Life and Work of Mary Kay Ash

The corporate world has seen many great entrepreneurs, but may Kay Ash has a unique distinction of founding a smart set when it was very rare for married women to work outside the class. bloody shame Kay introduced a new way of life for women and opened up doors of unending opportunities for them.She worn-out(a) her 80 years of life which each women in the world could envisage off. Born on May 12, 1918, in Houston Texas, she had a promising childhood. Her develop worked at a restaurant, she did chores at category, attended to her sick father, and excelled at school. She brought home straight As and won every competition of public speaking. She outsold every other student from Girl Scout cookies to school-event tickets (Mary Kay Ash, 2006).She wanted to plough a doctor until an aptitude test showed her selling ability outranked her attainment ability. After having decided to get into sales, she joined Stanley station Products in 1938. up-and-coming and a quick learner, Ash found that direct sales conform to her well. She rose at Stanley to unit manager and served there till 1952. following(a) a divorce from her husband, Ash moved from her job at Stanley Home Products to a similar sales slot at World present political party, where she remained for another 11 years and became National Training Director (Biography, 2005). date working at Stanley Home Products and World Gift Company, she broke every sales record and won numerous awards. She was however frustrated cod to the discriminating attitude towards women. Her male colleagues she trained were promoted ahead of her and were getting double her salary. After having served for 25 years, she finally decided to retire. Soon after her solitude she started writing a book for women. This book eventually turned into a marketing plan for a pipe dream company, which Mary decided to utilise herself (Mary Kay Ash, 2006).Mary Kay bought a skin accusation cream locution and enlisted her second husband t o handle operations and started recruiting friends as dish antenna consultants for the venture she called Beauty by Mary Kay. Her husband died just before the throw of company but her children helped her to recoup and compose herself, and go ahead with the plan. Mary Kay formally launched her company on Friday, family 13, 1963.She wrote in her autobiography, I knew I would never have a second chance to empower my dream into action. She started the company with investment of $5000. In the first calendar year, the sales reached $198,000 and by 1983 Mary Kay, Inc. sales exceeded $300 million. The company at present sells to a greater extent than 200 products in eight product categories facial skin care, cosmetics, fragrances, nutritionary supplements, sun protection, nail care, body care and mens skin care (Mary Kay Ash, 2006).Mary Kay Ash worked day and night which contributed badly to her health. In 1996, she survived a stroke. Before her death in 2001, the business which she st arted with 9 beauty consultants had reached to over 800,000 representatives in more than 30 markets. The sales reported by the company in 2000 was $1.3 billion which even crossed $2.2 billion in 2005. During the period of Mary Kays life, there were 151 women who earned more than $1 million in commissions. Also during this period more than 10,000 pink Cadillacs were awarded to employees (Company Information, 2006).Mary Kay Inc. today remains one of the largest privately held firms in the fall in States. Mary Kay lived her life with simple and solid principles that never wavered. As a committed daughter, wife, mother and an employer, she was always sustained by her deep and durable faith in God. Through her uncomplicated formula for success put God first, family second and career third she made the world a better place specially for women (Mary Kay, 2006). ReferencesBiography. (2005). Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved September 29, 2006, from http//www.bookrags.com/biogra phy/mary-kay-wagner-ash/Company Information. (2006). Mary Kay Website. Retrieved September 29, 2006, from http//www.marykay.com/company/company_companyinformation.aspx?tab=homeMary Kay. (2006). Mary Kay Tribute. Retrieved September 29, 2006, from http//www.marykaytribute.com/Mary Kay Ash. (2006). Mary Kay Website. Retrieved September 29, 2006, from http//www.marykay.com/company/marykayash_herlifeandlegacy.aspx?tab=home