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Lesson #5: The Follow-Through is the Most Important Factor
Article Overview: “Those who are blessed with the most talent don’t necessarily outperform everyone else,” Ash once said. “It’s the people with follow-through who excel.”
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Free Download - Mary Kay Ash Quotes By Mary Kay Ash |
Lesson #5: The Follow-Through is the Most Important Factor
“Those who are blessed with the most talent don’t necessarily outperform everyone else,” Ash once said. “It’s the people with follow-through who excel.”
The idea behind Mary Kay Cosmetics might not have been the most original or creative; after all, Ash had worked for numerous direct-sales companies in the past, and cosmetics were surely nothing new. However, what made Mary Kay Cosmetics the success that it became was Ash’s single-handed commitment and enthusiasm for her project.
“A laurel rested upon becomes wilted,” Ash liked to say. Ash was not only dedicated to her company, but she was also committed to change. She understood that, especially in the beauty industry, change was the one factor she could count on as remaining constant. Ash’s business principles would never change, but she was fully aware of the necessity of changing her products and her business along the way in order to meet the changing demands of the market.
“Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm,” she said. Ash also understood that part of being committed to a goal was getting the commitment of others alongside you. In order to do that, she needed to inspire in others the same passion for her products that she had, and that required enthusiasm. “If you act enthusiastic, you become enthusiastic,” said Ash. “A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.”
In addition to encouraging her sales team to be enthusiastic, Ash tried to ensure that this was also spread to the customers. In order to do so, Ash would limit the product line so that the salesperson could be thoroughly knowledgeable about each item, and would restrict the number of people at a Mary Kay house party to six, in order to maximize the amount of personal attention given to each. Ash also insisted that the emphasis at these sales parties was on teaching about her products rather than trying to sell them. She believed that this would make the experience more enjoyable for both the customers and the sales team.
Through a combination of enthusiasm and commitment, Ash was able to do something that she says is possible for anyone to do – achieve her dreams. “Do you know that within your power lies every step you ever dreamed of stepping, and within your power lies every joy you ever dreamed of seeing?” asked Ash. “Within yourself lies everything you ever dreamed of being. Become everything that God wants you to be. It is within your reach.”
Ash understood that whether she was selling furniture or cosmetics, enthusiasm and commitment were what would seal the deal. After all, if she didn’t have that faith in her own company, who else would? She needed to have those character traits and she needed to make them contagious.
To fellow entrepreneurs, Ash poses this very challenge of commitment: “Dare to grow into your dreams and claim this as your motto: Let it be me.”
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Re: What works for you?
- Hi Yinka,
I work better under pressure of deadlines when I am doing something for other people. However, I like to have the leisure to develop my own projects. The first case is what Stephen Covey calls a "Quadrant 1" activity ("Important and urgent") whereas the second case is a "Quadrant 2" activity ("Important, not urgent").
We should aim to make as much time as possible for Q2 activities so that we can develop our own projects. Easier said than done!
Import / Export Business
- I am in the benign stages of starting an import/export business and would like to know
the most important factors in the early stages of the business.
1)The most secure method conduct financial transactions
2)Important issues with development of a website?
Dan Kennedy Marketing Methods
- We haven't sent out the physical letter yet as the person owning the list wanted to make modifications to the letter that we knew would work well but the List owner had a point - it didn't reflect her personality so her clients would know it didn't come from her.
Lesson learned for me. We're back to the drawing board with the list owner more involved in the development of the letter and emails.
I should have known better being a Business Analyst in my day job that you never leave the end-user out.
So Evan we haven't had the opportunity to test any of it yet but it's been a fun process for me to stand back and look at.
It’s enssential
- Advertising is essential whether you advertise in big scale or small. Having a signage outside your store or office is already advertising. If you can't afford to advertise in newspapers or radio, you can try giving out flyers and brochures. Do email blasts. Have a blog or website. Send SMS or text messages to friends and relatives so they can pass it on to other friends. There are several ways in promoting and advertising your product without really spending so much. Important thing is, you should always let people know you exist. As the saying goes "A business with no sign is a sign of no business"
She Wins, You Win: The Most Important Rules Every Businesswo
- She Wins, You Win: The Most Important Rules Every Businesswoman Needs to Know
Gail Evans, 2003
Also author of Play Like A Man, Win Like A Woman
Inside jacket:
Every time a woman succeeds in business, every other woman's chances of succeeding in business increase. Every time a woman fails in business, every other woman's chances of failure increases.
Gail realized that one of the most important elements of the men's game, which was missing from the women's, was support: The boys know how to take care of one another. In order to create lasting success, women need to help one another and band together as a team.
TOC
The Woman's Team
Why you must play on the woman's team
How to join the team
Tips for the team
1. Be a mentor
2. Rainmake
3. Uncover and share information
4. Keep quiet
5. Unite with all women at all times
6. Make team-related choices
7. Weave a female web
Challenges of the Team
Twelve team members to watch out for
The eleven most common team questions (and answers)
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
My own view
Haven't read this yet, but it seems like she's advocating an "Us against them" mentality. Neverthless, networking with fellow women - and men! - only makes good sense.
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