It amazes me how much attention there is on YTB. For a group of MLM Yahoo’s one would think we were taking over the world with all the articles, blogs, forums and rantings about big bad YTB. I’ve seen people get emotional over certain subjects…politics…religion…but MLM…that’s a subject that can turn a grown adult into unruly childish menace at the very mention of the letters.

When YTB sneezes, it’s news. Someone’s going to make a comment on it, and more times than not, it’s going to be negative. Why negative? Because they’re afraid. Because we’re different. Because it frustrates them. Because they believe that somehow it reflects on them. Take your pick. It really doesn’t matter why they do what they do. All that matters is they do it. Talk is cheap. And because they do so much of it, you have to look past the words and look at the actions to understand how much YTB consumes them.

The issues they have are their own. Everything is neutral. Nothing has meaning except for the meaning that you give it. People wouldn’t act the way they do if it didn’t strike a nerve. And for some, YTB has worked it’s way to the last nerve. So the only option they appear to have are words, and spewing negativity about YTB makes them feel better. The fact that YTB is still in business after years of speculation and predictions to the contrary should shed some light on just how frustrating it can be to believe one way, but shown another.

I will give critics one thing. Fact of the matter is, dirt and negativity sells. I was a virtual nobody on the internet for the first couple of years, (or so I thought) until I took a risk and decided to write about Royal Caribbean pulling the plug. Because it was controversial and negative, I got traffic.

Monday, YTB released it’s Q1 numbers, and “the numbers” went through the roof. Not financial numbers, traffic numbers. I had one of the largest single day readerships since I started blogging, Travel Weekly ranks their article concerning the filing as “most read” (with some 75 comments to boot) and Travel Agent Central also got considerable traffic as “most read” in this article, which did a marginally better job of telling both sides. This is just a hunch here, but I think the reason why there are fewer comments on the Travel Agent Central article is because George Dooley actually took the time to mention what YTB is doing in regards to YTB’s Independent Auditors “going concern” which YTB is now required to report in any further filings.

“Management has instituted a cost reduction program that included a reduction in labor and fringe costs, as well as reductions of discretionary expenditures in the operating structure of the organization,” the report states. “The reductions in labor and fringe were approximately $1.1 million for the full year 2008 results and approximately $800,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2009.”

A little fact that most critics don’t want brought to light, but that’s okay. How YTB is responding to the “going concern” doesn’t fit into their illusions of who and what YTB is or isn’t. What’s important to them for whatever reason, is that their voice is heard and acknowledged as being valid despite what’s documented to the contrary.

None of the critics want you, or anyone else to realize what Management is doing in answering the poor economy, or the mud slinging that the company is being pummeled with right now. It’s a very select message of doom and gloom and if you dare come to the defense of the company…look out. Look at the suit that was filed back in August. According to critics, it’s a done deal and YTB is guilty as charged despite the fact that it’s only been filed and the process is incomplete. But speak of a tentative settlement…oh no…we can’t have any of that now can we? Funny how that works out isn’t it?

Many claim that our Executives are out of touch and don’t know what it’s like out here in the field. How quickly some forget (or ignore) the battle they went through when AL Williams was attacked by the Insurance Industry back in the late 70′s and early 80′s when suits were filed, states outlawed them, and the ranks of Independent Reps went from some 250k to 35k during the battle they went through to prove themselves. Years later AL Williams became the number one seller of Life Insurance from 1984 to 1990. To this day, there are still those who carry around the scars of what AL Williams did to their traditional business, and it’s decades later! The house of cards they tried to collapse is still going strong as Primerica.

Last evening, Andy Cauthen sent out an e-mail to the leadership of YTB. As leaders, it’s our job to disperse this out to the field. It’s the best way to get the message out, because clearly, not everyone opens up their company e-mail. While you will find this in this weekends Newsletter, I think it’s strong enough to post publicly to let everyone know, (including the critics) that like me the company reads our critics like a book. I’ve been telling you for years what critics are like, and honestly, they’re not that hard to figure out. (Especially if you have children of your own.)

I only wish I could act more like the leadership of YTB. What’s going on out here on the internet doesn’t phase them one bit, and they certainly don’t buy into any of the myths, lies and misconceptions that are thrown out here. There is a confidence that I admire and respect in that regard. I’ve seen it from others who have also been wildly successful in business from the biographies and books I’ve read. (Only one or two of them even remotely being associated with MLM by the way.)

So if you want to know what Management thinks, how they feel, and why they’re doing what their doing I give you the unedited version of why nobodies ever erected a statue of a critic. (With only a small emphasis added by me.)

“In times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these.” Paul Harvey.

There’s Never Been a Statue Erected to a Critic

Challenges will always be a part of a growing and successful company. YTB is under fire these days. Our critics, nay-sayers, prophets of doom and gloom, and competitors have come out of the woodwork. We are in a battle, and because of the public nature of our company we are restricted as to what we can say, how we can fight, or even defend ourselves. That’s OK; we shall prevail.

But I have a word about critics: Critics have a motive; no one criticizes just to criticize. They are paid something. It’s a self-indulgent motive. They are looking to build their own business, receive attention, fill an ego, gain monetarily, and/or primarily call attention to their self-importance.

In politics and in business, so often does a critic (an opponent) dig up dirt, whether truth or fiction, and spin in a way to support their point of view and attempt to make themselves look better to the people by tearing down the enemy.

“When you get in a fight with a pig, you both get dirty, and the pig loves it!”

Want to have the nicest house on your street? Just burn down all your neighbors’ houses and you’ll accomplish that. Want the best bridge over the water? Just tear the other ones down.

Why do writers write trash? It sells newspapers.  Good news doesn’t sell like trash talk; just look at the rags at the checkout line at the grocery store.

Their methods and strategies are hateful; they take the lowest shots and gleefully hit below the belt.  They actually enjoy it! They are calloused and insensitive.

“Why don’t you respond directly to these critics?” Not only does it accomplish nothing, they will actually distort your response to their agenda, and render your intentions worthless.

Why YTB? It’s the competition. When YTB was a small company, $25 to $75 million in annual travel sales no one noticed.  But when sales began to affect the pocketbook of the brick and mortar travel agencies, the critics started their engines. One critic in particular, who happens to own his own travel business, rallied hundreds of traditional travel agents against YTB, soliciting petition signatures to send to travel vendors: “YTB is a network company and not worthy of the standards of professional travel agents; don’t do business with them.” A couple of vendors succumbed to the pressure.

But YTB continued on to $200 million and $400 million in annual travel sales (over a billion dollars in travel sales total so far), and the critics called in their back-up troops for more attacks.

And let’s don’t forget the direct selling company competitors. Using the critics’ rantings, they embellished the stories to entice YTB field sales people to join their ranks, some giving in to the promises, cash offers, and theoretically greener pastures.

But in the final analysis, who will win? Truth over lies will win; perseverance and focus will be victorious; recognizing deficiencies and implementing improvements will contribute to victory.

There is a “success tax” that must be paid on the road to greatness; we will not become number ONE without a fight. But when these battles are over and the smoke clears; when these enemies are defeated, YTB will prevail. We will be standing on a good business and preparing for the next challenges that will always be a part of a growing and successful company.

~~~~~

Thank you Andy! I told you this privately, and I will tell you once again publically, I truly value your insight and communique.

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Tags: Anti-MLM, Critics, YTB International

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 14th, 2009 at 7:00 am and is filed under Anti-MLM, Critics, George Dooley. 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.