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Dear Fellow ALPHA,
In this hyper-competitive world, many people no longer view supplements as a luxury but as a necessity. I regularly consult with business execs that express the need to be focused and mentally clear. They often take a cognitive enhancer before going into a board meeting or before giving an important presentation.
I know athletes who confess that there have been times when they were half way to the gym before they realized they forgot to take their pre-workout. Instead of forging ahead, they turned around, went home, took their supplement and then got back into the car!
Why are people so dedicated to taking their supplements? Simply because they don’t want to risk being anything but their absolute best in every situation! In the 90’s, supplements were a rarity in locker rooms, offices and dorm rooms. However, today it’s commonplace for people to have a desk, locker or backpack full of supplements.
I know I do!
If you come by office, you will find my desk is full of products. At any one time my drawer is packed full of multivitamins, vitamin C, NEURO Z3, and a plethora of protein bars. There isn’t a chance that I will risk being anything other than my best either. Competition breeds greatness and I want every edge I can get.
It’s incredible that so many people are dedicated to regularly taking nutritional supplements, eating nutritious foods and working out. However, when so many people are jumping on the supplement bandwagon it opens the door for rip-off artists to take advantage of unassuming customers who don’t know how to discern a legitimate supplement company from a scam.
There is a huge underground problem in the supplement industry. What’s even worse is that almost nobody is openly talking about it. The problem? Production standards. There are irreputable people and even “companies” who are making their products in their basement or using manufactures in other parts of the world with far less standards than the USA.
It takes a lot of time and money to bring a reputable product to market. It’s easy, cheap and quick to throw a product together in your kitchen, slap a label on it and call it good. Far too often, that’s exactly what is happening. Then, some shady salesman markets the product with extreme hype and promises of miracle results - all for a quick buck.
Sadly, trying to figure out which products work and are manufactured in a facility with stringent standards can be frustrating. In fact, simply reading through the propaganda can be a draining experience.
I have been in the performance industry for over 25 years. I have consulted people from all walks of life on supplement usage including professional athletes, c-suite executives, personal trainers and fitness enthusiasts.
Over this time I have personally tried, researched and investigated thousands of supplements from hundreds of companies. I want to share with you a few specific things I look for when “vetting” a supplement company.
If the company is manufacturing their products in the USA they should be proud of it. Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because its more expensive! As such, you should be able to find a specific area where they explain their manufacturing procedures. If you can’t find where the product is made I see that as a - red flag.
Can you easily contact the company? Do they have an office that you can verify on Google maps and see with a street view? If they do, that’s a good start. If a company does not list their office location or manufacturing standards then how do they respond when you request verification regarding where their products are manufactured?
If your correspondents with the supplement company comes from a non-company email, that’s not a good sign either. If a company is reputable, they shouldn’t be emailing you from their Gmail, Yahoo! or Hotmail account! I mean c’mon if they aren’t using a legit email I would bet money they aren’t using a quality manufacturer.
If the company has a contact page on their website and you hit them up, do they get back to you? You would be shocked how many times I have requested information from companies and how frequently my requests are never answered - red flag.
Who runs the company?
If I asked you who runs Tesla you would say Elon Musk before you could blink. Why is this important? Because he puts his face, name and reputation on the line with every car Tesla produces. He is standing behind the product his company is producing. In addition, he is active on Twitter and Instagram engaging with the public - now, that is having faith in your product! Well, the same should be true with a supplement company. The CEO, President or Founders should be front and center for the world to see. If I cant find out who is behind the product that is a -red flag.
Finally, what is their return policy? Do they stand firmly behind their product? Are they willing to refund your money if you aren’t completely satisfied? Or do they make you feel like you are on your own once you hit the purchase button? Reputable companies stand behind their products and work at building a brand that cultivates repeat customers.
I understand that by shining a light on the shady part of the industry I will upset some of our “competition”. However, if they are engaging in unscrupulous activities they aren’t our competition. I write these things because I feel I owe it to you, a fellow ALPHA, this is the hardcore truth, nothing less.
You are on a mission - all ALPHAs are. Maybe your mission is to better your body by adding a few pounds of lean muscle. Perhaps your mission is to build your business into a well-known fortune 500 Company. Or, maybe your mission is to simply be the very best parent possible for your kids.
Whatever your mission, it will require your best day in and day out. Anything less just wont cut it. My goal is to give you tips when vetting a supplement company that you can use so you can be reassured what you are putting in your body is 100% legit.
Until next time,
Attack Your Life With Passion!
