Reflections

Brand "You"

Rhonda Shasteen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:24:00 GMT

I've heard it said many times over the years that "people don't join companies, they join people" and likewise, "people don't leave companies, they leave people." I think this is true to a great extent.

An example of this is when Mary Kay Ash founded our company on Friday, September 13th, 1963. There was no "company" that she could share. The story hadn't been written yet. There was no brand, no product success, no past sales history that would provide the confidence or the impetus to join her. There was only her, her 20 year old son, Richard, and a shelf full of pink jars in a small rented space in an office complex. Yet, join they did. Women signed up based on "brand Mary Kay Ash", the person.

I don't believe much has changed since then in this aspect. Certainly our company's rich history and success over the past 46 years, our quality products that continue to be among women's favorites and our world famous founder provide a context for women today who are looking for great beauty products or a business opportunity. However, women today still buy our products and decide to begin a business because they like the Independent Beauty Consultant who has connected with them, helped them with their product needs and become a trusted advisor.

It's interesting that in today's times, so many things have become much less personal, but at the same time, the importance of the personal relationship in many businesses is becoming increasingly important.

No matter what business you're in, "brand You" may be the most important brand of all. Have you taken the time to define your brand, and how you show it to the people that you want to do business with. Are they buying what you're selling? If not, perhaps it's not the company you represent or the product you sell, perhaps it's YOU that they aren't buying.

Plan your work, and work your plan

Rhonda Shasteen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:05:00 GMT

It's planning and budgeting time around the Mary Kay office right now. That means we're all thinking about our most important initiatives for 2010, our revenue forecasts for all of our markets around the world, and what we think we'll be spending to accomplish our goals. It's a process that goes on for a few months each year. We each begin at the individual department level, but eventually all have to come together to make sure that our goals are in sync overall and that our company-wide budget is reasonable. No one particularly enjoys the process, but everyone understands how important it is to plan.

As I was thinking about this, I was reminded about two things: (1) Mary Kay Ash always said that one should "plan your work, and work your plan", and (2) that many young women these days don't have a plan for their life, but wish they did (as we learned from our 2009 What Women Want research study). It occurred to me that as individuals, we don't often take the time to plan for our year with the careful thought and discipline that we put into the planning process for our jobs. I wonder what would happen if we did? What if we all practiced "plan your life, and live your plan"?

I've decided that I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. Instead of making the usual New Year's resolutions, which quickly fall by the wayside, I'm actually going to sit down with my husband this year and craft a plan for 2010 for our personal life. I'd like the plan to include what we want to accomplish next year, collectively and individually. What do we expect our income to be? How much will our living expenses be, and how much discretionary spending should we plan based on what we want to do? I'd like to set a goal for a certain number of hours of volunteer time, and a financial plan for our charitable giving. This would really be a big step for us, as we typically take life one day or one week, or one month at a time, as most people do. We are blessed at this point in our lives, in not having to live from paycheck to paycheck, but the idea of actually planning a budget and sticking to it is kind of exciting for me. Just like we do at the office, we can sit down and review our progress each quarter, see where we've stayed on track and where we can improve. And it will be fun to look back at the end of the year and see how many of our goals we actually met. I can imagine that having this plan would make all the daily decisions we face that much easier, because we would have a "filter" of sorts to weigh the decision against. If we do "X", is it consistent with the goals we set? If not, are we willing to change our goals?

Of course I know that things will come up along the way that will get us sidetracked, they always do -- those little, or sometimes BIG, things that are out of our control and come up at the most inopportune times. But it would seem that, other than those times, the peace of mind in knowing where we were going and how we wanted to get there would bring a tremendous sense of freedom and independence, leaving far fewer things to clutter our minds each and every day.

If you've been disciplined about planning your personal life this way, I'd love to hear about it. How did it work for you? What did it feel like?

Pink Changing Lives - Part 2

Rhonda Shasteen — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:47:00 GMT

A few years ago, there was a museum exhibit in Texas called “It Ain’t Braggin’ If It’s True.” Will you please indulge me while I take a moment to brag about the Mary Kay independent sales force and their customers?

Last year, Mary Kay undertook its first cause marketing program called Beauty That Counts™. The funds raised were used to help women and children around the world. In Korea, the funds were used to build children’s libraries for orphans and disabled children. In Mexico, the funds were used to support programs dealing with domestic violence. In the U.S., a portion of the funds were used to underwrite a multi-media curriculum addressing the issue of teen dating violence. Some of the funds were also used to support a new and innovative program focused on children and the healing powers of nature. The program is building five outdoor “nature explore classrooms” at women’s shelters in Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, California and Georgia. Those five classrooms are either opening or about to open this week in recognition of October and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The nature explore classrooms provide an outdoor environment to help children who have witnessed abuse in their home. Scientific studies show that children who are exposed to nature have a greater chance of dealing with difficult situations like witnessing abuse. Nothing like this existed before--these nature explore classrooms are the first to be built at women’s shelters. They will provide a quiet, safe and nurturing place for children to learn, play and heal. Can you imagine the difference this will make for the children and the women at these shelters?

It was the support of Beauty That Counts™ from the Mary Kay independent sales force and their customers that provided the support for the nature explore classrooms. I always say the people associated with Mary Kay, whether they be independent sales force members, employees or customers, are great people. This is just more proof of that. I know I’m bragging, but it’s true.

Thank you for all you do to help Mary Kay end domestic violence. Click here to learn more about the nature classrooms. http://www.marykay.com/content/company/pr_pressreleases_classroom.aspx

Let me introduce you...

Rhonda Shasteen — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:15:00 GMT

to Anne Crews. Anne is our first guest blogger here on Reflections, and I'm so delighted she agreed to share with our readers this month. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and Anne is a Mary Kay warrior when it comes to her commitment to personally do all she can to put a stop to this dreadful thing that plagues so many of our families. All of us at Mary Kay are very proud of the work we doin this area. It takes a lot of money to make a difference all across our country and all around our world, and none of it would be possible without our wonderful independent sales force and their loyal customers. Through their purchases of our skin care and color cosmetics, as well as their generous donations to the Mary Kay Foundation, all this is possible. We owe them a great deal of gratitude, and hope that they are as proud as we are of the work that has been done to help enrich the lives of women in need.

I invite you to click on the link below to hear directly from Mary Kay's resident warrior on the domestic violence front, Anne Crews.

http://reflections.marykay.com/crews/archive/2009/10/02/pink-changing-lives-part-one.aspx

Pink Changing Lives - Part One

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:43:00 GMT

Thank you Rhonda for giving me the opportunity to share information about the work that we are doing to end domestic violence.

