"Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around their neck that reads, "Make me feel important" and not only will you succeed in business, you will succeed in life" (www.entrepreneur.com/article/197602). These words spoken by the renowned cosmetics entrepreneur, Mary Kay Ash, became a mantra for her organization in 1963 and remains so today. The organization, Mary Kay Inc., was created by 45 year old Mary Kathlyn Wagner who became known world-wide as simply Mary Kay. She became a pioneer for women in business by building a cosmetic empire from scratch and creating new opportunities for women to achieve financial success. Mary Kay Inc. is one of the world's largest beauty and direct selling companies, founded on the principle that true beauty starts with inner beauty - the beauty of doing good and serving others. .
Born on May 12, 1918 in Hot Wells, Texas, to Edward and Lula Wagner, Mary Kathlyn Wagner worked hard in their home taking care of her ill father while her mother worked 14-hour days as a restaurant manager. Despite also having to do all of the housework, cook and take care of her siblings she was an honors student with a very competitive nature. Because of money, college was not an option for her so rather than continue her education she married J. Ben Rogers and had three children, Richard, Ben and Marylyn (www.biography.com/people/mary-kay-ash-197044). In 1930, she struck a deal with an encyclopedia saleswoman who challenged her to sell ten sets to receive .
one free for herself. Because of her innate ability to sell products, she sold ten sets in .
one and a half days; this was usually a 3 month quota for the company's best salesperson. Mary Kay became a saleswoman for the same company and made enough money to go to college. She attended the University of Houston until her husband, Ben, came back from WWII. Unfortunately he soon ran off with another woman and they quickly divorced (www.
