I gotta tell ya, for a company that some proclaimed as dead (or at least out of the travel business) it sure looks like YTB can still raise the hair on the back of some necks in the always opinionated – yet very amusing travel industry.

Everything from Attorney Generals who would finally shut YTB down to ZamZuu as a clear sign that YTB was getting out of the travel industry has been fired at this company. Frankly, I quit counting over two years ago how many times I was told that YTB was getting out or that they would be filing for bankruptcy any day. Basically, I chalked it up to the boy who cried wolf and wishful thinking with wild eyed speculation that would justify all the attention this little ol’ MLM has gotten over the years.

There have been a lot of words posted since Wednesday afternoon when YTB let the industry know via a press release that our travel division had been purchased. For me – and I’ll explain how and why here in just a bit – the words over the last week are pretty much meaningless. What I’ve been looking at a lot closer are the actions of the travel industry surrounding this news. Every major travel publication (even minor publications) has announced this transaction of YTB Travel Network.

Let’s face it – YTB still makes top billing for travel news.

Speaking of news and travel publications, I need to give a shout out to George Dooley and Travel Agent Central. I was checking my stats and traffic last night and found a number of hits and links from George who posted an article yesterday in Travel Agent Central. George was nice enough not only to link to this blog, but also quoted our YTB newsletter that we’ve been publishing for RTA’s and Reps for the last four years. George and I do know each other. He not only interviewed me but was kind enough to print my side of the story several years ago in this same publication during the 2009 Convention.

If you’re wondering, George isn’t a member of YTB. Nor did I forward him the article for his review. I’m still having issues with pin heads who don’t follow directions or think rules apply to them. Fears and phobias override ethics or boundaries where YTB is concerned. You delete or kick them out the ones who don’t belong or break the rules, and they find a way to show back up under another assumed name and e-mail address in order to get their fix on YTB.

Speaking of the hideous – and always opinionated anti-MLM zealots – they took to the blogs and message boards in a hurry. That cult was on this press release like white on rice – which tells me they’re still sleeping with one eye open at night knowing that YTB is still around. Most, as usual, react with the same old rhetoric and anti-MLM pile of horse dung. All the basic myths and legends surrounding MLM I’ve heard about since before I ever got involved in the business. Very little original thinking or logic is ever associated with this overly emotional group.

There was one however that reacted in his usual sloppy way last week – but then made an abrupt about face over the weekend to respond to the same message. For me, this illustrates perfectly what I’ve been saying for years about the anti-MLM crowd. Most of what you read is pure emotion and fear right out of the gate. You have to look deeper than just the words – but look at the activity or actions of the individual. They just blurt out whatever they’re feeling at the time without taking the time to think about what they’re saying or doing. Emotional charges appear to cancel out logic and rational thinking.

Ironically it points right back to last week’s newsletter we sent out and the very same communication from an unknown Director in YTB.

I’d link to the articles directly, but unlike George Dooley who believes this blog is “influential” – I beg to differ and have come to the conclusion this guy is a complete basket case. For the sake of documentation however, we’ve created two PDF’s for your review to point out how someone “reacts” and how they “respond”.

Last Thursday, when news broke surrounding the sale, here is the emotional reaction. Please pay particular attention to the bottom half of the copy and paste, which was forwarded from a Director to their team. The actual communication was sent from the YTB Home Office, and the unnamed Director simply passed the information along.

What’s so amusing to me (and trust me, it was a good hardy laugh) is that because this came from a Director, the overwhelming emotional reaction from the author of the blog was “OMG! They’re selling IATAN cards again!!”

Now, take a look at the response posted on Monday on the same blog, by the same author with another copy and paste of our weekly newsletter. This time however, the response is HUGE and welcomed sight that could possibly gain an opportunity that YTB could become a legitimate seller of travel.

The problem I have with these two posts is that the author is reacting and then responding to the same communication on two separate days. The only difference is that one came from a Director, and one came from our Newsletter. It’s the same message forwarded by the YTB Home Office.

Thing is – guys like John Frenaye are so emotionally charged and sloppy in their research and documentation that I don’t think he realizes that he’s provided two different perspectives to the same communication. (That is until he reads this.) Directors in YTB equate to “recruiting” – and that’s points to the core of all the issues YTB has had over the years in the travel industry. That single word makes their head swim and their stomach turn.

They just can’t handle that word for some unknown reason.

All I did was put the emphasis where I thought it should be – on travel. All this news is about YTB Travel after all, not the marketing side of our business. Yet there will always be those who can’t separate the two. Maybe they’ve never seen the two 1099′s we’ve always received. Some however, like John have signed up for the opportunity to recruit others and make money without spending a dime. Nobody that I know of however on that side of the fence has taken a real good look at the travel side of the business.

The reality is this separation takes all their justification and bizarre behavior away. It also puts them face to face with the reality that YTB isn’t dead – but a model that smart business minds see value in and are willing to pay top dollar for. (To the tune of $7.5 million.)