Many of you know that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. But what you may not know is that ending violence against women is one of the primary initiatives supported by Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation. Around here, we call our efforts at doing well by doing good Pink Changing Lives^SM.

From the moment Mary Kay Ash founded our company in 1963, she always felt our primary mission was to enrich the lives of women. This is one of the reasons Mary Kay felt strongly that as an organization, we needed to support women’s shelters and those dealing with domestic abuse. I worked with Mary Kay for years and can tell you when she felt strongly about an issue, she acted on it. And as a Company, so do we. We feel strongly that violence against women must be stopped.

Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation have made a long-term commitment to support shelters and programs aimed at preventing, or at least, mitigating domestic violence. In total, we have donated more than $22 million to women’s shelters and programs addressing domestic violence. But it’s so much more than just writing a check. Along with the money we dedicate to this issue, we also look for unique opportunities that can truly make a difference to women dealing with abuse. Some of the few things we’ve done include:

Donating $20,000 to 150 women’s shelter in the United States in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. That is a total of $3 million per year to women’s shelters.
Lobbying Congress for the federal Violence Against Women Act and its renewal; lobbying State Legislatures to help educate teenagers about dating violence.
Providing grants to fund the salary of a special prosecutor for family violence crimes, in the District Attorney office.
Underwriting an interactive DVD and curriculum addressing teen dating violence.
Building outdoor nature environments at five women’s shelters this year to help children heal from the trauma suffered from being in an abusive home. Look for more details about this exciting project later this month.

As an organization, we don’t feel like we’ve gone above and beyond. We feel like we are simply doing our part. Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation will continue to work towards the goal of ending violence against women.

When things don't go your way

Rhonda Shasteen — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:09:00 GMT

I saw a great quote on Twitter yesterday. Unfortunately, an author wasn't cited, so I don't know who to attribute it to, but it really got me to thinking about what happens to us when things don't go our way.

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted"

If that is true, which I believe it is, then I know without a doubt that Mary Kay Ash would have said that she had lots of "experience"! For example, when she was a salesperson herself (before founding our company), she had set her sights on winning a beautiful handbag that she had seen a previous sales leader earn. She set that as her goal, and worked hard all year long to earn one for herself. She achieved the level of sales required, but she didn't get what she wanted. Instead, she was rewarded with a flounder light (evidently it's something you use to attract fish when you're trying to catch them). From that experience, she decided that if she ever got the chance to award prizes to other sales women, they would be the kind of Cinderella prizes that women really wanted, like that original handbag that she wanted. And that is exactly what she did, and we still do today.

I often Heard Mary Kay say that "If we ever decide to compare knees, you're going to find that I have more scars than anyone in the room. That's because I have fallen down and gotten up so many times in my life." Yes, Mary Kay Ash was very familiar with experience. One of her most famous and oft-repeated and re-Tweeted anecdotes is "We fail forward to success," most assuredly derived from all those instances when things did not go her way. Even with all the "failure" she experienced, Mary Kay went on to accomplish what no other woman in business has been able to match. Some of this success can surely be attributed to her hard work and willingness to make the sacrifices she needed to, but it also came from "knowing how to lose".

I can think of so many times when things didn't go the way that I wished for them to, or the way that I imagined them to, and I'm certain there were times when I was a really sore loser. But looking back on those times now, I know I'm stronger, wiser and more helpful to others who need advice and coaching than I would be had it not been for the experience, and I'm thankful to have had a role model in Mary Kay. I guess the real lesson I've learned is that my way may not be the best way after all, and I've learned to appreciate those times when things don't go my way, because I know that I'm going to grow as a result of the "experience."

Can you help?

Rhonda Shasteen — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:12:00 GMT

I received this comment on the blog over the weekend from a woman who needs some help. If you are in her area and can help, that would be wonderful. Hoping that you can!

I didn't know where else to put this/or even send this to someone but I need help. I'm working with a local school as their colorguard coach and we're in need of a make-up consultant. I've used MK when i was in high school and in college and i really love it. However, the school that i'm working with can't afford to purchase make up for the girls or even new uniforms. Therefore i'm wondering if you know of anyone that is willing to help us out by sponsoring us. I live in San Diego, California and I work in the Chula Vista area. If anyone sees/reads this please contact me at ashley_turnage2001@yahoo.com and thank you for taking the time to read this!! ~! Ashley !~

Written by Ashley (ashley_turnage2001@yahoo.com a visitor) on Sep 13, 2009

Another Lesson in "Thinking Like A Woman"

Rhonda Shasteen — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:43:00 GMT

After 20 years of running the company she founded, Mary Kay Ash set down to compile the traits that she thought had made her company so successful. That "list" was published in 1984, as Mary Kay on People Management. An updated version was released in 2008, under the title The Mary Kay Way. One of the many traits that she relied on for her success in business was her woman's intuition, and a caring, nurturing spirit, and she was pleased that she had proved wrong the many who had criticized her for "thinking like a woman."

In the introduction to that book, Mary Kay says, "Throughout this book I discuss the specific ways in which women do think differently from men. Such differences are in no way inferior to or incompatible with 'the way a man thinks.' And so one of my objectives in founding Mary Kay was to create a business atmosphere in which 'thinking like a woman' would not be a liability. In my Company those special sensitivities and talents often labeled 'women's intuition' would be nurtured -- not stifled."

One of the first things I learned of when I came to the company more than 25 years ago, was that each week, a "care bulletin" was created and sent to Mary Kay. This "care bulletin" was a list of women in our independent sales force who were very ill or in the hospital, had family members who were hospitalized or recently diagnosed with disease, had just given birth or were newly married, or had a family member pass away. In other words, those "life events" that cause us to reach out to those people that we care about to offer condolences, get well wishes or congratulations. Each week, when she received the list, Mary Kay Ash made it a priority that each woman on the list received a personal note from her, reminding her of how important she was to us and that we were thinking of her and her family. Back then, I think we had about 120,000 Independent Beauty Consultants in the United States.

Today, there are 600,000 women in our U.S. sales force, and each week the care bulletin is created, just like it was back then. Since Mary Kay Ash is no longer with us, our executive team sees to it that each woman on the list receives a personal note from one of us. I'll have to admit that in this day and time I don't send many hand-written notes or letters, except for these. I know they are quite rare in this e-mail, text message, Facebook, Twitter world we live in, and I think that, perhaps, that makes them even more special. I never really thought that much about the form of the note being that important, I was always focused more on the message. Until today.

Today, I received a letter from a beauty consultant in Georgia that I had sent a note to in August when I learned through the care bulletin that both she and her husband were injured in an automobile accident. I have copied the contents of her letter below:

Dear Rhonda:

I received your letter and it certainly made my day and lifted my spirit. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to write me a personal hand written letter! Wow, you sure know how to make a consultant feel special!

