That life is boring at YTB. ;-P

I apologize for not getting something out sooner – the kids had early release the last two days and we had projects planned. I also have a business to run and don’t have the vast amount of time in my profession that others apparently have. I have however been trying to sort out fact from fiction from various sources I know and trust via phone since the latest episode of “Days of YTB” has hit cyberspace.

Before we get started…I think it’s appropriate for the proper background music due the nature of what’s happened this week. For your listening pleasure, I’ve resurrected an oldie but goody that I’ve used before when there’s so much talk about YTB.

Apparently there was a mass exodus of wackos over the last 36 hours that have put out some pretty outrageous stuff. As usual, those of us who have a firm grasp on the situation are left to clean up the mess. Due to time restraints, I need to warn everyone that I have not read – but merely heard some of the rumors I’m about to squash. Therefore, please understand that some of what I might comment on – may not have ever been written in the vast space we call the internet – nor can I reference just who said it.

The following is a list of what I have heard and what I know to be true.

YTB’s CFO, John Clagg has resigned effective February 2nd. I’ve heard of various scenarios on how this came about. Some reasonable and some outlandish. The reasonable would consist of being burned out. With what the company has gone through since the California Law Suit was filed the day before the 2008 National Convention, and a new CEO who has a keen eye on the companies bottom line – it’s understandable that it would drain anyone.

Another reason I’ve heard is that John saw the writing on the wall – meaning, YTB isn’t going to make it.

Please…

One, the company has secured a $650,000 loan based on the expectant sale of the former home office located at One Country Club Drive. Which is odd – because it’s been widely publicized for years on various boards and blogs that YTB doesn’t have any assets to speak of. (Who knew?)

Two, it was announced on a company call yesterday, and corresponding documentation will be available to the field of some 300 $1000 Quick Start Bonuses will be in mailboxes across the country today. The ZamZuu e-commerce platform announced at the Coach’s Birthday Bash in early January has provided a much needed stimulus package for the field. When the field is making money, the company is making money. The enhanced commission structure enables the average person to attain a bonus, and that builds momentum.

You certainly don’t need to be a CPA to understand that cash flow isn’t the current problem at this point in time. (Still tight, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.)

An interesting observation from some time ago – I remember the exiting CFO being chastised by critics as “unqualified” for the position. It’s rather convenient that the ridicule and lack of qualifications are quickly tossed aside now that John has decided resign. I just love how folks can play both sides of the fence when a new position appears to benefit them. Happens with Directors too. All of the sudden these liars, scammers, and cheaters suddenly turn into Saints simply by leaving the company for another.

It would make any John Kerry supporter proud.

While there is a rumor of massive trading from our Directors due to this news, I’d hardly consider 29,300 shares massive. While John did resign on February 2nd, it was well after the closing bell on Tuesday. (3:00 Central time) I’ve never really understood just why this type of rumor persists with our Directors. I just chalk it up to ignorance and a way for critics to create more drama. Day traders have a ton more fun with this stock than any Director. Due to the timing of our CFO’s resignation and how suddenly (although not surprising) the resignation developed – nobody had any chance to benefit one way or another from this news. Based on the volume, between the verbal resignation and the release of the 8K – the numbers certainly don’t indicate insider knowledge.

Current CEO Robert Van Patten will fill in as interim CFO of the company until a replacement can be acquired. Mr. Van Patten is well equipped to fulfill the roll as CFO for YTB International, and has been in charge of much larger corporations in the past. His leadership is the largest reason why YTB has been able to acquire – all be it small – profits the last two quarters even with revenue down in 2009.

Another rumor floating around is that Ron Head, YTB’s Master Distributor has been terminated. While this may be the case after a thorough investigation – at present any word of termination is premature. Ron has I’m sorry to say been suspended due to possible cross recruiting.

If I’m getting e-mails and calls from every Tom, Dick, and Harry about the next “Big Thing” I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of carrots our Directors are seeing. How much greener the pastures are – how well everyone BUT YTB is doing in this economy – or all those “special positions” reserved for “true leaders” in the industry. I’ve seen and heard some real WHOPPERS in regards to rumors about what’s going on with YTB – including one I’ll mention later – that aren’t created by critics of MLM – but other MLM companies to lure people over to their company.

