is the only recipient of kickbacks–those that shop with the affiliates through her website receive no compensation whatsoever.
I found this information very interesting. Tracy claims to only make enough to defray the cost of her website and “legal fees.” (One has to wonder what her legal fees are for, but I digress–that’s another topic for another day.) But what happens when she receives more than these costs as a result of her affiliate program? Would she give kickbacks to those that shop from her site? I bet not.
It is my opinion that Tracy Coenen, FRAUD INVESTIGATOR, has quite a racket going on with this little program of hers. That is Bad Behavior in itself, I believe, but it is also my opinion that this borders on unethical behavior in that she does not account for money she makes from this practice, plus it is hypocrisy at its greatest because she touts MLMs as evil incarnate, yet she does the same thing herself.
Why is it okay for Tracy Coenen to do this, yet it is wrong, according to her, for Quixtar/Amway to do the same thing?
96 comments
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January 23, 2007 at 7:35 am
PinkandProud
TC is a hypocrite on her best day. She is much worse the rest of the time. Gotta hand it to her, she really does know how to run a scam AND recruit the naive and gullible. LOL
January 23, 2007 at 9:38 am
Me
My friend has agreed to monitor the site a little in case anyone has questions about Amway/Quixtar that I am unable to answer. As I said, I don’t know anything about the company’s inner workings. If you have questions, please post them and my friend will respond.
P&P, it IS sad that she preys on naive and gullible people. The posters there not only do not realize they are taking part in cult-like behavior, but they are contributing to Tracy’s livelihood, allowing her to blog all day. She participates in SEVERAL blog sites. If you notice, on her company’s website, she has not had any presentations since SEPTEMBER. Apparently she does not practice any CPA work or she would be snowed under right now, yet she is still researching, blogging and commenting. This is major tax time, and any CPA who is worth even a nickel is preparing for three months of doing nothing but taxes!
So, she has no clients apparently, she blogs on many sites, has had no presentations for five months–her income MUST be from her website!! Heck, she is probably living better than all of us put together!
January 23, 2007 at 10:40 am
PinkandProud
LOL- you noticed that too. Yes, it appears her PT Blog is full time work. I guess when you are unmarried, have no children and have a failing business, blogging for money with a group of known gullibles is a good option.
January 23, 2007 at 11:12 am
Kailah in Texas
Someone needs to report Tracy to the IRS… I wonder what a wonderful tax investigation would ring up on her.
Hey My Pink Truth - can you put up a post nearing Career Conference and maybe some of us that might be near one another can meet up and have some good friendly conversation? I always love meeting fellow Defenders of the Pink!!
Did you see Allison Lamars shirt? The one that read “No one cares about your blog?” CLASSIC!!
January 23, 2007 at 11:24 am
Me
I don’t know if any of you have seen her “sample video” on her business website (not PT). She was on a local news show (not NBC as she says in her bio) commenting on a local person who apparently made off with some money. Remember–this is her “official” sample video that she intends to get clients with. What was her big expert opinion?? I’m paraphrasing, but it went like this: “He didn’t keep receipts or cancelled checks. That’s a red flag to me.”
YA THINK?????
Now I don’t have all those letters after my name, but even I know to keep receipts and/or cancelled checks. That is what her college education got her. No wonder she doesn’t have any clients apparently.
January 23, 2007 at 12:10 pm
librarygurl
I disagree with your assessment of the situation. It can be expensive to host a domain (rather than using the free blogs of WordPress and Blogger for example) that gets the traffic she does seem to get. She seems to be the one all the other blogs are defending or objecting too, which means we all read it. So with the domain name fee, she also has to make sure she has a hosting option that supports her bandwidth use. Afflitiate programs are in no way unethical, but an accepted way of generating money on the web. She seems to only post companies her more devoted readers are asking her to post and there is no recuitment for others to put these links on their pages. Actually, in most cases she would not get anything if someone decided to join the affiliate program after seeing it on her page. She never mentions the programs unless they can provide a service her users may be able to use.
While she does have an large number of affiliate programs up, you are doing something very similar to what she does: twisting the truth to suit your needs. You provide a very valuable service giving balance to the points she brings up by giving a pro-MK point of view. Don’t lower yourself to attack her, attack her logic and her facts- show the truth and that will be the way to remind people that the positive parts of Mary Kay outweigh anything negative.
January 23, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Me
Hello, librarygurl–thanks for your post. I disagree (obviously) for several reasons. First, it was her choice to go the website route after she initially started as a WordPress blog. My guess is she changed because of trademark issues with Mary Kay–the same time she changed to a website, she changed the name from what it used to be. I have no proof of that–it is only my theory. The choice to incur the cost of a website was hers, yet she now lists affiliate companies AND A DONATION REQUEST VIA PAYPAL for others to supposedly help her foot the bill. Naturally, it is also the readers’ choice whether or not to do that, but in my opinion, it is a huge hypocrisy to have these affiliates listed, receive a kickback and then slam MLMs for doing the same thing (Amway/Quixtar). It’s her choice to have them and she has a right to have them, but she should not criticize others for the same behavior.
She HAS mentioned the programs numerous times and they are also discussed by others fairly often. I am not twisting any truth at all. I did not say she was recruiting anyone–I said that she receives a kickback, just like Quixtar, but does not “spread the love” to those that produced the kickbacks. Quixtar DOES allow their IBOs to receive kickbacks individually.
When she first began listing them, it was pretty much whomever she could get. Later she was “approved” for ones that had been requested. And just lately she had the nerve to post a topic on saving money, and “oh, by the way” you can do it at the affiliate listed to the right. That is manipulation, pure and simple. It is an obvious disguise of helping people when you are, in fact, attempting to help yourself. It is exactly what she accuses Mary Kay people of doing.
There are so many, many hypocritical statements and behaviors on that site it would take me a very long time to point out all of them.
By the way, I went to your website. I have a special place in my heart for librarians–my mother was one. She also had a law license–odd combination!
January 23, 2007 at 12:38 pm
mkrealist
Does anyone have any idea how much it actually costs to run a website?
I have my own website (for another creative venture) and my domain name costs $23 per year, and my site (fully loaded with shopping cart technology, etc) was $49.99 to get it set up and $19.99 per month to run.
That’s my ball-park frame of reference and in no way should be taken as what I think her site costs to run.
Was wondering if anyone else had better insight into this.
January 23, 2007 at 2:03 pm
noneya
Why do you even bother to go into it? Why not just spend the time you spend doing this blog to build your business and leave the defending of MK to MK? It seems like they’re big enough to handle that, don’t you think? It would be a lot better if you just did things like mkrules does it. At least she has some scruples.
January 23, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Me
Update: Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE, FRAUD INVESTIGATOR, has brought up a new topic on her website: and it’s about Amway!! This is rich (wiping tears away from laughing so hard)–she is responding to our allegation that she only concentrates on Mary Kay and no other companies AND she chose Amway/Quixtar!! Am I the only one to see the hilarity here???