Truly, you all are my family; I honestly feel the warmth and concern. Thank you so much! My heart is forever touched!

We are recovering well and we will make a complete come back!

In spite of my pain, I am determined to make it! We are so happy to be a part of the Mary Kay family. I know I have challenges ahead of me, but, somehow, the pain just does not seem to be so bad when you have a family that truly cares.

May the blessings of the Lord be upon each of you always.

With sincere thanks,

Cheryl Roberson

You see, Mary Kay Ash knew the impact of a personal, handwritten note. She made them an important part of her company, and I'm so thankful that today they are still just as important. Another day at the office for me, and another warm, fuzzy reminder of why this company is so special.

(Note to self: write more hand-written notes. Will you join me?)

Things to look forward to

Rhonda Shasteen — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:35:00 GMT

I am totally jazzed about the great things I just saw and heard about that will be a part of Mary Kay's future. I just returned from a presentation of the products we'll see from 2010 to 2013; new skin care, color, fragrance and body care. WOW! I can't wait. I am one of those people that is pretty faithful to what I use, once I know that it works for me (which has been Mary Kay for more than 25 years now), but I also am eager to try the latest things that our teams develop, because I know that their goal is always to make it even better than it was before.

One of the things that they previewed that I can't wait for everyone to see is a whole new concept for us that I think you are all going to love. Let's just say that when it was "unveiled", the reaction in the room full of women was a unanimous and audible "AWW". Around here, we refer to that lovingly as "the squeal factor", and history shows that those products that have it always turn out to be customer favorites.

So many of the things that the teams are doing are based on feedback we've received from Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants and their customers. We're so lucky to have a direct connection to these women who so willingly share their thoughts, ideas anad opinions with us. It really does make the job of providing what women want so much easier (okay, maybe it's still not so easy).

Fun things around the corner. . .

Changing the world one woman at a time

Rhonda Shasteen — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:44:00 GMT

On this day, August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified that guaranteed women the right to vote.

It was a major step for one half of our nation's population and a step that undoubtedly has changed the course of our nation forever. But it was only the beginning of creating a society that valued the contributions of women, recognized their potential and gave them endless opportunities to change the world. I'm certain that are a great number of women in the U.S. who feel we still have a long way to go to truly gain the level of equality that is inherent in the very fact that we are one half of the nation's population. And in many ways, they are probably right. However, one only needs to look outside our borders to gain a broader perspective.

This article from The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/magazine/23Women-t.html?_r=3&ref=magazine#, was shared with me today by a colleague here at Mary Kay. As I read the article, it brought tears to my eyes for the women who still today, in the 21st century, are enduring things so evil that it's hard to imagine. Mixed with the tears is a great deal of thankfulness, for the people who are working to make a difference in the lives of these women, whether it's offering them opportunities to receive an education or loaning them small amounts of money to help them start businesses that eventually lead to their self-sufficiency. I also feel an enormous sense of pride that our business opportunity for women has spread into many of these countries, bringing hope and solutions to women in need.

The small dream that Mary Kay Ash had in 1963 to provide women in America the opportunity to develop their potential and make money is now making an even more profound difference in the lives of women in India and China and 35 more markets. Mary Kay knew then that women could change the world, if they were just given the chance. Too bad the critics all told her "There you go again, Mary Kay, thinking like a woman", (and they weren't paying her a compliment, I assure you!). But then again, she didn't listen.

I look forward to the day, when, in every corner of the world, "thinking like a woman" becomes recognized as the highly-valuable gift that it is. I wholeheartedly agree with Mary Kay Ash, and the premise in this story from The Times: we truly can change the world, one woman at a time.

The viral nature of a woman on a mission

Rhonda Shasteen — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:42:00 GMT

Yesterday, as we were gathering to begin a regularly-scheduled staff meeting, four of us were just catching up with each other on what was going on in our personal lives. One woman shared that she had just been to the doctor for her annual physical, and not only was she excited about the significant weight she had already lost, but had set a new goal to lose 17 additional pounds. Another talked about completing her first workout with a personal trainer, and how she was looking forward to the next one. And the third woman, well, talk about being on a mission. She shared that she has set a goal to compete in a triathlon, and had begun daily training for the fall event. As each of them was sharing their personal vision, I could sense the excitement in their voices, I could see by their body language that they had a sense of pride about what they were doing, and I began to feel those same things somehow magically being transferred to me. My adrenaline began to rise (or at least it felt like it did), I began to get excited for them, and then went on to think to myself, "What BIG thing should I be doing?". Then I thought about all the other times I had been inspired by someone else who had a dream, was sharing it with others, and was working hard at making it come true.

So, it seems that dreams are viral, spreading quickly from one person to the next. Sometimes what you catch from a woman on a mission is an exact replica of her dream, and you get inspired to help her achieve it. Other times, what spreads to you takes on a different form, and you find yourself dreaming your own dreams, setting big goals, and working to make them come true for yourself. Either way, a dreaming-believing-achieving attitude is contagious.

Our founder, Mary Kay Ash, certainly knew this to be true. Few women have dreams as big as she did, and it was the viral nature of her dream that took it from her and the nine friends she convinced to help her begin her business, to now more than 2 million women in more than 35 markets around the world. Although much has changed in the 46 years since her dream was cast, the contagious nature of women focused on making a difference and achieving great things has not. It is still alive and well, allowing women from all walks of life to draw upon the belief and inspiration from another to propel them to greatness.

If you are a woman on a mission, help others catch a dream from you. If you're not and are looking for inspiration, hang out with women who are passionate about their dreams, and let it spread.

Lessons from the garden

Rhonda Shasteen — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:00:00 GMT

As I've continued on my life's journey, one of the many things that I have learned about myself is that I am a creator/producer. I like to "make things". In my early years, it was crafts and sewing. I'd often just get a piece of fabric and sit down with the scissors and begin cutting and sewing, without a pattern, because I saw in my head what I wanted to create. (Perhaps I was really meant to be a fashion designer.) My next phase of production was children and the things that I could create through my work at Mary Kay, like products and marketing tools. As I continued to move up in the organization and focus more on strategy and leading others, I became less involved in the actual day-to-day creation of things. It took me a few years to figure out that I was actually missing the creating/producing process and the sense of accomplishment that comes at the end when you actually have the "thing" that you envisioned in the beginning. Since that was no longer a part of my work, I needed to find another way to recapture that feeling and once again satisfy the creator/producer in me. One of the things that I found was a vegetable garden. Little did I know when I began this project last fall that it was going to provide me with many valuable lessons that I could apply to other areas of my life. Maybe they weren't new lessons, but visible reminders of things that have often been forgotten.

