I would start off with “I hate to say it” but that wouldn’t be accurate or true. Fact of the matter is – I’m rather pleased that “I told you so“.

In a press release announced yesterday, YTB has agreed to enter into a final judgment and consent decree by the court without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact or law concerning yet another slanderous and erroneous lawsuit against YTB – this one filed by the Attorney General in Illinois.

Total damages of this lawsuit – basically restitution for approximately 300 people. I’m being generous with this number, simply taking the $500 start-up fee in the purchase of an online booking engine and not accounting for any monthly fees. We’ve learned from the Class Action that has been thrown out of court a half dozen times (and counting) that most who look for this type of refund or restitution don’t give the business much time or effort before they throw up their arms and quit.

Total cost of the restitution – $150,000 which represents 0.002% of everyone who’s ever signed up with YTB Travel as a Referring Travel Agent.

It’s important to note that all this money should go to former RTA’s of the company. There’s never been any fee for the right sell these websites to anyone (known as a “REP”) – although someone in the Class Action suit never paid a dime, but wanted restitution anyway.

Even when you combine the restitution to “victims” in the California suit settled two years ago, that still totals less than $300K. If you’re thinking – “wait a minute that was settled for $1 million?” you’re partially correct. Almost 90% or more exact – $875,000 went directly to the State of California, leaving a measly $125,000 for the “victims” that suit was designed to protect.

Look – I know how all these law suits put some people in a tizzy. Frankly, some who don’t know squat about Network Marketing (and never will the ignorant Zealots) became raving lunatics about the claims filed. Problem is – these suits were just that – claims. Most simply skipped ahead and proclaimed YTB was guilty of what was said simply because it matches their limited knowledge about the industry as a whole.

Now those who claim to be experts but have no real – practical experience will certainly have egg on their face. Truth is and always has been that nobody ever paid for the opportunity to recruit others. In addition and like it or not, other Host Agencies do charge a startup fee and monthly maintenance to partner with them.

And let me tell you – there was just no way any court would allow anyone to bypass those facts. Not even an Attorney General.

So here I sit today, with the same company, pretty much the same booking engine, and an even better opportunity I had three years ago. My commissions have actually increased from 60% to 75% on travel, and I’ve got an online store that gives me additional commission and provides cash back to my customers.

Instead of going out of business like some had speculated – I ended up with a better business. And I didn’t have to move an inch.

That’s what YTB has always been for me. Nor was there ever any doubt that it would survive. The clowns with the circus act with tails about a “house of cards” this and “endless chain” that don’t have a clue what their talking about. I know the industry from experience, I also know that Founders from personal contact. It was very clear to me that people totally underestimated both. That’s why I stuck around.

Sure there will be those that will continue to harp on the failed attempts to put the company under. They need someone like Jerry Brown or Lisa Madigan to justify their meaningless existence and limiting beliefs. There will also be those that want to focus on the recruiting aspect of the company. If they do more power to them – it’s their problem and misinformation, not mine. Network Marketing has been available and sustainable for the last 125 years. So get over it.

To me – honestly – some acted like such crazed dogs they need to be shot and put out of their self-inflicted misery. It never ceases to amaze me how some will just prowl every nook and cranny to find something they can get upset about. Or even worse, just make it up as they go along. And when challenged with an opposing view, they pretend to talk to someone else who agrees with them. Like that’s healthy or even normal.

I have to admit – it’s hard to believe that all this started three years ago. It sure has flown by. Probably because I always knew the bark was far worse than the bite. While some can’t seem to distinguish the obvious difference between a legitimate Direct Sales company or MLM and some long winded and very broad terminology that scream “pyramid scheme” it’s good to see that right still wins over wrong.

Happy to have all this behind us and I’m certainly ready to move on with a stronger, more lucrative, and diversified company. In that regard, I’m certainly not sorry any of this happened. Times like these always separate the weak from the strong – and the strong always get stronger.

Maybe now with this last suit out of the way we can get back to what we initially set out to do three years ago – Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Travel.

It’s been long overdue.

