"YOUR NAME IS SAFE IN MY HOME"

President's Message By
Frank L. VanderSloot
President & CEO

March 2007

Since our beginning, Melaleuca Marketing Executives have enjoyed a special friendship and unity with each other that far surpasses anything I have ever experienced in any other organization. These relationships of people who genuinely care about each other and help each other have become part of our culture.

I do not know how this culture got started. Although I watched it happen over the years, I did not completely understand the dynamics of what was happening. Certainly, if it were something that was possible to create, I would have wanted to create it, but it is not the type of thing that could be manufactured or orchestrated.

It has simply been established by good people being unselfish with their time and being kind with their words and thoughts. It has created a warm feeling that gives people a sense of belonging, a sense of unity, and a sense of being worthwhile and appreciated.

This feeling of unity and “belonging” has not been created by a single person or specific group of people, but by literally hundreds of great individuals and families who have personified our mission of enhancing lives. I continue to be amazed at how really good some people are. When I say “good,” I don’t mean good at something—I just mean good through and through. It thrills me at how many of these “good” people have joined us and how their “goodness” is affecting others. I have searched for what might bring out this goodness in people, but there does not seem to be any common element in regard to anything that one might expect.

For example, education does not seem to be the common factor, nor does ethnic origin or religion, nor does the community in which people live, nor even intelligence. I am certain that all of these things have had an effect on people, but based on my observations, great people come from all different parts of the continent and may have almost nothing in their backgrounds in common.

They all do share one trait, however: they all care about other people as much, and sometimes more than they care about themselves. And when people care more about each other than they do about themselves, wonderful things happen.

This culture does not exist everywhere in Melaleuca. I wish it did. It exists predominately in areas where the leaders in the area exemplify goodness, this caring and this attitude of helping others.

As we grow and prosper as a company and as individuals and families, I hope we can preserve and foster the wonderful culture that has been such an integral part of who we are. I believe we will retain this culture if we continually remind ourselves of what really counts in life.

I have watched many prosper and attain substantial levels of wealth with Melaleuca this past year. As our growth accelerates over the next several decades, we will see many more become wealthy. Wealth brings with it many blessings, but also challenges. Wealth challenges people with a test of who they really are. I find that most people pass that test with flying colors. Those who were humble usually remain humble. Those who cared for others before they were wealthy usually continue to care for others. Some do not pass this test as gracefully, but I find that, although there are some exceptions, wealth usually does not change who people are.

At the same time, wealth does pose a great challenge to those whose friends have become wealthy. As we watch our friends accumulate wealth, it might be very difficult for us. We may feel jealous or left out or left behind. We may feel somehow that we don’t count as much any more or don’t fit in because we can’t afford the same things as our prosperous friends.

Perhaps in such instances our test is even greater than the test of our now wealthy friends. Are we tempted to speak ill of them, to degrade them in some way or to judge them or find fault in them? To those who might be struggling with this test as they watch their friends become wealthy through their Melaleuca business, I would say it is important to realize that a person’s wealth does not make them or us any different. Wealth is not a measurement of who we are: it just provides us with additional freedom and opportunity to do what we want to in life.

It is clear that prosperity is available for all those who are willing to pay the price of hard work with their Melaleuca businesses. I hope that we will all
pass the test that prosperity will bring to us.

I am confident that we can preserve this precious culture that we now enjoy, where everyone can feel welcome and appreciated for who they are regardless of education, religion, prior experience, or level of success. The place to preserve this culture is in our own hearts, thoughts, and words. We should not allow ourselves to think or speak ill of anyone. A man who I very much admire once said, “There are those among us who would recoil in horror at the thought of stealing another person’s money or property, but who don’t give a second thought to stealing another person’s good name or reputation.”

He went on to recommend a philosophy I have tried to implement in my family. That philosophy is to make a promise in our hearts to all people. That promise is, “Your name is safe in my home.” That means my wife and my children will never hear me speak ill of you, nor will I ever allow them to speak ill of you. We will protect your good name not only in our home, but everywhere we go. If we hear others speak ill of you, we will defend you. We will remind them how unfair it is to judge someone until you have walked a mile in their moccasins.

It is evident that we are surrounded by good people. None of them are perfect. But, they are good people. You will find none better than those who genuinely care about others. I hope we never lose that!

Sincerely,

Frank

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