Recognition is a wonderful motivator for anyone. Prizes are fun to “earn”. Awards can build our self-esteem, but how much have you really paid for the prizes you’ve earned in Mary Kay? You can also ponder about how much that prize really “cost you” in terms of lost family time, lost vacations, lost furniture, cars, etc.

Throughout our discussion groups we talk about how much we “sacrificed” to earn those “cheap” prizes. The sacrifice is not always just in dollars and cents; oftentimes, we sacrifice our sense just to get the recognition. Many have shared how much they have spent just to get a pencil, a $10 ring, a warm & fuzzy or whatever else is being offered as the reward for “orders” placed or whatever current challenge/contest is being offered.

There’s nothing wrong with earning prizes, but when consultants & even directors find themselves ordering unnecessary inventory just to get that prize and/or recognition, something is wrong. I was caught up in the trap of “buying recognition” and was a little embarrassed to accept a title of “Queen of Sales” for the Unit at the end of the Seminar Year since all I did was order a huge amount of inventory, unsold inventory. There were many other women who surpassed me in “real sales”, yet they did not get the recognition they deserve and that, we feel, is unfortunate.

So, for those SELLERS in Mary Kay, or for those who have made great efforts to do their business with integrity, GIVE YOURSELF A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND PICK OUT A PRIZE!!!!