Katie’s Story

I signed up as a consultant to help my sister out. She was going for her directorship and first car and needed as many consultants as possible. So, everyone in our family (whose last name was different than hers) signed up. Even some men in my family signed up (but they didn't even know it).

I thought this business was a way to make some extra money so I ordered the $600 inventory. I think the whole concept of Mary Kay was positive. They train you to sell their product in an intelligent, dignified manner. It's all the drama that goes along with moving up the ranks that I found cult-like.

My sister is so obsessed with recruiting that she has been unable to attend family events because of Mary Kay class.

In fact, her kids don't even have regular birthday parties.

They're always scheduled late and always around her Mary Kay schedule. She often brings them to daycare, sometimes on a daily basis, just so she can 'work her business'. She has even missed her kids school activities to attend a Mary Kay party. She has traveled as far as 10 hours away just to sign up to a consultant. In the meantime leaving her husband and 3 kids to yet again have dinner alone and without their mom. Her cell phone rings non-stop all day with calls from her consultants - just calling to gossip about another director, etc. I would rather spend that time with my kids, than on the phone talking Mary Kay.

Since joining Mary Kay, her marriage has been rocky and the kids are always pawned off on the most available relative. She has gained a lot of weight and puts so much effort into this business. I thought the motto of Mary Kay was 'God first, Family second. Career third. It is the opposite with my sister. In fact, I would say Mary Kay is number one. Her regular full time job is #2, family is a distant third. I see her kids and feel so sorry for them and can't believe how consumed my sister is in this business. Every time I talk to her, all she talks about is Mary Kay. All I talk about are my kids.

There's something wrong.