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.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

I’m not a big fan of Network Television. I will watch an hour or two a week for shear entertainment value – but I can’t remember the last time I saw even a minute of Network News. It’s been years. I’d rather listen to an audio book, participate in a webinar or conference call or find a home study course to feed my mind as I continue to learn and grow. The only exception I make in arranging my schedule is during Football season, and that can turn into an entire day, typically on Sunday when I’m taking a break anyway.

Hey – I’ve been a Football fan all my life and this old dog ain’t about to turn a new trick when it comes to my Pittsburgh Steelers.

A show that I do have an interest in however airs on NBC tonight – the first of six primetime episodes entitled Breakthrough with Tony Robbins. It’s reality TV with a twist – it’s designed to inspire and enlighten you which is typical Robbins.

Some of the oldest tapes I have in my library (which should tell you how long I’ve been of fan) are from Tony Robbins. He’s one of the earliest mentors I can think of for personal development and self-improvement. In an effort to reach and positively impact even more people, Tony Robbins has created 6 one-hour primetime television specials that begin airing on NBC starting this Tuesday, July 27th at 8 p.m., 7 Central. They will run every Tuesday evening for the next six Tuesdays including tonight.

I applaud Tony for putting something positive out there in the main stream media. One of the reasons I haven’t watched a network news program in years is because it’s so negative. This person killed here – that robbery there – and the economy as always – in the toilet. If you really think about it – do you really need to know how many murders and robberies there are?

If something is important enough that you need to know – it’s going to make it’s rounds in one form or another. I certainly don’t need to go looking for it.

Tony has always been different. He’s offered tools and insights to improve people’s lives. If you’re a follower of Tony like I am, you’re going to want to tell friends, clients, family or anyone you care for about this show. Some will thank you – others will ignore you – while I’m sure there will be others that scorn you for telling them. (If that’s the case – maybe you need to reconsider who you call “friends”.)

Here’s a little bit about the show that came through an e-mail from Chet Holmes (more on Chet latter):

After more than a dozen offers and years of turning away producers and networks, Tony finally found a format that appealed to him and one that can really impact you, your friends, family and clients.

I was in the studio audience for segments of some of these shows, and there was not a dry eye in the house. You will be inspired, moved, motivated and profoundly affected. I mean this first episode is a knockout. Imagine you’re on your honeymoon and jump in the pool and hit your head on a step and, wham, you’re a quadriplegic for life.

That doesn’t just affect you. It seriously impacts your loved ones. In the very first episode, Tony shows you that “the story” you tell yourself shapes the entire quality of your life. Powerful. You have to see it.

But wait! There’s more! (I’ve always wanted to say that for some reason.)

Tony and Chet built a program called: Four Ways to Double Sales in 12 months. Because your reading this – you’ll be able to download that program as well. Even in this bad economic period, all four of these ideas help dramatically strengthen any company and give you paths to serious success.

Chet offered the free training in the e-mail —a 90 minute program from Chet Holmes and Tony Robbins absolutely free. (And no registration or e-mail required either.) You can download it here.

For more information and insight into tonight’s powerful new show, you can read more about it and watch a couple more videos @ www.breakthroughinsider.com. Everyone in the personal development and marketing world that I communicate with is talking about it. (About two dozen e-mails yesterday.)

Personally – knowing what Tony is all about and how he’s transformed lives – I can’t wait.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

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.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

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

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

I’ve never been satisfied with being “average”. I’ve always been the type to welcome new ideas and try new things. To me, it just makes life more exciting. We’re only here for a short time in the grand scheme of things, so you might as well make the best of it.

I have an extensive library of books, audio tapes, CD’s and now MP3′s of personal development books that I truly enjoy reading or listening too. I rarely listen to the radio or music CD’s these days – not when I have something far more worthwhile and inspirational to listen too.

One of my favorite books of all time is from Brian Tracy called “Change Your Thinking Change Your Life“. The beauty of this book is that it’s so very simple – you are what you think about most of the time. If you don’t like how things are working out, it’s never going to change unless you change the way you think.