Attaining a Circle of Champion Director from YTB is a HUGE feather in the cap of any company because – as we all know – YTB created massive amounts of income for those who went to work. So much so, it caught everyone’s attention. Especially in an industry that understands and wants “recruiters”.

A personal note here – and this has nothing to do with Ron or any specific Director who has since left YTB for “greener pastures”. I have yet to hear of see any of YTB’s former Directors leave and actually stay with the next best thing they left YTB for. Several Directors that I know of have been with several different companies since leaving YTB and I can’t think of one (NOT ONE) who is currently better off today than they were the day they left YTB. Nor, with the exception of Corr, who just launched his new venture this week, is currently with the same company they moved on to.

That’s not to say they won’t be able to find another home. For some, I sincerely hope they do. It should be noted however that all of the fanfare up to this point has been nothing more than a passing fancy for every single Director who has left YTB for the next big thing.

Another very curious rumor floating around was that Coach, Scott and Kim were forming another MLM. Honestly, I just can’t wrap my head around this one. Critics, I could understand – they’ve always thought that our Founders would eventually call it quits. Some speculated retirement on some remote island with all our $50 checks in tow – while others speculated another industry entirely to rape and pillage. I’d expect that kind of stupidity from them.

It appears that rumor has also been squashed as Coach has been appointed the newest Master Distributor of…

Wait for it…

YTB.

Sigh…Coach will be recruiting again and honestly, it’s what he does best. I realize that frustrates some, and I know the fears and phobias surrounding the word “recruiter”. People slap that word on me all the time – and truth be told – yes, I do recruit. I recruit for Carnival, Princess, Sandals, Collette, Delta, Air Tran, Holiday Inn, Avis, Sears, Home Depot, Best Buy, and YTB. (Among others, but you get the idea.) We all recruit in some form or fashion and I fail to see what the concern or deal is when it comes to word “recruit”.

I can only hope that at some point in time they come come to grips with their “issues”. But don’t expect me to own that type of stupidity and fear just because it makes someone angry or bitter. The heightened outbursts and emotions I see reflects more about them, then it ever will me.

In closing, for those of you in YTB for reasons only you have a right to decide and place judgment on – don’t lose your focus or the sight of your dreams. Many of you got into YTB to sell travel and/or e-commerce. Others have found a new spark in the e-commerce platform that has triggered bringing people into a very promising opportunity that like travel a couple years ago was attractive to the masses.

If you’re like me, you see all the deposits waiting to turn into cash when these vacations are consumed this summer. Like the company, you need to think long term and tighten up to stay in the game in order to capitalize on the deposits your sitting on. Others saw checks in the form of cash back this week for doing what you already do – shop. More of the same is coming on the 11th when the residuals for being a business owner are sent out not only for your own shopping but all those who shopped on your sites.

By the way you realize they too got cash back checks this week from their own shopping experience with ZamZuu right?

Call them up…ask them if they think this works.

I got to tell you, it’s a much better alternative than searching the internet right now, trying to get a feel from a bunch of cowards who don’t have the guts to put a real name behind what they plaster all over the internet or talk about on the phone.

Because I had another post scheduled for today, it’s been bumped to Monday. I think you’ll like it and it drives home why ZamZuu is right on mark and why big name companies are going to a model just like ours to sell their product or service. You don’t want to miss it!

Hope to see you again on Sunday in your e-mail box with this week’s wrap up and the Just Picture It Now Newsletter.

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I had something else ready to post this morning, but found a fairy tale that was just WAY to funny that I needed to share with you. It never ceases to amaze me how low some people will go to bend and twist documentation in an effort to pitch their own perceptions and limiting beliefs.

It’s no secret that there is a segment of our society that think rich people are greedy. Because this segment of society has never actually known anyone that thinks in terms of “net worth” instead of some “hourly wage”, this same segment also assumes that rich people got their money through unethical and dirty business practices. It’s one of those social memes I wrote about some time ago.

Now, take the myths and social memes surrounding rich people and combine it with Network Marketing and you’ve got yourself one heck of a double whammy when it comes to anger, bitterness, and resentment.

Case in point, our very own J. Lloyd Tomer.

