ABOUT THIS BOOK 

 

An Enterprising Life is Jay Van Andel's account of the adventures, hadships, faith, and determination that built the industry giant that embodies the true spirit of free enterprise. Here, for the first time, Mr. Van Andel sheds light on his private struggles, public battles, and personal triumphs, providing Amway employees and distributors, businesspeople, and entrepreneurs with the real sotry of a leader whose vision created a company that goes beyond the commercial by herlpeing people help themselves.

In this moving autobiography, Mr. Van Andel pays tribute to the people who helped him along the way. He describes his early business ventures with his lifelong friend, most logal supporter, and Amway cofounder, Rich DeVos. Providing inspiring and often humorous accounts, he recalls their early business ventures (including an air-service business with planes that tended that ended to run out of gas!), their youthful adventures (such as their ill-fated voyage to the Caribbean on the leaky schooner, Elizabeth), and theri hard-won success with the Amway Corporation. With heartfelt tenderness, he shares the story of his steadfast love for his wife, Betty, a partner and friend to him for more than forty-five years, and his pride in their four children. Throughout, he continually attests to the strength he has derived from his unwavering faith in God-impariting to readers how this crucial influence has kept him going through the good times as well as the bad.

Now, having built a seven-billion-dollar corporation and made invaluable contributions to medicine, education, and millions of individual lives, Jay Van Andel shares his wisdom and insights into live, faith, and the meaning of integrity. As Mr. Van Andel says,

"This is more than the history of a corporation, it is a story about the potential of every human who is fortunate enough to live in freedom, who is willing to work hard, and who is not afraid of failure. It is the story of true success."