Want some great comic relief for the trip up to St. Louis? After the events of last week surrounding YTB and the stock jumping up in price, I decided to do some poking around on the internet to see what was being written about it this weekend.

Honestly, not much. Sure the stock tripled in just a couple of days, but when the price starts at 4 cents a share and climbs to 24 cents, there’s not much to talk about when compared to other stocks.

For Zealots however, little ol’ YTB appears to be the only thing that matters. (A company that controls them by living “rent free” inside their heads.)

Anti-YTB Zealots tend come out of their holes when things like this happen in an attempt to keep their illusions in check. While the folks of YTB and ZamZuu are busy gearing up for another Convention in St. Louis to educate themselves and celebrate another year – Zealots (who just can’t help themselves) get really nervous and vomit some real whoppers in an attempt to curb momentum.

This year however, unlike years past, (for those of us who take the time to pull up the historical pricing) there was a huge run on the stock last week. Was it pre-convention news? Possibly. YTB’s Q2 earnings report? Maybe. Or have people have finally caught on the zealots are full of themselves? (Most likely.)

What busted my gut over the weekend was reading the wreckage anti-MLM zealots left in the wake of the events. When the stock started it’s upward trend at the beginning of the week, I can only imagine how their palms began to sweat – and eyelids began their uncomfortable twitching. By Thursday morning the “head worm” couldn’t take it any longer and posted something in order to satisfy the uncontrollable twitching. Anyone who takes the time to post something like this over a $0.05 increase (as of Thursday morning) – simply shows how nervous, obsessed and irrational some idiots are over Direct Sales and Network Marketing.

Excuse me, that’s “pyramid scheme” according to them.

Oh, but wait – it get better.

The eye twitching turned into a full blown panic attack by 11:00 am that morning after the stock doubled in price once again. Clueless as to what was going on, the worm copied and pasted some screen shots of the 139% increase since his lame attempt to squash the stock failed to catch any traffic or traction. (How dare anyone not take heed of the Great and Powerful Man Behind the Keyboard.) Of course, it could have gotten plenty of traffic, and those who know this guy’s history – most likely took bets in the opposite direction. (If I had read it that morning, I sure would have bought more!)

By 5:00 pm that very same day – the mornings confusion and quote “Not sure what is going on” magically turned into “all so predictable” after 2 million shares were traded that very day when the financial were released after the bell. A flip flop that would have made John Kerry proud! (Did this guy not read what he posted just hours before?)

In all for the day – six separate posts that day all surrounding little ol’ YTB.

Too funny. Who has time for that? (I’m not talking about just writing it – but reading it!!)

For the record, the last time “predictable” YTBLA traded even close to 2 million shares in one day was August 12, 2008 when investors went running for cover thinking California’s Attorney General understood the difference between a legitimate business model and pyramid scheme. (We now know much different – he’s just as clueless as the worms.) The only other time prior to that was when YTB posted it’s first yearly profit – nowhere close to Convention but in April of 2007.

And that’s a trend this Goof calls “predictable”!

I have to give these liars some credit however. They remembered how they spewed illusions that there aren’t any Directors left in YTB to “pump and dump” the stock. Nope. Because they can’t use that as an excuse any longer when stock climbs a few cents a share, they decided to lay it out on Coach, Scott, and Kim! They’re the ones who are pumping up the stock before convention.

How? Well according to the head worm, they terminated their “employment” earlier this year, and are free to trade all they want. (My guess, based on how clueless he is about THAT idea, is so they don’t have to file a Form 4)

Let’s say (for like – a nano second) this worm is right about Coach, Scott, and Kim not being employees of the company. There would still be a Form 4 to document the trades regardless.

Why? Because Coach is still a 10% shareholder and Scott and Kim still reside on the Board of Directors until at least 2012. Until a Form 4 is produced showing even a single share of stock being traded by any of the three – the worm is simply squirming for an answer that will fit into the hole he’s created for himself. It’s a far better alternative than using common sense, logic, or reading actual documentation.

Poor guy – that would just be far to much to handle for a zealot like him.

With so much activity on one blog, the only other place I bothered to check in on was the Yahoo Boards which you just have to love for the simple reason that nobody who posts there owns a single share of stock. Funniest comment I read there over the weekend was some arrogant snot who thought the board was worth reading. Like anyone in YTB or better yet, an investor, would take any of these no name cowards seriously. The one guy who did stand up for the company (sort of) didn’t stand a chance after he misspelled his own name. (Like that has anything to do with stocks.) After that, the guy didn’t have a chance because that’s all the compost the worms needed to chew him up and extract him out the other end.

