Ash once said that “people fall forward to success.” In her case, it seems she didn’t fall so much as she ran towards her dreams. With ambition and determination, Ash created not only a successful billion-dollar company but also one of the few to be featured three times in Fortune magazine’s “The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.” How did Ash break through the glass ceiling of gender discrimination to become a household name around the world?
She Put People First: “We need leaders who add value to the people and the organization they lead,” said Ash, “who work for the benefit of others and not just for their own personal gain; who inspire and motivate rather than intimidate and manipulate; who live with people to know their problems and live with God in order to solve them; and who follow a moral compass that points in the right direction regardless of the trends.” From her Christian upbringing, Ash instilled within her company the philosophy of operating by the Golden Rule. It was her respect for the people around her that gained her a loyal and hardworking sales team.
She Had a Clear Vision: “Our Company was begun with only one objective,” said Ash, “that of giving women the chance to succeed, an opportunity that simply did not exist in the early ’60s.” Throughout her career, Ash made a habit of setting goals for herself and then striving to reach those goals. It was only through having a clear vision and direction in her head that she was able to come out on top.
She Followed Her Gut: “Many women have made the mistake of changing their beliefs to accommodate their work,” said Ash. “It must be the other way around.” When others told Ash she wouldn’t be able to make it in the cutthroat business world, and when ‘experts’ cautioned her against making certain moves, Ash stood firm in her beliefs, trusted her gut and followed her instincts on the path to success.
She Was Strong-Minded: “Every failure, obstacle or hardship is an opportunity in disguise,” said Ash. “Success in many cases is failure turned inside out.” Whether it was being passed over for promotions in favour of less qualified men, or having her opinions discounted because she was a woman, Ash experienced her fair share of challenges. However, she refused to back down. “When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity,” she said.” You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser…Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel.”
She Was Determined: “I believe that most successful people are ordinary people with extraordinary determination,” said Ash. The passion she had for her company was infectious, and allowed not only Ash to see her goals through in the long run, but also everyone around her.
“I was taught to put my best effort into anything I did, and I can honestly say I've always done that,” Ash said shortly before her passing in 2001. “Still, there were many times when I failed, many times when I was disappointed. We didn't set the world on fire from the first day: disappointments, setbacks and work have created the Company as it is today.” That company, Texas-based Mary Kay Inc., remains one of the largest direct retailers of skin care and cosmetics in the world, with revenues in excess of $2.2 billion; that’s not bad for someone who was “thinking just like a woman.”
The Business of Beauty: How Ash Changed an Industry
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