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El estilo Mary Kay: Principios intemporales de la mujer de negocios más destacada de Estados Unidos (Negocios / Business)

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El estilo Mary Kay "Una de las líderes de negocios más inspiradoras, Mary Kay siempre comprendió la importancia de las personas y el valor que le brindan a una organización" - J.W. Marriott Jr. Presidente de Marriott International, Inc. "Mary Kay sabía que cuando pones a la gente primero y luego la rodeas de procesos y disciplinas para organizar sus esfuerzos, surge el buen desempeño" - David C. Novak, Presidente de Yum! Brands Inc, (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut) Mary Kay les brindó a innumerables mujeres alrededor del mundo la oportunidad de descubrir el éxito en sus propios términos y ser sus propias jefas. El estilo de Mary Kay es un inspirador manual "paso a paso". Explica su filosofía de negocios basada en las personas y cómo tener éxito siendo honesto contigo mismo, con tus valores y con tus clientes. Durante 45 años los principios en El estilo de Mary Kay han ayudado a la compañía a tener éxito en tiempos de cambio y crecimiento global explosivo. No existe una compañía que refleje mejor los valores de sus fundadora que Mary Kay Inc. Ahora puedes poner a trabajar estos principios inspiradores para ti y para tu negocio.

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

145 people are currently reading
1162 people want to read

About the author

Mary Kay Ash

26 books71 followers
Mary Kay Ash was an American businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc.

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5 stars
494 (39%)
4 stars
392 (31%)
3 stars
261 (20%)
2 stars
72 (5%)
1 star
36 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
Profile Image for Antoinette.
222 reviews18 followers
August 6, 2009
Let me just say that it is incredibly difficult for me to pass up a bargain. So, when I found this gem of an autobiography in a 25 cent bin, I was helpless to stop myself. Settling in with some tea and a blanket, I prepared myself for a huge dose of propaganda. What I found was actually a sensitive, complete, inspirational autobiography of an amazing woman. Though there were a few irritatingly shallow parts, I walked away feeling positive about my purchase.

Ok...I get that Mary Kay Ash is all about making women feel better. I also get that she believes a well groomed appearance says a lot about a person. Still...COME ON! Do you really listen to self help tapes EVERY chance you get? Do you really believe a little bit of makeup can save the whole world? "I recently heard a very good definition of a woman's needs. From birth to age fourteen, she needs good parents and good health. From fourteen to forty, she needs good looks. From forty to sixty she needs personality, and from sixty on, she needs cash." Really...is that really all she needs? Never mind that this excerpt is from the chapter on How to Succeed in a Man's World. I find it offensive and unhelpful! It simplifies women, and intensifies gender roles...it isn't even worth analyzing. It was a silly, old fashioned comment that slanted the otherwise positive content of the chapter. A few more uncomfortable passages made me gag, but they are not worth mentioning. If you can read this for a quarter, by all means read away. If the price is anything higher, you would be wise to save your change for something more modern!
Profile Image for Tina.
352 reviews7 followers
June 22, 2010
Returning from a Mary Kay career conference, I determined to read Mary Kay's autobiography. She's not a writer, but many of her philosophies on life and business are insightful. I found myself quoting her to people more than I wanted to while I was reading the book. Regardless of what one thinks of Mary Kay Ash, you can't deny that she has a remarkable personal story and built a billion dollar company from scratch. Perhaps she knew a little of what she was doing?!
Profile Image for Sharon.
96 reviews
January 13, 2009
This is more autobiographical than how-to. It clarified misinformation I had supposed was true about her, but wasn't. Interesting life story, not the least of which is the coincidence that the company from which she retired in 1960s, before she started MK Cosmetics, had its headquarters in my MA town! She offers a compassion and respect for body image starkly missing in mainstream media. She passed away 8 years ago after a long and passionate family, business, community and church-filled life.
Profile Image for Herb.
240 reviews
May 19, 2011
This is a good "personal" manual on how to build a successful business and how to run it with a strong sense of morality and ethics. I think I would have liked Mary Kay Ash as a person, and you don't have to be interested in the cosmetics industry to enjoy this good story.
Profile Image for Kate ☕ (semi-hiatus).
649 reviews
June 9, 2022

Had to stop when MK judged her doctor, who wasn't wearing any make-up.

I realize this was written 50 years ago, and women no doubt needed a bit of encouragement back then (in terms of independence especially), but looking at it nowadays it's very superficial and shallow.