The reason why I look to guys like Brian Tracy for insight an inspiration is because they don’t just talk about it…

They live it.

If there was any doubt about the power of positive thinking you need to read this. Not many people know this, but Brian was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his throat a little over 90 days ago. After both a PET and a CT scan to confirm the diagnosis, followed by an expert second opinion, Brian began chemotherapy on April 15.

By June 7th, the tumor had disappeared.

What’s important to me as someone who has been taught to think outside the box from guys exactly like Brian Tracy is what he did. More remarkably, what he was willing to credit in aiding in the disappearance of this tumor. Some would certainly call him nuts, others would look at it with skepticism.

Not Brian Tracy. The man who has changed the thinking of millions of people listed the following possibilities that aided in the disappearance of his cancerous tumor.

From his blog:

1. People all over the world were praying for Brian and for his healing. Brian has always believed that God answers prayer. This was proof.

2. Two people treated Brian with “healing hands” during the 90 day period. This may have had a powerful effect on his healing.

3. Brian drank a special tea prepared by his housekeeper, Deborah, who is from Mexico. The tea is made from the bark of a tree found in Mexico, and it is supposed to cure cancer. This may have worked.

4. Brian was also introduced to a new technology called the “Amega Wand,” by his friends Mark Victor Hansen and Jason Boreyko. He received about 30 minutes of treatment with “zero point energy” with the idea that this energy would break up and dissolve the tumor.

Since he had already used the Amega Wand to get rid of arthritis in his hands and ankles, he was very open to the possibility of it working on the cancer.

5. He had eaten good foods, remained positive and optimistic, been busy and happy all the time, and gotten lots of rest-with no stress.

Here’s the thing…No matter how absurd, bizarre, or crazy you might think any of these “treatments” are – is there any question that Brian Tracy doesn’t give a hoot about how nuts people may perceive him to be? He’s cancer free.

For Brian, changing his thinking SAVED his life.

You don’t always have to go with the flow here. Truth is, “the flow” far too many times is average – and average just isn’t good enough. Why not be “exceptional” and enjoy what life has to offer?

Life is a journey that’s meant to be experienced – not something you do because you have too.

It’s not always easy, it’s not always comfortable, and there will be those who’ll want to criticize anything other than the “status quo”. Critics don’t live your life – YOU do.

Brian,

Thank you for the decades of expertise you’ve shared with me over the years. You’ve been instrumental in changing my thinking and breaking outside the norm. Like you, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m thankful and extremely grateful that you’ve not only overcome your battle with cancer, but shown us all that this can be conquered with the right mindset and actions. You’re a true gift for those of us who welcome a change in thinking in the hope that it will change our lives.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

Over the last five years, I’ve written on a number of topics, and about a number of people.

Having a blog that’s well read, well ranked, and well linked has its advantages. Quite often I’ll write about a certain company or person, they’ll find it and often times pick up the phone and call me directly to thank me. It use to blow me away, and I still gets me jazzed when someone takes the time to call about something I’ve written. It’s enabled me to connect to an number of really cool people that without this blog – I most likely wouldn’t have an opportunity to connect with.

I received such a voice mail this weekend – but this particular message took me by surprise.

What was remarkable about it was that it wasn’t anything that I had written recently. In fact I wrote it two and a half years ago – back before all the “drama” from our industry professionals started to stir and the constant shaming of the Founders, the Company, and our people who they claim have no interest in being legitimate “Travel Agents”.

The article I’m talking about was a post announcing YTB’s E-Campus training, and the person who called to thank me was Dr. Marc Mancini himself.

He found what I wrote and was so moved by my article that he immediately picked up the phone to call me to offer his sincere gratitude and thanks for my support.

I was on the phone at the time, and the caller ID said “Unknown Caller” so I let it go to voice mail. I wish I would have picked it up, because it was me who wanted to thank him – not the other way around.

Why? Because guys like Dr. Mancini are part of the solution – not part of the problem.

At the time I wrote that piece I had no knowledge of the battle that was about to erupt. We all knew there were “issues” stirring in the industry and E-Campus was a step in the right direction in qualifying and legitimizing YTB Travel Network as a true host. Come to find out years later is that you can take all the courses you’d like, attain all the credentials you want, but as long as your name is attached to an MLM host – it’s never going to be good enough for some.

