Living the dream

Time for family, successful career, recognition and praise. Fabulous jewelry, vacations abroad, new cars for free. Tuition fees for the children, the best in home comforts and a vacation home. Limitless opportunities and a chance to help other women achieve and live their dreams.

To attain all of these seems too good to be true, but Barbara Sunden and Christina Boyd have proven that the dream can come true. These impeccably dressed, perfectly coifed women are gracious, articulate and confident. As national sales directors of Mary Kay they embody success and fulfillment, coupled with a genuine desire to spread Mary Kay Ash’s vision of giving all women the opportunity of being the best that they can be.

Mary Kay Philippines is the 30th subsidiary of Mary Kay, Inc., one of the world’s largest skincare and color cosmetic companies in the world. The company is founded on the philosophy of “God first, family second and career third” and promotes a “go-give spirit” that encourages women to help others without condition. “We start with skincare and makeup but we end up helping them to become better women,” says Bernie Mercado, general manager of Mary Kay (Philippines), Inc. “We start outside and work on the inside. We touch the lives of people. That makes us even more special. Women like to be recognized for what they do. Financial benefit is the result, never the cause. The motivation for women is that they want to do something for themselves and their families.”

The success has resulted in better lives, as families in financial difficulty are helped when fortunes change. More importantly, there is a renewed sense of empowerment and hope for the women involved.

Christina Boyd strongly disagrees that you have to be a go-getter to succeed in the business “It is more important to be a go-giver than a go-getter,” she states.  “What keeps us going is to see the joy that people have in the business.” Mary Kay flourishes no matter where it goes because women enjoy being involved with a group. “It’s a natural and enjoyable way for women to get together.”

What sets Mary Kay Philippines apart from its competitors is the company’s emphasis on personalizing beauty through skincare classes. Aside from giving women a chance to try Mary Kay products before buying them, these sessions teach women how to make the most of their facial features and take care of their skin.

The company’s effective mentorship program allows women to set goals and successfully work towards achieving them. “Not a lot of people know that they are self-starters,” says Barbara Sunden, belying the perception that achievers are those who, from the beginning, are driven to succeed. “The program is created so that we have people mentoring us all the time. Most people don’t have a clear goal (when they start with the company.) As a leader you know what it takes to bring out the best in people.”

Aside from helping each woman discover her motivation and goals, the mentor is able to strengthen the habit of wanting to achieve. “They trust that their mentors have their best interests at heart.”

Better “people skills” are acquired as women become immersed in the Mary Kay culture, and eventually the women take on leadership roles themselves.

The business does not impinge on family responsibilities. “It works because you are in charge. From day one, you are instructed to fix your schedule so that it fits into your family situation,” continues Sunden. She shares that she was around when her children were growing up and needed her most. “It is an option that more women need to know about. Not many people can understand that you can create a successful business from home. They take jobs (that take them) away from home most of the time and the balance is disrupted.”

The company’s culture is in tune with the Filipino tradition of putting family first. Through Mary Kay, more than 30,000 Filipino women have become empowered by increased self-confidence and the freedom afforded by increased earning capacity. As the success stories add up, as they nurture happy families and inspire other women to become like them, we cannot help but gladly acknowledge that this is a good way to succeed in business.

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Mary Kay Philippines is a member of the Direct Selling Association of the Philippines, with the head office at Building 2, La Fuerza Compound, 2241 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City. To know more about Mary Kay (Philippines) Inc.’s products and business opportunities, log on to www.marykay.com.ph.