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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Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

Back in 2008 I wrote my first e-Book and boy was it a huge hit! At the time it was released to the public, there was a massive backlash going on in the travel industry concerning YTB’s rapid growth and clear signs of success. Travel Agents, already beaten and downtrodden by the Airline industry and online booking engines saw a virtually unknown Network Marketing company explode and take hold in the industry. And it scared the living daylights out of them.

The book entitled “What The Critics Know About YTB” was in reality an April Fools joke with a very distinct message. What made it both a joke and message to anyone who obtained a copy, was the book had nothing written in it. Yep, 100 blank pages. Even more comical – those who didn’t get it at first responded with – “There’s nothing past the first chapter?”

I still have this book and story of how it came about in my auto responder series to help new members of YTB and ZamZuu understand just who these people are and how their own fear and anger prompts the attacks of our fine company and our people.

Tomorrow marks the three year anniversary of this blockbuster e-book. (I’d like to call it a “Best Seller” but it was never actually for sale.) While we are three years removed from the vast majority of the drama that was conjured up by critics and detractors, to this day there remains one lone fool who still fits the mold of my brand of “critic”.

Probably the most difficult aspect when dealing with critics that I’ve had to overcome is they never really learn anything new. Heck, I’ve seen cases were they never even admit to making mistakes. It’s a level of arrogance I still don’t understand, but have come to accept. While I still find them irrational and incredibly dysfunctional, after three years of fighting tooth and nail to justify themselves and their position – they’ve become extremely silly in the way they think and act. Which made the April Fools date perfect for an e-book like mine.

When I saw the news about the sale of the Home Office and the money that was proposed – the very first thing that came to mind was “This is really going to tick someone off.” Even fools realize that several million dollars would be beneficial to anyone receiving it. You need to understand however that a clock has been ticking since late 2007 to 2008 with dreams of our company going belly up. While I barely see most of these Zealots around any longer, several were adamant that the company wouldn’t survive past 2009. (They don’t want to be reminded, so it was much easier to just fade away I guess.)

Not my boy John however, he’s fighting to the death. (Preferably ours in his case.)

The Class Action filed against YTB has been a perfect example of how people just won’t learn. It possess a brand of arrogance that they’re views are the only ones that are right no matter who or what you represent.

The Courts have not only dismissed this case a half dozen times, it’s referred to as nothing more than a “glorified fishing expedition” by the Courts. Other descriptions from the Courts include “redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter“. Yet these fools have been pummeled by the very system they beg too more times than I want to remember – returning for more punishment. They’re currently appealing one of the six rulings against them. Oh, and they tried to file in State Court with essentially the same line of bull they’ve always used – and SURPRISE! The state court rejected the complaint and removed it to Federal Court where motions to dismiss the suit are currently on the docket for these Zealots yet again.

I mean good Lord – when might you call a dog a dog instead of a cat with nine lives? This is exactly the kind of stupidity that makes me think these people are insane. They keep regurgitating the same line over and over and over again – hoping, dreaming, wishing, praying that they’ll get a different result the next go around.

For the record, and I know this to be true in California – and suspect all courts in Illinois carry the same tune – the Courts really didn’t care to waste their time with the Attorney Generals complaints either. I’ve actually seen the head critic spin this as YTB wanting to settle the one remaining case in Illinois with Lisa Madigan. Truth is, it was Madigan’s Office who offered not the other way around. However, unlike arrogant critics, YTB is working with the office to help resolve wording so everyone (well, maybe not everyone) has an understanding of what they are purchasing and what’s actually free.

Not sure, but I suspect the Z-Kit was a result of these negotiations since some people didn’t perceive the “booking engine” as an actual product. (Booking engines are products you buy for a traditional business like Nexion, or Cruise Ship Centers, but not for MLM I guess.) The Z-Kit is the kind of product that’s more in line with traditional Network Marketing because you have something you can actually touch.

But just because you have something simple and straight forward- there’s always going to be that lone fool who’s going to make it look like MLM has is doing something wrong.

