In the game of life, I never cease to be motivated by this Japanese proverbs: "Fall down seven times. Get up eight," and always pick yourself up one more time than you stumble.
My first encounter with Mary Kay was in a second-hand book shop. It was so apt because I really love books and I just love to read. Around 3rd week of November 2001, I went looking for a book that would really inspire me. I was not just looking for any inspirational/ motivational book, but I was looking for one in particular - a female author because I just thought then, that since I am a woman I can easily connect with what a female author will say. There I went, browsing from one title to another and then I saw this book covered with a picture of a woman who look a lot like Barbara Cartland. :D I grabbed the book entitled 'Mary Kay'. I didn't even had a clue who Mary Kay was then. As I would usually do, I checked on the table of contents! Guess what I first read - YOU CAN DO IT! It really got my attention and so I turned the page to the first chapter and what I read there really strucked me more:
There are four kinds of people in this world:
- those who make things happen
- those who watch things happen
- those who wonder what happened
- those who don't know that anything happened!
Whoa! "I want to be in the first group!" - that was my immediate reaction! Without a second-thought, I grabbed it and went to the cashier to pay for it. I got home and read it. Became hooked with it. Wondered if the company is in the country already. Continued reading it. Wondered again. Finished it overnight. Reread it again. I would talked about it with my friends over and over again for that next two weeks.
I always believe that in everything that happen in one's life - may it be good or not-so-good, it always has a purpose. You see, God has always a very special way of leading us to what He wants for us to do. When I think back of it now, things that happened in my life even before I bought the book was really a part of the sequence that would lead me eventually to Mary Kay -my visit to that first dentist (I can't even remember her name anymore) which did not do her job well, resulted in me having a bad tooth problem a year after, that eventually lead me to being introduced to another dentist who became my recruiter in Mary Kay. This was a month after I bought and read the Mary Kay book.
I had a very simple life then, living from paycheck to paycheck working as a Medical Technologist. The one good thing that I guess, came out of that, was my discontentment of the situation. I felt at that time, there was 'something greater' for me. I am not just the type to accept things as they are when I feel that God has blessed me with so much knowledge and 'undiscovered' skills. But even then, when I got introduced to Mary Kay, I did not thought of making a career out of it right away. I came into Mary Kay just to get some discounts on the amazing products that I am going to use. Little did I know that becoming a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant would be my first single step to my journey to a thousand miles.
The turning point in my Mary Kay career was when I was able to sell P12,000 on my first class. Without selling a single item before I came into Mary Kay, a P12,000 sales was so great of an accomplishment for me. After that, I was hooked, lined and sinker - I fell in love with the Mary Kay business. Considering that I did not know a lot of people in my new home - Davao, that I couldn't even speak their language fluently - it didn't matter a bit to me and I didn't even thought of it. What I have was my BELIEF- that if others can do it, why couldn't I! - and a very TEACHABLE heart. I hungered for knowledge about everything in the Mary Kay business. So whether I have attended a particular training once, twice, thrice - it did not matter - if I am not a master of a particular skill yet, I was willing to attend any training that was available, if there was even one. Trainings, during the early days of Mary Kay Philippines, were hard to come by and so if there was even just a single Director doing a Skin Care Class or a Guest Event, I would observed, listened and took notes.
Starting my Mary Kay business was not a walk in the clouds. At the time I started, I didn't have a car, so I carried bag full of products: a showcase on my shoulder with another display showcase in my hand. I would dress up with my only business suit at that time despite of the heat. I did this every time I held a Skin Care Class. I was selling and started my recruiting at the same time. When my recruiter told me that I can become a Sales Director and should become one, despite of the fact that I didn't even understand what she meant by me being a Sales Director in Mary Kay, I did not question her but just asked her how to go about it. Every time I would introduce myself in my facials, I would always tell my audience that I am going to become a Sales Director. This belief of mine prompted me to write down my plans on how am I going to become a Sales Director. Month after month, I just worked and the results just followed. In August of 2002, six months after I became an Independent Beauty Consultant, I was debuted as a Sales Director.
So many things have happened between then and now - I grew, and still growing as a person. I still yet to achieve my ultimate goal in this career which is to become an Independent National Sales Director but I am working on it now. I know that the dream of becoming an NSD is going to come because I am going to see to it that it is going to happen. "I am the master of my fate!" My dreams will continue to grow and come true as I pass on the legacy of our great founder to a lot of women out there who will dare to DREAM BIG, STEP OUT IN FAITH and MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Family: Arwel - husband
SD Debut Date: August 2002
People Would Be Surprised That I: I love playing PC/PSP games & I'm really good at it. :D
My Best Asset: Willingness to mentor others
To Unwind, I: Read...Read...Read... :D
When I'm Worried, I: PRAY...
My Favorite City: Singapore (so far... :D)
Favorite Vacation Destination: anywhere that is closer to nature
All-Time Favorite Movie: Grease 2, The Sound of Music
I am Currently Reading: The Secret of The Ages
My Favorite Meal: Tinolang Barilis
I Usually Order: Hot Chocolate
My Favorite Time Of Day: Early Morning (5AM - 7AM)
Hobbies: Reading, Going out and having chit-chat with BEST friends
I Collect: Books, Motivational DVDs
If I Could Sing, I'd Sing Like: Nicole Kidman... :D
I Am Motivated By: The BELIEF that my mentor have in me
My Trademark Cliche/Expression: More power!
Favorite Subject in School: Microbiology
Best Advice I'd Give a 20-Year Old: Study hard and go into business
I'd Love To Have A Conversation With: Oprah, Maya Angelou, The Dalai Lama
People Describe Me As: Great mentor
I Know I Have It Made When: I can travel anywhere I want without considering the cost.