The rest of the holes these guys may have crawled out of could be better or worse – but I couldn’t tell you. Same story most likely – as they all follow the “head worms” with “baited” breath. (Poor saps have no idea they’re being baited.) Just more no name cowards who think they talk a good game, but end up looking as dumb as the dirt they squirmed out of. Nobody with have a brain really cares to participate in that kind of stupidity, ignorance or childish behavior.

Nope – the smart ones will be heading to St. Louis to celebrate another year that never should have happened.

The worms? They’ll eventually crawl back into the holes they came from after a while. Right now St. Louis is the place they’ll be in mind and spirit this week.

Funny how they wouldn’t touch this company with a ten foot pole – but it sure takes up a lot of energy and time digging holes for themselves.

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Do You ZamZuu?

Do you remember the outrage a year and a half ago when the CEOs of Ford, Chrysler, and GM flew to Washington, D.C. in private jets to ask for $25 billion in taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy? Not that selling off private jets would have covered the $25 billion these guys were asking for – but it would have been a nice start.

It’s unfortunate that we see this kind of arrogance and greed in the Corporate world. Millions of people were laid off from thousands of companies while big wigs like these CEO’s live in the lap of luxury. You saw very little about any CEO taking a pay cut during the turmoil this country went through during the latter part of 2008 and 2009. Instead, they cut out the jobs of average American’s while keeping their pay and perks intact.

Most CEO’s have a lucrative bonus plan in place – including the Founders of YTB. The difference between our Founders and the CEO’s of other companies is that Coach, Scott, and Kim’s bonus is based in part on the performance of the company. Some based on pay or salary, while another chunk is based on stock options. Unlike other CEO’s or companies (like the Big Three in Detroit) our three founders forfeited 355,000 shares in options each of the last two years because the company didn’t meet the performance goals they wrote down to achieve that would trigger each bonus.

In case your wondering – that’s called accountability.

While there were some riffs about the forfeiture of options from critics, I would have loved to see the outrage over actual shares being awarded. It’s one of those “damned if you do – damned if you don’t” scenarios we enjoy from Zealots who flip flop depending on how it furthers their own agenda.

Regardless of which side of the fence you sit on, the fact is our Founders aren’t the type who take big pay days when the company isn’t performing as promised. The buck stops with them so to speak – which goes back to their AL Williams days as “Reps”. (Not to mention its just good business.)

To further illustrate our Founders desire to create a healthy, viable company they’ve restructured their compensation based on overall performance rather than acting like the fat and happy Executives we see in traditional corporate models. The company announced the new pay structure in a press release on Tuesday:

In order to ensure the Company continues its best practices related to executive compensation, YTB is transitioning to a performance-based incentive compensation program. Effective for the 2010 fiscal year, certain Company executives are entitled to incentive compensation if the Company achieves growth in the number of Business Owners at fiscal year end compared to the beginning of the fiscal year; if the Company meets or exceeds certain financial objectives established at the beginning of the fiscal year; or if the executives meet or exceed certain personal or departmental financial and budgetary objectives established at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Nothing like taking personal responsibility and holding yourself accountable for the overall health of your company now is there? If our Founders and Executives don’t perform to acceptable standards – they’re not paid that handsome bonus other CEO’s are paid. Instead they created an incentive to meet or exceed goals which could compensate them above and beyond their previous pay structure.

Because YTB is a public company obviously all this was filed with the SEC and you can find details of the new compensation package along with a breakdown of objectives that are now required from the Executive Team. Compensation now rides on and includes the growth of business owners (or IBC’s), cash flow and available cash on hand, bottom line earnings reported to stock holders, and other discretionary objectives for each department.

Based on the Press Release that was issued – and the terms of the new compensation that were filed with the SEC – simple logic would have you conclude that the Founders and Executives are at the very least willing to do their part for the overall health of the company.

That being said – not everyone who read the filing was able to comprehend or discern what went down. In a very comical and incredibly bizarre “Google Alert” – some jack ass laid claim that our Founders could be getting ready to resign after landing a sweetheart deal.

I’m not kidding – our self-proclaimed “YTB Expert” thinks you can quit (or resign) AND collect severance to boot. His focus – a two year deal that’s structured under the old compensation package that he claims will enable Coach, Scott and Kim to ride off into the sunset. While they haven’t resigned (yet) according to this dolt – we all need to be cautious of this severance stipulation.