In the meantime – they’ll continue to dig, poke and pry into this deal. Spending an enormous amount of energy and time to figure out how they can spin this into something they can either justify or handle. We are after all talking about a bunch of MLM recruiters here. ;-P

Fun to watch and a pleasure to see that YTB isn’t dead after all.

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Book Your Travel & Vacations With

If you keep up with YTB News, you’ve probably seen the plethora of posts highlighting a press release concerning YTB Travel Network and their new alliance with Sixth Scott. Those who were at Convention this summer heard about what was coming down the pike from YTB Travel Network. As it turns out, the key players for Sixth Scott were also at the Convention to check out the company structure, the numbers, the Founders and the culture they’ve created with thousands of RTA’s and Representatives all in one place.

As with any true business mind who takes the opportunity to really look closely at what YTB has – they liked what they saw. A distribution channel that only pays when that channel produces. With YTB’s incredible size and enthusiasm about travel, they didn’t just like what they saw – they loved it. For Sixth Scott, it was a very smart and strategic business move that will help expand their influence and objectives in the travel industry.

For long time Travel Agents in YTB like me, it puts me right back where I was prior to 2007, but with one major difference. I have years of experience under my belt not only selling travel, but in marketing that will benefit me and my travel business greatly.

You’ll always find a group of clowns in any industry who don’t have the proper tools and skill set to handle change or a new competitor. Because they can’t handle this change or increased competition, they end up making a lot of noise and do cause a disturbance with all sorts of shenanigans and stunts to distract the average onlooker. The problem with that type of hype and slandering is that it’s based on pure emotion instead of fact and logic. People can and do say all sorts of crazy things and make outrageous claims and predictions that you’ll find on the Internet.

I can assure you, these type of arrogant pin heads will not be happy with this new partnership enabling a Travel Agent such as myself access to all the product, benefits, and accreditation they have in the industry.

What they want is nothing short of pure annihilation.

On the other side of the coin, we have smart, savvy business minds in the travel industry that understand the power of a large sales force. Companies like Carnival Corporation, Pleasant Holidays, and Sandals resorts. Industry publication like Travel Weekly who has listed YTB Travel Network as a Top 50 travel company the last five years. Leading industry trainers like Marc Mancini who created our e-campus program for us several years ago and the late Phil Davidoff, a former ASTA President who offered support and training to our organization before his passing. Business owners like Debbie Maier and Mailpound who created a fantastic opportunity in marketing travel to our clients after visiting a Red Carpet several years ago. Debbie was completely blown away by our enthusiasm and our passion for travel. And of course we can’t forget Vicki Freed while she was with Carnival who participated in CLIA’s largest on sight training that industry accreditation had ever seen.

Both Vicki and CLIA were once again blown away by YTB’s enthusiasm and passion for travel.

It’s a shame that in every instance above, those who took a stance to support and help YTB Travel Network, were promptly slandered and attempts to shame them into submission was the order of the day by a bunch of overzealous Anti-MLM zealots who couldn’t handle an opposing view or perspective.

Makes me wonder if this new entity Sixth Scott who will now handle our travel bookings and travel support knows this and that’s why I can’t find any information about them?

I have to admit here that I’ve not had time to properly research this Sixth Scott company. An initial search on the Internet and a couple of phone calls turned up virtually nothing about this LLC. Maybe – just maybe, this could be done on purpose? An LLC is easy to form. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that these guys want to focus on expanding business, and not get mixed up with a bunch of crazed lunatics who I can assure you will have the spare time and most certainly spend the energy and resources to get to the bottom of who these folks are.

I however have a number of businesses I need to run – and frankly don’t have the time.

I’m willing to bet however – the overzealous crowd will make it a top priority because it produces a fear that YTB Travel Network and guys like me will continue to sell travel to the general public.

I’m also looking at the fact that this move is like all the slandering and brain washing that’s been done for the last four years has been completely washed away. We’re right back to where we were prior to the fall of 2007 when YTB Travel was taking the industry by storm with all the perks and vendors they’ve always had.

For those of us in YTB, this new partnership will have plenty. It will completely separate the marketing program we have from the travel program – enabling our marketing arm to focus on marketing (what it does best), and leaving the travel aspect of the business to industry veterans and experts.

Along with a sleek new look to the web site, with all the bells and whistles including group access, we’ll gain access to even more travel vendors including all the major cruise lines, tour operators, hotels, airlines and charter organizations, and best in class package deals at higher commission percentages.

We’ll also have a new specialized, in-depth training, that can show you exactly how to be successful – even if your new or have limited experience in the travel industry. The new entity will also help market your business, when to sell what, how to use CRM and client data, as well as sales techniques to create a more profitable business.

Industry perks will also be back in full force with IATAN accreditation just like before. (As always, reserved for those who actually earn it.) Access to FAM trips, inaugural cruises, and ship positioning cruises where available are all a possibility. A new A-list program will also be introduced in the near future for those Travel Agents who produce the travel required.

