Customer Reviews

Compassionate Capitalism

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As the founder of Amway Corporation, the world's largest and most successful direct-selling organization, Rich DeVos is uniquly qualified to comment on a new way of seeing the world of business. Mr. DeVos is a highly respected person of impeccable character whose message of freedom and hope is becoming more acceptable to business leaders worldwide. The DeVos and Van Andel (co-founder of Amway) families have quietly become two of the wealthiest and influental families in America today. Their philosophies of fufilling financial obligations to one's family, friends, charities, etc, through helping others acheive their goals is refreshing. Although not an active Amway Distributor myself, I can't help but marvel at the number of media-driven attacks on Amway Corporation. This company, through the vision of both it's founders and distributors, is THE model for today's company attempting to balance an innovative spirit with corporate and social responsibility. This privately-held, debt-free, multibillion dollar corporation has put billions of dollars into the pockets of hard working people worldwide. As a corporate executive, I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a glimpse into the life of a man whose company stands on the forefront of the business world heading into the next millenium.

This book was written by one of the most prominent businessmen in the world. He and his partner started with just an idea, as with many other large corporations we are familiar with, and turned it into one of the only debt free companies in the U.S.. Producing billions of anual revenue. Rich Devos has a huge heart and he is more generous than most, for he is willing to share with the world what beliefs and habits put him into the positions that he is at now. Rich Devos has been able to help milliions of people find hope and rekindle their dreams by using a direct selling method that many other companies alike can only wish they had. This book has great stories about success and failure alike, for one does not come without the other. If you are looking for a book with strong priciples and beliefs then this is the book for you. I would recommend it to anyone building an amway business or not, simply because of what it will teach. This book will make you feel proud to be in a FREE country and make you think "why am I not doing my part to help out?"

There are lots of wealthy people out there but most aren't truly happy. This is largely because they aren't fulfilling a higher purpose with their businesses, they're simply out there trying to survive in the often cutthroat business world. DeVos explains what it takes to make your business a positive force in the world; "positive" by virtually any standard.

Contrary to a lot of advice you may have heard out there on how to successfully build a prosperous business, DeVos claims that integrating compassion for your fellow man with lucrative opportunities is the real secret to security and happiness. It's the knowledge that what you're doing is making a difference that makes you feel worthy of the privilege and comfort of wealth. And even before the wealth comes, having a compassionate attitude along with sound business acumen (which can be learned) goes a long way towards increasing your chances of attaining wealth and influence.

A great book written in a language anyone can understand. I don't have any complaints, but I refrain from giving it five stars because it didn't "knock my socks off!" Highly recommended reading for anyone looking to understand the attitudes and principles necessary for *true* success.

I had become an Amway distributor and I was struggling with some preconceived notions that I had about this MLM giant. After reading this book I understood more about the men who founded this company; their values and their dreams for their families and for others. Rich DeVos became one of my heros. I consider it essential reading for all Amway distributors and I recommend it to anyone who has less than a wonderful opinion of Amway. Although some of my values differ from Mr. DeVos' I admire his integrity and am proud to be associated with a corporation that is founded on such ideals.

I am not involved in Amway (Rich de Vos sure is!), nor am I an ardent Christian (I believe Rich de Vos is), yet I have no hesitation in recommending this book. I suppose I'm always on the lookout for new ways of doing things and new ways of thinking. "Compassionate Capitalism" provides some real meat for a hungry world in need of just that - new ideas. Economics is a complicated field (so I've been told - I'm no expert), yet Rich de Vos has managed to demystify it, at least as far as this reader is concerned. His ideas seem to be free of any real political ties or religious taints (religion doesn't enter into the book at all) - he seems just to be genuinely interested in people (I wish I couldn't hear the sneers, but unfortunately I do). I also admire him as an American. Goodness knows America has the driving force and energy to influence the whole of this world one way or another, but it doesn't really seem to have the will (nor, perhaps, the imagination) to do anything really creative (sure they have introduced fuel efficient motors - a relative concept at the best of times - but have you seen the size of the 1999 and 2000 models? ). So learning that there are ideas out there which do not just mean more of the same, and bigger and meaner (whether from the auto industry or the rest of the military-industrial complex) is somewhat reassuring.

One thing I'm sure of: every American (those who can read) should digest this book. It doesn't try to convert. It simply tries (very well) to make sense out of the current madness.

We should require our children to read this book. True success is about being an uplifter of others. You don't start a business and build it to be worth over $7 billion (debt free) and not know a thing or two about success. This book is a practical guide to make your life a successful one.

The problem of todays Society is the splitting between c3 (command, control, communicate) and C3 (Creator, Creation, Creature) which one tries to overcome by simple Ce (established Communication) and "political correctness". If people only would LIVE what Rich writes with INTEGRITY, we would have already a BETTER WORLD! The fact is however, that COMPASSION is already misused, also by the second generation. For us this book is not only nice to read but also a real NEED to overcome the problems of our c3-Society. This is what Lifefulfilling Marketing is all about.

This book should be given to every school living person, or for that matter, to every adult. I have just finished reading it, and will read it again. The principles, morals and attitudes shared in it, is itself every day guidance, not taught, or shared in any business, large or small. A job well done.

A great book on the positive aspects of capitalism, and there are many.

How can we play to win in business , if we don't understand the game, let alone the rules. This book give a broad perspective of capitalism and the principles behind it. A powerful yet easy to read book Read it .... Soon

Some highlights:

1) Compassion is the ultimate goal of capitalism.

2) Capitalism is the economic reality which drives us as individuals to excel and maximize our talents and potential. However, money is not everything. It is just a tool.

3) Albert Schweitzer said, "The purpose of life is to serve and show compassion and the will to help others."

3) Question: So, why do we work? Why do we need money?
Answer: Unless we have, we cannot give.

5) The reality is that most people live their lives very defensively. They are always afraid that someone will take some of what is theirs. They are too busy protecting ~ to give to anyone.

6) Question: So, how do you succeed?
Answer: Be an entrepreneur. Start small, and inexpensive. Be creative, believe in yourself, find a good mentor, have a dream, make a goal, do the basics everyday, learn from mistakes, work hard, care about others, put people before products,don't make excuses, never give up.

"Never give up, never give up, never give up"
-Winston Churchill

"Success is going from one failure to another failure with great enthusiasm."
- Winston Churchill

"One man with courage is a majority."
- Thomas Jefferson

"The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love."
- Wordsworth