Typical.

For the record, the clause he didn’t “copy and paste” on his blog stated otherwise:

Accordingly, a beneficiary under no circumstances would receive any payment under the Program if he left YTB without good reason or was terminated for cause.

It’s not that a clause like this is really necessary. Can you imagine walking into the Boss’s office sitting yourself down and stating “I’d like to resign – what kind of severance can you offer me?”

You’d either be thrown out and most likely fired “with cause” (for being stupid) or suffer the brunt of company jokes for years to come. (Again – for being stupid.)

You might be wondering if this idiot wrote this out of desperation or due to sheer stupidity. While I’m certainly not a mind reader and I hate having words put in my mouth (like he does with me) I’m pretty certain that this zealot thinks we’re the suckers due to the growing number of YTB’ers (including myself) that make it into his “Dumbass Den”.

In his own arrogant and self-righteous way, our lack of intelligence can’t possibly uncover the obvious error because those in MLM aren’t smart enough. We’re beneath the almighty professionals who pick – poke – and pry at anything and everything our company does.

On the other hand: If you think Coach, Scott and Kim have even the slimmest chance of quitting and having the Board of Directors approve a single dime of the two year severance package that was written – you DO belong in a “Dumbass Den”.

Likewise, for those who are reading up on the internet about ZamZuu or YTB at this time – go back to Tuesday’s article and the statement that John is helping us weed out those that aren’t intelligent or responsible enough to uncover fact or truth. Seriously – If a big old red flag doesn’t come up warning you that nobody gets a severance package when they resign – how could they even be considered a viable prospect?

See my point?

Are his statements ridiculous, absurd, bizarre? Sure they are – that’s what we’ve all come to know, but not quite love about John. But trust me, there’s no way you’re going to convince an arrogant pompous ass like John Frenaye that he’s wrong. His ego is just too big and overpowering to allow anyone to knock any logic or sense in that brain of his. (That – or there’s just not enough room down there.)

At this point, the best you can do is smirk (or laugh out loud like I did) and be thankful and grateful that you’re not as desperate (or stupid) – nor are you likely to run into anyone who is because John’s pretty much got a lock on weeding out any bottom feeders for us.

Instead, turn it around and be thankful. If for nothing else – for ability to read and comprehend the English language.

Then you can move on and be thankful that our Founders are willing to do what it takes to provide a viable, profitable, and respectable business opportunity for those of us who see things for what they really are.

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Do You ZamZuu?

Now that we’re inside 30 days until the Convention, most of the “news” and “upgrades” are saved for those who actually show up in St. Louis. I went back to July, 2008 to review all the excitement of our largest Convention to date – the buzz about Lady Liberty – and clear signs that YTB was doing everything they could to appease California’s claims about YTB being a “gigantic pyramid scheme”.

The month before Convention, YTB announced they were contemplating a franchise model, and also removed the booking engine link from the marketing sites although nobody really knew why these changes were being made so close to Convention.

Hindsight is always 20/20 – and it’s clear looking back that YTB and California were communicating at the time. YTB was making the appropriate changes during their discussions to conform and ease the concerns California had.

Discussions had been going on since January 2007 when YTB came out with booking requirements for credentials in California. New legislation passed in the state required that any agent had to actually book travel before they were qualified to carry any card offered in the industry.

Typical of critics and zealots who have no clue – they thought this legislation would stop the massive growth of YTB and end the reign of MLM’s in their industry. What it did was put YTB on the map in California. At the beginning of 2007 there was somewhere around 3000 RTA’s in the state. By the end of 2007 – there were more than 20,000.

Oooops.

So zealots and critics do what they always do – they come up with more obstacles. Another group of “professionals” convinced Royal Caribbean to pull the plug on bookings with them to make it look like suppliers were now against MLM.

Problem was – business isn’t that stupid – bookings are bookings and only one other company YTB did a small number of bookings with pulled the plug besides RCL. (There was one other, but I can’t remember who it was. We never did business with them to begin with but any critic could tell you because it matters to them.)

After only securing 3 vendors with no more in sight, critics then came up with more complaints and more hoops that YTB had to jump through in order to remain “compliant”. The heat was cranked up after the company showed a profit to the SEC and was labeled a “Darling” instead of a “scam”. The company got their stock symbol off the Pink Sheets and back onto the OTC.BB. We also can’t forget YTB’s 9 point jump in Travel Weekly’s Power List from #35 to #26.

