At every training event, McKay takes the time to interact with attendees and answer their questions. But he says he’ll never regret his decision to come to Melaleuca. “Frank has been a tremendous mentor,” he says. “He has patiently guided me. He has been one of the most positive forces for good in my life. Frank has built a foundation at Melaleuca like no other. His values, leadership principles, and commitment to enhancing lives are part of me now. I am forever grateful to him.” “Internally, the contribution I am most proud of is seeing the people I started working with now running Melaleuca: [Chief Operating Officer] Cole Clinger, [Chief Financial Officer] Tom Knutson, [Chief Information Officer] Todd Sorenson, [Senior Vice President of Sales] Darrin Johnson, [Senior Vice President of Business Development] Kevin Sommer, [President of Melaleuca International] Jerry Felton, [Vice President of Global Marketing & Strategic Initiatives] Hank Toone, and [Chief of Staff ] Isaac Bottelberghe, just to name a few,” McKay says. “I am proud to have genuinely helped Marketing Executives be better at their business – helping them change their lives and then go on to change the lives of others.” You would think that someone with such a robust and successful career wouldn’t have any regrets. But McKay says that he has “tons.” “I didn’t know the things I valued early on in my career,” he says. “I pushed too hard. I wasn’t much of a people person. I charged at things too fast. I didn’t slow down. I didn’t know how to work through people. I was immature. I wasn’t humble.” McKay has turned down several attractive career offers since leaving his full-time position at Melaleuca. He was determined to only consider an opportunity that would not conflict with Melaleuca’s mission and his desire to still be involved in coaching and teaching Marketing Executives. In 2013, McKay became a professor at BYU’s Marriott School of Business, teaching business strategy part time. He was then offered the opportunity to serve as the managing director for BYU Alumni and External Relations. Both of these positions are largely philanthropic, offering little compensation in return. “I love Melaleuca,” McKay says. “I love the Marketing Executives. I love the employees. My biggest desire nowadays is to help others and make a contribution. Right now I am able to both contribute to Melaleuca and do philanthropic work. It’s rewarding.” CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS As a speaker, McKay is captivating. His trainings are legendary. Frommessages he’s written in Leadership in Action to ADVANCE trainings and unforgettable Convention main-stage presentations, it’s no exaggeration to say that every Melaleuca organization has been impacted by his insight and paradigms. In response to changing needs in the company, at Frank’s request McKay returned temporarily as a full-time employee in October 2018. For 14 months, McKay commuted from his home in Utah to Idaho Falls and implemented strategic initiatives focused on improving Melaleuca’s digital presence, marketing messages, and product development. In December 2019, he returned to Utah and to his previous role as a part-time speaker for Melaleuca events.
to Corporate Director status for the first time in Melaleuca history. Having lived without personal debt himself, he readily promoted that aspect of Melaleuca’s unique culture and developed Melaleuca’s Financial Freedom Awards and trainings. In 2008, Frank named McKay President of Melaleuca, Inc., and his impact continued to grow. AN INFLUENCE THAT CHANGED MELALEUCA FOREVER After 26 years, McKay’s fingerprints are all over Melaleuca. He played a key role in establishing the infrastructure and systems that allowed Melaleuca to grow to the multibillion dollar international company it is today. He also helped lay the groundwork for programs like Loyalty Shopping Dollars. Throughout his career, he helped instigate several enhancements to the Compensation Plan, which rewards Marketing Executives for activities that support the Melaleuca Mission Statement. Over the years, McKay has at some point been involved with almost every department in Melaleuca. While working as a full-time executive at Melaleuca, McKay stayed physically fit by running marathons. He obtained his PhD in Adult Education and Organizational Learning from the University of Idaho. “I wanted to learn how people learn,” he explains. “I knew I could be more effective in my training and speaking, and I was really drawn to that part of my work.” AN UNFORESEEABLE CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES In July of 2013, McKay learned that his mother was ill. He chose to resign his full-time position at Melaleuca so he could move to Utah to be closer to her. Frank asked McKay if he would contribute to Melaleuca part-time as a trainer and spokesperson, primarily at leadership events. That’s exactly what he has been doing for most of the past eight years.
McKay with his parents, Neal and Lois.
McKay and Jennifer taking a New York selfie with Mark Atha, Dave and Lynn Crescenzo, and Charlie and Amanda Costello.
“The truth is that your life will go by one way or the other. Whether you wait or not, the time will pass and your life will accumulate one way or the other. Lose the wait.”
“No matter what size their paycheck, people
can outspend their salary. Financial assurance is really defined by how much you save or owe. Real assurance happens when you’re debt-free.”
– McKay Christensen
– McKay Christensen
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