Case in point – a blurb I found while reading about the YTB 2010 Annual Report:

YTB/ZamZuu makes a ton of money off of the people that attend the convention. The revenue for the 2010 convention was $322,000. (Page 16) and the expenses were $457,000 (Page 17). So if you do the math that means that the gross income from the convention was $779,000. At $199 to attend, that puts attendance in the area of 3,900. A number YTB did not disclose. But, it is clear that for every person who attended the convention, more than $80 went directly to YTB’s bottom line. That is a 41% commission YTB earned on this event! Most companies tend to make their events affordable. Yes, most make money, but most don’t gouge.

See how that works? Only in MLM can you add revenue and expenses together so the company gouges it’s members. Last I heard (from my 9 year old daughter no less) you add revenue and subtract expenses. And because he’s the only one who can be right – he uses this new “fact” he’s dreamed up (sorry make that “uncovered’) to fuel even more anger and resentment towards the company. And you better believe he’ll warn the YTB faithful this summer that YTB will make a sweet 41% profit margin on the gullible who attend this year.

Makes you wonder just who the gullible one is now doesn’t it?

There were several other numbers in this report that mysteriously couldn’t be found in the actual SEC Filing. I have no clue where they came from honestly – he was (in his own words) “taking a good guess”, and “extrapolating a bit more” than anyone really needed to. But that’s just John being John. Playing the “expert” and words like “extrapolating” make you sound a lot smarter than you really are.

By the way – I think “extrapolating” means “make it up”. He’s never considered the hundreds of millions in travel the company has sold as the focus. The $25 million sold on the “recruiting” side somehow equals more than the $252 million sold on the “travel” side. Again, “gross sales” has always been replaced with “net income” for travel so they can focus on what they fear most – recruiting.

Oh and one more thing before I go. What guy prices out purses and girdles? From what this fool says, both Gina Alexander and Ghiada are overpriced? Is there another fixation other than MLM that we don’t know about?

I just find it odd that he knows so much about women’s apparel and garments.

Or is it just another case of a train wreck pretending to be some sort of expert?

Ah well, the charade continues as “Life According to The Almighty John W. Frenaye”. I have to admit, his escapades and illusions have provided some great content for this site over the years. With the way he bumbles and stumbles with outlandish speculation and absurdly bizarre perceptions it’s actually been fun. (I do enjoy slamming the poor guy.)

With the anniversary of my e-book, and one of the better April Fools jokes I’ve played, I suppose I should thank him for the all the content and for still being the biggest fool I know.

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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Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

I was working on another article yesterday, and decided to bump it for a video I wanted to share. It’s an attitude that I’ve seen all too often over the years.

Pick your subject – whether it’s politics, religion – even Network Marketing. You’re bound to run into someone who’s all bent out of shape and offended by what you say or do. While this can be bothersome and uncomfortable hearing someone else rant about being offended by something you appear to have caused, the responsibility doesn’t lie with the accused – but rather the accuser.

I learned a long time ago that when it comes to feelings and emotions – they’re yours and yours alone. Everything we look at in this world is neutral and nothing has any meaning except for the meaning that you give it.

What really cracks me up about these “issues” is that most of the time, instead of moving on and spending ones energy and time on something more productive (and healthy) I’ve seen cases where individuals will engross themselves in the very subject that offends them. All in the name of trying to rid themselves (and others) of the offensive subject or thing they find offensive.

Does that really make any sense?

Now I’ve read about this peculiarity from several authors, and have heard about how it all works and what to do about it in various seminars. I’ve yet however, seen anyone explain this anomaly in such a clear, coherent way before. I really don’t know that much about Dr. Gary Daniel, but I do know a thing or two about NLP. That’s short for Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

I’m sure some will get this – and others will find a way to be offended by it.

Just realize that if you are offended, he’s talking about 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.

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Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

Three years ago, YTB’s most famous cynic came bursting onto this blog with the mission to tell me – you, and anyone else who could stomach it – that MLM and Travel was a bad mix. When John Frenaye landed here, it took a nanosecond to figure out how this guy ticked. It’s a very standard and predictable M.O. that works by categorizing, separating, hiding, judging, condemning, attacking and rejecting.

