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While crews were working, Kirven, a Dallas resident,
slipped inside City Hall to pay a water bill. She returned
waving a check and frantically searching for a form
so she could sign up a woman she just met to join the
cosmetic company's legion of independent beauty consultants.
Although the company's namesake died almost two years
ago, Ash's philosophy that women could achieve great
things is still the foundation of the business, said
Tom Whatley, president of global sales.
This year, Kirven and 53,000 others will attend Seminar,
the annual meeting held at the Dallas Convention Center,
and celebrate the company's 40th anniversary.
The five three-day conventions, held back-to-back through
Aug. 2, will include motivational speakers and recognize
accomplishments of independent sellers.
"The most important thing Mary Kay brought to
women is helping them find out, as Mary Kay would say
it, 'How great they really are,' " Whatley said.
"In the Mary Kay program, women develop self-esteem,
self-confidence and learn to dream."
Ash began Mary Kay in 1963 with $5,000 and the help
of her son Richard Rogers, who is now the company's
chief executive. The company quickly grew and top sellers
were rewarded with mink coats, diamond rings and the
highly visible pink Cadillacs, which go to independent
sales directors whose teams average monthly retail sales
of $32,000 for six consecutive months.
Last year, the company reached nearly $1.6 billion
in sales and has more than 1 million independent beauty
consultants in 34 countries.
Arlene Lenarz, the company's top saleswoman, will be
a featured speaker at the conventions. Last year, Lenarz
generated more than $1 million in commissions and has
earned more than $11 million during her 31 years with
Mary Kay.
She said she has learned through the company not to
give up before the miracle happens.
"I think the most important thing is persistence
and determination and having a huge, big goal that even
scares you, but just never give up," she said.
Kirven, who has been an independent seller for 10 years,
said she continually built on her successes in selling
Mary Kay products and finally earned the coveted pink
Cadillac four months ago.
And, of course, Kirven was dressed in the company's
signature color.
"Everything is pink," she said. "My
bathroom is pink. My bedspread is pink. My blood runs
pink."
© 2003 Star Telegram and wire service sources.
All Rights Reserved.
http://www.dfw.com
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