Lesson #1 - What a difference a day makes!

One of the things I look forward to every evening is my post-dinner visit to the two raised beds in the backyard to see what is ripe for the picking today. With very few exceptions, there is usually something ready to harvest that wasn't ready yesterday. It reminds me to give other things (ideas, projects, people) the time that they need to "ripen", and that may not necessarily be on MY schedule. Of course, the growing and ripening doesn't actually happen in the course of 24 hours, but has been happening all along, little by little, since it was planted. It also reminds me to "sleep on things", because very often a situation can look dramatically different (or at least your perspective on it) the next day.

Lesson #2 - Timing is important, and even though you do everything right it doesn't always work out

Before I did my planting this spring, I researched the last average frost dates for north Texas, which is around the middle of March. So, that's when I did my planting. Well, average means just that, sometimes it's earlier and sometimes it's later, and this year was definitely later. We had two more freezing nights after that, so I lost several of my plants. I did my research, consulted the experts and followed their advice, and it still didn't work out. That's the way it is with life sometimes; many things are a gamble, with pros and cons on each side of the decision. You have to land on one side or the other, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes the win or loss maybe due to nothing other than the timing wasn't right.

Lesson #3 - Consistency pays big dividends

Providing consistent amounts of water on a regular schedule makes all the difference in the quality of the vegetables I harvest. Too much too fast, and the tomatoes crack. Too little not often enough and they wither and stop producing. Also, if you don't pick what has been produced, the plant thinks it doesn't need to reproduce anymore, so it stops producing. Ditto for work, life, exercise, nutrition, relationships, etc.

Lesson #4 - A bountiful harvest comes in many small baskets

Even though all the seeds were planted at the same time, each plant is on it's own schedule, and I find that I harvest a little bit at a time, over a long period of time. The entire bounty does not all arrive at once. I think oftentimes we are looking for the big bounty of life to appear, and lose sight of the fact that we've harvested so much already along the way.

Lesson #5 - You can't plant fall without digging up spring

Now's the time to begin the planting of the fall produce. Challenge is that some of the spring and summer crops are still producing. There will be no room in the garden for the new fall crops until I get rid of the ones that are left from last season. Reminds me of how I can't move forward into the future if I'm allowing something from the past to keep me deeply entrenched there. Sometimes the things we need to "dig up" are deeply rooted, and we may even think that they are still serving some purpose for us; but we can only reap the richness of the future by making room in our lives for new growth and new seeds to be planted.

This a only a handful of what the garden has taught or reminded me of. There's more, but perhaps the most important reminder of all is this: There are lessons to be learned each and every day, right in front of our eyes, from simple and ordinary things, if we are willing to see them. Look for the lessons.

It was the best one ever, eh?

Rhonda Shasteen — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:21:00 GMT

Another year of Mary Kay Seminar has come and gone. And, as always, it was the best one ever. We are so blessed as a company to have such inspirational women in our sales force. I love hearing their stories and seeing how much they've grown over the years. Amazing stories of tragedy and triumph and of setbacks and successes. Women who brought talents and skills from other professions and turned them into abundant success for themselves, and women who, in some cases, were least likely to succeed, and they did it anyway. (That reminds me of the bumblebee, and why Mary Kay Ash chose it as the symbol of success for our company. You see, the bumblebee should not be able to fly, because of the large size of its body relative to the size of its wings. But that doesn't matter to the bumblebee, who goes right along flying anyway. Mary Kay always loved this story of the bumblee. Her late husband, Mel Ash, who always gifted Mary Kay on Thursdays because that was the day they were married, presented her one Thursday with a beautiful diamond and gold bumblebee pin. When the Independent Beauty Consultants and Sales Directors saw the pin, they loved it and wanted to know how they could get one, too. Mary Kay, who was always about helping to make women's dreams come true, designed a sales contest for them to earn one. From that day forward to now, the top three in each of our sales courts are awarded the coveted diamond bumblebee pin.)

After 25 years of attending Seminar, there aren't too many "firsts" for me anymore. You've heard the saying, "Been there, done that". But this year, I truly had a first. For the first time in my Mary Kay career, I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the Mary Kay Seminar in Canada. I had a wonderful time. I'll have to admit that it was crazy to fit it in the middle of our own five Seminars here in the US, having to get up at 3:30 am to be at the airport by 5:40, and then returning to be back for the very next day at the Dallas Seminar. I was incredibly inspired by their #1 Sales Director, Shannon Shaffer, and the shining example she sets for the women that she leads. And I loved seeing the staff from Mary Kay Canada, working their hearts out to put on a great show for their sales force. It was nice to see them in their element, because I usually see them when they visit our Dallas world headquarters. But best of all, what I liked about it, was it felt like home. You see, even though I was more than 1,000 miles away from Dallas, in another country, and half of the meeting was conducted in French, it was all very comfortable and very familiar. And that reminds me of one of the things I like best about Mary Kay: no matter where I travel in the world, even if I don't know a soul where I am, I know that I can find a Mary Kay person and I will have found a friend. Here's to all my friends in Mary Kay Canada, the ones I've met and the ones I've yet to meet -- thanks for inviting me to your party!

No posts until the week of August 3rd

Rhonda Shasteen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:20:00 GMT

Mary Kay's annual Seminar has arrived, and we're all taking care of business and supporting our Independent Beauty Consultants at the Dallas Convention Center. I'll be back blogging the week of August 3rd. See you then!

That Special Time of Year

Rhonda Shasteen — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:54:00 GMT

I always know when it's getting close to one of my favorite times of the year when the mercury tops 100 degrees in Dallas, Texas. No, it's not that I like the heat so much, but it means that it's time for the annual Mary Kay Seminar. It recharges my batteries like nothing else I've ever experienced. It always reminds me of why I love this company so much and gets me motivated for another year of challenging work. It's the time that I reconnect with women that I haven't seen for a year, get updates on their families, see the new hairdos, and find out who is breaking records and setting audacious goals for new ones.

So what exactly IS this thing called Seminar? Well, what it IS NOT is another stuffy, boring workshop that someone sends you to where you're supposed to learn something, but you usually don't. What it IS can best be described as the Academy Awards, Broadway, and the Miss Universe pageant all rolled up into one, with a dose of business education and mentoring on the side, and a pep rally and family reunion thrown in for good measure. There's recognition, motivation, inspiration, education, and entertainment. There's food, and fun, talking and sharing, lots and lots of sharing. There's lights, cameras, and action, lots of action. There's sparkle and shine and fashion. Did I say there's lots of sparkle? There are limousines and flowers, diamonds and crystal, exotic vacations and big bonus checks. Yes, all these are some of the things you will SEE when you attend a Mary Kay Seminar. It's the celebration of success for our Independent Beauty Consultants and Sales Directors who have worked hard all year to build their businesses. It's their time to shine!

