Mary Kay Ash
Mary Kay Ash (May 12, 1918 ? 2001), US businesswoman, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Born Mary Kathlyn Wagner in Hot Wells, Texas, Ash worked for several direct sales companies from the 1930s until the early 1960s, achieving considerable success as a salesperson and trainer. Frustrated, however, at being passed over for promotions in favor of men, she retired in 1963, intending to write a book to assist women in business. The book turned into a business plan for her ideal company, and in September, 1963, Ash and her son, Richard Rogers, began Mary Kay Cosmetics with a $5,000 investment. The company originally operated from a storefront in Dallas but grew rapidly, particularly after Ash was interviewed for CBS?s 60 Minutes in 1979. The famous pink Cadillacs awarded to top sales people were the most visible sign of the company?s success.
Ash was widely respected, if not always understood, for her unconventional approach to business. She considered the Golden Rule the founding principle of Mary Kay Cosmetics, and the company?s marketing plan was designed to allow women to advance by helping others to succeed. Unfailingly supportive and enthusiastic, she advocated ?praising people to success,? and her slogan ?faith first, family second, career third? expressed her insistence that the women in her company keep their lives in balance.
During her life, Ash received numerous honors from business groups, including the Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
Quotations
?People fail forward to success.?
?Sandwich every bit of criticism between two thick layers of praise.?
?If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can?t, you?re right.?
?Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, ?Make me feel important.? Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life."
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