The article she cites is by Robert Fitzpatrick (who is a quack but that is another topic for another day) who brags about the lawyers involved. He is a little quick on the trigger for that one. The first group lost in the case they cited (bad lawyering, or a lost cause to take? who knows). The second group is well….questionable.
Oh, my….I have needed a good laugh for a while!!
January 23, 2007 at 2:14 pm
justbrowsing
The cost of “running” a website can average around $1000 per year-keyword is average. I know this for a fact because I maintain websites for my job. I agree with librarygurl in that you do seem to come across as attacking Tracy. I am in no way a cheerleader of hers though I do feel some of the same frustrations as expressed on PT about the company and the opportunity (have been in for 3 years and definitely on my way out.) However, I did enjoy how you offered a pro-MK opinion of the things discussed on her website. I would prefer if you not even mention her at all and instead focus on offering your Pink Truth. Just because she may be doing something “unethical” doesn’t mean you need to point it out. Let’s not result to throwing stones. Just my opinion.
January 23, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Me
noneya, thank you for your concern. I spend my time doing what I choose to do, and that includes many, many things. I work, I DO build my MK business all the time, I enjoy family time, and I post here. One of my big crusades in life is pointing out wrongs that need to be pointed out.
This blog started out as a personal thing for me, and then was discovered by some and has since grown. It still is for me. It is my opinion.
justbrowsing, thank you for the info on website cost. We have one for another purpose and our costs are nowhere near as high as you say, BUT it is not an interactive site, although it does have a shopping cart. We pay others to maintain and update it, but the cost is still minimal.
We all feel frustrations with something in life and I am not going to defend MK on something that I do not agree with. There are some things I wish they would change but these things are not dealbreakers. I will continue to offer “pro-MK opinion of the things discussed on her website” if they are warranted. But as I said above–this site is first and foremost for me to express my opinion. If anyone that reads it doesn’t like it, then I suggest you not come back. This site is not meant to be a debate forum.
January 23, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Taube
Names need to be named. I have a policy. Say all or nothing. Tracy is not merely someone who is giving the other side of MK. That would suggest that she was balanced in her viewpoint. Perhaps one of the most disturbing things about “Pink Truth” is that it doesn’t give anyone any alternatives. In Tracy’s perfect world she would have everyone quit Mk and the whole company go bankrupt. That isn’t the answer. It’s a deadend. I am so thankful for good direct selling companies like MK that allow you to make money immediately on the product’s merit. The basic mission of MK is truly to provide a way for women to make an honorable living without them sacrificing their walk with the Lord or time with their families.
I have met good consultants and director’s as well as bad. Do we quit MK because of the bad or do we stand up,report them to the company , and move on in our INDIVIDUAL Mk careers. Let’s take that logic one step further. In church there are good Christians and bad. Do we quit going to church if there are some bad Christians? No ! That is where we as individuals realize that people are sinners and not God. We learn to be an example and not to group God with sinners.
January 23, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Red
Me, I liked your last comment. This IS your blog and you can say whatever you want to say. I got all caught up in the PT website. First, I understood what they were saying, I had many of the same experiences, but the more I read and even tried to post, the more I felt they were so unfriendly and not trying to see the “truth”. So then, I stumbled across your blog and was glad to see that the “other” side of MK was being talked about. I even posted as such. As the days passed, I noticed that you did devote some time to PT and what she had going on and I was concerned. But, your comment today made me realize that this indeed is your blog and much of what you say I completely agree with. You write many of the things that I think. I guess what I’m trying to say is… keep having your opinions and writing and expounding on them. That’s what a blog is for. If I don’t want to read it, I won’t, right?
January 23, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Kailah in Texas
Uh actually I had my own website with godaddy. com and the domain name itself was only like $3.99 for the year and then the website traffic maybe put me at about 9.99 per month. Not exactly hugely expensive…
January 23, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Kailah in Texas
Oh and just to point, this website it mentioned as being My Pink Truths opinions and feelings, which means she can write and allow whatever she wants. And if she feels like talking about the other site, it is her right since this is her area and her website. And your opinions are welcome as well but don’t forget whose website this is.
January 23, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Me
Thanks, girls. I hope you WILL come back and visit here, but I have done my last blog that tried to please everyone (some of you may know which one I am speaking of). In the end, it pleased few, including me. It never was what I had envisioned and that was mostly due to people trying to start trouble and me trying to please everyone. No more.
Under the About and Disclaimer tabs you will see that I have made it clear that this site is about my opinions for the most part. Since I wrote those, my direction has changed a bit from what this started out to be, so it has evolved into more than opinion–There are some things here that are provable facts and have been named as such.
January 23, 2007 at 6:42 pm
colleen
Me at least you back up facts and opinions together and that is why you are getting so much positive visitors here. Even if they dont agree they are civil.
January 23, 2007 at 6:43 pm
colleen
Im sorry so many positive visitors..I do pride myself on good use of the English language..LOL
January 23, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Me
Thanks, Colleen. Some have NOT been so civil so I just delete those! In all fairness though, there have not been many. I guess we should give credit where it is due and say that many of those that do not agree with what is here (or don’t like to see what I have to say) know all comments are moderated so they don’t even try.
I do know that several of the PT regulars lurk here.
P&P–are you around? I noticed that our old friend LAZY GARDENS is at it again–citing Wikipedia as a legitimate source of information. I was surprised to see her post though–I was hoping she was still redacting names. I guess we will never see that data… (sigh)
January 23, 2007 at 8:45 pm
foreverpink
I am sure that Tracy Coenen can handle any critisizm that comes her way, or at least she better be able to. You cant go out of your way to point out someone elses faults if you are not ready to have yours pointed out to you. In other words, if she can dish it out, she better be able to take it. The same spotlight that you try to shine on someone else, can be shined right back at you. When justbrowsing says that there is no need to point out that she is unethical, I disagree. She is going out of her way to point out what she sees as unethical and hypocritical behavior on the part of Mary Kay Corporate. But her ways of obtaining information have been unethical and very close to illegal in some cases. But very often people who feel that they are crusaders for extreme causes stand on the “end justifies the means” belief system. However in a court of law, sometimes the way evidence is obtained overshawdows the evidence itself. She should think about this the next time she sends out her spies to gather up confidential info.
January 23, 2007 at 9:09 pm
librarygurl
Oh, PT is totally trying to bankrupt the company- I think she says the blog is not giving a balanced view. I think a balanced view is needed though- from someone, anyone. Her readers- at least the ones who post comments- are a bit militant about wanting to bankrupt the company.
MyPT- thanks for the comments on the page. Was your mother a law librarian? I dated someone who did the exact same thing, got a JD for law and an MS for libraries and used that to get paid the big library buck (not that our bucks are ever big…). Oh, and the wikipedia thing annoys me too. I was chatting with one Anti-MK person about some overseas issue and someone claiming what wikipedia said. The comment after I said it wasn’t a legitimate source was that it was better than MKC. I disagreed with that since it was one of those contract issues and why wouldn’t MKC give a contract fact…. Enough with the wikipedia already!
