“ 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