Profile Image for Grace Hudnall.
22 reviews
April 25, 2024
Great book for any sales person starting out. Very enthusiastic and inspiring.
Many useful tips for a career and time management.
Profile Image for Sassy Sarah Reads.
2,334 reviews306 followers
December 13, 2016
Miracles Happen by Mary Kay Ash

DNF

Mary Kay is a very prolific woman. She's one of the most successful business women in the world and her rise to fame in a world dominated by men set her apart from a lot of women. Mary Kay is the type of woman who always reached for the stars and wanted to do more than what was possible. She's a real inspiration and many women have careers due to her brilliant platform and marketing plan. She's an amazing woman, but she is not a writer. She is a time hopper-which isn't a good thing to be as a memoir writer. One second she's chronicling her childhood and the next she's talking about the start of her business. It's not smart formatting and it really made me uninterested. I didn't finish reading MK's memoir mainly due the poor writing as well as my complete lack of interest. I just don't find myself interested in learning more about MK than what I can find from her Wikipedia page. Maybe memoirs just aren't for me, but I don't think that's true because I absolutely love Night by Elie Wiesel. I know many people are motivated by MK and her brilliant ideas, but these ideas are probably best watched in a documentary than in a memoir. I'll be donating this to a used bookstore in hopes of this impacting a woman who needs it.



Cover Thoughts: This book is very pink. Incredibly pink. As Mary Kay liked to say, "Think pink," and boy did she love pink.
Profile Image for Alyssa Koskinen.
68 reviews
Read
September 13, 2023
I had to read this book for a class on leadership! I’m so glad I chose it because it was so interesting to learn how Mary Kay really founded this whole brand on female empowerment during a time in which women were still expected to be the sole household provider
Profile Image for Beverly Reidy.
60 reviews
October 5, 2025
I know this is a dated book (1980s) but I was appalled my the misogynistic viewpoints even as Mary Kay had a mission to support women.
Profile Image for Debbie Brown.
798 reviews5 followers
September 19, 2022
I signed up to be a Mary Kay consultant and this book was in my starter kit. It was an inspiring read! I learned some great principles and was reminded of many others. I’m actually motivated to sell some product rather than just buying for myself!
Profile Image for Kat.
2,395 reviews117 followers
February 25, 2019
Basic Plot: The autobiography of Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay cosmetics.

I don't read a lot of biographies. A person has to be REALLY interesting for me to even think about picking up a bio. When I first became a Mary Kay consultant, my director insisted I read this book to pick up the philosophy of the company and find out something about its "founding mother." Never one to turn down something to read, I picked it up and began to read. Rarely have I been so moved by a person's life story. This woman was a business pioneer unlike any other; she took huge risks and reaped sizable rewards, with heartache and joy fueling the whole of her experience. A fantastic read, and very inspirational to any woman who wants to be a success on her own terms.
Profile Image for Kristi.
212 reviews
May 11, 2012
I have a new hero! I absolutely loved this book. I am not a big fan of Mary Kay Cosmetics products, but I am now a big fan of Mary Kay Ash. What an inspirational woman. I found myself energized and motivated after reading this book. I’ve adopted her motto of God first, Family second, Career third. I feel like she truly lived by that creed and ended up successful in every aspect of her life and kept things in proper balance. I loved her no nonsense approach to competition and hard work. I loved how she embraced her femininity and encouraged others to do so. She wasn’t afraid to spend time and resources to look and feel good because she knew it’d help her perform better. She was unapologetically a woman.
Profile Image for Deb.
209 reviews
February 4, 2010
I read this book when I started my Mary Kay business a few years ago. Mary Kay Ash was an amazing woman. I no longer sell Mary Kay but I value everything I've learned from my time as a consultant and the life lessons Mary Kay's story taught me.
Profile Image for Nancy.
3 reviews2 followers
July 6, 2012
amazing lady. a complete inspiration of hard work and faith.
28 reviews
July 24, 2018
I read this book while in college, and yes, for a total of 3 months, I did sell Mary Kay cosmetics, till I realized I did not like makeup, and I definitely didn’t want to sell something that I did not love. As my philosophy with everything, “everything happens for a reason.” I had the chance to read this book when I first started Mary Kay, and I can say, this book was the one good thing that came from the company.
It is more of an auto-biography, more than anything. In the book, you can see what motivated Mary Kay, how she was challenged, how she decided to take hold of her life. Her work ethic, belief system, and drive, led her to be successful in almost anything she could get her hands on: sales of vacuums, sales of makeup, etc. Mary Kay illustrates how it Is possible for women to be both a mother and an entrepreneur. All one needs is belief, enthusiasm, and a strong work ethic. The book does have some older ideologies regarding women wearing skirts vs pants and older stats, which is why I didn’t give the book a 5, but for the time, that is what Mary Kay knew. Do not read for literary prowess, but for an insightful look into one of the first female entrepreneurs life and start to her business.