While all these THINGS are wonderful, they are just things. And, while Seminar just wouldn't be Seminar without them, it's the things you DON'T SEE at the Mary Kay Seminar that are the most meaningful to me. Like the dedicated Mary Kay staff, that give up their July 4th holiday each year to move into the Dallas Convention Center and begin the weeks-long process of setting everything up. Like the well-trained catering staff that make feeding 10,000 women at a time look like a cakewalk. Like all of the contractors who come back to work with us at Seminar year after year after year, and are just as committed and dedicated to the event as any Mary Kay employee. Like the local Dallas hotels and restaurants that roll out the red carpet when the Mary Kay women are in town. It's the sharing that happens when there's supposed to be sleep back in the hotel room. It's the "I had an AHA moment, and I can't wait to get back home and get to work" feeling. It's the hugs, and the tears, and the laughter. It's the photos, and the autographs and the dreams being formed. It's the tradition of getting a hot dog every Awards Night around 9 p.m. (even though you've had dinner, because you need something to sustain you until midnight). It's watching the makeup artists work their magic backstage before the reveal of the makeover winners. It's seeing the smiling faces of the convention center security staff, who are back again this year, and still remember your face. It's about everyone pitching in to do whatever it takes to pull off a spectacular event for the women who are our reason for being.

I LOVE SEMINAR! And I have since my very first one in 1984. My first Seminar was the first year we went from holding 3 to holding 4 back to back, in order to accommodate all the women who wanted to attend. Then by 1997, we had grown so much that we had to add another, and Seminar became a three-week long event. I sat down to do the math on exactly how many Seminars I had attended in my career, and before we even get started this year, I've attended 112 Seminars (4 for 13 years, and 5 for 12 years). And I still look forward to it beginning again, next Wednesday, July 15th. That should tell you something about just how great it is!

Declare your independence!

Rhonda Shasteen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:59:00 GMT

I've been thinking a lot this week about July 4th, the day that all patriotic Americans celebrate our country's independence and reflect on all the freedoms that we enjoy. As I hear the news, both from the United States and abroad, I am reminded of just how fragile independence and freedom can be, for nations and for individuals. It takes courage, persistence, daily nurturing and a strong belief in guiding principles to maintain the delicate balance of freedom and independence. While I could go on about patriotism, individual rights, world peace, et al, I will spare you from my political ramblings.

However, what I do want to opine on is the freedom of women. Not about the freedom to choose, or the freedom to be equal, or any of the other freedoms that in one way or another are controlled by some law, or some government, or some cultural tradition. I want to talk about women freeing themselves. Yes, as I sit here and think about Independence Day, what I think about is all the things that women do to hold themselves back from GREATNESS.

I say, "It's Independence Day. Let Freedom Ring. Declare Your Independence!"

Declare your independence. . . from whatever it is that you are allowing to hold you back.

Declare your independence. . . from small thinking.

Declare your independence. . . from making excuses.

Declare your independence. . . from trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Declare your independence. . . from trying to fit into a mold that's not YOU.

Declare your independence. . . from unhealthy habits.

Declare your independence. . . from debt.

Declare your independence. . . from relationships with people who drag you down.

Declare your independence. . . from trying to be all things to all people.

Whatever it is, declare your independence, and know the peace that comes with being truly FREE. Free to be the best YOU that YOU can be.

What personal freedom will you celebrate on Independence Day?

Beauty Shopping

Rhonda Shasteen — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:35:00 GMT

When Mary Kay chatted recently with women around the world about what they wanted in the area of beauty, one of the things they talked about was how they shopped for their skinc are and cosmetic products. For most of the women, it was "anything goes", meaning that they purchase their beauty products from all over -- supercenters, department stores, direct sellers, specialty stores and online. It's usually about what's convenient for her. So you could say that one thing women want when shopping for beauty products is EASY ACCESS.

What she also wants is CONTROL over her shopping experience. She wants it to be fun, social and casual, and sees the opportunity to browse as a part of the experience. She wants to TRY IT BEFORE SHE BUYS IT. She wants the opportunity to touch and experience it before she lays down that hard-earned money. And she is much more likely to try a new product that has been recomended by a friend or family member.

She wants PERSONALIZED BEAUTY ADVICE, WITHOUT PRESSURE. She wants an advisor who is knowledgeable and is a good listener; someone who understands and knows her and her skin, and doesn't try to just sell her the latest thing that might not be right for her. Ideally, the advisor could help holistically, with everything from makeup application to the latest fashion trends.

Women also want someone who will reach out to them on THEIR schedule.

None of this is surprising or unique to the beauty industry, given that consumers have been in control of the buying process for quite some time now. Consumers, specifically women consumers, want to call the shots, with as many options as possible. When she has choices, she feels more in control. The only rule is that there are no rules. She gets to choose how, when, where, and how often she buys.

In beauty, just as in everything else these days, those who are best at giving the women what they want will be the most loved brands.

Let's Talk Beauty

Rhonda Shasteen — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:55:00 GMT

In our recent conversations with women around the globe, we learned the "10 Things Women Want Now", which I've shared in previous posts. Mary Kay also wanted to hear what they were thinking specifically about beauty. When it comes to what women want in beauty, the list is short and simple.

1. Women Want . . . Natural Beauty

Women believe that "true" natural beauty is about enhancing what you already have; that the way you "make yourself up" should be complementary to your assets or features, and not overshadow them. For some, natural beauty is associated with youth and staying young (notice that I didn't say "looking young"), and many admit that it does become increasingly more difficult to achieve as you age. In many ways, this aspect of beauty has little or nothing to do with makeup, and is more about acknowledging what is already naturally beautiful in themselves. (But don't think that means women don't want to wear makeup. See #3.)

2. Women Want . . . To Be Noticed

Women want to create an impression. They want to be noticed. It is an important source of their strength and confidence. Right or wrong, like it or not, exterior beauty is one, if not the primary, channel to get noticed. Being "put together" with a great outfit, good jewelry, shoes and purse get her noticed. External beauty is perceived as being connected to success. This is one way of being recognized and valued by family, friends and co-workers and demonstrating to the world that she is achieving self-actualization. While it may seem counterintuitive, and goes against what many a feminist would argue for, dressing well and being made up is an expression of feminine power; it's a way to show the world that you care.