Yep, there’s no question this is great news for someone like me who loves travel and loves to promote travel and gets paid for doing just that. All the handcuffs and limitations the industry attempted to saddle me with because they can’t comprehend or get past the word “recruit” has now been washed away. As with any position or opinion, there will always be a different side. Thing is, I adapted and survived because like Sixth Scott – I understand good, basic business concepts.

That my friends is something that you can’t shame into submission, can’t slander with false claims and outrageous predictions, and can’t destroy simply because you’re too stubborn or too stupid to realize a legitimate, long term business model.

Consider this a reset – a way to go back to the future and show the entire industry how good and dominant a travel company can be.

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.

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One of the things that I absolutely love about MLM is a genuine desire to learn and grow.

Since my introduction into this industry, I’ve been exposed to more author’s, speakers, and mentors than I can shake a stick at. Some, like Dale Carnegie, Brian Tracy, and Earl Nightingale were in my library long before MLM. Since my introduction into MLM however, I’ve been introduced to more great – wealthy – inspirational minds in the last six years than all my prior years combined.

A new book I was introduced to last week – provided a number of amazing revelations I wanted to share with you.

The author is Robert Shemin and he’s pictured here on the cover of his New York Times Best Seller “How Come THAT Idiot’s Rich and I’m Not?”

Just the title alone makes you want to read this thing. (It’s brilliant!) I don’t know about you, but I’ve known my fair share of “idiot’s” in my day. The vast majority are miserable and broke, and not actually happy and rich however. But I get the gist of what Shemin is trying to convey here, because there was a time when I looked at some rich people and thought, “What do they have that I don’t?”

What I found out, in other books and from speakers like Shemin was there was plenty I didn’t have in regards to mindset and attitude. It wasn’t until I got involved with MLM that I really began to study and eventually understand what it takes to be successful in business. Sure, I made plenty of mistakes. I also had my share of so called “failures”. Each mistake or failure turned into valuable learning experiences that changed my thinking and my actions. Washing away all the crap that cluttered my mind and kept me from taking the proper action to attain success. It took a number of years, but I eventually replaced enough beliefs and actions with powerful thoughts and valuable tools that I now own and operate a number of businesses that has me well on my way to the type of lifestyle and net worth I desire.

Shemin’s book is centered on real estate. That’s his area of expertise. But true to that vast majority of smart, successful business minds that I’ve read both from and about – most support and promote MLM as a viable business model to get involved with. (Especially as a model for getting started in business.) The level of support and tools found in MLM far exceed anything else I’ve seen in the business world.

Shemin’s no different – but with a very nice promotion of a very specific MLM and industry.

Now I know you all don’t have this book handy, and I’m not going to bombard you with what the entire book says. (Besides, it’s mostly about real estate and not MLM.) But there’s one page that I’d like to highlight, because it’s a real eye opener.

For anyone who wants to check out the page for themselves, you can on Google Books. (Here’s the link to the Page 101) I also wanted to use this link just so there’s no doubt about what was printed in this New York Times Best Seller.

Becoming a travel agent is simple. I signed up for something called Your Travel Business, or YTB, and presto! I became a travel agent. You can too. Just go to my special site, www.ytb.com/robertshemin, and sign up. Now you’re a Rich Idiot, too.

So book that trip and live rich now. By the way, I should tell you that when you sign up, I get benefits for introducing you. That makes me an even bigger Rich Idiot. But wait – you’ll get the same added goodies when you share your travel agent site with your friends and family. Remember, Rich Idiots want others to be rich, too!

Imagine that? Here’s someone who’s already rich – promoting YTB as a great way to get rich yourself. No special training involved – no requirements or classes. Just sign up and start telling your friends and family.

Now I know this kind of promotion drives the travel professional’s nuts. (Makes the hair on the back of their neck stand up with disgust and anger.) What these travel professionals have never really grasped is that travel isn’t rocket science. In fact it’s so simple that 4 of the Top 10 travel agencies today are do it yourself type agencies. (Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, and Priceline.) If the average person can book their own hotel, cruise, and airline ticket – there’s no reason why someone like you and I can’t sign up and point people to your own site.

Also note, there’s full disclosure here. Robert makes it very clear that he benefits from introducing his readers. Broke Idiot’s call that “profiting” – as if there’s something wrong with making a profit in business. For anyone who takes issue with Robert, me, or anyone else making a profit from introducing others about all I can respond with is – “Duh?!”

In other words, profits are a major component in owning and operating any successful business. Just because it has “MLM” attached to it – doesn’t make it any different. It’s business.

Moving on – and you’re going to love this.

At most resorts or hotels, there are better rooms and bigger rooms with more interesting views, concierge floors with special services, and even luxury suits. When checking in, simply ask if you could be upgraded. Here’s how I empower the staff. I say, “If anyone can make this happen, I know it’s you.” Then I offer them a gift (I often carry chocolates with me), not to bribe them but to brighten their day. You’ll be surprised how often a hotel will oblige. Presto! You’ve just become a Rich Idiot for the duration of your stay!

