13A – Reading Reflecting #1

Mary Kay Ash – The life and Timeless Principles of the Founder of Mary Kay INC.

1.    About the entrepreneur.

·     The age in which she began her company was shocking. I thought she had started her company at a younger age and that, that had been her job all through life. However, the book revealed that she didn’t start her “dream company” until after she retired from her sales job. 

·      I admired her enthusiasm and tenacity. Even though people told her that she wouldn’t succeed, she never gave up. She kept pursuing her goal regardless of the challenges that came up. 

·     What I didn’t like was that she always required the women to wear skirts all the time. Of course, the times were different so I understand why she did that but in today's’ time, I think it would be unnecessary.

·     She definitely faced challenges in the start, mainly financial challenges. She also had many financial advisors and accountants tell her that her company would fail and that she wouldn’t make any profit. Nevertheless, she never let that get to her. She persisted in building her company and got help from her family. 

2.    She was really enthusiastic, which I think is one of the main reasons she became so successful. Even if she was upset or in a bad mood, she always “generated” enthusiasm when working with people. When growing up, she had to do things that most kids didn’t have to do which made her mature quickly. I think that because of her childhood, she was taught how to work hard and not give in to challenges.  

3.    It was a bit hard to keep track of time throughout the book because she tended to jump back and forth between stories. Each chapter kind of began in a different part of her life so I would sometimes get confused about what the time period was. 

4.    I would ask her:

·     If you could have begun your company when you were younger and before retiring, would you?

                                               i.     I would ask her this to see if she thinks that it would affect the way she built her company. 

·     How did you balance your work life with your family? Did mixing family with business cause any issues? 

                                               i.     I would ask this because I’ve always heard that working with your family can sometimes cause some strain with the relationship. 

5.    At the beginning of the book she mentioned what it takes to succeed: 

·     Enthusiasm (with purpose) 

·     Discipline

·     Willingness (to work, to serve, and to learn) 

·     Determination

·     Appreciation for others 

I definitely agree with her! I think these are necessary features to have if you want to become successful. She also mentioned that they take time to acquire but that it’s possible to learn over time.