My I Story
When I was a young child, I was diagnosed with severe Dyslexia. During the 1960’s very little was known about dyslexia and how to manage its affects. In an effort to help me cope with my condition, I attended a special school where my classmates were mild and moderately retarded children, children with ADHD and children with learning disabilities.
The special attention I received certainly helped me handle my learning disability, but it was accompanied by an even more crippling side effect of my environment. You see, I came to believe that I was retarded and also believed that I could never really do well in academics or in life.
As the years passed I developed a very low self image and a very poor sense of self-worth. I became withdrawn, uncertain, non-communicative and extremely unsure of myself.
After I graduated high-school, I went to college and dropped out after two semesters. I decided to try the working world and once there I began to notice that I was actually not so dumb. I got every job I applied for, I was great at sales, and I was promoted into management, people liked me and I began to get a glimmer of my potential. But I was still plagued with feelings of inferiority and I just knew that I would be found out; you know, the imposter syndrome.
When I got married and my husband and I decided to begin having children, I was working in customer service at a major cellular company in a “cube farm”. The hours were long, the environment was stifling, the politics were unbearable and the pay was nominal. One of the sales women in the office asked me if I would like a facial. Since I had been using Mary Kay skin care and glamour products since 1989, I said no, but that I wanted to do what she was doing and recruited myself into the Mary Kay opportunity in 1990.
I worked in Mary Kay for several years. I was a star consultant 3 times, I was a red jacket and I even attended seminar in Dallas. I sold enough produce to quit my full time job and be at home with my new baby. The career was great, but it was just the beginning.
You see, during my time as a Mary Kay consultant, the most important thing I discovered was me. I never missed a meeting or a special event. In fact, that was Mary Kay to me. For the very first time in my entire life, I discovered what I needed to know about my potential, my possibilities and my responsibility. I learned that I am worthy, I am beautiful, I am smart and most importantly, I believed it.
With my new found self respect and love, I turned my attention on my education. In 1995 at the age of 32, I received my bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi with Highest Honors. In fact, I graduated 4th in my class. The moment I walked across that stage as they called my name remains one of the proudest moments of my life. As I shook the Dean’s hand and received my diploma, I had thoughts of gratitude towards my family, my god and my short but important Mary Kay Career.
I would not be the person that I am today had I not made the decision to recruit myself into Mary Kay.
I found my true calling as a coach in 1996 and I continued my education by attending, Coach University, an online, virtual university for the development of coaching skills. I am still an active personal use consultant and will remain faithful to the products and the company that opened my spirit up to the possibilities in this life.
I am committed to coaching Mary Kay directors to getting everything they want out of their business and out of their life.