Now wait just a cotton picken’ minute here! You mean to tell me after all these years that all I really needed was a box of chocolates? What about the all-powerful and necessary IATAN that I’ve been whacked over the head with more times than I can count? Here – I’ve been soooo concerned because I’ve been told by so called industry “experts” that IATAN was the be all and end all for upgrades!

What a rip! ;-P

Truth is guys. I’ve really only used my CLIA once way back when for a trip to Sandenstin for a FAM. Other FAM’s and Seminars at Sea were offered via YTB without any such requirement. Likewise, I’ve never owned an IATAN because contrary to what’s been said about YTB and IATAN, there’s no possible way YTB could actually “sell” their IATAN to a third party. There’s only one way to attain that credential, and that’s earning it from IATAN directly with proof of $5000 in commissioned sales. By the time I was able to earn mine directly, they pulled the plug with this nonsense YTB was selling the card.

All these years, all I’ve really needed was a smile and the guts to simply ask for an upgrade. If it was available, I usually got one.

If not, here’s the next tip that I’ve also done.

Here’s one thing I do at least once a year. I put together a group of my friends for a trip or a cruise. This vacation strategy also works very well for school groups, churches, and civic groups. If enough people participate, the airline, the hotel, the resort, or the cruise ship will often give me my trip for free. Not only do I get a fantastic vacation, but I get to spend it with all my friends and I get it for free – just for having the idea and putting it together. By the way, Rich Idiots take a portion of the price of the ticket they would have paid for but didn’t and donate the money to a worthy cause.

Soon after my trip to Sandestin, Royal Caribbean launched Freedom of the Seas. I really wanted to get on this ship but there was just no way RCL was going to kick some full paying customer off this ship just to put me and my family on the ship for a fraction of the cost.

So I did what other Rich Idiot’s do and got a small group of eight of us together. Granted, the group was so small at the time that there wasn’t any “freebie” for us, but because everyone booked at full price, yours truly did earn over $1000 in commission to recoup some of the cost. In addition, when I got back I posted pictures and wrote a really nice review of our experience.

Note: no lime green t-shirts were required with “I got here free, ask me how”. No shenanigans about recruiting everyone on board. Instead, before RCL pulled their little stunt, several people saw our photos or review, and booked full fair cruises with us on BandBVacations.com earning somewhere in the neighborhood of $13 million in the first nine months of 2007.

And Royal Caribbean is demanding that we change our tune in order to have the “privilege” to sell a cruise with thier company? What the hell for?

Makes you wonder who the Idiot is don’t it?

It’s entirely up to you which “Idiot” you want to be. You can be rich – or you could really goofy and be broke. My experience with both (or at least attaining wealth and net worth) is it’s much easier and more fun being rich rather than broke.

Broke as we’ve seen time and time again, leaves you angry and miserable.

Being rich however, takes all those people who want to call you an idiot and makes it incredibly easy to just flick them off like flies. ;-P

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.

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Book Your Travel & Vacations With

A couple weeks ago, I mentioned that ignorance and injustice has never been something I’ve tolerated very well. It’s not that I expect everyone to know everything – people make mistakes (including me) all the time. But – I do expect people to be capable of learning. These “mistakes” are the lessons learned that helped people like Edison invent the incandescent light bulb. I’ve heard that he “failed” anywhere from 1000 to 10,000 times before he figured it out. The actual number of times isn’t important – but the concept that you adjust and correct with each mistake made to end up with success is.

It’s that type of thinking and determination that has helped YTB return to the original name – better, stronger, and with more conviction I’ve seen in a long time.

I’ve had more subscription signups to our newsletter in the last few weeks than I think I’ve had all year. I also had to create a separate category in my Outlook for the private YTB Facebook pages and the notifications that are coming in. My inbox became flooded with YTB posts. (There’s some really useful information there, and it’s always needed a special folder.)

Not everyone appears to be on the same page in sharing the excitement and passion for success that we do. Make no mistake, they certainly see it – and they know exactly what it all means. Our passion and excitement unfortunately gives them a nervous twitch.

From the day it appeared on my blog, (which I can still recall) one guy has produced an entire comedy of errors, missteps, and mishaps. This self-proclaimed “expert” decided to make it his personal mission to pick a fight with me, you, or anyone else associated with YTB. John Frenaye got more than he bargained for when he came trolling onto this blog to pick on what he assumed was just another “lowly MLMer”.

Instead of cowering or avoiding, I responded to both him and his illusions. His perceptions of MLM and YTB simply don’t match my reality or experience. I did see John’s charade as a valuable lesson in exactly what not to do, and how not to think. His so called “problems” with MLM, gave insight into what to avoid. Although by doing this you couldn’t avoid his pessimistic rants, which helps tremendously.