It scared the living daylights out of the dolts who can’t accept MLM and Network Marketing as a legitimate and viable business model. Remember THEY have to be right – otherwise they’re entire world collapses. MLM’s just can’t do things like this – it’s not right and there has to be something wrong here. (Small thinking I know – but look at whose pointing fingers at us.)

Since nothing critics said or did appeared to be working – they did what they always do when MLM grows to big too fast for their comfort zone. You file a $25 million lawsuit and for added impact they did it the day before everyone got together for the largest Convention to date.

That ‘ill show ‘em! Right?

Wrong…

Fast forward to 2009, and we find Jerry Brown announcing that he “brought an end to an elaborate pyramid scheme” in a very amusing press release. Legal documents however confirmed that all the time and money spent on the litigation pointed directly to the hoops YTB jumped through before the suit was filed to appease concerns about being an illegal pyramid scheme.

If you’re thinking the pyramid schemes are illegal – you’re spot on. Programs and companies that fall into that category are shut down – abruptly.

Since little had changed and Jerry’s claims about shutting the company down fell woefully short – we showed up a year later for another Convention.

California’s suit did work to some degree however. The suit did bleed the company of money with litigation and we never achieved the franchise model announced in 2008 as a legitimate or respectable “franchise”. We still don’t have a franchise to sell. After California took $875,000 from YTB’s pockets, (leaving only $125,000 for the “victims” they claimed they filed it for.) they handed their false claims over to Illinois to squeeze more money out of the company. The company continues to tolerate this myth that someone actually pays for the opportunity to recruit others into a pyramid. (Something that YTB has never done since it’s inception in 2001.)

The Illinois litigation has been stalled since it was filed – ironically filed  just 4 hours after the settlement with California was announced more than a year ago. After passing the baton, millions continue to be spent by both sides over ignorance, bitterness, and sheer stupidity instead of actually spending time and money on franchising.

Now that we’re two years removed from California’s stunt and we’re gearing up for our second Convention since the California A.G. announced his goal of ending our “pyramid scheme” I have to wonder if critics of YTB still think they won and we lost. Sure YTB has been bloodied and battered over California’s claims. The perception over the mere appearance of the word pyramid scheme would put some companies out of business.

Unfortunately, perceptions and accusations can’t overcome or extinguish truth or fact. The false claims from States like California and Illinois and the incessant shaming of our founders and members of YTB by overzealous critics has – in its own way – done some good.

Anyone who takes what they’ve read verbatim or doesn’t conduct their own due diligence about YTB (or Network Marketing in general) certainly won’t take the steps necessary to build a business. I learned very early on in my carrier with YTB that changing habits and perceptions over the ridiculous myths about money just rolling in without doing any work is an unnecessary step in the process. For the vast majority, it stacks the odds against them. While it’s not impossible – it’s a long shot at best that you can extract the weeds that choke logical thinking or change lazy habits if someone is unwilling or uncooperative.

To use an already overused verse – “You can lead a horse to water – but you can’t make them drink.”

I’ve seen and heard about the fears about brain washing. I’ll freely admit that I’ve been brain washed and take the term literally.

Thanks to my journey with YTB and the study I’ve done over the years, my mind has been cleansed. Dirt, stains, limiting beliefs, or any matter that doesn’t serve me has been washed away. One definition is “to free from spiritual defilement” which is appropriate when it comes to the brain. You are what you think about most of the time. What you focus on expands.

Some will continue to focus on perceptions, claims, fears and phobias. (Daily no less.) While the smart ones will see right through the hype and limiting beliefs. I find it fascinating that it’s the folks at YTB who are the ones who mislead and hype everything up. We’re the ones labeled as uncooperative and unwilling to see the light.

Looking back and reading memory lane documented here – and the fact the another Convention is less than 30 days away – me thinks it’s the other way around. ;-P

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Do You ZamZuu?

Have you even seen a bucket of crabs at the beach? Ever notice that you don’t need a lid once you have more than one? If there was only one crab in the bucket it would certainly escape. However, when there is more than one crab in the bucket, if one tries to crawl out, the other crabs would grab hold and pull it back down so that it would share the same fate as the rest of them.

And I’ve seen my share of humans who are no different.

It’s such a strange phenomenon and I haven’t quite figured out why people feel the need to do something so selfish and stupid.

And nobody who attempts to better themselves is immune.

It’s during these times that you have to make some tough choices between your own goals and dreams and the company you keep.

Here’s the thing: THEY don’t have to live with your decision – YOU do.