For more books that I have reviewed, please visit my site:
muddyfloors.com

Thank you and happy reading!
Profile Image for Ayanna Anderson.
258 reviews2 followers
April 17, 2020
Although some of the principles or thoughts of Mary Kay cannot necessarily be considered timeless, the majority are as presented in various personal stories she shares, only if one delves in with a positive and understanding perspective. There are many great quotes and bits of inspiration throughout the text, and if one looks past the somewhat feminist thought, the idea of working toward success while being kind, considerate, and trusting God, clearly shines through. I would not have considered the text on my own, so I enjoyed this read as it was recommended by a powerful female mentor I adore, who teaches young men and women to take risks and operate in love daily.
Profile Image for Maureen Sepulveda.
234 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2023
The book is a little dated as Mary Kay Ash wrote it initially in 80’s and then updated it in 90’s. But, as a Mary Kay consultant myself, it’s interesting and inspiring to read her story. She was certainly a woman ahead of her time. She worked in a direct selling company as a single mom to 3 kids. Then, she had enough of men being promoted ahead of her, so she took a chance and started her own cosmetics company with goal of empowering women to start their own businesses and boy has she been successful as her company is turning 60 this year! She definitely had some good nuggets of wisdom to share.
Profile Image for Laura Bartlett.
411 reviews
November 26, 2020
A great example of not judging a book by its cover in more ways than one! Despite the era in which this book covered, the perspective, lessons, and wisdom promoted by Mary Kay Ash are still remarkably brilliant in 2020. Her book is the most surprising read for me this year! Perhaps that’s why Harvard business classes still regard her business practices as inspiration for their students today. Positive, faith filled, and simple at heart, Mary Kay’s legacy lives on penetrating our modern times with practicality and heartfelt generosity. An absolute must read!
21 reviews
February 7, 2023
This book really surprised me! I was curious about her story to see how she grew her business and her business principles that helped shape her famous company. I was surprised to learn many things about the challenges life presented her as well her christian beliefs that greatly influenced her continually. One would assume her to be a shallow person but this was quite the contrary. She had an excellent philanthropic spirit and she really never forgot her humble beginnings. It's easy to see how she rose to the top and why this book is inspirational!
6 reviews
April 29, 2025
Mary Kay's story is definitely inspirational. She put God and family above career and was remarkably successful. She made it her mission to empower women to be successful in business, and to do so by helping and leading other women along the way. I had to skim over some of the parts where it talked about the importance of looking good, but that's her business and what they sold, so I don't fault her.

She seemed like a disciplined, hard-working, loving and compassionate woman. Who wouldn't want to leave that kind of legacy?
Profile Image for Tiffany.
56 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2021
Say what you will about Mary Kay, but this lady made things happen! I enjoyed the book because it was great to learn about her beginnings and some of the whys behind the way she created her company. I've been using Mary Kay products for about 20 years and had no idea that starting Mary Kay was essentially her retirement project! It goes to show that it's never too late and Mary Kay echoes this sentiment many times throughout the book.
Profile Image for Fenixbird SandS.
575 reviews52 followers
August 24, 2022
Inspiration flows whenever Mary Kay spoke & this applies to her ✍writing also..IF you had the privilege of ever meeting her--like I did ❤ at Mary Kay Cosmetics "Seminar" back in the day--i am sure you would agree that she had a presence, an aura..uplifting, unmistakably engaging. Hers was not a story of failure, though she had them, but of overcoming. Having lived through the fire...her "metal" shone, she radiated compassion, perseverance, success
Profile Image for Casey Kidwell.
157 reviews3 followers
August 26, 2025
I knew virtually nothing about Mary Kay before reading this book and I walked away with such an appreciation for the trailblazer she was. Each chapter read like a lesson, complete with examples from her own life and experience as a businesswoman and founder. Mary Kay was clearly a salt of the earth kind of woman who was very passionate about uplifting and celebrating other women. Whether you’re a businesswoman or simply a human being navigating life, this book has worthwhile takeaways for you.
Profile Image for Tena.
47 reviews4 followers
September 13, 2017
This is the second time reading this book. I've been a consultant for over 20 years but this book isn't about the Company but about the Lady herself and her journey. If you need an easy read and some inspiration this is the book you should read. If you are in sales you will definitely get great guidance and customer service techniques.
Profile Image for DeBora Rachelle.
222 reviews13 followers
July 6, 2021
Was hoping to learn something from such an inspirational woman like Mary Kay, but instead was disappointed by what seemed to be a little chest pounding for herself. Not all that inspirational from someone who has inspired so many women and had such a dramatic effect and sincere following. She should have left behind something more motivational which is where she obviously excels.
Profile Image for Elaiza Ayap.
76 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2022
As a Christian woman who has her own dream business underway, I can say her life principles are admirable. However, I really am not a fan of self-help/inspirational type of books. I received this as a freebie and only decided to read it because I thought it would be such a waste to leave it around unread, lol.
3 reviews
April 4, 2022
This was an interesting read at how women were treated in the workplace and by different companies. I enjoyed finding out more about how the business was started. However the book is very preachy and when you’re reading it’s worth remembering that it was written decades ago - not all of it translates well to modern life!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews

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