Lies and the Golden Rule
Written by L J on May 8, 2008 – 11:29 am -Mary Kay Ash founded the Company on the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”So let me ask you this: Do you like being lied to?
You see, a lot of women who were in Mary Kay had a big problem with the fact that they had to tell little and not-so-little lies just to get appointments or recruits. For instance…
- We found ourselves calling customers and telling them we were in a contest or our Director had challenged us to do 30 faces in 30 days. Yet we knew we weren’t. We knew that it was just a script; a gimmick to get our customer to hold a class with some new people so we could increase our customer base and maybe get a new team member.
- We told potential recruits that it only cost $100.00 to join Mary Kay. We knew that technically this was correct, but that our recruits would be “encouraged” to purchase large inventory packages after they signed that agreement.
- We knew that when we invited guests to meetings that it wasn’t just about having a “girls’ night out” or trying out the latest Mary Kay products. We knew our Directors were going to do a marketing presentation, just as they did every week, with the intent of getting our guests to sign up as a Consultant.
Is it any wonder that we dreaded calling our customers? Is it any wonder that we felt just a little bit dishonest?
Tags: Golden Rule, Mary Kay training, marykay
Posted in Articles & Commentary |
May 15th, 2008 at 12:22 am
I’m wondering if this is a personal integrity issue with the individual - don’t get me wrong, I felt the same way, too, when I first got started. But I had to work it out in my heart and in my head. I decided that I would not intentionlly decieve my customers and potential team members.
I do like scripts. I think there is something to be said about not reinventing the wheel. It has obviously worked for someone else. I simply memorize it and make it my own. I only tell my customers I’m in a challenge if I actually am. In regards to a Power Start, it is a bar set for our unit that we strive for a power start every month. So for me - no deception there. If you don’t want that to be an issue for you - make power start your priority every month. It will take you wherever you want to go in this business! You know what though, its somewhat rare that I even tell my customers what I’m working towards, unless it comes up in conversation or unless it’s a really BIG goal that is coming up fast. I just prefer to consistently work my business full circle. Working full circle helps alleviate that panic we get when we need to place an order or meet a goal, etc because you are consistently working with women.
When I recruit a team member, I do the best that I can to lay it all out for them. I don’t go over the inventory selections until their ‘first steps’ appointment as a consultant, because it can be a bit overwhelming. However, I make it very clear during our initial interview, before they sign up, that I WILL be laying it all out like a buffet at the ‘first steps’ appointment - it’s their business, their choice how they want to start. If they start with zip - it’s their business! My job is to make sure that they understand their options and then I truly leave them to decide what’s best for them. Regardless of what they start with, I am thrilled to have them as a team member and will do my best to show them how to make money with the resources they have. I would rather they hold a couple of classes first and then place an appropriate order rather than feel deceived and overwhelmed.
Finally, when I invite a guest to a girls night out or a quarterly event, again, I do my best to paint a realistic picture of what they’re coming to. Depending on whether it’s skin care or a color consultation - I describe what we’ll be doing. I also tell them that we have free prize giveaways, I’ll be offering them a follow up appointment, and they’ll have an opportunity to learn how to do what I do. I do tell them that we laugh and have fun - that they’ll fit right in. Because we do! And I believe they will!
So, from one consultant who feels as if she’s deceiving no one - that’s one opinion. Again, I think it’s all in the individual and whether or not you choose to make a choice to work your business as honestly as possible. I hope that helps for some of you who are doing just that.
May 25th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Well… most of us are in cotests… so it isn’t lying. This is YOUR business, and Mary Kay is NOT standing right over you saying “tell them this.” YOU call your customers (if you want) YOU use the script (if you want). They give you stuff to help you out, but you DONT have to use them.
If there is any “lies” going around… it’s NOT mary kay, its NOT the recruiter, its Not the director… it IS the CONSULTANT who chooses to do it.
Every consultant doesnt do the same things… I don’t even do all the challenges, I have another job, I go to school, and I’m getting married… so I don’t have time to do every challenge, but I sure wish I had all the time to do it, and the courage, and hopefully I will be able to get a challenge and complete EVERY one of them!
May 26th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Some of the scripts and the “lines” are just flat out lies and deceitful! “You can start for only $ 100″ WRONG - plus shipping and “training materials” this now runs about $140 and as soon as the inks dry on your check and it clears the bank, you’ll be pushed to order a MIN of $ 600 (plus tax, Sec 2 and shipping!) which will run around $ 750
“We’re looking for people who don’t know a lot of people” “You don’t have to be a salesperson” “We’re looking for sharp women like you” “Make executive income for part time work” “You can’t afford not too”
All of these things (and many more) are said in order not to re-invent the wheel, (I assume wagon wheel) and MKC needs to realize that society is using a new type of tire now!
The ENTIRE “warm stalking chattering” thing really bothers me. Complimenting a stranger and asking them if they’d like a “free facial” - I don’t mean it bad but nowadays, this could be seriously dangerous!
There are directors/recruiters out there telling new consultants the MIN order is $ 600! There are director/recruiters out there telling all kinds of things!