GM Message: Holidays and New Horizons

Around this time of year, it starts to get really cold here in Utah and I start to wish I lived in Florida or Arizona. Despite the cold and the snow, the holiday season is one of my favorite times of year. The holidays help me keep perspective on what Stephen Covey calls the “important but non-urgent things.” It is also a time of reflection. This past year, working for Synergy has given me the opportunity to meet many incredible people and glean from their experience.

From a business perspective, New Year’s Day is a powerful holiday. Most people see it as a new beginning, a fresh start. We usually try to take advantage of this fresh start by doing something most don’t do all year – set goals. Goal setting helps us eliminate peripheral distractions and develop what Napoleon Hill calls “definiteness of purpose.” This focus leads people to do extraordinary things; things that they couldn’t have accomplished otherwise.

An interesting case study in the effectiveness of goal setting and definiteness of purpose could be the SLMsmart 90-day Challenge that took place at the start of 2015. Eva Miller, Tommy Bethards, and Justin Hall, demonstrated the power of goal setting, self-reliance, personal initiative, self-discipline, concentrated effort, and tenacious determination.

In 2015 we also made some improvements that we look to build on in 2016. At the Business Builders Conference (BBC) in June, we positioned and categorized all of our products into lines with a goal to eliminate stand-alone products. This change helped refine our offering and allows us to be more appealing to all demographics by specifically targeting health concerns and meeting customers at their needs. While this change may have seemed subtle, it was strategic. It now provides a footing on which we can and will build on in 2016 and in years to come.

2015 also saw the launch of the Elite Honors earnings model. This model was designed after successful programs that are in place in other markets. It was also designed to give new enrollments a definitive road map to profitability. Elite Honors is built on sound business principles and maximizes the Synergy Compensation Plan by providing the optimal mix of customer volume (profitability) and new Team Member enrollments (expansion). Elite Honors creates stable, profitable, and duplicable businesses.

Many of the improvements Synergy made in 2015 were done to lay the groundwork for future enhancements and launches. Synergy is developing a dynamic five-year plan in coordination with Synergy Team Members across the globe. We will start aggressively executing this plan in 2016, not just domestically, but globally. I am confident that these enhancements will lead to never-before-seen growth in several markets as well as financial independence for many Synergy Team Members. I also believe that these changes will lead to many career networkers finding a permanent home with Synergy. I look forward to witnessing your success.

Wishing you a happy holidays and a prosperous New Year with Synergy,

Shane Greer
North America General Manager
Synergy WorldWide

5 Ways to Prepare Your Immune System for Winter

There are many speculations as to why people seem to start sniffling and coughing more often as soon as the cold air sets in. One Yale University study announced in January 2015 that cold wintry air weakens the nose’s immune defenses, allowing the bacteria and viruses lurking in every corner to more easily creep into your body.

Prior to this study, many hypothesized that the increase in sickness had to do with more people staying indoors and sharing breathing space. While this theory might be partially true, it’s proven that cooler weather does have a crippling effect on immune systems. While there is no way to prevent winter from coming, there are ways to help the body fight against unwelcome intruders.

Load up on Vitamin C and D

While all vitamins play a role in health maintenance, Vitamin C and D are most notable for their ability to strengthen connective tissue in bones and attack the viruses themselves, both of which lead to fewer doctor visits in chilly months. Make sure to add citrus fruits to your daily diet for Vitamin C, and brave the cold to get some sunshine for a healthy dose of Vitamin D.

Cook with Herbs and Spices

Keep your spice rack stocked this winter. Studies show that garlic, ginger, black peppercorn, cayenne pepper, allspice, curry, and turmeric, all contain properties that strengthen immune defenses.

Maintain a Healthy Gut

The gastrointestinal tract houses a substantial part of the immune system. This being said, an important part of a strong immune system is strong digestive organs. A healthy diet and adequate sleep play a major role in a healthy gut, but probiotics, also known as “good bacteria,” are touted for supporting healthy gut function. Probiotics can be taken as a supplement, but are most commonly recognized as a component found in yogurt.

Eat, Drink, Sweat, Sleep, Repeat

Taking care of your immune system requires all of the same steps it takes to sustain total body wellness. Feed your body whole foods, choose water over soda, exercise moderately a few times per week, sleep 7-8 hours per night, and make each of these healthy choices habits.

Don’t stress!

Unfortunately, no one is immune to stress. However, the most dangerous type of stress that affects your body’s systems is chronic stress, or stress that results in high levels of the hormone cortisol. This stress hormone has a weakening effect on the immune system and can really put a damper on your winter plans. So remember to relax, don’t sweat the small stuff, and enjoy a flu-free, cold-free winter.