It appears that Bob Dickinson wasn’t ready for all the attention of becoming a member of YTB’s Board of Directors. A short little “blurb” was released by Travel Trade late yesterday afternoon which simply stated :

“Bob Dickinson today said that upon further consideration, he has decided to decline his appointment to the YTB International board of directors, which YTB announced yesterday. YTB had not returned a request for comment at posting time.”

Amazing what peer pressure can do isn’t it?

To think that someone like Bob, a former CFO, CEO, and President who spent a vast amount of his life building “The Most Popular Cruise Line in the World” didn’t consider what an appointment to a company like YTB would look like certainly is something that is very difficult to grasp.

When news broke on Wednesday, Bob was interviewed by the same publication that announced his “further consideration” and it really makes one wonder what caused this sudden change of heart.

On Wednesday, April 30th Bob was quoted in Travel Trade:

“Dickinson told Travel Trade that the YTB model is a logical progression for cruise sales that very much resembles direct buy organizations that are popular with consumers for a whole range of products.

Dickinson likened YTB to Mary Kay, the multilevel marketer in cosmetics, and said that while YTB has the structure of a multilevel marketer it is also a Host agency providing a significant amount of training and marketing support, including Web sites.

YTB also incorporates a subtle form of viral marketing with its referral agents marketing to friends and relatives and people they know in their social spheres.

Asked about criticism of YTB from the agent industry, Dickinson said that any new model in terms of distribution and of cruise distribution in particular, always has been criticized by the status quo. But in time all new models have been accepted once they have proven to be productive, said Dickinson.

He recalled the time when cruise-only agencies were pariahs – “They were illegal, immoral and fattening,” said Dickinson.

There was also a time when the industry railed against at home agents who are now accepted because they have proven they can produce, as have Host agencies, said Dickinson.

A YTB model, he added, will get more than its share of criticism because it is new to travel in this iteration.”

My guess is, and it’s only a guess, is Bob didn’t expect so much personal criticism from the industry for hooking up with YTB. Bob is still very well connected in the industry, and also happens to keep a Board Member seat with Carnival even after retiring last year.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my experience with YTB and the Network Marketing Industry over the years, it’s you have to develop a thicker skin to deal with all the sling and arrows that are directed towards this model we call MLM. With all the attention YTB is getting from a few ignorant people who have an emotional attachment towards an industry they never have been or are no longer involved with, you learn to put attitudes and opinions in its place.

Some like me take the myths and misconceptions about MLM head on. Others just laugh and ignore it. While still others fall victim to all the twisted thinking that’s out there or simply don’t want to put up with the pressure and criticism.

I don’t know if we will ever know the real reason as to the sudden turnaround or what prompted the change of heart. It’s certainly resembles the days of a John Kerry “Flip Flop” back in the 2004 Presidential race.

And the story of “As YTB Turns” continues.

Bob would have been a great addition to our Company, and while he would have been the most well-known figure head on our Board of Directors, we still have other Travel Industry veterans both employed by and consulting with YTB to guide us to the Billion dollar mark in Travel sales in 2008.

From what I have seen and also understand concerning YTB (and I hope members of YTB fully understand as well) that YTB is very hard at work taking YTB to the next level. While Mary Kay is still criticized at times, some 45 years after it was first founded in 1963, it is one of the most respected and recognized brands in the world. Tupperware and Avon also come to mind.

Coach, Scott and Kim spent more than 20 years with A.L. Williams before Coach retired, and then was convinced by Kim to start YTB back in 2001. You have leadership with close to 30 years each in the Network Marketing Industry. They not only understand what this model can do, I hope you as an RTA, (or potential RTA) understand that YTB will be a house hold name like Mary Kay, Tupperware, and Avon before it’s all said and done, with or without Bob Dickinson.

Sure was nice while it lasted huh?

All 24 hours of it! ;-P

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Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

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This entry was posted on Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at 3:11 pm and is filed under Board of Directors, MLM Myths, Robert Dickinson, Travel Agent Issues, YTB International. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.