Although John never mustered up enough courage or strength to sit down with YTB face to face to discuss his “issues” with the company and our model, his Internet persona and constant bullying in every nook and cranny associated with YTB did provide insight for not only myself, but YTB to look at the perceptions and adjust accordingly.

I have no idea how this whole thing has worked out for John, but I don’t think it’s been all that pleasant. Nobody likes to be made the fool like I’ve highlighted and documented here. Not that it’s been a bed of roses for me either. Personally, and for others who have gone through this battle with me in YTB however, it’s been a great experience and lessons learned because unlike John, and others like him, we actually know how to learn and adjust from the mistakes we all make.

It makes us stronger, more resilient, and better than ever before.

John on the other hand, just doesn’t make them. “Mistakes” I mean. He’s still just as stubborn and bull headed as ever. Sticking to his illusions that MLM and its people are inferior to him or anyone outside of the “cult” that hasn’t been drinking the Kool-Aid.

And that my friend is exactly why this personal crusade of his and this battle that’s waged inside his head has been going on for at least the last four years. He hasn’t learned a blessed thing.

You might be thinking to yourself, “If an old dog like TravelPro can learn a few new tricks, certainly someone like John can – couldn’t he?

Not exactly.

I’ve heard it said from more critics than just John, that cynics think we MLM’ers are so caught up in the cult and drunk on the Kool-aid that our identity becomes attached to it. Without a YTB or another MLM to hang on to, we’re lost without any meaning. Truthfully, I think that concept speaks more about themselves than it does about any of us.

See, the whole idea of MLM is to teach the average person how to change from an employee mentality to a business owner mentality. The heart of MLM, what makes it tick and beat, is ground floor access to a business that will teach anyone who is willing how to become a real true entrepreneur and business owner. The problem as I see it, isn’t actually the MLM business itself, but the actual person running the business.

I look at the traditional business I came under contract with a couple weeks ago. The territory was run into the ground, and the old manager is filing for bankruptcy. If it were MLM, critics would be yammering about how the model failed. Now that I’ve been working this new business a few weeks and have done a couple P & L’s – I can’t for that life of me figure out how he couldn’t make this work – other than the fact that he didn’t know how to control expenses, and honestly was just plain lazy.

In other words, the model and the territory are just fine – it’s the business owner who didn’t put the proper time and effort into it that landed him in bankruptcy.

Network Marketing is not different. There’s a reason why the word “work” is in there – it takes “work”. This idea that you pay money and just sit back and collect checks is the most absurd notion there is in the MLM industry. You’re paid based on activity and results. No activity equals no money. To put it another way, you get out of it what you actually put into it. How it’s perceived by some as any different than any other business is a big red flag that they actually don’t know anything about business or what it takes to succeed.

For critics and cowards like John or the folks in the Class Action who have an average of 6 months of business experience among them, it’s just easier – or rather more comfortable to point the finger at MLM. They never notice the three fingers pointing right back at them.

I know commissioned sales can be a real drag – even overwhelming. It used to create its own nervous twitch inside me way back when. You have no idea how lucky you are to have a company like YTB, a product like travel to sell, and a mentor like Coach, Scott and Kim to learn the ropes and overcome that fear. And, yes, you’re even lucky to have someone like John to show you exactly what not to do and how not to think as an added bonus.

Considering where I’ve been and where I am today, I wouldn’t trade any of it in. I feel nothing but confidence and success because I knew who was right and who was dead wrong.

You too can rid yourself from that nervous twitching when you know who and what to join up with.

Ain’t no doubt about it for me.

It was Y-T-B.

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.

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Book Your Travel & Vacations With

For the fifth year in a row, YTB Travel Network makes Travel Weekly’s Power List of the top 50 Travel Agencies. Some will be a bit surprised. Others will be pleased. While I’m sure there will be others who will be (as they always are) frustrated with another year of YTB being included in Travel Weekly’s listing.

Personally, I consider this year’s listing as one of the finest showings from previous years for several reasons. This year’s listing dispels the skewed and misleading math formulas we’ve seen in years past from socialist pin heads. It also puts to rest any notion that the word “Travel” in YTB Travel Network is an afterthought.

Let’s not forget as well, all the mud that was thrown up in the companies face three years ago that has now been cleaned off, putting any claims of pyramid or ponzi schemes behind the company.

I’m quite certain that some had dreams and others feared that California’s Attorney General could actually put an end to the company. If California couldn’t get it done, surely Illinois or the opportunist ambulance chasers would. Yet, here I am three years later with the same capabilities in selling travel, and a better commission split to boot.

Clearly, YTB Travel Network has had its share of the spotlight. Some good – some bad – and some just completely bogus accusations. (Some have turned out to be rather comical.) Through it all however, YTB Travel Network has survived because of a very solid foundation laid by the Founders of the company and a few thousand loyal “Travel Agents” who appreciated a different approach in selling travel.

