Here are some of the highlights of her speech:

Key Tips for Marketers:
1. Know who is purchasing your products. Those purchasing may not be the ones using the products. For example, wives often purchase their husband’s toiletries.
2. Offering more products doesn’t always mean more sales. Increasing SKUs does not always equal an increase in sales.
3. It is key to understand the hearts and minds of your customers. Understand why people do what they do and know how to inspire them.
4. Marketing is an art, not a science. Marketing is not measuring ROI and analytics. Marketing is the art of causing someone to do something – getting someone to act. People act on feelings and emotions, not knowledge. Rhonda’s example was about dessert. Most of us like dessert. Most of us know that sugar is bad for us and causes weight gain. But we still eat dessert because we like it and it makes us happy.

What it takes to be a leader and advance your career:
1. To be a leader in a company, you must sharpen your skills. You must understand three things to be a strong leader in your company:
        a. Sales
        b. Operations
        c. Finance
2. You need to have a deep understanding of people and have the ability to get along well with others. You also need to know how to get out of the way.
3. Excellent communication skills – you must be able to effectively communicate to your leaders, your support team, the team right beside you, and your customers.
4. Have the courage to speak the truth, even when it’s difficult. Always speak with honesty and integrity.
5. And finally, get rid of your control issues. You can only control three things:
        a. Your thoughts – you can control what you think
        b. Your words – you can control what you say
        c. Your actions – you can control what you do
        Remember that these three things are a reflection of who you are.

Thanks to Rhonda for sharing her insight and knowledge with us. After 26 years with Mary Kay she will be retiring this summer, but has exciting plans for the future.

The DFW AMA hosts the Executive Luncheon the 3rd Wednesday of each month and is open to all. Visit the DFW AMA website for upcoming luncheons, special interest groups, and networking events.