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The Mary Kay Way: Timeless Principles from America's Greatest Woman Entrepreneur
 
 
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The Mary Kay Way: Timeless Principles from America's Greatest Woman Entrepreneur

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The Mary Kay Way: Timeless Principles from America's Greatest Woman Entrepreneur + It's Not Where You Start, It's Where You Finish!: The Success Secrets of a Top Member of the Mary Kay Independent Sales Force + How to Be Like Women of Influence: Life Lessons from 20 of the Greatest
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Mary Kay Way: Timeless Principles from America's Greatest Woman Entrepreneur is back in print and updated to reflect developments in today’s business environment for the modern entrepreneur. You will find inspiration and real, proven success principles that represents the forty-five year old success story of Mary Kay Ash, founder Mary Kay, Inc., the cosmetics company that provides women with unlimited opportunities for success. A foreword by Mary Kay’s grandson, also a company executive, introduces her timeless guide to entrepreneurial success.

From the Inside Flap

"Leaders teach. They motivate. They care. Leaders make sure that the way to success is always broad enough and straight enough for others to follow."
—Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay helped open the door for countless women throughout the world to find success on their own terms and to be their own bosses. The Mary Kay Way is her inspiring "how-to manual." It explains her people-centered business philosophy and how to succeed by staying true to yourself, your values, and your customers.

From The Mary Kay Way:

"Every person is special! I sincerely believe this. Each of us wants to feel good about ourself, but to me, it is just as important to make others feel the same way. Whenever I meet someone, I try to imagine him or her wearing an invisible sign that says: make me feel important! I respond to this sign immediately, and it works wonders.

Some people, however, are so caught up in themselves that they fail to realize that the other person wants to feel important too.

Once I waited in a long reception line, and when I finally got to shake hands with the company's sales manager, he treated me as if I didn't exist. I'm sure he didn't remember the incident; in fact, he probably was never aware of how much he had hurt me. Yet, after all these years, I still remember—so it obviously had a powerful impact on me. I learned an important lesson about people that day, which I have never forgotten: no matter how busy you are, you must take time to make the other person feel important!"

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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley (July 8, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0470379952
  • ISBN-13: 978-0470379950
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,675 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Mary Kay Ash
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
independent sales force members, adoptee program, skin care class, somebody sells something, care classes, invisible sign, national sales
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mary Kay, Sales Director, Beauty Consultant, Golden Rule, Action Today, United States
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless, yes, but also timely, August 19, 2008
By Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      

This is a reissue of a volume that was first published in 1984 to which personal comments from Independent National Sales Directors from throughout the world were added, accompanying a Foreword by Mary Kay Ash's grandson, Ryan Rogers. Credit Yvonne Pendleton with a brilliant job of editing all of the material in this updated edition. Frankly, I did not fully appreciate this book when it was first published and then recently, my friend Randy Mayeux presented a brief program to a local business book breakfast group here in Dallas to which I belong. He carefully explained why, of anything, Mary Kay's insights concerning effective leadership are even more relevant now than they were more than 20 years ago. So I immediately obtained a copy of this edition and now share my own reactions to it.

As with so many other prominent CEOs, Mary Kay learned most (if not all) of what she considers to be the most valuable business lessons from negative experiences, both hers and others'. Prior to opening the doors to Mary Kay Cosmetics in a 500-square-foot store front in Dallas (Friday, September 13, 1963), she had been the victim of all manner of gender biases, broken promises, betrayals of confidence, etc. From the beginning of her new company, she included The Golden Rule among its core principles. The policies and procedures she formulated all shared the same objective: To create a workplace culture that nourishes and supports everyone's personal as well as professional development. The only limits on that development would be self-imposed. Mary Kay didn't stop there, however. She was determined to do everything humanly possible to help her associates to reject or eliminate such limits. She also expected everyone else to provide such help to those in need of it.

To guide and inform such supportive efforts, she devised eight management principles:

1. Praise People to Success
2. Tear Down That Ivory Tower
3. Be a Risk-Taker
4. Be Sales-Oriented
5. Be a Problem-Solver
6. Create a Stress-Free Workplace
7. Develop and Promote people from Within
8. Keep Business in Its Proper Place.

When the Independent National Sales Directors were surveyed prior to publication of this edition, they identified #1, #7, and #8 as having had the greatest impact on their personal as well as professional development and were most critical. They also ranked the chapters of this book in terms of their importance to them and four of the 23 chapters emerged: "Help Others Get What They Want - and You'll Get What You want" (Chapter 12) " "Golden Rule Management" (Chapter 1), "The Invisible Sign" (Chapter 3), and "The Speed of the Leader Is the Speed of the Gang" (Chapter 9). "Whenever I meet someone," Mary Kay once explained, "I try to imagine him or her wearing an invisible sign that says: MAKE ME FEEL IMPORTANT! I respond to this sign immediately, and it works wonders." Apparently it has also done so for others in her organization. The company began with nine Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants; in 1984 when this book was first published, there were 200,000 in its sales force; today, there is a worldwide sales force of 1.8 million whose wholesale sales generate $2.4 billion.

