Shane Parrish

So after proving herself at Stanley, she moved to World Gift Company in Dallas, and her assignment there was to build their direct sales operation.

So she spent the next 11 years from 1952 to 1963 doing exactly that.

She helped expand their sales network to 43 states, recruiting and training hundreds of salespeople.

She increased company turnover by 50% in a single year.

And she developed training materials.

She tested different compensation structures.

She was, by any objective, one of the most valuable employees World Gift had ever had.

And then came the moment that would change everything.

Mary Kay trained a man to work under her.

She doesn't mention his name.

He was capable enough.

He was smart.

He was personable and, you know, good in front of groups.

He was a solid hire, she thought.

The company's leadership agreed.

Within months, they promoted him to be her supervisor.

And here, she recruited him.

She trained him.

She taught him everything he knew about the business.

And now he would be supervising her.