Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Rieger.
Danielle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, I was really never the makeup or skincare kinda girl. Mary Kay found me when I was in college. I was getting my Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene, the only career I ever planned on having. My friend invited me to a party and there I fell in love with products, my consultant, and how joyful and successful she was! On my 22nd birthday and one month before graduation, I decided to give Mary Kay a shot, really just to help my consultant earn her first Pink Cadillac- I never intended this to be a real thing! HA! Thankfully, the Lord had a different plan!
In the beginning, I was pumped to have a couple of extra bucks to get my nails done, or get coffee (without having to ask my mom for money!) Once I got my hygiene license, I worked at a dental office part time as I built my business. In my first year, I was promoted to a Sales Director (top 2% of MK and is a leadership position where I help new consultants in their businesses as well)! Year two, I quit my Dental Hygiene job and stepped out in faith to work my biz full time. In that year my husband and I bought our first house & we earned our first Mary Kay Career Car! By year four, we earned our second car! Here we are over five years later and I couldn’t even imagine what my life would be without Mary Kay.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Building anything worth having is never an easy path, but it is always worth it. I have experienced many struggles and hardships over the last five years. The best advise I was given as a brand new consultant was to give it at least a year. After a year of REALLY trying to make it happen, if it wasn’t for me then at least I would know. So, I went in with the mindset of honestly giving it a shot, which I think you have to have when you’re starting something new.
Please remember that yes there will the valleys, but they make the mountaintops so much sweeter. & as corny as it sounds, it is NOT about the valleys or the mountaintops but so much about the journey and who you’re becoming on the path.
When I began my business, I honestly didn’t have a lot of self-confidence. From the outside, it seemed like I did but honestly, I was so insecure of what people would think, what they would say, what if I was the worst consultant ever? I thought I was too young, nobody would take me seriously. But honestly, those were all lies trying to hold me back. Being around confident women in this business and being in a space to constantly grow myself has changed my life! I tell people now, MK is the best self-confidence course you’re ever paid to take! I also used to really struggle with time management but it’s so true – what is important to you, you’ll make time for. I had to learn that BALANCE isn’t what I needed, it was HARMONY. Balance means everything is equal, harmony means everything flows together and brings peace. Some things in life deserve more time and energy than other things & just finding the harmony between being a wife, business owner, daughter, friend – it takes intentional practice each week but once you find it – it’s amazing and so freeing.
Those were some struggles I was able to work through and grow through. Others, life just hands you.
I’ve had a lot of life happen over the last five years which have made it difficult but also made me even more grateful to own my own business. In the midst of growing my organization to 75+ consultants, earning two cars, growing my customer base and helping leaders grow – I’ve gotten married, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer, we’ve moved three times, and in January, my sweet mama passed away. I can tell you that when I was able to spend all the time with her, I was never ever thinking of what others thought about my business. I was never worried about all those things I struggled with before (and honestly sometimes still do). I was SO grateful for taking the time to build something and stand up for what I felt called to do so I could be available for when she needed me and when I needed to be with her.
Don’t ever take advice from someone you wouldn’t trade places with.
Allow others to believe in you until you can believe in yourself.
You never know how your obedience will change someone else’s life.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m all about teaching! I love teaching men and women how to best take care of their skin! I love sharing and teaching makeup application tips to women to help them feel more confident. It’s so true that when we feel good with what we look like on the outside, we are better on the inside – we’re happier and more loving to those around us! & that my friends are what changes the world.
One of my favorite things I do is teach others how they can change their life by building the business themselves. Whether to work part time for extra money, friends, confidence or to make something like MK a full-time gig for them and their families.
One of my favorite things about our company is our philanthropy- The Mary Kay Foundation. Since 1996, The Foundation has been financially supporting research to eliminate cancers that affect women. & in 2000 The Foundation embraced a second mission: to prevent violence against women. Each year, The Mary Kay Foundation awards $3 million to domestic violence shelters across the country and $1.2 million in grants to select doctors and medical scientists focusing on curing cancers that affect women. It’s incredible to use products, be apart of this company and KNOW that they are giving back to make the world better for future generations.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I do think to find a mentor or a power partner is so vital. Our business has a really great mentorship program built in so I always reach up to other leaders in our company – (again, don’t take advice from someone you wouldn’t trade places with!) Having a support person you can share your struggles, fears, successes and learning experiences with will make you a better person and leader as a whole.
Especially in my business, networking is the key to growth. We aren’t selling products in stores or advertising – we grow our business basically by referral base or word of mouth! I love that because I’m always meeting new friends, but I have had to break out of my shell to make that happen. Networking with other women and men in my community for gift giving and having events where women can come and learn while they enjoy some time away from work and the family has been very successful for me. Also, always getting referrals from my current friends and customers by just asking who they may know that would enjoy a time of fun, pampering and learning something new! Networking with all different types of people has been helpful. It’s important to me to have customers and leaders from all walks of life, in different locations and in different areas of my state.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marykay.com/daniellerieger
- Phone: 470-203-9888
- Email: danielleriegermk@gmail.com
- Instagram: danielleriegerrr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Danielle.Rieger.MK/
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