As for website costs- it can vary. Someone like me- with no bandwidth needs- can get the least expensive plan from GoDaddy, but for a someone like TC it would probably be closer to justbrowsing’s estimate.
January 23, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Me
Librarygurl, are you saying Tracy says HER blog is balanced?? Surely I misunderstood you.
No, my mother was not a law librarian. She went to law school, passed the bar and then my father went overseas in WWII. She did courtmartials and some other things during the war, but afterwards never practiced herself. She was a librarian in schools–mostly the ones I attended growing up and loved it. She and my father instilled a love for books in me too.
PT’s website is GoDaddy too.
Foreverpink, I sometimes wonder what Tracy is like away from the keyboard and the venum she allows to be posted on her site. Like I said the other day, she starts the “fight” by her initial postings and pretty much leaves all the rest of the folks to fight the fight and spit the venum. I sometimes wonder if she even has feelings–her off-the-cuff response to most things directed towards her personally are threats of a lawsuit. Does she ever push away from the keyboard and wonder if maybe we have a point–even CONCEDE that we have a point–that our pink truth is just as valid as anyone’s? Does she ever stop when reading something somewhere and say, “Wow–I AM a hypocrite”, “Wow–I AM allowing those that post on my site to pay my bills” or anything that is emotionally reactive to a fact we point out? A reaction other than a lawsuit?
Does she have a heart? That’s what I want to know.
January 23, 2007 at 9:26 pm
neverpantyhose
It still amazes me that all these pro MK blogs bash Tracy for what she does for folks, yet you are doing the same thing you are accusing HER for doing.
January 23, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Me
Oh no–you are not even going there. There is a huge difference in what Tracy does and what I do. Tracy doesn’t do anything FOR folks, she does things TO folks. She throws all of us in one basket and trashes us all. I talk about HER for the most part, although you are one of the mice that follows her as Pied Piper, so I suppose you are included in my term for the posters on her site. You have decided to send your product back, so go on and put Mary Kay behind you and leave me alone.
As I said earlier today, this site is not for debate. It is for me. If you don’t like what you see here, go away. I let this comment through, but unless the next ones you attempt to post are very different, it will be the last one.
January 23, 2007 at 9:32 pm
colleen
Neverpanty hose the difference here (and its not my blog) is that opposing views are able to express their differences as long as its civil and no name calling..at least that is what I have seen here.
January 23, 2007 at 9:36 pm
colleen
I forgot to mention to NPH for the most part you have been pretty civil..I dont knock you at all.
January 23, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Me
Well, Colleen, I probably just let you down. I called her a name. It’s late, I’m tired, I got very little sleep last night and I am not in the mood for Tracy’s minions to come over here and pick a fight. I probably should have taken the high road and just deleted her comment instead of allowing it to go through.
Opposing views are welcome here if they are civil, not intended to start a debate/fight, and as long as they are genuine, factual and/or have merit. Her comment above is not in that category in my opinion.
January 23, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Cloud On My Tongue
Amen foreverpink
I’m thinking of the phrase “people in glass houses should not throw stones”
Tracy would have to be an idiot to think that she is above reproach when her whole existence is judging others and their motives.
I think its great that someone else is dishing out the same scrutiny that she gives to MK. How’s it feel under that microscope?
January 23, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Me
I am very interested in what others think of this Quixtar/Tracy Coenen-Pink Truth issue. We seem to have gotten off that track and I, for one, am just aghast that she practices what she preaches against. Do her supporters not feel used? Duped? Stupid? Do they think it is okay for her to be hypocritical? Why are they not outraged that she does the exact same thing to them that she says is wrong on the part of direct sales companies????? ARE THEIR LIGHTS SO DIM THEY DON’T EVEN GET IT????
January 23, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Cloud On My Tongue
I completely don’t get how they don’t see it is the same thing?!? She is making money off of those women! And wether it is 1 penny or a million dollars, it is wrong by her own definition. It blows my mind that they can’t see it.
I really would be interested in seeing how she claims this revenue come tax time.
And I think it is hilarious that she has some of the VERY SAME companies sending her checks that Amway does and for the exact same thing! How much clearer can it get?
January 23, 2007 at 10:57 pm
reader
here is something that I have wondered all along, do any of these people ever feel guilty about being just plain mean? come on, we are all people, right? aren’t there any regard for feelings? if someone wronged you, then okay, maybe fight back at that person, which from her comments seem to be Me’s thing here, but to attack others so personally about anything and everything, being just hateful and unkind, i do not understand. everyone has feelings, even this gal on this PT blog, even though we I haven’t seen any from her. my conscience just won’t allow me to be as mean as i’ve seen these people be. and they do it to people they do not even personally know, at least i don’t think they know these people. just because it is the internet and we can not see someone’s face when they read these things does not make it okay. what if someone wrote those things about you? it sort of seems like the mary kay people that they decide to single out are like the person at school that no one likes and everyone starts calling them names and laughing at them, poking fun at their clothes, hair, etc. and it just grows into a furor with the laughing and taunting getting louder and louder and the participants saying more and more so that they can fit in and not be an outcast themselves while the victim is helpless and no one defends them. but maybe someone tries but cannot be heard because in this arena their comment isn’t passed thru. does anyone see anything wrong with this? discussing the issues of mary kay by those against the company is one thing, personally attacking its participants with no proof of any wrongdoing, with mean, unkind, and hateful words, smearing their reputations in the mud on the www just seems wrong to me and not how i would teach my own children to behave.
January 24, 2007 at 12:40 am
Colleen
Me its your blog you didnt let me down….
January 24, 2007 at 1:42 am
mkrules
NPH, I agree with you on this one. I think this blog is negative too. I guess I will have to stop lurking here or posting. I didn’t realize it would turn into the “I hate PT” fan club. What a waste of time, the less time thinking about her the better.
January 24, 2007 at 6:51 am
Me
I’m sorry you feel that way, MKrules, because it is not the “I hate PT” club at all. I don’t hate anyone. But I DO hate how she handles things in being hateful herself. I do not respect her. I would respect her and her followers much, much more if she stated what she felt was wrong, offered suggestions on improvement and just overall acted in a mature, adult manner. She has done none of those things. She “rules” by intimidation, manipulation and fear.
I admire you for your positive blog and visit there a lot. It’s a tough job being positive all the time, and I respect you for that.
January 24, 2007 at 8:16 am
mkrealist
Reader says ~ do any of these people ever feel guilty about being just plain mean? come on, we are all people, right? aren’t there any regard for feelings? if someone wronged you, then okay, maybe fight back at that person, which from her comments seem to be Me’s thing here, but to attack others so personally about anything and everything, being just hateful and unkind, i do not understand.
It is hard to understand but not impossible to understand.
