Amway Culture & Value Series (2) – You Can Do It!

Mr. Rich DeVos was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Like many people in that city, he came from a family of Dutch Americans who had migrated to the U.S. not because of economic considerations, but with a desire to realize their dream.

During the years of the Great Depression, Rich’s father, Simon, lost his job and the life of the family became even harder. Although they were encountering great difficulties, Simon still told Rich that he had unlimited potential and to believe in himself. Every time Rich said, “I can’t do it”, his father told him that nothing was impossible, stressing that “I can’t do it” was a way to accept defeat, while saying “I can do it” showed that he had confidence and power.

During that time, Rich started delivering newspapers for the Grand Rapids Press to earn a living. This was his first ever job and it helped him understand the importance of working hard and being responsible. That first job gave Rich a new experience of freedom and activeness. Sometimes he would deliver newspapers to wealthy families nearby, but he never felt envy because he believed he could be like them in the future if he demonstrated his determination and was eager to work hard.

“As parents, we need to bring positive energy into our home. We need to encourage our kids and tell them they are capable of doing all things,” Rich shared, saying that he had passed on his father’s positive and enthusiastic spirit to his children. We are happy to see that same spirit of continuity helping to develop Amway into such a great enterprise.

Many people are reluctant to try new things because they are afraid of failure, being criticized or laughed at. What’s more, they may also think they lack the appropriate training or experience. To such people, Rich draws on his own experience by encouraging them to “set a goal and achieve it through hard work. You can do it!”