Steve Van Andel: 80% Of Millennials

Steve Van Andel: 80% Of Millennials Favor Global Entrepreneurship
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I spoke with Steve Van Andel, the chairman of Amway, who is responsible for managing daily operations of the company with Amway President Doug DeVos. Van Andel is the eldest son of Amway Co-Founder Jay Van Andel, who, with Rich DeVos, started Amway in 1959 in Ada, Michigan. Since then, Amway has grown into the world’s largest direct selling company. Over the past two decades, Van Andel has led a strategic transformation of the company with a focus on growth through innovation, driving double-digit growth. Prior to being named chairman, Van Andel served as vice president with responsibility for Amway’s business operations in North and South America. He also served as vice president of marketing.

Recently, Amway acquired the XS Energy Brand, an energy drink brand that has exhibited positive momentum with the next-generation of Amway entrepreneurs. The deal expands the brand’s geographic reach and advances Amway‘s strategy of connecting with young entrepreneurs. In addition, Amway launched the “2014 Amway Global Entrepreneurship Report“, which was unveiled last November. In the following interview, Steve goes over the biggest findings from the report, why they acquired the XS Energy Brand, and how he grew Amway after taking over from his father.
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Steve Van Andel, Chairman of Amway

Dan Schawbel: What was it like taking over Amway from your father and what strategic decisions did you make to grow it into largest direct selling company?

Steve Van Andel: I think that most people think of their fathers as heroes and I am the same way. In my eyes, he’s probably one of the greatest entrepreneurs ever. To be able to take over the business that he founded was truly a great honor for me. He’s the kind of man who saw opportunity just about everywhere. His purpose in life was to help other people and that’s one of the reasons for starting Amway, a company that helps people help themselves. He was many things – everything from an entrepreneur to an adventurer.

His commitment and dedication was unbelievable. In fact, as I talk to you I’m reminded of a story that captures his approach toward life. I’m sitting in a conference room and at the end of the room is a ship’s bell. One of his adventures began when he and his business partner, Rich DeVos, decided to take a sailing trip down to South America. They didn’t exactly know how to sail and they found that out off the coast of Cuba when the boat sank. It was an old wooden boat and when old wooden boats sink they don’t quite go all the way down, they just submerge to the point where the top of the boat is about even with the surface of the water. So they ended up flagging down a freighter and tried pulling the boat out with all the equipment the freighter had, but just couldn’t do it. But they couldn’t just leave this boat sitting there, so they ultimately had to ram it (so it would totally sink).

Before they did, they took a few things off and one of the things my Dad removed was the ship’s bell. What’s interesting is that didn’t end their trip. You would think they would’ve come home, but that wasn’t their approach to life. They jumped aboard the freighter as crew, made the trip down to South America and traveled around the country. They kept their adventure going even though they had a lot of hurdles along the way and that ship’s bell is there to remind me of the commitment and dedication that Dad had. When he set a goal, he just kept trying and kept going, and that’s been my mantra, if you will, since I’ve been here.

As far as strategic decisions, the biggest shift that we’ve had over the last couple decades involves significant global expansion. Prior to that, we were in a few markets but it was primarily a U.S.-driven business. Now, even as the U.S. business continues to be strong, 90% of our business comes from outside of the U.S. Things have become more complicated over the years, but the goal still is trying to help people go into business for themselves.

Kết quả (Việt) 1:

Steve Van Andel: 80% của Employing ủng hộ tinh thần kinh doanh toàn cầuBình luận bây giờLàm theo ý kiếnTôi đã nói với Steve Van Andel, là chủ tịch của Amway, người chịu trách nhiệm cho việc quản lý các hoạt động hàng ngày của công ty với Amway chủ tịch Doug DeVos. Van Andel là con trai của Amway đồng sáng lập Jay Van Andel, người, với Rich DeVos, bắt đầu Amway năm 1959 tại Ada, Michigan. Kể từ đó, Amway đã trở thành công ty bán hàng trực tiếp lớn nhất của thế giới. Hơn hai thập kỷ qua, Van Andel đã dẫn đầu một chuyển đổi chiến lược của công ty với một tập trung vào sự tăng trưởng thông qua đổi mới, lái xe tăng trưởng hai con số. Trước khi được đặt tên là chủ tịch, Van Andel phục vụ như là phó tổng thống có trách nhiệm cho các hoạt động kinh doanh của Amway tại Bắc và Nam Mỹ. Ông cũng làm phó chủ tịch của tiếp thị.Gần đây, Amway đã mua thương hiệu năng lượng XS, một thương hiệu đồ uống năng lượng đã trưng bày Đà tích cực với thế hệ kế tiếp của doanh nhân Amway. Thỏa thuận mở rộng phạm vi địa lý của thương hiệu và tiến bộ của Amway chiến lược để kết nối với doanh nhân trẻ. Ngoài ra, Amway tung ra "2014 Amway toàn cầu doanh nhân báo cáo", mà đã được công bố cuối tháng mười một. Trong cuộc phỏng vấn sau đây, Steve đi qua những phát hiện lớn nhất từ báo cáo, tại sao họ mua lại thương hiệu XS năng lượng, và làm thế nào ông đã tăng trưởng Amway sau khi tiếp quản từ cha ông.Steve-Van-Andel1Steve Van Andel, chủ tịch của AmwayDan Schawbel: What was it like taking over Amway from your father and what strategic decisions did you make to grow it into largest direct selling company?Steve Van Andel: I think that most people think of their fathers as heroes and I am the same way. In my eyes, he’s probably one of the greatest entrepreneurs ever. To be able to take over the business that he founded was truly a great honor for me. He’s the kind of man who saw opportunity just about everywhere. His purpose in life was to help other people and that’s one of the reasons for starting Amway, a company that helps people help themselves. He was many things – everything from an entrepreneur to an adventurer.His commitment and dedication was unbelievable. In fact, as I talk to you I’m reminded of a story that captures his approach toward life. I’m sitting in a conference room and at the end of the room is a ship’s bell. One of his adventures began when he and his business partner, Rich DeVos, decided to take a sailing trip down to South America. They didn’t exactly know how to sail and they found that out off the coast of Cuba when the boat sank. It was an old wooden boat and when old wooden boats sink they don’t quite go all the way down, they just submerge to the point where the top of the boat is about even with the surface of the water. So they ended up flagging down a freighter and tried pulling the boat out with all the equipment the freighter had, but just couldn’t do it. But they couldn’t just leave this boat sitting there, so they ultimately had to ram it (so it would totally sink).Before they did, they took a few things off and one of the things my Dad removed was the ship’s bell. What’s interesting is that didn’t end their trip. You would think they would’ve come home, but that wasn’t their approach to life. They jumped aboard the freighter as crew, made the trip down to South America and traveled around the country. They kept their adventure going even though they had a lot of hurdles along the way and that ship’s bell is there to remind me of the commitment and dedication that Dad had. When he set a goal, he just kept trying and kept going, and that’s been my mantra, if you will, since I’ve been here.As far as strategic decisions, the biggest shift that we’ve had over the last couple decades involves significant global expansion. Prior to that, we were in a few markets but it was primarily a U.S.-driven business. Now, even as the U.S. business continues to be strong, 90% of our business comes from outside of the U.S. Things have become more complicated over the years, but the goal still is trying to help people go into business for themselves.