The first time I felt stuck inside a bucket was when I was trying to break into radio right out of college. The school told me that it wasn’t a viable career. Friends told me I wasn’t good enough. I remember my own father asking me how long I was going to chase my fantasy of a full time gig in radio.

At the time, I was doing whatever I could to keep my head above water doing odd jobs while doing part time gigs in radio. It was about two years after dropping out of college. I had a full time job as a janitor at the time – mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms during the week, then driving to Youngstown, Ohio for the weekend to do overnights at a top 40 radio station.

It was so long ago, I can’t remember how much longer it took (but it was only a matter of weeks maybe months) after that I got my first full time gig that launched my full time radio career.

I never let go of that dream. I guess because if I did – I’d be thinking to this day “What if”.

I’ve run into the same type of crabs in Network Marketing with these illusions that it’s not a viable career. That’s it’s something less than “worthy”. (As if they have a right to make that call. LOL!) They’ll do whatever they can to chastise and condemn the industry in an attempt to make it so unattractive that you’ll stay right inside the bucket.

Like my radio career however, I found a number of successful marketers who were willing to support me and help pull me out of the bucket and get me away from the crabs who wanted me to share in their misery.

That’s the difference between humans and crabs. You can always find another human who’s willing to mentor you and support you – especially in the network marketing industry.

Truth is – I’ve never been involved in a more supportive industry in my life. The industry is overloaded with mentors and support. Nor have I been surrounded by more gratitude and love.

If you spend enough time and get yourself plugged in – you’ll find them too. Good natured people willing to feed your body and soul with healthy food and nourishment. Before long, you’ll realize that it’s not only much more attractive outside the bucket – but there’s a lot more room.

Given enough time, you’ll find yourself on the outside looking in. Looking inside the bucket today – all I see are a bunch of crabby people who are just too stupid and selfish to figure out that supporting one another would save the entire bucket.

Don’t let the crabs in your life keep you from your goals and dreams. Stay focused and determined and you’ll find the right type of humans that will help pull you out of the bucket.

Trust me, there’s a lot more room and support outside than in. ;-P

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Do You ZamZuu?

Everybody needs to blow off steam every once in a while. Some do it by yelling. Others do it by crying. Others, sad to say, do it with physical violence. Others, do it on the computer by writing e-mails and posts on forms and blogs.

My father is one of the most even keel individuals I know. It’s not that he doesn’t show emotion – we laugh quite a bit. But I’ve only seen real anger and frustration by him once in my entire life.

It was aimed at me, and after making amends years ago can freely admit that it was totally my fault.

I was in high school at the time and just beginning an addiction that thank goodness didn’t last very long. I was 25 when I sobered up and had my last drink or drug more than 20 years ago. The addiction started by holding on to anger and resentment for a move our family made my Junior year. Feeling like a victim I convinced myself that it was my father’s fault. I justified my drug use as a way to make him suffer – the way I was suffering.

I came to realize after I sobered up that the anger wasn’t anger at all – but selfishness. The move fulfilled a dream of my father’s as Senior Pastor of a very large church that had been around since he was in high school. It was the highest position in the Western Pennsylvania Conference without being promoted to Bishop. My father found his bliss and spent 26 years there. While he would have served the Conference as Bishop, it wasn’t where he truly wanted to be.

He was in the prime of his Ministry and there I was, a high school punk that blamed him for leaving my friends and the opportunities I had my Junior and Senior year of High School. He was supposed to sacrifice his dreams for mine – I was more important.

I received several e-mails from an individual Saturday morning who has much the same type of resentment and anger towards me for living my dreams. I know it’s hard to believe, but there are individuals who “loath” me. It was difficult for me to understand his immense anger and frustration. We’ve never really formed any type of relationship, never even spoken on the phone or met in person. We live in completely different parts of the country, and I have no care or concern about who this individual is or what he does.

I asked this person what he wanted from me. Did they need me to lash back with insults and name calling? Did they want me to get as angry as they were? Did they want me to own the resentment and bitterness?

His response was that he needed nothing because I was worthless.

While stating that I hold no value to him – he was illustrating the opposite in time, energy, and anger towards me. If there wasn’t any value, there wouldn’t be any need to even turn on the computer. Yet, there were several lengthy rants about how much I suck and what I can do with my worthless little life.

Oh my…

So what do we do with these type of actions? Ironically, he gave me the answer in one of his lengthy rants when he created the illusion in his mind that I was a “dry drunk”.