Today, the name John Frenaye is synonymous with Anti-YTB after three years of rants and obsessive – compulsive behavior. Daily life consists of prowling the Internet for any tid-bit or morsel of food that can be reworked or rearranged and thrown back out in an attempt to justify his radical cause. His obsession has also compelled him to join every Facebook Fan page YTB or ZamZuu has – opting in under various aliases on several YTB newsletters (including ours), and even joining YTB a few years ago as a free “Rep” just to gain access to company information and communication to rework and refine with his own twist in an effort to satisfy his immense appetite over YTB.

Proper etiquette, rules or boundaries have little place for someone who needs to feed a powerful addiction. Nor is there any room for reasoning or solution based alternatives. All “pro” statements that don’t conform to the “Frenaye Creed” are quickly met with a direct rebuttal or even better – an abrupt and public reprimand. Many have described his uncompromising behavior cult like.

John is personally responsible for spreading his “creed” to every available board, forum, and blog, promoting his radical thinking and perceptions. Always watching – always monitoring the vast amount of communication and sites about YTB, just as soon as there’s a comment to support YTB – you can bet that John will be there to distract everyone from the topic at hand to trash the model, company, Founders and members.

After years of incessant rants – about the only option anyone has these days is the “ignore feature” found on these forms and boards to protect your computer (or your mind) from being infected. I have very little knowledge or care about what he’s writing these days, but there’s only one person I can think of that fits this description:

“Obviously, from your blog you will spin anything to the negative against this company. Some of it may be for good reason…some of it seems like an old crazy girlfriend I dated in high school.”

What’s also obvious is that John’s reputation precedes him.

While I’m years removed from the confines of alcoholism, I remember what it’s like to be consumed by addiction. How the compulsion controls every aspect of your life. True, to outsiders who see the daily rants, it looks to be bizarre and dysfunctional. For John however, life feels quite normal – even “right” because it’s so routine.

His own blog throughout the years, has been the home port to spew all that’s wrong with YTB. He’s prided himself on an open blog forum that allows all views and positions. A few months back however, his open blog forum policy was drastically changed and comments have since been shut down – completely.

The only views expressed or allowed are those of the owner now. Mind you, it’s no big loss. In fact – I applaud the disposal of daily rants and trash talking designed to keep emotions, rumors and fear at a frenzy level.

However, when I heard about the excuse in this thread (sorry, no direct link because Ainsworth is also on “ignore”) – I couldn’t help but think how John has deceived his own flock. Has John told his followers that someone was attacking his kids on Facebook?

Mind you, I would agree that would certainly be enough to scare any parent. (This one included.) If that were truly the case, I’d even feel applauded over John’s situation. It’s just not right – and if I find documented proof this is the case – beware.

Truth is however, from what I know about the comments made on his blog – they weren’t about his children at all – but about John and his personal failures as a young adult and travel professional. After all the years of poking and prying into everyone else’s lives and publicly posting them on his blog, someone has finally had enough and exposed the real John Frenaye and his less the perfect behavior and past on this site.

Several members of YTB have known about John’s troubles for some time, including me – but nobody has stooped to this level before. I’ve been asked on several occasions to post these findings in the hope it would turn the tables against John. Some have even speculated that it would shut him up.

About all it would do for sure would provoke more anger and resentment. John’s clearly not able to look at himself or his views as anything less than admirable and above reproach. With John’s bizarre behavior and ridiculous spin over the years, I’ve really never seen the need to add this information into the mix. In my opinion, the documentation provided here related to YTB would conclude this guy isn’t playing a full deck.

Some may consider this new blog unfair or underhanded.

If that’s the case, would it be underhanded for John to purchase “thefactsaboutytb.NET” to link to his blog? Would it be considered unfair that John also created a “Zam (space) Zuu” fan page to mock and poke fun at the name, our members and our Founders? Would it be considered a personal attack that John posted a link to a news story similar to the one about him surrounding one of our Directors? How ’bout posting personal bankruptcy findings?

John’s been guilty of all these offensive and abusive actions over the years. Frankly, I’m somewhat surprised it took this long for it to show up in cyberspace. When you play with this kind of fire, you’re bound to get burned sooner or later.

