“ A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them”
Jan Eisen was 35 when he decided to give up his law career and work for the family business.“ As fulfilling as working as a lawyer was, I felt there was something missing in my life. A big goal. A mission. Something to last beyond the next closed case,” Eisen recalls.“ When my father offered me to join the family business, I realized that this was what I wanted to do. I left the law firm, moved to the countryside in the very South of Germany and got introduced to everything that’ s related to the VitaJuwel business.”
VitaJuwel, a company that infuses water with the healing and cleansing powers of gemstones was already a success in Europe and Asia when Eisen came on board. But, like a true leader, he had a vision of introducing the product to a newer, bigger market: America.
“ After packing my first 40-foot container with products in August 2013 and sending it to the New World, I followed close behind with my wife and a friend and found a new home in the San Francisco East bay area,” recalls Eisen.“ The following two years were probably the most challenging ones in our lives. We spent countless hours on the phone, in my car, in planes and at trade shows promoting our product to a crowd that never heard of gemwater before.”
Despite his initial struggles, Eisen was determined to bring such an innovative product to the U. S. His instincts told him he was in the right place, which drove him even more to succeed. He began to partner with vendors, retailers, spas and
— M. D. ARNOLD, Author
distributors who trusted the value of the VitaJuwel product. The company grew so much that, in 2016, the small team outgrew their living room office and garage warehouse and moved to a true office and warehouse facility outside San Francisco.
Eisen’ s new challenge is finding a creative and like-minded team to propel the business even further. Although his leadership role is fairly new, Eisen has quickly become the kind of leader who inspires his staff through appreciation and hard work.“ I find that regardless of age, you have to earn the respect of every team member by honestly appreciating every contribution the person brings to the success of the project,” he says.“ You must always be willing as a team leader to
JAN EISEN, CEO VitaJuwel USA, Concord, California
do the lowliest job and jump in to pull the cart out of the dirt. Don’ t expect tasks of others that you wouldn’ t be willing to do yourself.” Eisen certainly isn’ t afraid to do the small things to help the big picture. After taking his family business across continents, he reflects on the past while giving advice to other young leaders who wish to forge their own paths:“ My biggest accomplishment has been establishing a business in a foreign country that has a huge potential, is driven by a wonderful mission, is fueled by a team of great people and makes the everyday life of tens of thousands of people a little better. To other young leaders out there: Open your mind for chances in every second of your life, then grasp and pursue them however unreachable they seem with every bit of energy you have.”
Keeping business in the family: Jan Eisen with his father( who he considers his business icon) and his brother. Bottom: Already a success in Europe, Eisen is determined to make gemstone water a U. S. staple.
36 PULSE ■ March / April 2017