Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Plantan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Karla. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my business as an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay in Boston, MA, in 2011 while working full time as a chemical engineer in the dental/optics industry for a Fortune 100 Company. My husband Nick and I had met in college at the University of Notre Dame and, after five years in Minnesota, we were living there while he attended Harvard Business School. I was intrigued by the simplicity and flexibility of the independent sales force’s compensation plan and initially started Mary Kay very part time to make new friends in our new city, fitting it in around my full schedule.
When I began, I had no formal education or experience in skincare or makeup (or even mentoring teams!) and started exploring the tools available through my new business. There are no sales or party quotas, so I took my time evaluating the business from my new perspective. I attended the annual conference in Dallas just a few months after I started and was impressed by the breadth of training available, the rich compensation plan (which also includes the use of free cars, five-star luxury vacations with a plus one and diamonds! None of which were prizes in my engineering job!) and the boundless camaraderie, encouragement and support – crossing various age groups, languages, socio-economic backgrounds, educational experiences. All of this was emanating from the independent sales force and corporate staff of a third generation family-owned company with values that align with my own – Faith, Family, Career and operating on the Golden Rule. I was excited that a company like this exists and flourishes and for the opportunity to mentor people to use the Mary Kay business opportunity to live their best life. Empowered with a belief that anyone with a Mary Kay Starter Kit and work ethic could make an impact, I began working my business.
As I was still full time in my engineering capacity, I fit about 6-10 hours of Mary Kay in weekly. In six months, I earned four promotions, great extra cash from my sales and the use of the second level career car, a Chevy Equinox. Nick and I relocated to Denver at that time, as he had just finished his MBA. I continued my part-time Mary Kay business in Denver, using it to make new connections since I was now working remotely from home for my engineering job.
In late Fall of 2013, we welcomed our son and, shortly after returning to work, I resigned to pursue my blend of motherhood and Mary Kay so I could truly design my life and schedule. While defining what that looked like at home with a new baby, I was so thrilled to mentor a rising leader in Mary Kay that year to her chosen level of leadership, partnering with her to earn the use of her first free car while I did the same with my first Pink Cadillac! With Mary Kay, I found a love for mentoring others and a fulfillment that I previously only found when volunteering outside of my job – a way to see that I can make an impact. I am truly blessed to have a career that brings me joy, allows me to feel and see that I make a difference and compensates me richly for passing that on to others.
Now, I am full time (on a schedule I set!) as a Mary Kay Independent on-target Executive Senior Sales Director with two brave and bold young children who love riding in our second Pink Cadillac (my husband loves to drive it too!) and will celebrate with our team when we pick up our third in September. I am grateful for my journey thus far with Mary Kay – it has made me a better wife, mom, sister, daughter, friend. I embrace my role as a servant leader, coach, and mentor to women and men who want something more in their lives, who want to let the giant on the inside out.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have so many hilarious stories of mistakes and wrong turns and even literally went into the wrong house for my first beauty experience as a new consultant! I’ve had heartache and disappointment. I’ve wondered if it’s worth it to persevere. I’ve doubted myself. And, I’ve grown in ways that haven’t always been comfortable. Success isn’t easy. When challenges are present, this perspective is really important. And it’s imperative, especially in my business where I work a lot with people, to appreciate that people can be messy and, in the same breath, that people are worth it. I appreciate that the story we tell ourselves about a situation right after it happens will color that in our memory and so I am quite careful in how I think and talk about experiences. Life is all about finding joy in every day, in the journey. It’s about recognizing that obstacles aren’t blocking my path but that they are my path. It’s about knowing however unpleasant a certain stage might be that it is preparing me to better serve someone in the future. It’s about knowing that there is never going to be a better time to go for it than right now – to seize the day!
What else should our readers know?
The leaders in my organization are solution-oriented, eager to learn and daily choose to be grateful over frustrated… we are leaders who LOVE our lives, who grow, who thrive, who choose how we spend our time, who build our dreams each day with focused activity, who give freely to those in need. We live the Mary Kay Ash quote to “Make every day incredible just by what you exude in your eyes and your handshake and your friendly spirit” with everyone we meet. We build relationships with our customers and take care of them like family. We have FUN! We break generational cycles of debt, cycles of negativity and of mediocrity… and we pass it on! We acknowledge that building confidence in men and women changes lives… because one cannot give family and friends what one does not have. Together, we are making Mary Kay history as we debut the next new National Area from the state of Colorado at the end of this year. I am so grateful to my mentor for her belief, leadership and inspiration from day 1, to my incredibly awesome team for their belief and willingness to chase their best lives, to our families and friends who encourage and support us and, of course, to our clients who love using prestige skincare and makeup from independent small business owners and a company with heart (The Mary Kay Ash charitable Foundation champions research for cancers affecting women and ending domestic violence).
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that Denver is bustling and full of fun, active people. I love that we are so close to the mountains – and all the options to explore, adventure, admire, unplug that they afford. I love our weather all year, even in seasons of unpredictability. I also absolutely love the blue sky and mountains visible everywhere I go – breathtaking, soul-filling, peace-giving beauty.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marykay.com/kplantan
- Phone: 7205800106
- Email: karla.plantan@gmail.com
Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