3. Women Want . . . To Wear Makeup

These women told us that they view makeup as an opportunity, an enhancement. While the degree of importance varies greatly across cultures and lifestyles, all agreed that makeup was important to them. For some, it makes them more secure about themselves and they feel more beautiful and alive. Others thought it showed effort and professionalism. One Korean woman said, "In Seoul, if you don't wear makeup, people ask if you're sick, and men think you're lazy." In Eastern Europe, the ritual of makeup is a visible indicator of someone who is aspirational and self-realized, and was described as "a condition of the soul -- it is a necessity, like breathing."

4. Women Want . . . Their Beauty Products to Change With Their Needs

Whether its a simple moisturizer change with the different seasons of the year, or responding to the needs of her aging skin, a woman wants to make sure that she is doing what her skin needs RIGHT NOW, and she realizes that changes over time. Many women say they commit to a more thoughtful regimen of skin care and higher quality products as they age. At the same time, they shift to more subtle and nuanced color cosmetics with passing years. They expect innovation and customization from the brand that they use and are always on the lookout for something new or better. Some women are driven to rotate among favorite products every now and then because they believe that, after a while, their skin stops responding to the efficacy of specific products. (This is totally a myth, by the way, that drives our entire industry crazy.)

The final question we posed in the area of beauty products was this one: "If you could create the IDEAL beauty product, what would it be?" Here's what they said:

The IDEAL beauty product must be EFFECTIVE; it works and delivers on the promised benefit.

The IDEAL beauty product must be FOR ME; it's personalized for MY skin type, MY skin tone, at this stage of MY life, in THIS season and matches MY beauty regimen.

The IDEAL beauty product must be RELEVANT AND CONTEMPORARY; it has to be up-to-the-minute, beautiful to look at, technologically-advanced, derived from the latest ingredients and from a brand that "gets me".

The IDEAL beauty product must be A GOOD VALUE; it has to be affordable, not so inexpensive that it fails to be credible or impress, but not so expensive that I can't afford it.

They also had a lot to say about how they wanted to shop for and purchase their IDEAL beauty products. But for that, you'll have to wait until the next post!

Mary Kay Learns "What Women Want" - The Final Chapter

Rhonda Shasteen — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:42:00 GMT

We've reached the final piece of the puzzle in "10 Things Women Want Now", and it is the ONE THING that everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE!) needs to pay attention to right now. That thing is TRUST. Whether you're an individual, a small business, a multi-billion-dollar global corporation, a service provider, a charity, a government organization, you name it, if you're not focusing on BUILDING TRUST with the women who interact with you, you will not be successful in these times.

Women value the intimacy and trust they have with their closest friends, their husbands and boyfriends and their family members. They are somewhat skeptical, however, when it comes to trusting the companies and people they do business with. Their trust must be earned. The best way to gain that trust is by being open and honest with her in everything you do. If you're not, you can bet she can "smell" it a mile away. That 'women's intuition' kicks in and once your intentions appear questionable, it can be really difficult to regain her attention, let alone earn her trust. And with so many choices today of where to take her business, you can bet she will take it somewhere that does provide her with the level of confidence and trust that she's seeking.

I think this is one of those areas that's not "new" as far as women seeking out people and companies they trust, it's just a matter of the degree of importance. There have been so many instances of things in society over the past 10 years that have really shaken women's trust in institutions and the people behind them. That's what has brought us to this place we are today, where women just will not do business with people and companies that they don't trust.

Mary Kay Ash knew in 1963 when she began our company that the success of our business would be built around the relationships of the people. That is evident in her decision to use The Golden Rule as the founding principle of our business, and she was passionate in instilling that belief within each of us. "Treat everyone you meet as if they are wearing a sign around their neck that says 'Make me feel important'" is the approach she taught. She also was very aware of the fact that a woman who has a bad experience with a company will tell many other people about it. Likewise, a woman who has a good relationship with a brand and trusts the people that represent the brand will also tell many others about it. (And of importance to note is that "the people" are one of the most important parts of developing and keeping that trust.)

This reminded me of a conversation I had with my husband just last night on this topic. He was telling me about his day, and that he had gone to lunch with one of his horse-trainer buddies at the sub shop (the brand shall remain nameless, although several of my friends will know of whom I speak because I did share my experience with them). I reminded him that I have not stepped foot into one of their shops for almost one year now, and I used to visit at least once a week, because of the last experience I had with one of "their people". I no longer trust the brand because of the actions of one of the employees who was serving me, so I have taken my business elsewhere. (I might have given them a second chance, except that after my experience I wrote a personal letter to the Chief Marketing Officer of the company, as I thought he'd want to know -- I certainly would have wanted to know if a Mary Kay customer had an experience like I had. Well, let's just say that the company business philosophy must be radically different from the Mary Kay philosophy that I'm accustomed to, because he never even responded to my letter. That action, or inaction, definitely said to me that they did not value my business, so I chose to not give it to them. I have changed doctors, switched grocery stores, and found new hairstylists all for similar reasons.

There are also many companies that I LOVE doing business with, primarily because of the people involved. They are genuine and seem to really care about my satisfaction and want to keep my business. I TRUST THEM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE EARNED IT.

Mary Kay Learns "What Women Want" - Part 9

Rhonda Shasteen — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:20:00 GMT

I bet you're wondering where I've been for the last several days, since I haven't posted anything new since last Thursday. Well, I've been out of the office, and as Murphy would have it, couldn't get the wireless device on my laptop to work. Thank goodness for the super folks back at corporate who quickly ordered me another wireless card and had it overnighted. I got it last night, so we're back in business!

When we set out to learn from women around the world what they wanted out of life today, one of the topics that we knew we wanted to explore with them was the role of technology in their lives. In every single case, no matter which country we were in, the women brought up the topic long before we planned to start talking about it. Very early in the conversations, the women were eager to talk about how they used the Internet and technology to manage the social aspects of their lives, as an enhancement to their face-to-face relationships with family and friends. This is one of the areas where the commonality across the world is that all the women are using technology-enhanced social networks, but there are some differences across cultures, age groups and life stages as to why and how they are using them.

For example, in Latin America, social media are crucial for stay-at-home moms to stay connected to the outside world without leaving their children. For the Korean women we talked with, they primarily use their mobile phones for texting to coordinate a mobile lifestyle. You see, the vast majority of young women in Korea live at home with their parents until they marry, and their goal is to stay out every day until bedtime. Mobile technology allows them to stay connected to their social circle without ever having to be "home". Chinese women are also prolific texters, and the Internet is very important to them as well. One woman put it this way, "The Internet is like rice. I can't live without it."

