XS Gold: Energy Plus-Functional Energy

About six years ago, I was introduced to XS Energy Drink. I was not a Starbucks drinker nor an energy drink consumer. So at first glance, this XS thing didn't really grab my attention.

Then I read the ingredients, particularly the large amount of B12 as well as the adaptogenic herbs.

No sugars, no or low carbs, plus the fact that all the flavors actually taste good, separated XS from other energy drinks on the market.

Coming from the land of television and movies, I was educated on the virtues of vitamin B12. I received my first B12 shot back in 1992. The set medic came in our office and administered a shot to anyone who was interested in increasing energy and decreasing stress. Considering that we were working 14-hour days, everyone was interested!

Sixteen years later, I'm glad there's an easier, less expensive, less painful, and a tasty way of getting my B12.

And now as a mom of twins, needing energy and ridding myself of stress seem to be two high priorities for me--and my family, 'cause when mama's happy, everybody's happy!

Now comes XS Gold: Energy Plus. This is not a new flavor of XS. This is a whole new beverage. I've had a few cans over the last week and I have to say, it is powerful.

It's like XS Energy Drink is the foundation, and then some:

The amount of B12 has been increased to 480 mcg (8000% of the RDI). For comparison, a typical B12 shot is 1,000 mcg.

It contains 125 mg of the functional food, Essentra. I'm impressed by the natural way Essentra helps the body to:
reduce stress,
gain mental clarity,
support emotional balance,
and
enhance energy.

(This translates for me and my world: How to happily answer 349 questions from two 5-year-olds as I prepare breakfast, get them ready for school, unload the dishwasher, brush my teeth, kiss my husband good-bye, send him off with a smile and a wave, remember the 27 errands to be done, etc. etc. etc.)

And if all that weren't enough, XS Gold: Energy Plus also has a half-dose of the RDI of vitamins and minerals, plus acai, blackberries, blueberries, mangosteen, pomegranates, and red grapes.

It tastes pretty terrific too. It's lightly carbonated and has a rich berry flavor.

XS created this comparison chart of their competitors. (click on the chart to enlarge it)

I've not tried any of these. I'm sure they are good products. I just don't see how any of these are XS Gold: Energy Plus' competition. To me it looks like XS Gold: Energy Plus is all three of these products combined.

In other words, wouldn't I have to drink all three products to get similar benefits from one can of XS Gold: Energy Plus? Looking online, I would pay a total of $7.50 for these three drinks compared to $2.99 for XS Gold: Energy Plus.

I like the effect and I like the price of XS Gold: Energy Plus. I'm gonna go for the Gold.

XStra! XStra! XS Gold

October 24th Update:click here!

Let the countdown begin.

Twenty days to go...

October 24th Update:click here!

xs energy drink xs gold

An Ode to Soap

Most people think of soap when they hear "Amway." And they are right, sort of. Almost 50 years ago the very first Amway product was a soap, Liquid Organic Cleaner. Amway was “green” before the term even existed.

However, I’m not very passionate about soap. Don’t get me wrong. Now that I have children and actually clean my home, I am very appreciative of the cleaners.

What I am passionate about is great health. People want to feel good, they want to have energy and vitality. And I believe that physical ailments, which prevent people from feeling good and energized, are directly related to what they put in their bodies.

That’s why the two product categories I use and promote the most are Health and Beauty.

When I say “beauty” I’m actually concerned about the health of one’s skin. So what you put on your skin —including skin care products and cosmetics—affects the health of your largest organ.

Nutrilite and Artistry are the two brands that the corporation is promoting in their national ad campaign. This makes good business sense, since both are at the top of their industries and generate more than 60% of Amway’s almost $7 billion annual revenues.

Here's the one-minute commercial:



A couple of weeks ago I attended the National Spotlight for Amway Global/Quixtar at McCormick Place in Chicago. The expo was 40,000 square feet. (To put that in perspective, a football field is about 48,000 square feet.)

Artistry and Nutrlite dominated the area, with XS Energy Drink having a sizable booth in the Nutrlite area.

And tucked in a corner, like crazy but lovable Uncle Charlie in the basement, not measuring more than 10' x 15' was the “Soap” section, aka Home Care. Not sexy. Not hip. But reliable green cleaners.