While Coach is certainly loved and admired through the ranks of YTB members, there is a segment of society who spend an exorbitant amount of time attempting to knock this man off his perch because he’s obtained his wealth through Direct Sales or Network Marketing. For those of you who don’t know his story, you can Google “J. Lloyd Tomer, AL Williams” to find his bio. Here is one on the first pages that I found on Portfolio.com. (emphasis mine)

J. Lloyd Tomer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, has been a Director of YTB since December 2004. He is the father of our Chief Executive Officer, J. Scott Tomer, and is a seasoned veteran of direct sales and marketing. After spending thirteen years in the ministry, he became an agent of the A. L. Williams Company (now known as Primerica Financial Services (“Primerica”) in January 1981. He achieved the level of Senior National Sales Director in 1985 and maintained that position through 2001. While at A. L. Williams he built a successful sales organization numbering in the thousands, whose combined life insurance sales was measured in the billions, with assets under management of $750 million. He sold his agency in Primerica in January 2002. Thereafter, Mr. Lloyd J. Tomer devoted his marketing expertise to YourTravelBiz.com, Inc. He attended Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana.

Here’s a guy who build an immensely successful organization with sales in the billions and assets in the millions through Direct Sales from 1981 through 2002 thanks to capturing the dream of Art Williams back in the early 80’s. Even after the sale of the business to his son Frank in 2002, the assets and money generated from this organization were used to help fund the start of YTB in the early years.

Fast forward to today, and we find a select few are upset with Coach, an outsider, for infiltrating their business segment with a bunch of Travel Agent wannabes’. (Or so they claim.) What we end up with are obscure twists on how this man attained his wealth, lived his life, and given back to the community.

I learned a long time ago from Harv Ecker that part of the rewards of being rich is the ability to donate money or assets to organizations and associations that are important to you. When you think about it, what makes a bigger impact – $10 in the offering plate or $10 million in stock options to pay off a mortgage? Obviously creating wealth can and does have a bigger impact for those who desire to make a difference in people’s lives.

Those of you who have met Coach, spent time with him, or listened to his leadership call’s: Would it surprise you that new documentation has come to light of Coach’s generosity?

In a link provided just this morning to a court document, it has been revealed that Coach and his wife Chris donated a parcel of property to Midwest Community Church in 1998 so that the Pastor and his family could have a parsonage (a home) in which the Rev. Casey, his wife, his son age 16, and daughter age 13 could live. The property was bought by Coach in 1995, and when Coach was elected as Trustee of the Church in 1997 he donated 100% of the use of this parcel to the church.

According to the document revealed we also found the condition of the property.

Initially the yard needed to be cleaned up. All of the lights outside the house had been broken. Inside the house there were numerous electrical problems that violated the electrical code and which needed to be corrected. The house had two furnaces. One furnace to heat each side of the house. A new natural gas furnace had been brought in to heat one side of the house. It was anticipated that natural gas would soon become available in this neighborhood. However, that did not happen.

The document also reveals that at the time the land was donated, Coach’s desire was to assist in the development and growth of Church’s religious organization. Pursuant to the agreement, this parcel could be used for any purpose the Church deemed appropriate, including but not limited to a parsonage, youth retreats, church administration, or marital retreats. In return, the Church was responsible for all expenses, repairs and maintenance costs, and was to maintain adequate insurance on this property, naming the Tomer’s as a loss payee.

Because I can actually read and comprehend the documentation provided, I can deduct that Coach was enjoying a tremendous amount of success and creating substantial wealth which enabled him to purchase the property in the first place. I can also conclude that the church obviously respected his financial position by appointing him as trustee to the church. I can also assume that Coach believes in sharing his wealth and supports religious organization with very generous donations to a number of church organizations.

Not a bad way to live your life if you ask me.

Now I know this is going to upset some of you, but I need to remind you that we’re not dealing with individuals who are playing with a full deck here. (Not the sharpest tools in the shed, if you know what I mean.) I do however think it’s important to reveal how desperate and delusional some people are when it comes to mud slinging and slandering individuals who they’re obviously jealous of. They need to peck and poke in an attempt to bring others down with an obvious twist on what actually happened.

I’d advise you that you put down any drinks or food at this point because it may end up on your computer screen. Here’s the introduction of the post I found this morning concerning what happened:

Once upon a time in a land far away, there lived a man in a ramshackle house. The house was in such bad condition, that the local authorities would not issue occupancy permits. When the time came to pay the tax man, the man in the ramshackle house could not afford to pay the property taxes.

