Jennifer Edelson

Marlene came to my house today to help me with the “business stuff”, the focus wasn’t Mary Kay products, setting appointments, or teaching skin care classes, it was how to keep track of inventory, receipts, what can be written off for tax purposes and how to track what I’ve spent and earned.

She has a great system for all of this, which I am going to copy, and won’t share all the details here, but it’s always great to see her and learn from her. She explained the legal stuff so I can understand it, and that makes me feel confident about the whole thing.

She did spend a few minutes with me helping me learn how to teach other people how to put on eye makeup, which was really helpful.

Talking to her keeps me motivated and focused on my goals.

Jen

Last night I went to a Tuesday evening meeting at Marlene’s house. These are so great because a lot of the women in her group are there and it’s fun to talk to them, learn from them, and get motivated by their success.

I was surprised when Marlene started handing out awards, though. Each week she hands out ribbons and small gifts to the women who had something to celebrate in the last week. I got two ribbons, for having parties and good sales, and I also got a really cute bracelet because I had a good sales week.

I also feel really motivated to do well because Marlene was telling us that she needs to get to Sales Director level in the next year so she is eligible for the Mary Kay pension. I’m not sure what the pension is, exactly, and it doesn’t matter. What matters to me is that Marlene has given 25 years of hard work to her MaryKay business, and I would hate for her to come up short in the end.

I’m not sure why, but I’m more motivated to be successful for her benefit than my own. The two go hand in hand, I guess, but I’m more likely to be successful because I want her to achieve the next management level so she is eligible for the pension.

I do have two parties booked for the next couple of weeks so that’s a start. I just need to get moving and get people to have parties now… My friends think I should focus on getting one on one appointments that are only 15 or so minutes and try to book parties out of those.

I think that’s the way to go for now…

Jen

I’m so scared!

I have earned every penny of my investment back. I’ve had a few events that were successful. I’m excited about Mary Kay, both the products and the business. I’m learning something every day, from Marlene and from my friends who are all trying to help me.

But I’m so afraid that I won’t be able to do it. Until now, I’ve just been watching, providing Marlene with an audience and letting her sell the product. I haven’t had anything to do with the orders.

Now, I’ve booked my first skin care class, it’s two weeks away, but Marlene won’t be there. It will just be me and a few women, and I’ve only met one of them one time! In the meantime, I’ve got to get to more faces and I just don’t have the nerve to talk to people randomly, especially about buying things.

All my friends and Marlene say everyone is nervous the first few times. I’m sure if I asked her she would do more classes with me, but that is only delaying the end result of success or failure. Eventually I have to do it myself, because while Marlene is here to help and support me, she isn’t going to hold my hand and do all my events.

I just don’t know what to do. I feel like I’ve been unsuccessful at everything I’ve tried and don’t know why this should be any different. I feel like Humpty Dumpty because I keep falling apart and worrying about what’s going to happen and questioning my abilities…

Jen