It’s called the “Serenity Prayer” and it goes like this:

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
The courage to change the things I can.
And the wisdom to know the difference.”

When I asked this individual what he wanted me to do, I had surrendered his illusions about me as his own. I couldn’t control them, I couldn’t change them, and I couldn’t help him. He was far too emotional to even consider it at that point.

If I did take ownership of any of his statements – I would have been on the computer all day in “payback”. Instead, I spent time with family on the first weekend our pool was open. I also spent time with my son at a birthday party for one of his school buddies. Never really giving any of his statements much time until this morning – and that I DO have control over.

Another one of my favorite quotes comes from Harv Ecker and it goes like this.

Everything is neutral. Nothing has meaning except for the meaning that you give it.

That sounds really good, but it’s much more difficult to pull off than most people think. One because were not programed to think like that. And two, you have to let go of all the egos (including your own) that create the illusion that mere words have value. If successful, you’ve found pure serenity and harmony – a truly natural state of existence that you were born with.

Admittedly, I’m still a work in progress – still learning to let go. I think about the years it took me to relearn how to operate without a drink or drug in my system. Today, it’s a very simple choice of abstinence. It’s not that I don’t think about drugs or alcohol – but it no longer controls me in a way that destroys my logical – rational thinking.

Recovery isn’t about “not drinking” – it about learning and using tools that enable better management of your life. It’s an awakening that I’m grateful for and can share with others because there are many life lessons that can be tied into every day life.

Some clearly don’t get that – and that’s okay. Those same tools can be used for a few of overzealous critics too. ;-P

Bitterness and anger can overwhelm you if you let it. It’s not that we can avoid it completely. We’re all human after all. But there comes a time when you just have to think to yourself:

How is this serving me or anyone else I come in contact with?

If there isn’t – it’s time to let it go and move on…

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Do You ZamZuu?

I received a Facebook “tag” yesterday morning from one of my connections. One of the things I love about the growing list of friends on Facebook are the quotes I see from famous people or simple words of wisdom provided by them personally.

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate reading these words and quotes on my wall. Quite often the quotes I see are extremely timely for what’s going on in my current life – or like the one I found yesterday, I can relate to through my own experience. As I wind down the week, and get ready to spend a week with my family on vacation (the kids are on Spring Break) I thought I’d share my thoughts on what was forwarded to me – and see if you can relate.

It’s entitled “Winners vs. Losers”

Winners are always part of the answer.
Losers are always part of the problem.

Nobody’s perfect and everyone has problems – but why on earth do some people constantly dwell on the problem rather than looking for an answer? I mean – does complaining actually solve anything? While “venting” can make some feel better, it doesn’t resolve squat. Furthermore, until you actually find a solution to the problem – it’s never going to go away.

I’ll expand a little more a little later on how coming up with an answer can not only eliminate problems, but can also be extremely profitable.

Winners always have a program.
Losers always have an excuse.

Remember the goal setting you did back at the beginning of the year? (You DID do the goal setting right?) That’s your program – your road map – your blueprint. You wouldn’t build a house without some type of blueprint to follow. And for guys, I know this is hard…but it IS a lot easier when you actually READ the directions. You don’t however have to tell anyone. ;-P

Let’s say your “program” comes up short, or even worse, doesn’t work at all. Instead of making excuses and thinking you’re failure, think about what you could change or tweak that to produces a better result. I never look at anything I do as a failure, only a result.

Next time you think you need to make an excuse because somebody (even your own head) screams at you that you “failed” – think about this quote:

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
~Thomas Alva Edision

Instead of coming up with excuses the next time you stumble and fall, think about what kind of adjustments you need to make to your program. What you come up with could be the light bulb you need to complete your program.

Winners say, “let me help you.”
Losers say, “that’s not my job.”

The appreciation that I receive on an ongoing basis for our newsletter is humbling. I remember a time in our company that if you weren’t part of a particular team, you didn’t get much help. I never understood that concept, and the thing that I’m probably proudest of these days is a willingness to help each other out regardless of who your sponsor is, your Power Team Leader, or your Director.

You’ll never know how good it feels to give unconditionally until you actually try. You know what they say about tithing – that works with actions too. What you give happily and without any expected return – comes back to you many times over.

Opening up our newsletter to everyone in our company has proven to be not only extremely rewarding – but produced ample opportunities for new ventures and income I could have never imagined if I didn’t freely give of my knowledge, skills and talents.

Winners find answers in every problem.
Losers find a problem in every answer.

