When Mary Kay Ash 'retired' from a successful career in direct sales in early 1963, she decided to write a book to help women survive in the male-dominated business world. She made two lists. One contained things the companies for which she had worked had done right, the other included the things she felt they could have done better. When she reviewed the lists, Mary Kay realized that she had inadvertently created a marketing plan for a dream company – one which would provide women with open ended potential to achieve personal and financial success.With her life savings of $5,000 and the help of her 20-year-old son Richard Rogers, Mary Kay launched her dream company on Friday, Sept. 13, 1963. more... See more text