I’m often asked about the bronze statue of my father at the entrance of the Nutrilite Health Institute. He sits on a bench, under the shade of a tree, with his journal and glasses in hand, gazing into the distance as if reflecting on a thought. The statute is a tribute to his famous “Pepper Tree Talks” at our Hemet farm in the early days. But to me, it represents so much more.

When you look at the statue, you can almost hear him thinking , “That’s an interesting thought, let’s talk about it.” And talk he did on topics that ranged from earthworms to soil fertility to feeding a growing population and beyond. No topic was too small or too big for these lively conversations with distributors who visited the farm. After all, he had the mind of an inventor, ever-questioning and ever-eager to find a better way. I’m not sure who loved these conversations more, the distributors or my father.

Yet, the statue is also a nod to something more profound: My father’s efforts to be fully transparent about what was going on behind the scenes, whether on the farm, at the manufacturing plant or on the sales front.  

My father’s Pepper Tree Talks ultimately inspired a regular column in the company newsletter, but not without a less-than-auspicious beginning. It all started when a senior distributor was visiting the Hemet farm and eager for my father to talk with his group. Despite the fact that my father was taking an afternoon nap in the farm house, he willingly obliged. He put on his bathrobe and headed outside to greet the group of distributors collected under the big pepper tree in the courtyard. In his journal, he described the event as “a wonderful session” as they talked for hours about “nearly every subject under the blue sky, with very special attention to product and to sales.” 

My father loved to talk with distributors, listen to customers’ stories and answer questions from inquiring minds. It’s easy to see why people trusted him so much.

From Vita-Man to a global leader in wellness

In 1934, my father developed what is believed to be the first plant-based multivitamin-multimineral in North America, earning him the moniker “Vita-Man.” Today, the Nutrilite brand is a global leader in wellness solutions. While there have been plenty of twists and turns through the decades, one constant has remained: A commitment to transparency.

In fact, I believe the success of today’s Nutrilite brand is due, in large part, to our commitment to continue my father’s tradition of transparency. You’ll find it in our Traceability Program. You’ll find it on our tours, including our new Nutrilite Virtual Experience. You’ll find it on our full disclosure product labels. 

Of course, his vision for the Nutrilite brand began over a century ago while he was living and working in Shanghai. (I share these details in The Nutrilite Story as well.) He was fascinated by how people lived healthy lives on rural farms with access to plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. It was these kind of observations that set the ball in motion.

I believe our efforts to be transparent are more important than ever, especially when it comes to choosing products that support our nutrition and wellness needs. Why? Transparency gives people the evidence they need to decide what to trust. It’s the bedrock of any meaningful communication that can foster a strong relationship, build a thriving community, grow a successful business, you name it. In short: Where you find transparency, you find trust.

I know my father would be so proud of our continued commitment to transparency, especially because it has helped millions of health-conscious consumers around the world trust the Nutrilite brand to help meet their nutritional needs. To me, that’s a real super power!

Cheers,