So, here we are – the numbers from the Travel Weekly Power List:

At number 34 – YTB Travel Network

2010 Sales: $221.7 million
Employees: 120
Previous Rank: 29

What is so impressive about this spot is the company has accomplished this number with a small fraction of people compared to years past. At the companies height (before the mudslinging and bogus lawsuits) YTB Travel reported 92,383 travel sellers who sold $424.1 million in travel. What “socialist pin heads” did was divide total sales by the total number of travel sellers. This year, the company reported 12,200 travel sellers who sold $221.7 million in travel.

So why the big jump in “average sales”?

Clearly, these “averages” we’ve seen (or are forced upon Network Marketing companies from our fine Government as “Income Disclosures”) aren’t what they’re cracked up be. You can’t possibly dictate to anyone what someone is capable of selling based on average numbers. Some will excel, while others won’t do a blessed thing to get their business off the ground. Travel sellers who weren’t making any money (because they couldn’t change their thinking or work ethic from “employee” to “business owner”) are now gone. Those who could grasp the thinking and habits of “business” were making money as travel sellers and are still around and producing numbers more consistent with traditional travel agents. It’s always been like this – but it wasn’t until now that we see how the real world actually works – not some mathematical theory.

We’ve heard over and over again that our focus isn’t travel. Again, you can’t dictate as an overall consensus (just like the bogus “averages” above) that’s true for everyone. I got into YTB Travel Network so I could get paid for telling people that a cruise was the best vacation money could buy. I’m still just as passionate about the industry as I was the day I signed up. Sure the other products offered via the ZamZuu shopping cart are nice. In fact, I was selling similar items here on this blog long before ZamZuu ever came about. Ever since I changed hats from employee to business owner, you become educated about what multiple streams of income can do for your bottom line.

While it’s a nice bonus, my focus – and what fires me up is still travel.

Well, that and the Pittsburgh Steelers. But just because I moved from Pittsburgh to Atlanta 19 years ago, I’m still just as much of a diehard fan than I ever was. (Okay – fanatical, but you get the idea.) You know damn well, you’re never gonna take the Steelers out of this boy. You’ll also never take the passion I have for travel out of me either.

While others in our industry would like our focus to be something else – it’s honestly not up to them to tell me, you, or anyone else what we should or should not focus on. Travel got us to where we are – and travel will continue to carry this company in the future. It’s a fantastic product that everyone still enjoys talking about and still the number one answer to a question I’ve asked for years.

“If you had more time and more money – what would YOU do?“

What makes this year’s list especially gratifying is that all the crap from California, Illinois, and a handful of ambulance chasers is now behind the company. All laid claim about being a pyramid scheme. Thing is, pyramid schemes are illegal and scams like that are ultimately shut down. Sure, there will be those who will continue to throw that out there – and that’s perfectly fine. Looks worse on them at this point than it ever will YTB, because it illustrates they haven’t learned a blessed thing. (And most likely, never will.)

I really could care less – because all I have to do is pull up my booking engine and look at another listing on this year’s Power List.

Nuff said.

YTB Travel Network will move on as it always has. Like I said before – travel got us here, and travel will continue to be a major asset for YTB International. If the company can do this with all the obstacles thrown up to distract everyone – imagine what it can do now with this core group of travel sellers.

Nothing like a little dose of reality to get things cranked back up again now is there? The way I see it, there’s nothing stopping this company from climbing back up this list to even higher levels once reached in years past. Difference is, there were lessons learned from the first go around that will make it all that much easier to accomplish if everyone pitches in.

Based on what this year’s list has shown us, the company is leaner, meaner, and battle tested for another great run.

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UPDATE: It’s a miracle!! The witch is not dead. Actually – I think the proper word right now would be “irritated”. (By yours truly.) Within two hours of posting this – our boy John pulled up a month and a half old rant he never bothered to publish to save face. (Hell, even my wife warned me that what would happen.)