These are simple minds who just won’t tolerate MLM because it’s a buzzword they throw around without having any true idea of what it is or what it means. It’s just bad. Very – very bad. Oh sure, they all claim to be experts, but have you actually seen the crap they think it is?

It makes me laugh it’s so ridiculous. So lame and comical I haven’t needed to defend any of it outside of this blog for years. If people who read that junk are stupid enough to fall for such nonsense, they shouldn’t be in business to begin with.

Dr. Mancini got his share of ridicule too just after E-Campus was announced. People called him all sorts of names, threatened to boycott his trainings – the standard threats that we’ve all come to know years later. What impresses me most about Dr. Mancini is that he had the guts to stick to beliefs. Yes, he was being paid for the courses he created for YTB (as he should be) but he never backed down due to pressure from traditionalist. We’ve seen plenty of examples over the years of just how nasty and irrational a small segment can be. Think back to MailPound and Davidoff Associates and how they were relentlessly scorned and chastised for attempting to offer value to YTB Travel Network as a Host Agency – not just some random MLM.

What’s so odd to me is that the “spin” from this small segment was (actually still is after all these years) that people like me aren’t interested in learning about the travel industry at all. The focus according to them is “recruiting” – and that my friend is a word that conjures up some of the deepest fears and phobias I’ve ever witness in human behavior.

I mean it REALLY gets some people worked up.

I’ve heard it said many times that if YTB would simply drop the MLM part of our pay plan, we just might be accepted as a legitimate agency. What these dolts can’t comprehend is that “somebody” is being paid in every Travel Host out there that charges a fee. (To the guy at the top of the pyramid no less!) We just happen to offer part of that “fee” to those who are responsible for making the sale. To me, that makes it not only fair, but a much more attractive compensation package than any other agency out there.

And for the traditionalist that are holding out hope that YTB would ever dump the MLM payment structure…sorry, nobody asked you.

No, we’ll stick with true leaders and mentors. Those who have the intelligence to see past some model and look at the people who are involved.

I recently wrote about how this industry (MLM) is chalked full of support and mentors. Nor have I been surrounded by more gratitude and love. Dr. Mancini may not be a part of MLM, but he’s got the true spirit of this industry down packed.

And for that – it’s me that is offering my sincere gratitude to him for not only acting like a true professional, but being part of the solution – not the problem.

Thank YOU Dr. Mancini.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

Remember that as a kid?

Or how ’bout this one?

“I’m rubber – you’re glue. What bounces off of me – sticks to you!” or “I know you are – but what am I?”

Back in 2007 a former columnist for MSNBC came bursting on this blog to tell me what MLM was really all about. Amused that anyone would “Double Dog Dare” me to produce commissions to validate my worth, I found this person simply ignorant. Ignorance I can handle with proper documentation and information to enlighten anyone willing to learn. The very meaning of ignorant is uninformed; unaware.

But stupidity is a completely different animal which I have to admit, I have very little tolerance for.

Many in the industry were shocked that I would not only communicate, but befriend someone so full of hate and bitterness. I’ve always believed that people can change their tune given the proper information. I’m living proof of it. People who have never known me during my drinking days can’t believe I was a functioning alcoholic.

I’ve been told that part of my appeal is that I make myself vulnerable – being open and honest about my past mistakes in an effort to help others learn from them. Nobody’s perfect, and to act like you’re the only one who is, is not only distasteful, but foolish.

It’s my belief that everyone is capable of change and enlightenment.

An awakening.

Some however, are far more stubborn (or stupid) than others. To avoid change, they play childish games like double dog daring you, and I know you are – but what am I to deflect the attention off of themselves and slap it right back on you.

Two weeks ago I outlined yet another gross misrepresentation of John Frenaye’s who still can’t seem to check his facts before he opens up his mouth. He has a long history of gross misrepresentations and lies that we’ve documented here on this blog. All bent out of shape about girdles he stated (among other gross misrepresentations) that the products cost more through ZamZuu so the company could feed the “pyramid”.