Eastern European women from Russia and Ukraine are frequent users of social networks on the Internet. The married women and the single women, however, use them for very different reasons. The married women use the social networks to gossip with their friends, away from prying eyes and ears. The single women primarily use social networks to find the perfect man. For young women in the United States, they use different tools for different things. For them, the Internet is for seeking information, connecting with others outside of the "close social circle", blogging and shopping. Their mobile phones are primarily for texting, surfing the Internet when away from home, and as an alarm clock. (I'm certain that one day very soon, these devices will no longer be called cell "phones", as actually talking on them is becoming much less frequent.) Don't think that it's just the youngest among us who are driving these social networks. I'm told that the fastest growing group of users on Facebook are the 55+ year-olds. It seems that connecting on Facebook with adult children and grandchildren who may live miles away has become the most convenient and rich experience they can find. Where else could they see in real-time everything that is going on in their families lives, complete with the photos to support it.

Next month, I'll have the opportunity to attend a conference focused solely on women's use of social technology, the BlogHer conference. I'm looking forward to meeting some of the most respected and experienced women in the world in the area of blogging and social media. I'm certain that I will learn a great deal that we can apply to enhance the social experience for Mary Kay brand lovers everywhere. I'll let you know what I learn.

The key takeaway from this is clear. Social networking, as far as women are concerned, is BIG all around the world. Anyone who today wants to connect with women had better be doing so in that realm. It's one of the basic ways in which women are communicating today, and communicating well is a crucial part of a woman demonstrating her success and self-realization. It's so important that women will even sacrifice time with their children to "chat" with a girlfriend.

The fast rise of technology-based social networks is no surprise, as the majority of users are female, and we've been "doing" social networks since the dawn of time (they just weren't supported by these incredible technology tools that we have today). In fact, when you think about it, the Mary Kay business model, created by Mary Kay Ash in 1963, is based on social networking. The only difference today is how large that network can be, and the many choices that technology allows us about how we develop, grow and share our circle of friendships.

What role is technology-enabled social media playing in your life today?

Mary Kay Learns "What Women Want" - Part 8

Rhonda Shasteen — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:13:00 GMT

We've learned so much already about what women around the world told Mary Kay when we asked them what they wanted. Today we're going to take a look at one of my favorite things - Pampering.

Yes, today's woman wants a reason and a way to pamper herself, or better yet, be pampered by others. She sees the importance of treating herself and gives herself the permission to do it, but often feels like she needs to earn it before she can indulge. Pampering is seen as a vital part of the "complete" woman's healthy attitude.

The indulgences she desires are not necessarily extravagant, and can be as simple as time to herself, or going "unplugged" for a while. Manicures and pedicures, facials, and special purchases are popular ways to pamper. Sometimes, getting together with other women to do these things, lunching with a friend or travel are the method of choice. For others, the pampering can take a more active form, like going to the fitness club, swimming, a yoga class or some time in the sauna. (These last choices sound much more like "work" than "pampering", so it's important to note that the women who cite these as their choice indicate that it's more about the connection with other women than the fitness aspect.)

Probably the most significant tidbit in all of this (which will not come as a surprise to any woman reading this) is that the biggest constraint to a woman's ability to pamper herself is not money, but TIME.

Oh, but that we should have some more of that precious commodity!

I know that I should take more time to pamper myself on occasion, but I always manage to find some reason to convince myself that I'm too busy. Yes, I'll take one hour every two weeks to get a manicure, but in my head, that's all about nail maintenance and how bad they look if I don't do it. I am very guilty of sitting in that chair and being everything but relaxed. In fact, my nail tech, Lee, often tries to get me to relax as she's massaging my hands and arms, because I just won't give in to it. But I want to be pampered, so why it is so hard for me to relax and enjoy it? I think it's because I don't turn my brain off and get in the moment. It's that TIME thing. I'm thinking about all the other things that I NEED to do, or SHOULD be doing. When I travel alone, and I have the time, I sometimes treat myself to a massage. I LOVE THOSE, so why won't I take the time to do them when I'm home? When I get a gift certificate for a pampering session, or a friend calls and says let's go get a pedicure, I'll do it. So why don't I do it more on my own, for me? Perhaps it's the "nudge", in the form of the gift or the invitation. Yes, I think that's what makes the difference. In my mind, when I'm deciding do I go get pampered or do I do all the other things that I think I need to do, that little "nudge" puts one more reason on the side of the pampering. Without that nudge, it's easier to swing to the other side. I don't think I'm that unique, and I bet there are many other women, just like me, who, given a little "nudge" would make the choice to pamper themselves more often.

So here's what we're gonna do. I want you to join me in helping women take a step closer to becoming the complete women they want to be, by being the "nudge" they need to pamper themselves. Call a friend and ask her to join you for a manicure. Treat your mom to a pedicure. Give your best customers the gift of pampering. Pamper a woman who is of service to others. Ask a neighbor woman to take a walk with you. Invite a girlfriend over for coffee. When you do, you may indeed be giving the most precious gift of all, the gift of time.

Let me know what you do, I'd love to hear about it, and I know our readers would, too.

Mary Kay Learns "What Women Want" - Part 7

Rhonda Shasteen — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:37:00 GMT

Well, we've finally arrived at the piece of this on-going discussion that I've been looking forward to, and at the same time dreading. Not because it's bad in any way, in fact I think it's really good that women are comfortable talking about this subject. For our male readers, let me just say, don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger.

When Mary Kay asked women around the world what they wanted in their lives today, they told us. In fact, there were ten consistencies that surfaced, regardless of what culture or region of the world the women were from. One of those ten things was MEN. . . sometimes!

The "sometimes" here is the critical factor. It seems that women today have a yin/yang relationship with the men in their lives. For single women, they definitely still have romantic notions, but many feel that husbands can become obstacles to some of the other desires they have in their lives, like their career. In Europe, women cited that being loved by a man and being married is seen as an important social marker, and that having a significant male relationship in their life can be a motivator to stay attractive and fit. For these same women, however, that man was not at the center. They also expressed that as far as their careers, they had to work really hard to overcome some obstacles to prove themselves and their worth, while the men at work weren't seen as having to work as hard at it. In Latin America, women shared that same sentiment, feeling that in the workplace men oftentimes hindered their access to money, opportunity and success.

The "complete" woman likes men, but doesn't need them in the same way as before. Along with all the good that the men bring to their lives, at home they are someone to manage, and at work they are competitors on a playing field that is still seen as uneven. Women across the globe wish that the guys would be quicker to grasp and support the shift in women's roles.

