Mary Kay Ash (née Wagner) / 1918–2001 / Texas, USA / Businesswoman, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc.
Ash on Ash
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!
I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be first on that list.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay: The Success Story of America’s Most Dynamic Businesswoman, revised edition (1986).
Never forget, your family should always have priority over your work.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay: You Can Have It All (1995).
To the age of 14, a woman needs good parents and good health. And then, from 14 to 40, she needs good books. From 40 to 60, she needs personality. And after 60, I’m here to tell you, what you need is cash.
Interview with Morley Safer, 60 Minutes, CBS, youtube.com, October 28, 1979.
The goal, and for us as a company, is to become the largest and the best skin care company in the world.
Interview, “The Spirit of Freedom,” 1985; reported in “Lessons and Legends,” you.tube.com, September 13, 2016.
I read that aerodynamics had proven that the bumblebee body was too heavy to fly and the wings were too weak, but it went right on flying, and I thought; “That’s just like women. They just don’t know how great they are.”
Interview, “People Are Talking,” 1984; reported in “Lessons and Legends,” you.tube.com, September 13, 2016.
Re: Ash’s 1985 leveraged buyout of Mary Kay, Inc., publicly held since 1976, returning the company to private ownership:
And how nice that no more shareholders are telling us that, now that we have become a “more mature” company, we should change our pink cadillacs to blue.
Reported in “Lessons and Legends,” you.tube.com, September 13, 2016.
It’s my heartfelt wish that every single person who had anything to do with Mary Kay would be the richer for it, not only financially, but spiritually, and every other way.
Reported in “Lessons and Legends,” you.tube.com, September 13, 2016.
Business Philosophy
Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, “Make me feel important.” Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay on People Management (1984).
A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay on People Management (1984).
People are definitely a company’s greatest asset. It doesn’t make any difference whether the product is cars or cosmetics. A company is only as good as the people it keeps.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay on People Management (1984).
A company is only as good as the people it keeps.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay: You Can Have It All (1995).
We treat our people like royalty. If you honor and serve the people who work for you, they will honor and serve you.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay: You Can Have It All (1995).
There is a way: Up, Around, Over, or Through.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay on People Management (1984).
The speed of the leader is the speed of the gang.
Quoted by David Holl, CEO of Mary Kay, Inc.; Mary Kay website, marykay.com.
God
God does not ask your ability or your inability. He asks only your availability.
Widely quoted; however, attribution unconfirmed.
I really feel that our company is where it is today, and has been blessed beyond all belief, by the fact that God is using our company as a vehicle to help women to become the beautiful creatures that He created.
Interview with Morley Safer, 60 Minutes, CBS, youtube.com, October 28, 1979.
Personal Philosophy
There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay on People Management (1984).
Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay on People Management (1984).
There are two things people want more than sex and money: recognition and praise.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay: You Can Have It All (1995).
Note: In an article in its “Business Day” section, the New York Times asked several business leaders to name the book that most influenced their careers.
Ash’s Reponse: The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale is still a classic. Especially in business, if you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right.
Interview with New York Times, October 20, 1985.
Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay: The Success Story of America’s Most Dynamic Businesswoman, revised edition (1986).
Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.
Widely quoted; however, attribution unconfirmed.
The greatest pollution problem we face today is negativity.
Widely quoted; however, attribution unconfirmed.
For every failure, there’s an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay: The Success Story of America’s Most Dynamic Businesswoman, revised edition (1986).
A good goal is like a strenuous exercise—it makes you stretch. Goals should be slightly out of reach to be of maximum value.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay (1981).
The only difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is extraordinary determination.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay: The Success Story of America’s Most Dynamic Businesswoman, revised edition (1986).
Women
While clothes may not make the woman, they certainly have a strong effect on her self-confidence, which, I believe, does make the woman.
Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay: You Can Have It All (1995).
I want women to earn money commensurate with men. I want them to be paid on the basis of what they have between their ears, in their brains, and not because they’re male or female. But at the same time, I would like women to remain feminine, because I have found that it’s an asset to be female in a man’s world.
Interview with Morley Safer, 60 Minutes, CBS, youtube.com, October 28, 1979.