Ready for Anything. Independent National Sales Director Lara McKeever knows first-hand that you can’t predict who will be great at a Mary Kay business. From a family with nine children, she was the third of three sisters to pursue the Mary Kay opportunity. “Where do you see yourself in five years was the first question my Independent Sales Director asked me,” Lara shares. “It was such a profound question as I hadn’t even thought five minutes ahead, let alone five years!” Though her sisters moved on, Lara found her true calling.

As an office manager while working her Mary Kay business part-time, one day Lara was told that a toilet had overflowed and she needed to clean it up. That was the turning point for her Mary Kay business and Lara went to work to earn the use of her first Mary Kay career car. Of the coaching and mentoring she received throughout the years from Independent Senior National Sales Director Sandy Valerio and Independent Executive National Sales Director Emeritus Arlene Lenarz, Lara says, “I’ve had the best of the best upbringings in my Mary Kay journey.” She is especially grateful to her parents for teaching her the importance of hard work. “I am who I am today because of them and their devotion to provide my siblings and I with the best life possible.”

Married to Ken and the mother to their two sons; Kenny and Owen, Lara is most happy when she is spending time with her family. She says, “We love to travel and we’re always looking forward to our next adventure.” Afraid of heights, Lara found herself at a crossroads while on a hiking trip with her family as she contemplated the opportunity to take in an amazing view that required climbing a tall tower. When Lara hesitated, her youngest son who shares that same fear --said, “Come on, Mom, let’s do it together.” And they did! This was another aha-moment for Lara and was the metaphor she needed to push her to the next level in her Mary Kay business.

She encourages the women of her National Area to learn from their mistakes. “Failure is one of life’s most powerful teachers,” Lara says. “The obstacles I’ve faced in my business are the areas where I’ve grown the most. Use your challenges and experiences as an opportunity to learn and grow. If you do, success is just around the corner!”