With that said – I have no idea if John’s going to wise up or straighten up. It’s not my place – and I’m completely powerless in helping him at this point. The only person that can help John is John – that much I do know.

My hope however, is this information will help you let go and move on like I have. John’s perception of YTB is similar to telling me the sky is purple. Rant all you want about it – it’s not going to change the color from blue to purple simply because you yell louder than I do – or make believe you know any more than I do.

That charade ended the second he barged in here and he opened up his mouth.

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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Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

I’m not a big NBA fan. Hardly watch any basketball to be honest. The closest I ever got to watching the NBA as a kid was “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh“.

Like most, I was aware of an NBA move this past off season. LeBron James left Cleveland in favor of Miami in the biggest free agency move the league might have ever seen. The hope for LaBron would be a title with better talent surrounding him in Miami. He tried it with Cleveland the last seven years, without much luck, so LeBrone figured a change was in order.

The move really upset everyone in Cleveland – including majority owner of the Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert who called the move “selfishness and cowardly betrayal” in an open letter to fans. Proclaiming that the Cleveland curse will follow LaBron and “until he does ‘right’ by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.”

Which proves you can still be petty AND very rich at the same time.

The “open letter” gave Cavalier fans permission to be just as petty and vocal towards LaBron all summer long – who hadn’t made a shot for Miami until last Tuesday night in the season opener – and lost.

This wasn’t an entire team that left. Not like the Browns who moved to Baltimore in 1995 – which by the way also ended one of the biggest rivalries in the NFL at the time. Believe it or not, Steelers fans also felt the impact of that move – and most felt a partial loss with Cleveland in a Monday Night Football game in Pittsburgh against Cleveland just after the announcement was made.

LaBron is a single player – a one man show if you will. True he was considered the keystone of the franchise to build around with other talent to capture a title and a home town boy to boot – but there’s no “I” in “Team”. Still, LeBron became the poster child in Cleveland for everything that’s wrong in professional sports. I didn’t realize how bizarre and emotional it was until I started to research for this article. You’d think the guy joined a Travel MLM based on some of the comments and emotion surrounding this move.

LaBron, in one of the most interesting commercials I’ve seen in a long time finally came up with a response all the bantering this summer. This isn’t about what LeBron James has done, or hasn’t done. This is about the difference between the expectations others may have of him versus the expectations he has of himself.

His answer is a question – “What Should I Do”? As if to ask critics and detractors who have taken to verbal abuse and burning his jersey directly. Pretending as if anyone else knows what’s best for the NBA star better than he does. It is after all his life – his goals – and his decision.

Too many times, we get hung up on the opinions of others. We allow it to stand in the way of what motivates us or what we believe would make us happy or successful. If you’re able to step outside the emotional baggage that others carry into the equation and look inward to your own core beliefs – none of the screaming going on outside really matters.

I love this commercial because it’s exactly how I feel towards the critics and cynics who are under the illusion that their opinions and perceptions actually matter when it comes to what I do and who I choose to associate with.

Like T. Harv Ecker taught me so many years ago in three short words – “Thanks for sharing”.

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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Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

A week or so ago the toilet in the kids bathroom wouldn’t stop running.

Now this toilet was practically brand new. I had replaced it only 3 or 4 years earlier because one of my kids had jammed one of their toys inside the “s” that flushed everything down the drain. Funny thing is, I remember having that broken toilet sit there for like two months before I finally got up enough nerve to replace it myself. I had never done a project like this before and the thought of doing it freaked me out.

Once I got into the project and actually did it however, I come to find out that it was actually a breeze to replace.

Since then, I’ve become quite the handy man around the house, and replaced all the toilets in the house with low flush units that save water. I also saved a costly replacement up at my parents last Christmas when my 1 year old niece shoved a cup down their toilet, blocking the flow of water down the drain.

A quick run to the local hardware store for a $2.00 wax ring enabled me to take the unit off the floor, snag the cup lodged in the drain and put the unit right back where it was within about 10 minutes. (A plumber would have cost $175 just to roll the truck.) It not only saved a lot of money, but also saved our family from the unsightly “butt crack” that plumbers are so famous for. ;-P

After taking a brief look at new leak we had in the kids bathroom, on the surface it looked as if the gasket in the holding tank that released the reserve water had broken it’s seal. From the look of it, the glue holding the gasket in place had dissolved and the rubber gasket wouldn’t properly seal the water inside the tank. A quick fix for this was a trip to the local Home Depot for a universal valve to replace the inside of the unit.