The majority of women actively participating on that site feel (rightfully or wrongfully) that they were victimized by MKC and it’s agents (recruiters/directors/NSDs). When people feel powerless or victimized, often, the only way to cope with that is to turn around and victimize OTHERS. The child who gets no love/attention at home becomes the school-yard bully. The husband who gets no respect in the workplace turns around and abuses his wife. The wife who gets no love and adoration from her husband emotionally neglects her children. It’s the brain’s most primitive way of trying to balance out the imbalance they feel when things didn’t work out the way they expected/hoped/desired (or were promised).
While none of this makes it “right” it is a very normal and natural human response. And when you have a supportive and confirmatory audience/platform in which to attempt to work through these issues, it often heightens the experience to a near-euphoric state, often keeping people in the ANGER phase of grieving the Death of their Mary Kay dreams far longer than is necessary or even beneficial.
Most people cannot stay mad all day every day, but some of these sites provide tangible and intangible rewards for doing so.
Most responsible protocols for the therapeutic care of victims have a prescribed element for assisting the victim in the transition from Anger through to Acceptance.
The intermediate stages (Bargaining, Depression) are the most difficult to navigate and cannot be managed effectively while still angry.
If you’re going to try and care for people struggling with these stages post their MK experience, you MUST be committed to seeing them through to Acceptance.
But what is the payoff (tangible or intangible) for your agenda if everyone “graduates?”
The dynamics you are witnessing are classic and somewhat predictable.
January 24, 2007 at 8:48 am
Me
MKRealist, I probably don’t enough of the specific subject matter you are discussing to say it is wrong, but I can say that I have a hard time agreeing with the statement “The dynamics you are witnessing are classic and somewhat predictable.”
I have never seen people obsess over something like this and turn into just mean, hateful people over it. I have never heard of people being obsessed with something they got out of YEARS AGO. Gosh, even divorced people move on faster than that.
And using divorced people as an example, they don’t go around and bash every member of the gender they divorced and group them all in one bag. I know I have heard women who have been hurt say, “I hate men” but I have never seen any go to the nth degree like these people.
January 24, 2007 at 9:35 am
PinkandProud
Hi Me. I am here this morning. Had a almost $700 class last night! Sold 4 Miracle Sets and 3 MDB’s. It was great fun. Something REALLY funny happened during one of the individual closes. It made me nervous at first, but I quickly realized she was a brilliant woman. She asked me if I heard of a website called Pink Truth. I thought, “Oh geez, here we go.” I told her I had heard of it and she said she stumbled on it when looking for information about our products after she received the invite to last night’s party. She said all the “vitriol” (her word) there made her want to come to the party even more!! She thanked me for a great presentation and said the MDB made her skin feel like nothing she had ever tried. LOL!!! So, women out there who have at least half a brain in their head, don’t really pay attention to what PT is saying. That being said, I am going to spend less time lurking there. It is the same everyday anyway.
BUT….I did already compile some unbelievable quotes that I just have a desire to be petty about, so I will post those later. LOL
Lots of posts since I last checked yesterday. It seems to me this blog has caused quite a reaction from the MK Haters. That IS what they are, they admit it. I don’t hate the haters though, I actually pity them and find them slightly entertaining. It is really sad that they just hang on the way they do. TC, well, she is very clearly a hateful and lonely person. Not much else to say about her. For the most part, I don’t feel bad about pointing out how pathetic they are. After all, they are on a public forum exposing their maturity level and their hatred. The fact that they can’t stand what is going on here at this blog just further proves how one sided they are.
January 24, 2007 at 9:54 am
mkrealist
There are reasons you don’t see this happening that often with the major life changes that can cause grief (or grief-like symptoms). Generally, there is no outlet like which we have seen for people to cling to in their despair.
Most people don’t have large confirmatory validating and rewarding GROUPS to turn to and revel in when they are grieving. Most of us have a very small (relatively and comparatively) group of supportive family/friends who are committed to our positive mental functioning and who will not ALLOW us to wallow in such grief beyond a period they view as healthy. If they cannot help us, often they will provide referral to someone who can. At a minimum, they do not reward us for being stuck in one phase or another, thus prolonging our lingering there. Rewarded behavior is repeated behavior.
Support groups for victims/survivors of various life calamities are a good example. Whether it’s rape, disaster, or any other tragic element that can enter/impact our lives, the common goal amongst the leadership and guidance in those groups is to help push each other towards Acceptance of the issues that befell them and to help them mitigate and manage the various emotions/feelings that come along with survivorship, and finally to get back to Life, changed yes, but stronger for their experiences. Ultimately, responsible leadership for that group measures their success by members no longer “needing” the group. They graduate on to the next phase of their lives. As far as the leadership itself goes, they do not consider it positive or helpful to keep their survivors stuck in one phase. In fact, they view it as the problem it is and offer assistance to get them unstuck.
Your examples of divorcee’s notwithstanding, there ARE some people, who without proper guidance and leadership WILL stay stuck in that support group environment forever, feeling safe and secure there, extremely afraid of what life would be like without the comfort and stability of their like-minded similarly situated associates. It takes proper leadership to prevent that from happening.
When I said that the dynamics you are witnessing are classic and somewhat predictable, I was speaking of being able to see clearly what happens when you have leadership of a group of survivors who is not properly invested in nor probably trained in the best practices for therapeutic care of survivors. It may seem like over-reaching to even refer to the most active participants as survivors, but in their minds, that’s what they are: survivors of the worst kind of victimization they themselves can imagine. We on the outside easily belittle their feelings because we have not experienced them, or experienced them and responded differently, or because we can draw fairly easy comparators to people who have problems we consider “more real” but the mind is an intriguing thing when it comes to what we allow ourselves to believe about ourselves and others and our relative place/status in the world.
They really believe their own victim status. They really believe in the leadership they find there, that she has their best interests at heart. They really believe in the cause/mission she has set before them. And when that belief is consistently nurtured and rewarded and validated and confirmed, growth towards the final phase of healing/acceptance is stunted.
It’s when victims/survivors are ANGRY (and usually vocally so) that they get the most attention from society and those around them. Once society has paid what they deem to be an appropriate pound of flesh to help/aid the victims/survivors, society expects that they will take those products/services and tools and re-build/restore what was lost and move on. The newscameras disappear, the blogs dry up, the journalists move on to the next big story. Very often depression sets in during this phase. It’s like the day after the funeral and the meal following the burial. As suddenly, it seems, as it began, it’s over. And you are left to move on, often alone. If given the opportunity to remain the center of someone’s, anyone’s, attention and continue collecting the rewards/benefits of victimhood/survivorship, most of us, if we were honest, would stay there as long as we possibly could. And that is what some of these sites provide; constant, comfortable, reassuring attention and devotion to their victim/survivor status. And when the leadership is invested in that, and the participants are comfortable with that, there is no reason to leave, question, or demand change.