Destitute and without too many options at his disposal, he turned to God and the Church. Knowing that Church property was exempt from taxes, he “donated” this ramshackle property to his Church for only a year who decided to worship on the property and to fix up the house for their minister and his family to occupy as a parsonage.

While I can’t disagree that this donation was a “tax deduction” for Coach and Chris, (donated in December of 1997) but to claim that Coach was destitute at this time with an AL Williams business generating millions, and an elected Trustee of the church is a pile of manure that only critics can step in. What makes it comical for me is the way this guy capitalizes “TRUTH” at the end of the post which links and documents what we’ve uncovered here.

The truth is, this “expert” doesn’t expect people to actually read the document he’s provided because he’s bend out of shape as the “be-all-and-end-all” when it comes to YTB. (Arrogant and cocky I know, but that’s what he thinks of himself.) What it turns out to be is yet another documented example of the lies, deceit, and misrepresentations that are plastered all over the internet to pitch Coach as some sort of scammer. If you look at the URL that links to the court document that clearly recommend that Madison County Parcel be exempt from real estate taxation in 1998 it’s linked by hims as http://www.singleparenttravel.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Tomer-Church-Scam.pdf.

I might not be the best speller in the world and I’ve been known to make a mistake or two over the years. But at least I can read and comprehend what’s truth and what’s pure spin. And how are the critics going to answer to this blatant attempt to spin and slander? My guess is that what we’re going to find as a rebuttal is a dog’s tail isn’t spelled “tale” in an attempt to take the focus off them and back on our Founder in YTB and me.

Think it’s gonna work?

Me neither, but the faceless, nameless cowards who support this jerk as some type of crusader against the evil YTB will be jumping for joy that they’ve found more documentation and truth, when it’s obvious to me, their simply chasing their own “tales”.

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Last year at this time, I was reading “Inspired Marketing!” and came across a story about Cindy Cashman. With only $3,000 and determination, Cindy Cashman and a partner started a publishing company and published the world wide best seller “Everything Men Know About Women” (written under the pseudonym of Dr. Alan Francis). Cindy knew that marketing the book would require the type of original creative thinking not usually taught in MBA schools. She recognized that selling through traditional booksellers would be a hard sale, as it would get lost among the thousands of titles. Therefore, she developed a marketing plan to sell outside the book industry and stores bought them by the thousands.

Millions of books flew off the shelves and people actually bought cases of the book, I assume to give away as presents.

Here’s the thing, the book…it was blank.

Not a single word in the entire publication, and Cindy made a mint off selling these blank books.

When I read that story, I thought to myself, “Why can’t I think of something like that?” as if Cindy beat me to the punch, that the idea was already used and I lost my chance to do something as funny or as creative.

Then a little voice whispered, “Why can’t you?”

That thought struck me, and thought to myself, why can’t I? I mean it’s not like it would that hard to do, and if Cindy’s book was all the rage with women, I could certainly find a niche that could capture the attention of a particular market.

The title struck me rather quickly, and was a subject that I actually understand extremely well. I had been wasting my efforts and experience with critics for some time, and while critics don’t seem to grasp that their own perceptions don’t amount to much when I compare it with my experience, they persist in littering the internet, my e-mail in box, and this blog with spin and mud that I can clean up very easily with a delete button.

Without any practical experience in YTB I still have trouble understanding why the subject of YTB controls and consumes critics the way it does, but at the same time, I also understand that it’s not my responsibility to enlighten those who simply want to ignore what I’ve been documenting here for years.

Critics have come and gone in the years I’ve been here writing about YTB. Some caught on that they don’t have a prayer in changing my perception. Others have been down right embarrassed over what they thought to be true, only to be proven wrong, while others are either too stubborn or too stupid to understand that they can scream as loud and as often as they want…it doesn’t change what I’ve seen, experienced, or documented here.

The book was extremely fun to create and easy to boot! The timing was also a perfect April Fools joke that got lots of traction and put a huge smile on thousands of faces! (Even some critics.)

So in honor of my first book, and one of the funniest things I’ve ever done, I give you once again, “What The Critics Know About YTB“.