Wanna hear a really cool definition of an Entrepreneur? An entrepreneur is a “problem solver”.

Think about it.

Have you ever heard the story of Mike Nesmith’s mom? For those who don’t know the name Mike Nesmith – think back to The Monkees’. (And if you don’t know who The Monkees’ are – just call me an old fuddy duddy and read on…)

Anyway, Mike’s mom invented “liquid paper”. Her problem was she couldn’t correct her typing mistakes on one of those old fashion typewriters. (Please tell me that you at least know what a typewriter is.) She ended up using her experience as a starving artist to solve this problem and the rest as they say – is history.

An average housewife who was simply looking for a way to solve her problem.

Winners see a green near every sand trap.
Losers see 2 or 3 sand traps near every green

It’s so odd to me how so many people focus on the sand traps instead of the green. The Masters is coming up next week. Is there any question that these professionals have a laser focus on one thing and one thing only – the green. Imagine what their game would be like if the thought going through their mind as they take the club back is “Don’t hit the sand – don’t hit the sand – PLEASE don’t hit the sand!”

Those types of thoughts only ensure that the next thing that comes out of their mouth is “[expletive]! I just hit the sand!”

I can tell you from personal experience that listening (or reading) from those who focus on the sand will land you in that trap. And it doesn’t matter how strong willed you think you are. That kind of negative crap will rub off on you like it or not.

Instead, get yourself a Coach who will not only show you the green – but how to hit it every time.

All those Golf Pros you’ll see next weekend at The Masters have a Coach, and it’s because of their Coach (along with a lot of hard work and practice) that their playing on one of the most pristine tracks known to man – and you’re sitting at home watching.

Winners say, “it may be difficult, but it’s possible.”
Losers say, “it may be possible, but it’s too difficult.”

What the mind can conceive, it can achieve. Kennedy knew this when he gave our nation the goal of sending a man to the moon and landing him safely back here on earth. Ford knew it when he gave his engineers the task of creating a V8 engine.

Imagine where we would be if someone said “Nah – it’s too difficult.” The amount of problems and scenarios to overcome in order to land a man on the moon is mind blowing. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy – and I don’t know about you, but I’m nowhere close to knowing everything or feeling like I can stop learning, growing and expanding.

Walking was once difficult when you were a baby – but possible. Becoming financially independent in this current economic climate is difficult – put possible. If you see others doing it, it’s possible. The trick is finding out what they think – how they act – and what they feel. Then just model that behavior.

I won’t be around next week. Instead, I’ll be spending some time with my family and myself to work on more goals. I’ve checked off some born and achieved back in December and January – and it’s time to re-evaluate and create new ones. My own quarterly report if you will. I’ve also got some new ideas that you’ll find out more about in this weekend’s Newsletter and you’ll see one of the steps I’ve taken and how I’m planning to achieve this new idea.

So food for thought as we move into your week – be it spring break or not:

You’ll enjoy your weekend and you’re week much better if you think and act like a winner instead of a loser.

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Do You ZamZuu?

You best stay out of the kitchen.

Being one of the more visible YTB blogs on the internet, I have my share of readership. Most readers are supporters and enjoy my insight and information about our company.

I also have my share of detractors. Some I would safely say detest my existence for one reason or another. If you’re in the public eye, you can’t be everything to everybody and there will always be those who don’t agree with you. What makes my sort of activity and exposure dangerous is when emotions enter into the mix.

Emotions have too many variables. You can’t expect emotions to remain constant over time or from one person to another. Each individual perceives and reacts to each situation differently. Logic and facts however always have a base or a core that remain constant. One of the things we’re finding through our journey together with YTB is that the facts of our business model are able to withstand the misconception, half-truths, and lies that we see from those who use perceptions and opinions as their core defense.

As expected, John Frenaye took exception to my article on Friday and boldly laid claim that I’m the one who “spins”. He added that his blog was more “legitimate” and his was the only viable option where people had to ability to “judge for themselves”.

He’s also a tad upset at what he’s deemed a “personal attack” and eventually, “my lies” will catch up with me.

My – my – my. How easy it is to dish it out.

It’s interesting to me how quickly this group pulls the “personal attack” card when challenged. I’m not sure if they think they’re too pure, or we’re to take pity and look the other way when their blatant misrepresentations about our people, our Founders and our company are created by their hands. I hate to break it to this group – but they leave some enormous “stinkers” out there on the web. Their activities have left some laughing, and others appalled. We DO know right from wrong, ethical from unethical, what is morally right and what’s morally bankrupt.