January 24, 2007 at 10:05 am
foreverpink
Actually MKRealist, I feel that you are exactly right! This speaks to what many of us have said all along. Those that are amoung the angriest posters on PT actually need therapy! We all see it, but on professional terms it is classified as going through those stages of grief and loss that must be dealt with in order for a person to move on. How many of us have said that they just need to move on? Well they cant, because it is not in PT’s best interest for them to do so. The climate at Tracy’s blog is condusive for keeping people in the most unproductive stages of grief and loss. It encourages them to stay angry so that they can never move to acceptance and get over it. If they got over it, there would be no need to post, if she has no people on her blog, she cannot build her case against Mary Kay. This is what we find so annoying when people say that Tracy is trying to “help” others. She is not helping but actually hurting them. I work as a counselor on my day job and I deal with cognitive therapy. I know that the stages MKRealist speaks of are so very vital in getting over things and moving on. It is natural to have to move through this process. If you have ever dealt with change or some type of loss, the you have been through it as well. But if you get stuck in the process, you will begin to obsess and you may need a little help. That is where counseling needs to fit in. Its easy to stay angry and mad if your are being rewarded for it. The rewards come in tangible and intangible forms like MKRealist speaks of. Tracy rewards them for their anger by giving them hopes of revenge with her crusade to abolish Mary Kay for good. They get to be in an enviornment that says its ok to blame Mary Kay for all of their problems. How many times have we read where someone blames this biz for ruining their marriage and so on? It completely erases the notion of taking some kind of personal responsiblity for some of the things that may have happened to them in their businesses and in their lives. Me, you brought up divorced people as a perfect example. There are those who need help getting over a divorce that happended years ago, some can become obsessed with their ex and even dream about hurting them or they start interfering with the ex trying to moving on. People like that often gravitate towards other people with the same issues, but if they spend their time talking about how much they hate their ex or persons of the same gender as their ex it only festers. They feel good because the crowd they are with agrees with them and that is the reward, but its not productive because they are not doing or talking about things to move them away from thoughts of the ex. Tracy’s blog is just like that.. At no time has the question come up “What could YOU have done differently to have made your Mary Kay experience a better one?’ At no time has anyone asked, “What are you doing now to move on from this experience?”
Me, I think its clear from the many different visitors to your blog that many are trying to move on from that anger stage..they are sick of the enviornment over at PT and they dont want to be angry anymore, or at least they are considering not being angry anymore or else they would not be asking some of the questions that they ask you. They lurk and while lurking they see a difference. After all they were only getting one side of the story from Pink Truth. But on blogs like this one and mkrules and fuchiablog and pinkvoices, they get to see both and it makes for more productive thought.
January 24, 2007 at 10:24 am
Me
Thanks, ladies. All of this information is interesting, and validates my feelings that none of them take personal responsibility for their actions–they are wallowing around in self pity with each other, stagnating themselves.
And Tracy seems to be taking full advantage of the lot of them. That’s just evil. Truthfully, I have thought more about the fact that she is hurting US, our businesses, our way of making a living than I have to what real, tangible damage she could possibly be doing to those that support her. I pity them all.
P&P, what did you mean by “It seems to me this blog has caused quite a reaction from the MK Haters”? I have not seen where they talk about this blog specifically. Looking forward to your observations!
January 24, 2007 at 11:32 am
Kailah in Texas
MKRealist - love your quote - And that is what some of these sites provide; constant, comfortable, reassuring attention and devotion to their victim/survivor status.
But here’s the thing that some people don’t get… When they sit in that environment for too long it starts to eat away at them, their time, their devotion to other things and it solidifies the feelings they have.
You see, I too was a person who back during my first time of being in MK was treated like a dollar. I won’t mention the Director, because she is highly known, but let’s just put it this way - when my husband left for Iraq and had been gone almost one year and I had a 1 year old son, and I was experiencing health issues - I wrote to her and said, congrats on being the #1 unit this month!! She wrote back and said - thanks, when’s your next order going in? Nothing more, nothing less. NO how is your husband, how is your son, or how are you holding up? Straight up - when is your next order going in? I decided to sit out for one year from right then. I actually contacted my current recruiter Dacia and I took 9 months to get to know her before I signed my agreement again this past year. 9 months to make sure I wasn’t a dollar to her.
I could have sat up on some site or I could have easily gone into a group of rejected MK people in my city that experienced the same thing. But the longer I held on to it, the more terrible I felt and then just decided to do something about it. I came back to MK to make a new way and within 8 months had my free car and will be a Director by my 1 year anniversary (March 1st) or no later than April 1st.
That doesn’t mean that’s for everyone, but there is a time to move on and quit harping on people they don’t even know. Why spew hatred and rumors just because you had a bad time with one person or maybe a few? I can understand venting for a bit, but when it’s month and months later and even years later - that is crazy. Moving on doesn’t mean coming back to MK, it means just moving on and finding something more useful with their time than bashing someones Seminar dress or the new Directors suit or someone’s gift to their unit for selling.
OK Off my soap box now!
January 24, 2007 at 11:33 am
crystalreflections
P&P… Good job on your sales! and skin care sets too!
January 24, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Cloud On My Tongue
Why is it that noone is defending what Tracy is doing with her affiliates? Why is noone saying that your assesment of what she is doing and it being similar to Quixtar is wrong? Oh… that must be because you’re not wrong and they can’t say that. Just that you’re being a meanie for pointing it out to everyone.
I thought at least one person would say it was different but I guess I was wrong.
January 24, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Me
I KNOW!!! I have been wondering that myself! Even when THEY are wrong they usually don’t hesitate to jump on me. Must have REALLY struck a chord here. I am waiting for P&P to list the comments she found–maybe they are discussing it amongst themselves.
January 24, 2007 at 12:58 pm
PinkandProud
Kailah, great attitude! I have heard some disappointing comments over the years, but like you, success was more important to me than what others thought. You go!!
Thanks Crystalreflections. My goal at every appointment is to sell skin care! I only sold 2 products last night, Miracle Set and MDB. No color, no extras, just straight up skin care! The door is totally open for color appointments and future skin care. For color I actually do Dacia’s Dash out the Door! It is very popular with the college crowd. These women last night were 30’s to 40’s and strictly wanted skin care. Love it!
January 24, 2007 at 2:50 pm
mkrules
Me, Thank you for your kind words. I was not meaning to sound “threatening” but honest. I think what NPH was trying to say is that it can be viewed as just as negative to diss negative people on a positive blog. It makes “us” (using this loosely) as bad as them. It is the pot calling the kettle black. I am no big PT fan, but she doesn’t affect my life much. I wish you wouldn’t give her the ability to affect yours. You can just agree to disagree with her instead of wasting your energy. I think you could come up with some awesome positive stuff if you put your mind to it. I like some of the stuff you have posted.
January 24, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Kailah in Texas
I’ve got an idea - let’s use this site to not only talk about your feelings, but let’s crow about ourselves!! Let’s talk about where we are going for Career Conf and what challenges we have met and what we are going to meet. Let’s get something up on here that will brighten and challenge one another - what do you say Me??? Can we post a new topic called - Crowing? Or something like that???
January 24, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Me
Sure we can! I will add a Page at the top for that. Give me a little time though–I’m in the middle of something right now. Great idea!
January 24, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Me
P.S. You can also do this at http://www.thefuchsiablog.wordpress.com She has an area for Crowing, etc. as well.
