From: Patty Olson

Several years ago I had something happen that you've probably experienced too-in one way or another.  There was a woman I didn't know well - she was a dance instructor for our daughter.  We were at a large event where many of the students from the studio were performing and, taking a quick trip to the ladies room, I walked past a private hallway where I glimpsed this woman with one of her own children.  She had her daughter's arm in a death-grip and was angrily leaning down into her face, cussing (really!, vulgar language) and chewing the girl out.  Over time, I saw that this instructor made a sincere effort to present herself as a loving, affectionate instructor with her students.  However, I never forgot the vision of her as an outraged, cursing, angry mom yanking her daughter's arm.  To me, that's who she really was.  She didn't know that anyone glimpsed that hallway moment, but the impression never left me and it seriously colored my opinion of her personality and character.

So let's talk about our business.  It's actually not a big task to present a positive, professional, polished image when we know we're going to be "seen" as a Mary Kay consultant, right?  I mean, we wouldn't wear shorts and sandals to a skin care class.  We wouldn't show up at a Success Meeting in our jogging clothes or use a disrespectful tone when conducting a phone conversation with a customer.  At those times, we're aware that we're making an impression and we work to make it a good one!

But what about all the times we're seen or heard and we think we're not in "Mary Kay mode"?  What about the hours we spend at our other job?  At church?  At our children's schools? At neighborhood gatherings?  On the phone with service people, teachers, fellow committee or class members?  At the park?  At the gym? At the grocery store?  At the mall?.............Do you know that we are making an impression on people every day?  We can be "part time" with our Mary Kay business but there's no "part way" option.  People are going to see us as a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant whether we're working or we aren't.

This all became very apparent to me the other day when a team member was asked, by one of her customers whom we were interviewing, "How do you know Patty?"  The consultant shared (first time I'd heard this!) that the first time she noticed me was early on a Saturday morning last fall - at a parent's meeting for the high-school musical production.  We didn't speak, but she noticed when I came into the theatre that (unlike all the other parents in their Saturday sweat-suits, T-shirts and cut-offs!) I was wearing a dress and makeup and had my hair done.  She said she immediately thought, "I wonder what she does - to look so sharp on a Saturday morning!"  Six or seven months later when we actually met each other and I offered her a facial, she said she remembered that first impression and had confidence doing business with me AND already had some curiosity about the Mary Kay business as a result!

I don't really remember the Saturday morning - but I'm sure I considered wearing shorts!  I'm so glad I didn't - because I was making an impression for Mary Kay Cosmetics that I didn't know I would be making!

Does this mean that if you're a scrub nurse, you start wearing a business suit into the operating room??  A dress and perfect hair to the gym to work out??  Pumps and pantyhose to the park to push your child in the swing??

Of course not.  But it does mean that we owe it to our own business AND to the reputation of the company we represent to always make that extra effort to "be" Mary Kay even when we're not officially conducting business.  Every time we step outside our  house there's a chance we'll be making an impression on someone.

Let's make the effort to ensure it's a good one!

Big Hugs!--Patty

Patty Olson

Independent Future Executive Sr. Sales Director

Mary Kay Cosmetics