To illustrate how bold and brazen John has become over the years, we’ll reference one of the most legitimate and honorable sources I know – our court system. What was forwarded to me last week clearly illustrates why our Home Office made the decision to turn down his requested interviews and why others have come to the conclusion that John can’t be trusted to “report” anything concerning YTB in an unbiased or accurate manor.

Case in point: This was written by John last week on his blog:

Of course, back in August of 2009, we reported on the story where Coach had a ramshackle home and was able to convince a church to make the repairs in return for a lease. But Coach reneged on the lease and got his home fixed for free.

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t call his post entitled “Once Upon a Time” an actual “report” but ironically – a “Fairy Tale”. If you strip away John’s “report” and look at the court documents which are linked in the word “TRUTH” it reveals John’s elaborate web of deception – not Coach’s.

Yes – John’s the one deceiving the flock – pouring Kool-Aid if you will. The “truth” shows that Coach and Chris “donated” the parcel in question to the church for a Minister and his family use as a parsonage. More troublesome; the word “lease” never even appears in the actual court documents, although conveniently inserted by John in his – “report”.

True, the home needed electrical upgrades to meet code, and a gas furnace needed to be converted to propane. There was never any lease however, and Coach and Chris never received a penny for their generous donation to the Church and its family. Consequently, the court concluded:

“the parcel here in issue and the house thereon qualified for exemption during all of the 1998-assessment year either because it was in the process of adaptation for exempt use or because it was actually used by the Church as a parsonage for Rev. Casey.”

I know I’m going out on a limb, but you be the judge here. Which do you find more “legitimate”? John’s “Once Upon A Time” fairy tale – or – documentation from “The State of Illinois“?

What’s so astounding to me, is the man doesn’t appear to understand how anyone could possibly question his “reporting” as wrong or even inappropriate. To question anything he says or does is challenged with a very coy rebuttal and continued claims that HE is the most fair and unbiased source concerning YTB in the land. According to John, he’s proven how Coach has a long history of deception and he’s proud that his flock agrees that Coach should be thrown in jail for doing what he did to this church.

And yes, that type of arrogance is frustrating – even for me.

We can’t forget another court ruling regarding YTB’s business model and claims of an elaborate pyramid scheme that wasn’t just dismissed but tossed out as “redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter“. Again we find John and others on the wrong end of an argument calling the absurd complaint “powerful”.

Here’s how the Honorable Judge Murphy described the complaint:

“The First Amended Consolidated Complaint, filed July 15, 2009, is an ungainly monster of 39 pages containing 133 paragraphs (many of which have subparagraphs) that likely does not pass muster under the familiar federal “notice pleading” standard.”

True to form, John “disagrees” with the court’s ruling, and makes no apologies for his position or opinions. John falls right in line with the type of hideous and outrageous accusations Counsel tried to pull in its second go around, after the first complaint was dismissed. Their answer to the problem – a bolder, more brazen attack.

So which do you find more legitimate? John’s statement, or Judge Murphy?

From John’s point of view, it’s YTB that is “crafty” and “sly”. The only reason why YTB is still around is due to changing our model or living on the very edge of the law. Regardless how much change or how close we “appear” to be, it’s still the right side of the law. YTB’s model has never required “payment for the opportunity to recruit others” from day one. You may not agree with that – you may not understand that – and you may never accept that. But because yours is only “opinion” and not “fact” – you do have to continue to deal with YTB.

Finally, John recently found out that the law is the law, and everyone (including him) must abide regardless of opinions or perceptions. The creation of a fake Zam Zuu fan page to mock and poke fun at our company violated ZamZuu’s trademark causing a confusing similarity. His defense – a space between “Zam” and “Zuu”. (And no, I’m not kidding.)

John, you don’t just stink – you absolutely reek of lies, deceit and a perception that the laws of this land simply don’t apply to you. It’s a double standard that I will not turn away from and I will not make any apologies for in calling you out. We all make mistakes (even me) but there comes a time when you have to stop blaming others or being a victim and take personal responsibility for your own actions.

You are in the public eye and there will be those who will disagree and oppose you. There will also be those who will hold you accountable for your actions. If you don’t like it, either toughen up or stop what you’re doing and go back into hiding.

As it stands right now – you have proven to me, our company, and several outsiders who have no beef one way or another with YTB that you should not be trusted due to your attitude and your actions documented above.

For every action, there is a reaction. So if you don’t like my reaction, stop acting the way you are!

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

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Do You ZamZuu?