January 24, 2007 at 3:28 pm
mkrules
Kailah I love that idea!
January 24, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Kailah in Texas
I just love it when people are doing great and are on target for things - I love to hear accomplishments. I love going to all the events to see where people are. For the longest time I was always jealous of people, and since MK I have started enjoying everyone else’s success!! So for those who think MK is not good, you keep your bad view. I am going to get a great view point on life and I am going to be able to take care of me and my son through MK!
January 24, 2007 at 9:35 pm
"Dara"
Kailah are you the Kailah Karl in the “DARE” Area? Before Dacia password protected her site, I remember seeking your posts and reading about your goals, are you still working on the car?
January 24, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Kailah in Texas
Hi Dara - yes I am. I won the car back in November. Slowly but surely working on DIQ now. =) Thanks for noticing and asking.
January 24, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Ty Tribble
I was involved with Quixtar for several years. It is one of the worst business opportunities in the world. This is an interesting post. I don’t think that the Pink Truth site gets as many Unique visitors as Tracy would like you to think, so I don’t really think that they make much money from the site.
I do suspect that making money via the site is a goal with Tracy. She is a piece of work to put it nicely.
January 24, 2007 at 10:11 pm
mkrules
Wow!! Way to go kailah! Can you post some tips on how to get and keep the car?
January 25, 2007 at 11:38 am
Kailah in Texas
Oh goodness, the only tip I have is personal work. You may have a wonderful team, but don’t rely on every recruit pulling inventory or ordering. I just focused, put my head down to the pavement and did classes. Three girls really made it happen when they saw the business plan and liked what they heard, when given the option on inventory they chose Emerald orders. In fact one of them is half way done with the Court of Sales and I am proud to say they all had classes and are selling! But honestly, I kept recruiting and kept doing facials, never forced someone to sign, stayed away from personal use consultants and just made sure I was helping when I could help but worked my business. In July of last year I went on target when I bronze medalled and all of them were qualified, then August I gold medalled and three were qualified, then September I recruited 2 and October I gold medalled again.
The month after I qualified I had my momentum month where everything is doubled, production and points. So when you do qualify make sure that first month out is ROCKING! That way if you have a slow month - which I did in December from moving 7 hours away to a new city and having Christmas and some family shockers hit my team, then you can pull from your performance account. A performance account is what they set up when you go over $4,500 in team production. Then the excess is used in months where perhaps you don’t hit $4,500. It helps guarantee you don’t pay for your car or lose any cash on your compensation.
I took the cash!!
One note - if you are in DIQ and doing car, DO NOT EVER change your way of calculating to the Unit method. At the team method it will ensure you are still working and recruiting and doing your business. All you have to do is hit $4,500 each month from wholesale orders and points (you get 600 points for each new qualified personal recruit). And you start over each month on tallying points, so it’s a fresh start every 1st.
But if you go to the unit method, you HAVE to hit $24,000 in the quarter which is the same as Premiere Club maintenance! If you don’t hit it then the following quarter you will be billed for your car or reduced in cash compensation for the ENTIRE quarter. Each quarter you need to hit $24,000. Now it’s nice for one reason, you know if you hit it, you are a Premiere Club unit.
Another note, if you choose the car and become a Director you will not be allowed to take the Grand Prix if you want to or the $500 cash compensation UNLESS you are in re-requalification. So for two years you are with the Vibe if you took the car until either you requalify or earn the Cadillac. But if you take the cash you can move up to the $500 cash or take the car the minute you qualify.
So here’s the pointers-
Work personally and recruit - aim for a medal each month
Do not switch to unit maintenance, stay with team
If you want to be a Grand Prix Director and don’t really need the car - take the cash so you can switch up later!
Hope that helps!
January 25, 2007 at 11:40 am
Kailah in Texas
Oh just a note - anyone can do it. I rejoined MK after sitting out for over a year in March of 06, I won the car in November 06. I should be a Director on or right after my 1 year anniversary. So just push forward, you know your goals and if you just go for each company challenge, I guarantee you’ll hit it!
January 25, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Me
Kailah, thank you so much for the tips and advice. Check in periodically and let us know how it’s going. But not TOO often–you won’t make it by hanging out on blogs!
I am very interested in the “Dacia” way though. So much has been said and it will be great to hear how it REALLY is.
January 25, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Kailah in Texas
The Dacia way is the MK way. Pure and simple, book, coach, sell, recruit. Never recruit someone who hasn’t tried and loves the product. They decide their own fate on inventory - no one is ever pushed or admonished if they do or don’t get it. Work with everyone, you never know who will really love this business. Treat everyone nicely, give everyone the benefit of the doubt, stay away from negative thinkers and people.
I think most people who have heard about her would just be amazed at how nice, motivating, loving and caring she truly is. She doesn’t care how much money we make as long as we love our business and want it for ourselves. She tries to give us every chance to rise to the top and never gives up on any of us. It’s why her area has come so far! We’re #3 in all of Emerald right now as an Area. Isn’t that crazy??? But it’s because she just loves us all for where we are at and works with everyone. She’s just really open.
January 25, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Kailah in Texas
And and trust me, I know Dacia enough to know those crazy rumors on PT are false, and anything said about Auri is a complete lie.
January 25, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Pink Believer
I believe that Dacia has done the work. I believe that one can do it quickly and do it correctly, but do I believe it is the norm? No. I don’t think that the normal woman of today has the time, energy or resources (childcare, etc.) to commit the time needed to hold that many appts. per week. I think that Dacia is a unique case. I do not know Dacia, but my opinion, based on what I have seen, is that she was able to go out and hold enough appointments each week to get the job done and get things built quickly. I also believe that she was in a unique geographic locality, at the right time. The Miami area has experienced tremendous financial growth in the past 10 years, and I think she has been able to ride the wave. I could be totally off track, and am in no way putting her down, I think it’s great that she was able to do so, and wish I had been in her shoes! That brings me to my question. Is what she has done duplicatable? Really? Or is she a one of a kind special event that we will only see once in a while (okay, I know about Allison, but other than those two)? Was this just the meeting of a very special woman with an incredible work ethic with a special set of circumstances? Did her offsprings build as strongly as she did, on booking and holding 5+ appts per week? If so, are most of them in the Miami area? Are they doing as well? These are just things that I am curious about. My concern is that as we hold up these who have done these amazing things, is that others feel that something is wrong with them for not moving so fast, and often that is where some of these desperate measures that you hear about start to grown in people’s minds, and others just plain get discouraged thinking they just don’t have what it takes.
Again, I think that from what I’ve seen, Dacia has worked hard, and is incredibility smart to have embraced this opportunity and ran with it at a time in her life when she could commit so much to it. Now she is set. What a blessing for her family.
Kailah, can you just tell us if the others have built on holding as many appts. as Dacia and if so, how they’ve done it? Are they in the Miami area as well?
January 25, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Pink Believer
By “how they’ve done it”, I mean, we all know that Dacia did not have children yet, lived in a fast growing area, etc. How have the others found the people and the time to hold that many appts.?