Not too upset. He’s supplied some of the best content and some really great laughs over the years. Based on his history, and the outdated rant, I see no evidence that will change.

~~~

Honestly, I never thought this day would come. I’ve run into my share of zealots and cynics over the years, but have never seen the likes of anyone so obsessed and disturbed as the “Coach” of the Anti-MLM Travel crowd. By default, anyone in YTB would know that person to be John W. Frenaye. One of the most arrogant, confused, and condescending dolts I’ve ever witnessed during my tenure with YTB.

I first caught a glimpse of John’s irritation with YTB back in 2007 with an article he wrote using MSNBC as his platform. It was his last article for MSNBC. You can only imagine how unamused the editors of MSNBC were with anyone “double dog daring” folks like John did for that soap box article. His last rant on MSNBC however was only the beginning of the type of outlandish and eccentric stunts pulled over the next 3 to 4 years of a one man battle to rid the industry of Travel MLM’s.

A few short months later John showed up as a commenter on our blog in an apparent attempt to educate me on his “issues” with Travel MLM’s. I still remember the coy attitude and the intimidation tactic – as if he had it all figured out. It was to become a trademark of the almighty Frenaye. At the time however, I did see John as both a challenge and an opportunity to correct not just misconceptions and misrepresentations the industry had about MLM – but bold face lies about our people our Founders, and our company.

I’ll always give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Call it an asset or a fault, but I did befriend John because I did agree with a few minor points and issues that needed to be cleaned up in our industry. One of those issues being a love of travel and service to others. Perks in our industry known as FAM’s are a privilege and a tool to sell more travel to paying customers – not a right simply because you call yourself a “Travel Agent”. MLM is a business, not some discount program or get rich quick scheme.

And that’s how our discussions began.

When it was my turn to clear the air that nobody actually paid for the opportunity to recruit others, or that gross travel sales were actually 4 to 5 times the amount of travel website sales – that’s where we ran into problems. See, John, like so many other zealots who think they’re the bees knees find it difficult to communicate, learn, and educate themselves to find a resolution. I suppose the reason for this is that if they actually did – there wouldn’t even be an issue. Zealots need controversy in order to maintain their charade.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the movie Network. It’s a 1976 film that takes a cynical look at TV networks exploits that stars a very deranged ex-TV anchor. The film has one very famous quote that I’m sure you’ve heard of: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.“

That’s John Frenaye in a nutshell. What John saw in YTB at the time, was the biggest – baddest Travel MLM out there. Remember, nobody was able to do what YTB did – they all folded before YTB Travel came along. Sure, other Travel MLM’s were a nuisance and frustrating – but since they were so short lived – they weren’t any real threat.

YTB was a different animal all together – it had legitimacy attached to it. Carnival Pinnacle Awards and listings smack dab in the middle of Travel Weekly’s Power List aren’t something Travel MLM’s are even capable of doing in the eyes of an anti-MLM zealot. And because YTB was morphing into a host agency powerhouse, the only thing John could do was go on a rampage for the next couple of years, finding (or fabricating) any issue he could dream up to shame YTB into submission.

I can’t complain too much because he gave me some fabulous content to show how you should never just walk – but run from zealots like John if you want anything close to sanity or the truth.

Some of my favorites include:

• An amended Class Action suit John dubbed was “powerful” yet was thrown out of court just days later for being “redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter”. (Boy – does that shoe fit huh?!)
• The claims that Candi May couldn’t possibly be a legitimate Travel Agent, or had been courted by Carlson Wagonlit only to find YTB as a better alternative.
• When CLIA slapped John with his hands in the cookie jar over claims that CLIA was playing favorites with YTB and not abiding by the rules set for all agencies.
• The church parsonage which Coach Tomer and Chris donated to a church – which John conveniently spinned into a “lease”. (The idiot even provided the court documents himself to show it was a legitimate donation.)
• The perfect “Gotcha” turned sour. An outdated 32 year old law in Rhode Island which John dug up that required all Agents to be bonded. That is, until John brought attention to it – and instead of enforcing it, Rhode Island repealed the outdated law.
• And of course we can’t forget John’s hopes and the dreams that were dashed in both California and Illinois shutting YTB down and ending our existence all together.

I’ve lost count how many times we were warned that Coach, Scott, and Kim would ride off into the sunset. The warnings of bankruptcy. How the stock was being manipulated. And the ultimate dream – how YTB would get out of the travel industry all together.

Aside from being proven wrong and outed for outlandish and false claims so many times over the years – probably the straw that broke this dolts back was the revelation that John really wasn’t the saint he claimed to be was made public.

Look – nobody’s perfect and we all make mistakes. Lord knows I’ve made my share in my lifetime and so has YTB. The key difference between someone like me and a company like YTB is that we can at least acknowledge we’re not perfect and either make amends and/or correct the mistake.

And it’s that type of acceptance and humility that enables me to keep writing here and YTB to keep selling travel during events like we had last night with Sandals.

John, on the other hand has apparently moved on. While his charade and escapades will be documented on the Internet forever, like the comments section that he was once so proud of haven’t been updated in almost a month. Best I can tell, he’s found another hobby with yet another startup and another site called Eye On Annapolis. It has nothing to do with travel or MLM’s thank goodness. It’s more like a city beat type thing and frankly – I’m pulling for him that it works.

I honestly don’t know if John will ever come to terms with the MLM model. A good portion of these types of Zealots never do because emotion often overrides logic and common sense. In that same vein however – logic never changes like emotions do and that’s why MLM and Direct Sales has survived for more than a Century.

Letting go of a three or four year obsession however is a step in the right direction. The daily rants and spinning have finally come to an end for both John and YTB. The end of another chapter in our journey together in an industry I still love and respect – both MLM and travel.

