“Steadfast” and “committed” describe Independent National Sales Director Marixa González well. A month after moving to the United States, Marixa was already working at a fast food restaurant. One day, as she was leaving work, she was approached by Independent Senior National Sales Director Rosa Bonilla, who offered her a facial and her business card. “At first I refused, but in the end I agreed to it. I watched as she drove off and was wowed by the beautiful pink car she was driving,” she admits.

When they got together a month later, Marixa was amazed at how well dressed and organized Rosa was. But when Rosa told her that her Mary Kay business afforded her the flexibility to stay home and care for her children, Marixa was even more impressed. “I was offered the Mary Kay opportunity at the perfect moment because I was about to get married and, when the time came, I wanted to be able to stay at home with my children,” says Marixa. Six months after signing her Independent Beauty Consultant Agreement, a twenty-five cent raise in salary was reason enough for her to quit her full-time job and fully devote herself to her Mary Kay business.

In her native country, El Salvador, Marixa dreamt of becoming a lawyer, but her family’s financial resources were limited. Still, her parents struggled to help her get an education and she eventually graduated and became a commercial secretary. “I feel blessed because of the support my parents gave me and for all the sacrifices they made to help their 10 children get ahead.”

Marixa has been cultivating the art of perseverance since she was a child. Although school was her main priority, she also had to work as an artist at a local crafts shop during her summer vacations to help lighten her family’s financial burdens. At a young age she decided not to let life’s challenges determine her destiny. Instead, through her experiences, she developed skills that would help her embrace one of the practices that has kept her on track throughout her Mary Kay journey: Being a woman of her word.

Through her Mary Kay business, Marixa has learned to view obstacles as situations that strengthen her and help her reach success with a stronger foundation. “I have to achieve my goals,” says Marixa, who named her Unit Word in Action. “I don’t give up until I’ve accomplished them. When I first started my business many people failed me. Instead of giving up, I decided to make a difference by being a woman of my word and looking for others who would keep true to theirs.”

Marixa enjoys the unconditional love of her husband, Jorge Armando, who has always trusted and supported her so that she could continue becoming that “somebody” that God had in mind when he created her. Her three sons, Jorge, Fernando and Samuel, are her “divine inheritance” and her motivation, and thanks to the Mary Kay opportunity, she has achieved her goal of raising them with good principles and values.

Mary Kay’s philosophies hold a special place in Marixa’s heart, as do the suggestions and advice of successful people who can help her follow her dreams the way her Independent Elite Executive National Sales Director, Gloria Castaño, has done. “Gloria is my role model and my inspiration. Realizing this dream has been possible because she has always believed in me.”

The name of her National Area, Visionaries in Action, speaks to Marixa’s appreciation of the enormous gift God has given her in each of her Area members. “Even though each possesses different qualities, abilities and virtues, we are able to come together and work as a team to meet our goals,” she says. “My greatest satisfaction is seeing other women better themselves and achieve their highest potential through the Mary Kay opportunity, and knowing that I have been a part of that.”

Throughout her journey, she has learned to implement the Mary Kay priorities of God first, family second and career third wholeheartedly into her life. “Today I am more confident, I value what’s truly important, I have my priorities in order and I am happy.”