Granted, I poked fun at him using him as an example of someone needing a girdle – but it doesn’t change the fact that ZamZuu provided a 23% savings to our clients over a direct sale with Ghiada. The MLM “expert” had been exposed once again as a clueless.

Instead of acting like an adult and making some sort of correction – the dolt spends the next three days lambasting yours truly for being an MLM loser and failure – not on MSNBC – or in a trade publication – or one of the 10 agency locations once dreamed of, but on a free Blogspot account that has been his home for that last three years.

My how the mighty have fallen from grace.

What’s even more amusing is that one of his best buds also decided to take pot shots at me through e-mail and comments here in an attempt to disrupt my peaceful and productive existence.

It’s not that I don’t want to take responsibility for their anger. Truth be told, I actually enjoy pushing their buttons and getting them worked up. I read them like a book. When Jeanie Sharpless told me about her NCL cruise, I told her exactly what would happen if I put it in my newsletter. Like clockwork – it was up on John’s blog within minutes of sending it out, with all the spin and hype we’ve all come to expect from YTB’s biggest goof.

And I just laughed because I just knew it would get his goat. Illusions of lime green T-shirts crawling all over NCL with the quote “I got here free – ask me how” dancing in his head.

Their perceptions and illusions have gotten so out of hand that it’s actually easy to poke fun at them – even when you know they’ll attempt to bounce it right back on you. And when they do, you’ve won because mindless ridicule and childish outbursts are only used when you have nothing left.

So why aren’t they able to get me all upset and bent out of shape in the same way? Why am I so willing to just sit there and take such words as “failure”, “loser”, or “dumb ass” so easily?

I’ll let you in on a little secret – it’s money.

Money and success have a strange way of taking anything that’s negative about you and turning it into a non-issue. In fact, it can be downright comical when money arrives at the same time you’re being lambasted by a bunch of critics and cowards as some sort of failure. Truth is, they have nothing better to do with their time. They trample all over someone in an attempt to elevate themselves by putting you down. They’re showing how frustrated and jealous they are by their actions. (Forget words to the contrary.)

Since the last time I wrote about John two weeks ago – I’ve deposited over $6500 into my bank account doing exactly what I told you I was doing with multiple streams of income. Since residuals are paid on the 11th of each month, and travel commissions are paid on the 25th – none of it comes from recruiting or travel sales with YTB. (Besides, any of those commissions are put on my YTB Pay Card.) You’ll also notice no particular time such as the 1st and the 15th or every other week, nor do the deposits look as if taxes were taken out for an interest free loan to the Government.

Yep, looks like life is pretty rough right now for the Bauknight family – because critics have said so.

And to think if I didn’t take that first step with YTB all those years ago – I’d still be stuck in the Corporate World making someone else rich off of my efforts.

Guys, I’m not posting my income to brag or to tell my critics to go pound sand. (Well…they can still pound sand cause they’re idiots and I don’t care what they say or do at this point.) I’m posting this because you should never – EVER – allow anyone to tell you that you’re not worth it. You should never – EVER allow anyone to ridicule you from fear or jealousy. If I can do it – so can you. All you have to do is apply yourself and never – EVER quit.

Sure, you’ll fall down and go boom – several times. But the trick is picking yourself up, and trying it again with a slightly different approach.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Taking a good look at critics like John Frenaye – you’ll quickly see how you’ll end up if you don’t change or adapt; Bitter, angry, destitute, and without many options at your disposal.

Guys like John Frenaye don’t own you. I realize they demand approval and permission because they think their opinions should matter. Fact is, they’re nobody worth listening to. The louder they are the farther you should run. Find some new friends who will support you and mentor you. It’s also important to find friends who are more successful than you are. Hanging around a goof like John will leave you bitter, broke and a member of his dumb ass den.

It’s time to grow up folks and take charge of YOUR dreams – not John’s illusions or perceptions. It’s a fairy tale that only exists in his head and they’ll never win and never quit because their oversized egos won’t let them.

So go for it! Go ahead – I double dog dare you! ;-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.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?