January 25, 2007 at 4:55 pm
PinkandProud
At Seminar the year Dacia did million I was introduced to her recruiter by one of my offsprings who went to DIT with her. I asked her if she knew Dacia would be such a dynamo. She said that Dacia had a great work ethic and that those first several years she put in 60+ hour weeks. Keep in mind she has no children and very supportive husband. If I had no children I could be a NSD too. LOL- not to use my children as an excuse, because they ARE my reason, but let’s face it, you have to do the time to become an NSD that fast. Dacia is a brilliant woman to have done it the way she has. I admire her, but I am smart enough to know I won’t be doing NSD in 4 years because I have no desire to do 60 hour work weeks. You single girls out there, I say go for it!
January 25, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Kailah in Texas
Actually she has 2 future Nationals coming up fast under her. And IF, I stress if, Elaine Oatmeyer goes into NIQ when she desires on April 1st, she will cut Allison Lamars record of fastest National by 1 month. Elaine has 2 children and a supportive husband and devotes a good deal of time to work, but really does a great job at home. Elaine became a Director December 2004, and then did the Million this past year. Elaine was #2 in the Court of Sharing last year.
Auri Hatheway is building strong, did the Million and was #1 in Emerald this past year and will go into NIQ before the end of the Seminar year. She was also #1 in the Court of Sharing in I think 2004. She will become a National in about the same time as Dacia did. She is also on target for 1.2 million this year and is #1 in Emerald again. She has no children and a supportive husband.
Tanya King (who is under Elaine Oatmeyer) has 2-3 year old twin boys and because a sales director July of 2005. In one year flat she hit the Circle of Excellence I think with around $825,000 if I am not mistaken or slightly less or more. She is an Executive Senior Sales Director debuting 5 directors in her first year as a director. She is building strong and fast, but I cannot tell you what her goals are.
So there are 3 Directors following suit as did Dacia - doing the same exact thing. Some work more than others, some have great working areas, some have rocking personals, some just have a great outlook. Yes they do work - do not get me wrong, they work. Sometimes 40 to as much as 60 hours per week. But they all come from different walks of life and of those 40 - 60 hours I can tell you that at least half of it is at home. So it doesn’t interfere too much I guess. And they are all in Miami. But don’t forget… In Miami alone I think Dacia has about 35 directors and the Bertalan National Area is about 25 strong out there with some awesome directors.
It’s all about how much you want, and when you want it. Sometimes we are lucky and get lined up with the most perfect women God could want us to meet. Dacia built strong and fast, as has now 3 of her Directors. She will be a Senior NSD by the end of next year with 2 Nationals, and I have no doubt it won’t be long before Elaine herself will become a Senior National as well.
The one thing I had to learn though in my track with Mary Kay is to not focus on it. It’s hard sometimes being in the area because of the pressure to perform and really shine, but I needed to swallow it up and make the opportunity mine. So I hopefully am doing that! My goal is to be in the Top 20 for Court of Sharing and I was there until about December, then slid back a little, but I will regain it!!
January 25, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Pink Believer
P&P, I am where you are…60 hours per week is not what I desire, not what I am able to do at this season of life. I am wondering how so many in this group are. Those are not the women that I am surrounded by. Are they younger gals? Is it a different mindset in that geographic region?
January 25, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Pink Believer
Kailah, I understand about Dacia and her work ethic, but where is she finding others with that kind of work ethic?
January 25, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Cloud On My Tongue
Good luck Kailah! It sounds like you are doing awesome. Thanks for the big update on your area. I think the whole MK world wonders what it’s like to be in Dacia’s area and how they can do things so fast. It is pretty amazing. And they would have to have great work ethics to accomplish so much.
Keep us posted!!!!!
January 25, 2007 at 11:18 pm
PinkandProud
Kailah, you are so right! Can’t wait to see you on that Seminar stage!!! You are doing it!
January 26, 2007 at 9:10 am
Pink Believer
Kailah, I also wanted to congratulate you on your work ethic and determination. You seem to understand that this business is WORK, and you are COMMITTED, which are things that many seem to miss. DIQ is TOUGH, and it should be a little tough, to grow you into directorship. We can’t wait to congratulate you as a new director!
January 26, 2007 at 9:52 am
crystalreflections
Way to go, Kailah!
I should also add that if you are excited about the products and the opportunity, it just flows through everyone you meet. I know of a director who only after a few months from her debut debuted a director who also debuted a director just after 3 months. Alll 3 directors currently have DIQs in their area. The big difference that I see is that they are all excited - so excited that it overflows.
January 26, 2007 at 10:31 am
Kailah in Texas
Yup - it does flow. And honestly Dacia was the Queen of recruiting one year and the following year was #2 next to her own recruit who was #1 Auri Hatheway. It’s all about the numbers. Her goal was to gold medal every month! Which is mine too! But since she recruited on average 60 people per year for about two years straight - the people just shook themselves out and they did what they wanted. I have about 23 recruits total the whole time I have been in Mary Kay and 1 is half way done with the Court of Sales and about 2-3 really want this thing to go somewhere for them. So it’s all in numbers! I think we have over 2,000 consultants in the area…. So it that tells ya anything.
Never prejudge and just let everyone have their own way with it. And when they are apart of success it’s like a train, everyone wants to jump on. You have to breathe life into your area or unit!
January 26, 2007 at 11:32 am
Pink Believer
Are all of these recruits selling the product as heavily as they are recruiting?
Crystal Reflections, I am more concerned than excited about the scenario that you present. I hate to sound like a downer, but I’ve seen lines like the one that you describe collapse like a string of dominoes. I think that a new director having an offspring right away can be a dangerous thing. It can leave the mother unit in shambles. If they are all strong, great. I’d be curious to know how many unit members they all now have. Excitment is great, but it must be balanced with the building blocks of booking, selling, and recruiting, in that order.
January 26, 2007 at 11:38 am
Pink Believer
PLEASE UNDERSTAND CRYSTAL AND KAILAH, I am not judging or being the Devil’s advocate, I am just sharing and asking questions. I’ve been around a long time, and seen alot of things. I want to keep moving forward and if someone can find a way to do it better or faster, I want to find out what it is and to learn from them. There are times though, when faster is not better.
January 26, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Kailah in Texas
It’s great to ask questions, but honestly, I do try and concentrate on my own business and I know what I have been taught. I sell to everyone first and then recruit. I was recruited the first time into MK without ever trying the product and BURNED OUT! But then I sat back for a year and fell in love with the product. I think I probably sell more than recruit, but the numbers shake themselves out in the end. I am always a Star Consultant without ordering just for the sake of ordering. I recruit only after that have tried the products and then work with my people letting them know that selling is the mainline of the business, recruiting is not required. I’d rather have a strong selling unit than a strong recruiting unit with no one loving the product.