Take some time to read it today, it won’t take long, I promise. It will teach you a valuable lesson on how to deal with critics who have nothing better to do with thier time. Doing anything to educate or enlighten them, is a complete waste of time.

Trust me on that one.

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It’s been somewhat of a negative week here on this blog, so I’ve decided to switch gears and adjust a bit to a lighter direction to finish up the week. I just don’t know how some people can be so bitter day in and day out. It’s not that they don’t have fun, but when you do it at the expense of others, criticizing day after day, to me that just reeks of the large pile of manure that’s gotten so high it’s overshadowed any real issues that are going on in our industry right now. You were given two ears and two eyes, but only one mouth for a reason. That’s why I decided to promote Paul Henderson’s idea of industry standards at the beginning of the week. While I don’t agree with the way he went about it, I do agree with his message of industry standards so everyone has a playing field they can not only see and understand, but a clear guideline in who can call themselves a “Travel Agent”.

As much as this industry need some type standard requirements, accreditation and training, some are content to simply complain about what’s wrong, thinking if they market effectively against the Card Mills, the problems will magically go away. Mind you, this type of marketing has been going on for YEARS, while they readily admit that the programs they despise continue to spring up relentlessly.

So you may want to ask them…”How’s that working for you so far?”

They’ve learned no lessons from jokers like Robert Fitzpatrick, John Taylor, Dean Van Druff who have been attempting to slander, (sorry “educate”) the public about the pitfalls of MLM for years. When smart people run across this type of propaganda they see right through the hype. Most of these jokers have been at it for decades and are no closer to ridding the world of this model than they were back then. In fact, the industry has boomed despite the organizations designed to promote how you’ll loose your family, friends, all your money and dignity along the way. You would think you could find a better mouse trap after all this time, but that’s all you get when emotions overrun your logical thinking.

So I’ve decided to take a break, regroup and hopefully come back with a solution instead of joining this obsession over the problem.

The purpose here isn’t because I want to ignore the issues, but change the vibration and mood to enable me to come from a more positive approach. As we’ve seen over the last couple of years, very little has changed for the critics and their perception of Travel MLM’s despite all the changes made by the companies themselves.

They’re still convinced that the only way to correct any issues is to take up the role of snitch, enforcer, or better clarified for me as “Mall Cops”.

Right or wrong, the stereotype of a “Mall Cop” is one who just couldn’t make it as a “real cop” and the only “enforcement job” they can get is that of a security guard. I actually know a “Mall Cop”, and can assure you that not all of them actually fit that stereotype, but the fact remains that most people do perceive the profession in this way.

Hollywood recently came out with a movie that we saw a trailer for when we hosted our daughters birthday party with hundreds of other screaming girls just wooing over Zac Efron in High School Musical 3. (Don’t ask…) Both my wife and I love Kevin James to begin with and find his physical comedy incredibly funny. The roll of Paul Blart seems perfectly suited for him and it looks to be somewhat of a “Die Hard” spoof with some very funny slapstick comedy.

So the wife and I will be heading out to dinner and a movie to escape and laugh out loud. Why not? It takes less energy and puts both of us in a much better mood and enjoy what life has to offer. (Okay, what Hollywood has to offer, but you get the idea.)

If you know what’s good for you, you too would be best served in finding something to laugh at. (And doing it at the expense of others doesn’t count, because slamming someone to the ground just makes them lower, not you higher.)

While it’s difficult dealing with negativity and critics who only know how to use one part of their anatomy, YOU would be better served to use two others by either seeing or hearing of something truly enjoyable to help change the negative vibrations being pummeled on you via the media, the internet, and even people you might know personally.

Watch this trailer and see if it doesn’t turn that frown upside down, and if it does, I hope to see you at the theater this weekend.

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I’ve been working on a project the last few days which has forced me to put this blog on the back burner. (No, I can’t tell you what it is. ;-P)

That doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about you.

A good friend (Thanks Shane!) linked to this video earlier this week and it just makes me laugh, and wanted to share it with you. For those of us old enough to remember this, you’ll quickly realize how much our lives have changed. It also brings to light how impatient we are and how some feel that the world owes us.

Hope this adds to you having an enjoyable day, and we’ll see you on Monday!

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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