John’s relevance in the travel industry started to erode with his “double dog dare” in 2007. It’s been a very slow and arduous process over the years. I’m not going to speculate his escapades are completely dead like the Wicked Witch of the West (although it’s a fun title) but the further we get away from this type of behavior the better off the travel industry as a whole will be.

It’s a bad mix nobody really needs.

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If you’re a regular reader of this site – you should know my views about the Better Business Bureau. Truth is, regular reader or not, the articles I wrote last year are widely read with links from BBB Roundup and Google searches from individuals questioning the validity of the BBB.

Once upon a time, the Better Business Bureau was a well-respected and viable source to gauge a company’s performance. However in recent years, the Bureau has come under tremendous fire with high pressure “pay to play” shenanigans mistakenly reserved for Network Marketing companies.

Their problems all started when the BBB changed their system in January of 2009 from a simple “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” rating system to an A to F “grading” system. Since the switch, the BBB has been exposed as playing favorites to those who pay for better grades or downgrade companies who complain to the BBB about their existing grade – which misleads the public. I’ve seen several posts on Facebook over the last 9 months about an ABC news piece that exposed their horrid tactics. When the BBB gives an A- to an organization like Hamas (the Middle East terror group) and an A+ to a skin head white racist group called Stormfront who bought their grades simply by paying the BBB for accreditation – it raises some serious heat. Anyone who saw the piece knew that the BBB themselves were on the take.

After the airing of this news piece last year, Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal sent an official demand letter to the national headquarters of the Better Business Bureau to stop using the grading system, stating the grading system was “harmful and misleading” to consumers.

Imagine that?

Since writing the articles last year, I’ve yet to see a single thread of evidence that the BBB has changed their tune. As far as I’m concerned they’re still just as shady as the day is long.

To my surprise last night, a memo came from the YTB home office about the companies poor rating the last few years being upgraded to a C+ rating. I have to admit – the first thing that crossed my mind when I read the memo was that the company had succumbed to the BBB’s pressure tactics and paid for accreditation. I’m happy to report however, that the home office DID NOT pay for this upgrade. (YTB is still listed as a Non-Accredited Company.)

So what’s with the change in grade from the BBB?

First, the company’s explanation to the BBB’s change of heart.

According to the memo that was sent out to the field, both Sandy Pippins and Casie Fuqua have been working with the local BBB chapter to clear up some of the misrepresentations the BBB has concerning YTB. Another huge plus for the upgrade in their system is the frivolous lawsuits filed against the YTB International (and other non-relevant third parties who were also named) is now behind the company. I don’t know what happened to “innocent until proven guilty” in this country – but the mere filing of a lawsuit (no matter how outrageous the suit appears to be) constitutes a failing grade with the BBB.

Anybody can file suit – but then you have to actually prove your case in the court of law to determine the outcome.

I realize there are groups of individuals who believe that deflecting on “issues” or trumped up “problems” is the way to go. The BBB grade the last few years was one of the “issues” people were warning others about to stay away. While venting makes these idiots feel better (momentarily), there’s never really any resolution or solution attained using this method. We’ve seen that example all too often from irate and irrational critics who’ve been attempting to slander YTB with what ever they can dream up. If you take a look at then, verses now – these same clowns are no closer to a resolution than the day decided to start crying about these so called problems.

YTB on the other hand is a company that focuses on solutions rather than problems. They act like adults rather than children who haven’t attained the proper tools to resolve the most elementary issues. By discussing their differences calmly and logically (instead of emotionally charged outbursts) any differences or issues are eventually resolved.

Anyone who’s willing to sit down honestly with YTB (or anyone for that matter) will have a completely different view with proper dialog. If you’re capable of actually learning and comprehending basic business – it’s not that hard to see why YTB or Network Marketing works. Besides, if a company can manage its way through all the mudslinging and false claims it had levied against them – there’s got to be something more to YTB than what you may have seen or read here on the Internet.

Another reason why the BBB may have upgraded YTB’s rating is the BBB, (like Steve Cox, President and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus) may finally realize that they need to supply a more honest review of businesses if they want to salvage any chance of being a respectable organization. From what I hear, pay to play is a big “no no” – and with the cat out of the bag about the BBB – it’s about time they make some changes to this hideous grading system. While the apology from Cox for the BBB’s lack of proper investigation and strong arm tactics was certainly warranted – it’s really just lip service unless you actually DO something to change the way you grade and operate.

As a result, I’m somewhat torn about this new upgrade in YTB’s grade. On the one hand, I want to give the BBB the benefit of the doubt that they’re attempting to make an obvious wrong right. People do it, and companies do it. On the other hand, I also know how lazy our society has become and how a growing segment of the population don’t actually take the time to investigate anything on their own. A C+ could prompt someone to dig a little deeper and the smart one’s would be pleasantly surprised if they obtained information from sources that actually have some type of experience or logical insight.

I guess until I see some more real – honest changes from the BBB, they’re still on double secret probation. Extreme caution and other more reputable sources are still in order when it comes to the BBB for the time being. (I do however hope they can pull it off.)

Regardless of how I feel about the BBB personally – this IS another good sign that the malicious mudslinging that was thrown YTB’s way by confused and uneducated twits’ continues to be wiped away. Like the lawsuits that were designed to destroy a fine viable company – overzealous critics no longer have the BBB to use as a mud ball.

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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