The questions are great, but let me recommend one thing - instead of trying to figure out someone else’s area or unit, think about what you want from the business. It doesn’t matter what anyone else has done or will do with MK, all that matters is what you do. Put in place your own hostess program, your own rules for customer service, treat everyone with the Golden Rule and the rest will shake itself out in the end. That’s what I have been taught and hopefully what everyone else will teach.
Have a great one, I am off to warm chatter and see who out there would love to feel beautiful!
January 26, 2007 at 12:02 pm
PinkandProud
PB, I beieve there is alot to be said about slow and steady. Building rapport and relationships with clients and team members is very valuable to everyone. I have seen lots of flash in the pans in all my years, but those that just keep on keeping on yield great results over time.
January 26, 2007 at 1:20 pm
crystalreflections
In all honesty, PB, I was too myself. I am not in their unit so i really have no first hand information on how they do things. The director of the director of the first who debuted is my director. She’s pretty solid in sales. I think what happened was they all came in just months apart and while one is in DIQ, the offsping is already striving towards it. So it’s really timing and maybe partly luck. Though they do give me an impression that they might be focusing more on recruiting than selling, I am not 100% sure. What’s more evident is that they are really excited about the whole thing and it is contagious. They have unitnet sites and I can see that they are not “buying” their place. And I do hope they do not frontload because my director explained everything(or most) to me before my first order. I hope it was passed on to the new directors as well. I do keep an eye on them and like you said, I am waiting to learn from them.
I totally 100% agree with you and that for me - I think “slow but strong” is much, much better.
January 26, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Pink Believer
I am asking alot of these questions to give you the opportunityaas a member of that group to share what really goes on. That area has taken a beating from the anti-MKers. Do they really know what goes on? or are they just talking? Also, if there are some great things to learn about building stronger, but faster, please share them, we all want to build as fast as possible, but strongly. I do focus on my own business, but I am also a student, and I learn from all. I disagree that it doesn’t matter what others do, because we learn from others, whether good or bad. We learn what to do and what not to do. You are also in a great place to clear up alot of the unkind and no doubt untrue things that have been said about some of these women.
P&P, are you my twin seperated at birth girl? It’s almost eeery! I think you know what I mean with every post, don’t you?
January 26, 2007 at 3:16 pm
PinkandProud
PB says: P&P, are you my twin seperated at birth girl? It’s almost eeery! I think you know what I mean with every post, don’t you?
LOL- well, I think it is more likely that we are just more the NORM in Mary Kay! We think alike in this area because it was what we experienced, what we learned and how we teach! Are you a Director PB? Sorry if you have given that information before! Anyway, I believe there are appropriate times for building fast- like during CAR and DIQ because you have a time limit. But, until those qualificaitons I am all for being consistent and steady with activity. There have been plenty of years in my business where I have held 8-14 classes a month and there are plenty of times when I didn’t! The thing is I was/am always doing SOMETHING and that is what keeps you moving forward. I am certainly impressed with Dacia and Auri and I can only surmise that their being a confident Generation Y has something to do with their success. It is jmo of course, but they are young, beautiful, confident and they go after what they want. Plus, they are Christians and they are probably doing their work “as unto the Lord.” Add all that to the formula of meeting people everyday, booking, coaching, selling and sharing the opportunity, then there you have it!
Plus, in today’s society there is NO PATIENCE, so if someone wants something they either make it happen fast or they quit and move onto something easier.
January 26, 2007 at 3:32 pm
"Dara"
Kailah, Am I missing something? On Auri’s site she is still listed her as a FUTURE Eecutive Sr Director meaning that she doesn’t even have five 1st line Directors yet. Does that mean that bwt now and June she will add 15 more Directors to her 1st and 2nd lines?
Also I was under the impresion that Elaine was just an Ex. Sr Director, not even an Elite Ex Sr. yet.
P.S- I dind’t see Elaine in Dacia’s Leadership photos, was she there?
January 26, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Pink Believer
P&P, does “Me” have an email address for you?
January 26, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Kailah in Texas
Auri hasn’t updated the front page - she is an Executive Senior. Both ladies are building fast and strong and I have no doubt both will be Nationals by the end of the 2007 calendar year - not MK year but it’s totally possible.
I know everyone wants to know about the DARE area and it has taken a beating, but it hasn’t really, trust me. An area that is #3 in Emerald hasn’t taken a beating from anyone. =)
They’re just jealous. It’s like high school.
I honestly have no other big bits of information other than book, coach, sell, recruit. If you want more then you have to do it a lot. Your entire business will always only be about book, coach, sell, recruit. Anne Newbury said it for the 3 decades she has been in the business.
=) Off to work my friends, keep positive!
January 26, 2007 at 10:02 pm
PinkandProud
PB, Me will send you my email.
January 30, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Vee
I’m almost scared to ask this, though I;m not sure why. I guess I don’t want to be taken in the wrong way.
I’m neutral when it comes to Mary Kay. I sold MK, it didn’t work, but that could be because I was young (18) and didn’t know what I was doing. I understand that some people feel wronged by the company and I guess they are entitled to an opinion. I really don’t think that blog will make much of a difference to the company.
I love Mary Kay (the person) and devoured her biography which I got with my show case and still read once and a while (would love to read her other 2 books).
My question is, how does the Pink Truth site compare to the company Quixtar? Maybe I’m confused about the context you are making the comparison.
January 30, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Me
Vee, please do not ever hesitate to ask a question here!
The comparison is this: Tracy’s site supposedly warns everyone away from all MLM or network marketing businesses because she says they are all scams. She even had one post the other day about Amway/Quixtar being sued. In reality, she RARELY posts about any other company than Mary Kay–the Amway post was probably in response to this thread.
The hypocrisy about it that I see is that Amway/Quixtar have affiliates with legitimate retail companies. The company and the IBOs receive kickbacks when people shop at these retail companies. Tracy has a long list of affiliates from whom she receives kickbacks when readers shop through the links on her site. Many of the companies she is affiliated with are also affiliated with Amway. I cannot understand how she sees that it is fine for her to do the same thing as a company she criticizes and calls illegal. There is one difference between the two: Amway/Quixtar allows the IBOs to receive a kickback as well. Tracy does not. She is the only recipient of kickbacks–those that shop with the affiliates through her website receive no compensation whatsoever.
In truth, I do not know much of how Amway works, but it is described in the original post on this subject line. My friend who gave me the information has agreed to monitor this subject and answer any questions. Please feel free to ask more and hopefully, she will answer them in short time.
Thanks for your question!
February 23, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Duh
I don’t understand either! Are you upset that PT has ads for companies affiliated with Amway, or that she has ads on her site at all?
I don’t think it’s bad for her to make money from the ads. If you happen to be on PT and want to shop at one of the companies you can either click on the link (if you want to help support her and the site) or go to the company’s site directly (and not support PT). You’re paying the same amount for the goods you purchase regardless of whether you get there through PT or not.
If you don’t like the fact that she is advertising for companies that have business deals with Amway when she is clearly against MLM’s, I agree with you. If PT is going to make the argument that all MLM’s are “bad” than they should be very careful in who they associate with.
I enjoy PT and your blog as wel