There is an old quote "History repeats itself for those who don't know history". On another blog the ibo rebellion there is a great youtube clip with Steve VanAndel talking about a book his father gave him to read about the fall of Pan Am. Here are two other books his dad should have had him read listen to these paragraphs:
"While Van Andel and Devos were doing very well through the 1950's, however the condition of Nutrilite Products as a corporation was deteriorating. A long period of internal warfare in the home office in California left the company weakened in considerable disarray. Distributors like Devos and VanAndel were concerned about the lack of strong corporate leadership, and tried to intervene to help solve problems but nothing worked. It became more and more difficult for Nutrilite distributor to operate effectively, and the growth of their business slowed."
"The two partners finally decided the Nutrilites corporate problems were such that it could no longer be depended on to provide leadership. Their primary obligation, they felt, was to the groups of distributors whom they have brought into THEIR business. They had a commitment to these people, many of whom had left their jobs to build full time businesses, and sold them on a vision on a free and prosperous future. Those promises were not to be taken lightly, they had very little choice.
"So in early 1959 the two partners made a bold, carefully calculated gamble. They sat in the basement office of VanAndels home and officially organized a new company. They cut the tie with Nutrilite, began plans to develop their own product line, and personally pledged to their distributors that they would build and direct a new enterprise in which their business would always be secure."
"They called the new company Amway. From the beginning of that new company, VanAndel and DeVos were motivated by more than just the bottom line. They were determined to make Amway work for all those people who trusted and believed in them. They had promises to keep.
2) The Possible Dream
"In the summer of 1958, at a meeting of their leading distributor's in Charlevoix, Michigan, they made their announcement; We intend to develop our own product line. We will continue to sell Nutrilite products (they explained) but we can no longer depend solely on that company to supply our distributorships with marketable products. It is up to us to make our own way."
"With that explanation, the two partners gave the people there the opportunity to stay with them and the American Way Association or to remain entirely with Nutrilite. To a person, the leaders at Charlevoix chose to head into a new territory with DeVos and VanAndel."
"That was the cutting of the umbilical cord which tied the small group to Nutrilite exclusively. A few months later, in early 1959, Devos and VanAndel sat in the basement office of Jay's home in Ada, Michigan, and officially organized Amway Corp. It was a bold hopeful beginning, a gamble that they could make it alone, and go on to build an organization of size and permanence. With the beautiful blessings of hind sight, one can easily see that it would be a start of something big. At the time, one couldn't be so sure."
Hindsight is in history. You could super impose names like Orrin and Chris, and round table or policy counsel, and Team or Grand Blanc, Michigan or Nutilite and come up with the humble beginnings of what will forever be TEAM.
"So in early 1959 the two partners made a bold, carefully calculated gamble. They sat in the basement office of VanAndels home and officially organized a new company. They cut the tie with Nutrilite, began plans to develop their own product line, and personally pledged to their distributors that they would build and direct a new enterprise in which their business would always be secure."
"They called the new company Amway. From the beginning of that new company, VanAndel and DeVos were motivated by more than just the bottom line. They were determined to make Amway work for all those people who trusted and believed in them. They had promises to keep.
2) The Possible Dream
"In the summer of 1958, at a meeting of their leading distributor's in Charlevoix, Michigan, they made their announcement; We intend to develop our own product line. We will continue to sell Nutrilite products (they explained) but we can no longer depend solely on that company to supply our distributorships with marketable products. It is up to us to make our own way."
"With that explanation, the two partners gave the people there the opportunity to stay with them and the American Way Association or to remain entirely with Nutrilite. To a person, the leaders at Charlevoix chose to head into a new territory with DeVos and VanAndel."
"That was the cutting of the umbilical cord which tied the small group to Nutrilite exclusively. A few months later, in early 1959, Devos and VanAndel sat in the basement office of Jay's home in Ada, Michigan, and officially organized Amway Corp. It was a bold hopeful beginning, a gamble that they could make it alone, and go on to build an organization of size and permanence. With the beautiful blessings of hind sight, one can easily see that it would be a start of something big. At the time, one couldn't be so sure."
Hindsight is in history. You could super impose names like Orrin and Chris, and round table or policy counsel, and Team or Grand Blanc, Michigan or Nutilite and come up with the humble beginnings of what will forever be TEAM.
2 comments:
"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it"... too bad the 2nd generation failed their history lessons.
Cool post. History certainly does repeat itself. fyi..I've got a new new website. http://barristerquixtarlawsuit.blogspot.com/
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