Here are other representative examples of Mary Kay's "way" of thinking:

"A diamond bumblebee is the ultimate symbol of recognition at Mary Kay. It's the `crown jewel,' and its recipient is recognized as a queen...We think the bumblebee is a perfect symbol because, as aerodynamic engineers `proved' many years ago, the bumblebee cannot fly! Its wings are too weak, and its body is too heavy. Fortunately, the bumblebee doesn't know that and goes right on flying. At Mary Kay we teach people how to spread their wings and fly on their own. I can't think of a better way to help people."

"Enthusiasm is not just contagious - it spreads like wildfire. Employees often reflect the personalities of the company's owners. A chief executive's enthusiasm and positive personality can permeate an entire organization...Conversely, a lack of enthusiasm can produce devastating results. Hesitation and self-doubt are also contagious."

"In a well-run company that offers equal advancement opportunities for to all employees, the cream always rises to the top. In fact, a recent study of the best-managed companies in America shows that they are structured in a way that [begin italics] guarantees [end italics] the best people will be promoted to top levels of management. I view it as a sign of weakness when a company fails to develop a leadership team from within. Nothing prepares one better for the responsibilities of leadership than on-the-job training."

Although Mary Kay passed away in 2001, who she was and what she believed as well as the organization she created all live on in the lives she continues to nourish with her wisdom, her compassion, and most of all, her faith. Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba have much of value to say about how to create customer evangelists. That is certainly a worthy objective. However, as Mary Kay suggests in this remarkable book, it is perhaps even more important to create employee evangelists. As she would correctly point out, no company will have customer evangelists unless and until it first has people representing it who are evangelists. That was her objective from the beginning and remains true of the company that bears her name 45 years later. Of how many other companies can that also be said?
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars God bless Mary Kay, July 9, 2008
In an academic study by Baylor University, Mary Kay Ash, who founded Mary Kay Cosmetics in 1961 has been hailed the Greatest Female Entrepreneur in American History. After you read the Mary Kay Way, you'll know why. She built her company based on the Golden Rule--and she always practiced it, never deviating from the principle of treating others as she would want to be treated herself. She also instilled her values in others, and gradually over time, the company became one of the best-known brands in America and throughout the world. This is an amazing fact. Think about it. When did you ever see an advertsement for Mary Kay Cosmetics? The company advertises so rarely that chances are, you never saw one. But who doesn't recognize the name, Mary Kay? In reading the Mary Kay Way, Mary Kay's integrity and caring for others comes through loud and clear. Although Mary Kay Ash passed away in 2001, her legacy lives on through the countless success stories of the independent saleswomen who sell her products, build their own dynamic sales organizations under the Mary Kay umbrella--the ones who succeed and earn impressive incomes comparable to top executives at Fortune 500 companies are the ones who adhere to Mary Kay's philosophy of believing that anything is possible if you work dilligently, believe in yourself, and inspire others to believe in themselves. If everyone would follow the lessons that she shares throughout this book, he or she would succeed in any field. Today, the company has 1.8 million independent sales representatives selling the company's skin care products all over the world. Mary Kay Ash's legacy lives on--providing women around the globe with opporuntities to succeed and enjoy a piece of our free enterprise system--even in places where free enterprise is a rare commodity. For this, I salute the company for the tremendous goodwill it is exporting. The Pep Talk: A Football Story about the Business of Winning
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a MUST read for anyone that wants to be successful in family life and their business life!, July 5, 2008
The book starts out with a letter from Mary Kay's Grandson, Ryan Rogers. From that very beginning I knew it would be a wonderful update with practical advice from those at the top of Mary Kay. Few leaders are able to sustain their legacy past their life, but Mary Kay has done it and this book is proof of her enduring legacy. The Mary Kay Way will live on because of her philosophy of sharing your success with others. You won't go wrong by applying these principles to your life and your business. I suggest you purchase the book and at least one more copy to share with a friend.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Inspiration
I'd definitely recommend this book for anyone who needed a little inspiration, or someone who needs some positive principles in their lives. Easy to read. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Pecos Pride

5.0 out of 5 stars ALWAYS A WINNER
Mary Kay, what a women, I wish more people would read and follow her advice, she was gracious and dynamic. A true woman of integrity. A great read.
Published 7 months ago by P. Heitkamp

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you
Great doing business with you and look forward to purchasing from you again. Thank you!
Published 8 months ago by Daniel M. Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars Mary Kay is the Way
As a small business owner, I appreciate this book's insite on how to work the right way in the direct-selling world. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Shannon M. Dement

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book and worth having
Excellent book. Slower in delivery than expected. May be due to delay in publication? Still, great book. Very inspiring.
Published 11 months ago by AT

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely inspirational and how a company should be run.
I read this book from cover to cover and I must say that it was one of the most inspirational books I have ever read. Read more
Published 12 months ago by GammaRay

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
This is a great book. good for anyone to read not only mary kay consultants.
Published 13 months ago by Sarah Petersen

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for every business!
Want to be truly successful? This should be mandatory reading for everyone in every business. Our world would be so much more positive, helpful, and successful! Read more
Published 13 months ago by H. Bresser

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mary Kay Way
This book and ALL books written about Mary Kay Ash and the Mary Kay opportunity are fabulous beyond words. .....It comes HIGHLY recommended
Published 14 months ago by Joy Parker Canady

5.0 out of 5 stars Just good business
If every business in America operated under the Mary Kay principles the country would be in a better place.
Published 16 months ago by Rene Hall

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