The guys in lab coats were demonstrating the L.O.C. Kitchen Cleaner, which kicked the crud out of 409. And they also had the SA8 Laundry Detergent on display next to Tide.



What’s in Tide to create all that cloudiness?



Notice the serving size of Tide.




And all the lovely residue left on the Tide clothes.

Hey, come to think of it...most of the time we are wearing clothing...and clothing sits right next to our bodies, our skin. So maybe SA8 should be in the Health category since skin is our largest organ, and what we put on it has an effect on health.

Hmmm...Someone call Marketing!

Ada and The Impromptu Meeting--Part Four

The final stop on our journey was with Char. At the last minute before leaving for camp, I emailed Alison, who is the Director of Training and Education, to let her know of our visit. I had met Alison about six months ago at the Center for Optimal Health.

It was a very brief interaction in which I introduced myself, and she introduced herself. I realized who she was and she realized who I was--"Blogger Bridgett". I then apologized for being a bit harsh in one of my blog comments over at Opportunity Zone regarding the distracting acting abilities of an actress on one of the Quixtar University videos. Alison was more than gracious to me. :)

So I had emailed Alison, guessing her email address. Not all that challenging to do, but I digress. I guessed accurately and she said she'd be on vacation but that Char would love to speak with me.

Okay, so Char, Matt, the kids, and I enter a conference room. I scope out the place like only a mother of almost five-year-old twins can, and wonder how much time we have to talk before my kids slowly rip the place to shreds.

Char brilliantly sets them up with Sharpies and large pieces of presentation paper at the conference table, while she, Matt, and I sit in the cozy chairs set up like a living room.

To my recollection, Char has a background in academia in the classroom, and so her command of the English language and ability to communicate and gather (dig) for information is impressive. She's also good with numbers. A pretty powerful combination of skills to have when you're attempting to help IBOs with their selling skills.

She and Matt were in Words-and-Numbers Heaven as they bantered back and forth with great ease.

I hope the spur-of-the-moment meeting was helpful, though I really can't recall if I said anything intelligent or relevant. I look at it as an all-too-brief introduction to future conversations. :)

Our time was up and Char guided us out through the maze back to where we started.

We checked out the cafeteria, bowed down to the XS Energy Drink Vending Machine and also discovered that all employees get complimentary Double X, the premium supplement in the world.

We got back in the van, headed back to Chicago, the kids drifted off to sleep, we drove through a downpour of rain, and Matt and I tried to make sense of the three-hour whirlwind that had just occurred.

Gilligan's Island Theme Song Fade In: Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip...for a three-hour tour. A three-hour tour.

Ada a.k.a. Land of Gazillion Products--Part Three

Our next stop was meeting some neat ladies--Brand Managers for Ribbon and Personal Accents.
Laura and Kim showed me the newest addition to the Ribbon Gift Albums/Cards available in September called "Celebrate!" Veeery sharp.

Ribbon is the way to go for gift-giving, for so many reasons (perhaps more on that in a later post).

Amy told me that the photography for the new Personal Accents Jewerly catalog has improved. Not that the photography in the past was bad. It wasn't. It's just that the jewerly looks even more amazing live and in person.

Amy flipped through a mock-up of some Personal Accents literature with me being quoted as a "Personal Accents Consultant".

There it was in black and white: a quote, my name, and the title "Personal Accents Consultant".

Two things came to mind in that moment:

1) Being quoted in print. Matt's been in journalism for almost 25 years (he started young) and crafted thousands of stories, containing words that people have uttered. Now being one of those people was a bit unnerving. I would never make it in the public eye!

2) My title. Am I Personal Accents Consultant? Sure.
That would then also mean that I'm:

*a Nutrlite Consultant
*an Artistry Consultant
*an XS Energy Drink Consultant
*a Ribbon Consultant
*an eSpring Consultant
* an iCook
*an Atmosphere Consultant
*a Perfect Water Consultant
*an SA8/L.O.C./Pursue/Dish Drops Consultant
*a Body Series/Glister/Satinique Consultant

and, the most attractive one to me is Gihugic Business Opportunity Consultant.

Try to fit all that on a business card!

To be continued in the fourth and final installment...