As for me, I can relate to "sometimes". I dearly love my husband. He's my best friend, and next week we will celebrate 30 years of marriage. Sometimes I feel he's the greatest, most understanding husband in the universe. Sometimes I think he's not. Sometimes he helps me make an important decision. Sometimes he makes me even more confused. Sometimes he totally supports what I want to do. Sometimes he doesn't (I still don't have any chickens at the farm). Sometimes I want to spend all my time with him. Sometimes I wish he'd take an extended vacation. . .alone.

With all that said, here's another thing I know, without a doubt. I know that I know that I know. With him, I am so much more complete, and without him there would be a very large void in my life.

As far as the men in the office, I can honestly say that. . .

(You didn't think I was really going to go THERE, did you?)

All of this has now made me so curious. I wonder what we would learn if we were to ask men around the world what they want? Would they say "women, sometimes"?

What would you like to talk about?

Rhonda Shasteen — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:35:00 GMT

By now you've probably got a sense of some of the types of things that I like to blog about. This is a conversation though, and I want to hear from you. What would you like to talk about?

(The suggestions you offer here are for my planning purposes for future blog posts. They will not appear as comments on this post.)

Mary Kay Learns "What Women Want" - Part 6

Rhonda Shasteen — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:57:00 GMT

Here we are again, revealing what women around the globe told us about what they wanted out of life in today's world. In addition to the five things we've already discussed, women want to have their own personal, disposable income. At this point in time, some do and some don't (have it).

Women in the United States are very familiar with having disposable income, and are finding themselves coming to terms with their personal financial security issues, given the recent and continuing economic conditions. They want to be in control of their money and they want to contribute to the security of their family.

Latin American women are very good planners when it comes to their finances. Because personal credit is uncommon, she cannot overextend herself; she can only spend what she has, so she plans carefully.

For women in China, discretionary money is still a relatively new phenomenon. No matter how well she is cared for by her husband, she still wants to be able to spend "her own money". In Korea, most of a woman's disposable income goes directly toward educating her children.

In Eastern Europe, money management is a new skill. Most Soviet-era parents didn't have the money to need the skill, so this was not something that they passed on to their children. Today, many of these women take pride in their ability to restrain themselves, but for the majority, the temptation of shopping is too new and too wonderful to resist.

The interesting thing about this global desire for personal income is that it's not really about the MONEY at all. And it's not about the STUFF that the money can buy. You see, it's all about the INDEPENDENCE and AUTONOMY that the money allows. It's about the empowered feeling that comes from sensing that you are in control of this important aspect of your life. It's about the FREEDOM to treat yourself, if that's what you want to do, or to treat someone else, or to give to your favorite charity.

When I ponder my own thoughts about having money to spend, I recall times when I didn't have much, as almost all was going to pay bills. Seems like that was the time that I had the strongest desire to shop and buy things. (Why is it that we always want what we can't/don't have?) Now, with my children out of the house and supporting themselves (OK, mostly!) and my husband retired, I find myself with more discretionary money, but interestingly enough, no desire to shop. Don't get me wrong here, I do like nice things, but there are other things I like better. Like no stress from trying to pay for those things. Less stuff in the house means less to have to clean around (Yes, I have always and still do clean my own house). Perhaps I've reached that magic moment in life when I've finally received the wisdom that happiness doesn't come from stuff. While I'm no longer interested in acquiring stuff, however, I can tell you that having discretionary money is very important to me, for all the same reasons that we heard from other women. You see having the ability gives me the freedom to choose if I want to give extra to my church, help my parents with their medical expenses, pay off my mortgage early, or give to political candidates that support issues I feel strongly about.

One of our Mary Kay Independent National Sales Directors, Linda Toupin, from Kentucky, is famous for saying that "money buys you choices". I agree. And apparently the women of the world agree, and they like the choices that come with having their own personal disposable income.

Mary Kay Learns "What Women Want" - Part 5

Rhonda Shasteen — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:11:00 GMT

Mary Kay Inc. was interested in finding out what women want in today's world, so we took a few months to learn from women in several countries around the world. They weren't shy and they held nothing back. We've been exploring these things over the last several posts, and we've reached #5. In addition to completeness, strength and independence, family + choice, and a fulfilling career, women around the world are longing for a connection and sisterhood with other women.

For some, "girls night out" has become a never-to-be-missed weekly ritual. These female escapes provide carefree times, to get away, however briefly, from the everyday stressors of life. It can be as simple as meeting for tea or coffee, or involve pampering in the form of manicures/pedicures, or even full-blown weekend long retreats.

Our girlfriends, in many ways, are our family. They provide a source of strength and security. They assist us when we need the help. They validate who we are and what we do. They can be our creative muse, and they (almost) always accept us as we are. Girlfriends are a safe haven from daily troubles, and can be great resources for help in many areas of our lives. Talking to girlfriends is an important part of our daily routine for many of us. For all the women we talked to, their female friendships are their most important, and often most stable relationships.

I see the results of a strong connection to other women, the sisterhood if you will, play out daily in Mary Kay. Just a few moments ago, as I was on Twitter getting updates from the people I follow, I noticed a tweet from a Beauty Consultant. She suffers from a serious chronic pain condition and was having a bad day. She had a party booked with several women, and due to the pain, she was unable to conduct the party. Rather than cancel and disappoint the women who were excited about their facials and makeovers, a "sister" Consultant offered to hold it for her. That is the sisterhood in action.

I have traveled on numerous international trips with our top Sales Directors and National Sales Directors, and inevitably, someone's luggage doesn't make it to our destination. Now, these aren't just any trips mind you. These are trips to 5 star hotels in some of the most widely sought-after cities of the world. These women worked their buns off all year long to earn the trip for themselves, and you know darn well that they didn't just go to the closet and throw last year's family vacation clothes into the suitcase. No ma'am. There was major power shopping to get just the right outfits, planned strategically to each day and every special dinner. And, then, well, all those cute outfits are floating around someplace in luggage limbo. Not to worry. Mary Kay sisters to the rescue. When that happens, anybody else who is on the trip and is anywhere close to being your size will pony up her cute outfits for you to wear until your luggage is found. Nevermind the fact that she couldn't wait for everyone to see her in THAT outfit. That's the power of the sisterhood at work.

This same sisterhood is one of the reasons that I feel very safe even when I travel to someplace that I have never been. You see I know that just about anywhere I go, there are Mary Kay people there, and they would do whatever they could to help me if I needed something.

No doubt this very strong desire for a connection with other females is what is driving women to social media in record numbers. (We'll explore this particular aspect of social networking in a future post, so I don't want to dwell on it here.)

In closing, I think Sister Sledge said it best (okay, I know I am dating myself) . . . "We are family -- I got all my sisters with me."