Posted on 12/07/2004 9:31:09 PM PST by Salvation
Free enterprise ping for all business men and women!
Thanks, Amway distributors!
Will he be buried with his downline?
He and Rich DeVos sold vitamins door to door when they first started. Why are you so sarcastic?
If you visit Grand Rapids, Michigan you can see all the money he and his wife gave away -- concert hall, refurbished hotel -- very generous. Your remark is uncalled for.
Van Andel was a driving force behind the renewal of downtown Grand Rapids, beginning with the purchase of the Pantlind Hotel in 1979, which later became the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. His commitment and financial support of $11.5 million were instrumental in building the sports and entertainment facility that bears his family’s name, Van Andel Arena. He was the leader and major contributor of the funding for the Van Andel Museum Center of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Van Andel also was founding chairman of the Right Place Committee, formed in 1980 to create and retain business and employment in Grand Rapids.
Those of us in the Grand Rapids area can only be thankful for the money VanAndel and DeVos have given to this area. World class research center, entertainment facility, hotel, convention center, etc. have really improved the quality of life and economy. They have always been huge supporters of the Republican party as well.
A little defensive, huh. How's sales?
He sells an idea to folks who then sell the idea to folks who sell the idea......
More dough in it than Scientology, though.
VanAndel and DeVos are two of the greatest Republicans around.
Karl Rove patterned the neighborhood home parties after the former Amway model.
Both work very well -- the election parties as well as the entrepeneurs who undertake owning their own business.
Most people who make snide remarks about this business really don't know what it's about -- people helping people.
Thanks for posting this!
The L. Ron Hubbard of Free Enterprise.
Oh, no, now it'll be "Operation Get C.C."
Flame away, true believers, but Amway is a cult. JMHO.
I was in Amway a couple of times and decided it just wasn't for me. Still, Jay and Rich are two men I respect tremendously. May Jay rest in peace and may God comfort his children and the DeVos family.
Well if you can also imagine the thousands of people ripped off by Scamway you might have another viewpoint.
Amway is evil. I pray for his soul.
Well put, imho.
This is sad on so many multi-levels.
So.....I'm supposed to cry? Only if he put me in his will!
On of them lives in my town and owns a couple of big houses, nice cars, etc, etc, and helps coach the local HS football team. I don't know what he's worth, but he's got 5 or 6 kids and doesn't have a job. Nice guy, too. I also am savvy enough to know that there's no such thing as something for nothing. I'm sure he had to work his guts out to get what he has.
I own a publication business that has the potential to give me the kind of ROI that this acquaintance of mine has. I also know that in order for me to succeed I'll have to continue to work my guts out for a number of more years.
I doubt those posters who are running down the business started by Van Andel really understand what Free Enterprise is all about. The Amway business may not be for me, but I admire anyone who makes it that big (like Mary Kay or Bill Gates or Sam Walton). You can't run a successful business for 40 years and make 100's of millions of $$$ by selling crap. If it was a scam or a cult like some people are claiming it would have folded long ago.
My belief is that the only business that truly succeeds is the hard work business. I think Mr V.Andel put together something that people willing to work hard at could also succeed at.
I admire him for his success and the success he helped create for others. The naysayers here strike me as those who maybe failed as distributors of Amway goods and have an ax to grind.
They're building a giant pyramid for him.
The naysayers are those who know what a scam Amway is by looking simply following it's history. Amway made millionaires of those who were able to convince people that they could sell products more effectively than the existing global distribution system. My aunt's husband joined this cult and once tried to sell me a suit at a Christmas party. It looked like something that the Sear's separates department wouldn't sell.
The wealth of the upline and Van Andel, was built on selling tapes/books/seminars to people, not on product sales. The number of Amway victims is far greater than the number of millionaires. And actually, you can run a successful business for years selling crap - because what you are really selling is a temporary salve for your distributors insecurity and desire to have some control over their lives. And design the system so that it skirts the letter of the pyramid scheme prohibitions in federal and state laws, then you've got something.
Good luck with your business. You're right about one thing, though. Hard work gets you most of the way there. The rest is actually luck/fate.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.