What I didn’t take into account until after I got home with the new valve was the size of the existing valve, which was quite larger than the universal replacement I just bought. As a result, I’d had to go direct to Kohler for the replacement part.

So yesterday the part comes in and I go to work on the new unit. Because the unit held the reserve water inside one part, releasing it into the other, I had every intention in taking the holding tank off to replace the new valve. Fortunately however, I took just a brief moment to take a closer look at the new unit, and more specifically the gasket in question that had become dislodged from its proper position.

What I had assumed was glued on by some type of water proof adhesive, wasn’t the case at all. Instead, the rubber gasket merely came out of the ridge holding it there. I simply couldn’t see or feel the ridge from the perspective I had been looking. Because I was looking down from above, instead of below, I had no idea the ridge even existed.

After seeing how the gasket was actually placed into position from my new perspective I was able to place existing gasket back into the ridge holding it there by feel – without any need to disassemble a single bolt or screw.

Once again, what I had been dreading all this time, wasn’t the case at all after taking a closer look and actually going through the motions. The new valve will be going back to Kohler today for a full refund.

The moral of this story is that we all make assumptions based on our current perspective. Fear is nothing more than False Evidence Appearing Real, and I’m just as guilty as the next guy right out of the gate. Our minds are well potty trained to be “in the toilet” – and by that I mean that little voice inside that says “You’re not good enough” – or – “You’re not worthy” – or “It’s too difficult”.

The difference with me over the last couple of years is I’ve been fortunate enough to not only question those limiting beliefs, but have been given some amazing tools that change these beliefs entirely. It’s rather empowering. The more I clear the weeds that have been chocking me all these years, the clearer I see things. In addition, as I put these principles into action, challenging the fear head on that it’s too difficult, I find that I’ve always had the capability to do whatever I want already within me. I simply had to have an opportunity to apply it.

And there’s the rub. So many times, we just let fear stop us dead in our tracks. We accept that little voice as truth instead of mere illusion. Not only do I catch myself doing it, I see others doing it on a regular basis.

Have you ever stopped to think who told you it couldn’t be done? Really – think about that for a moment. How did that belief get there in the first place? You certainly weren’t born with it – like someone stamped you with either “Worth” or “Yuck – Unworthy!” when you were born. So who embedded that kind of programming? Maybe it was your parents, or another relative. Maybe kids you hung out with growing up. In fact, I still see it in grown adults. (Think about the high and mighty Travel Agents who have done nothing but poke and pry at those of us in YTB.) Point is, it was placed there by someone else, and we’ve all bought into it for one reason or another.

Truth is, it’s nothing but an illusion. I had all kinds of false perceptions running through my head over changing a simple gasket in a toilet, when in reality that perception was eventually flushed down the drain after taking a closer look.

It’s entirely up to you what perceptions or beliefs you hold and the actions you take that dictate what type of life you live. Just do me a favor and awaken to the possibility that there may be another perspective or alternative to what you’re thinking when your mind is in the toilet.

You may find that you can very easily flush it right down the drain never to be seen or heard from again.

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!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

When I first got into this industry back in 2005 I spent a lot of time in forums reading and posting with others in the industry. I learned the right way to do things – and saw plenty of examples of what NOT to do in this industry.

One of the forum posters who I still admire greatly was a gentleman named Tony Rush.

I think I connected with Tony for a couple of reasons. Rather than being emotionally attached, he was always logical and always very articulate in the way he communicated. He’s always been very open, honest, and unafraid to express his beliefs and opinions – which ironically brought out some very nasty critics of both him and the company he worked with at the time.

That’s were I felt the strongest connection with Tony. Not because he had critics – but because he simply simply didn’t care what anyone else thought. He’s strong enough in his own convictions and beliefs that critical views and opinions are always the property of the one voicing them. (As it should be.)

I’ve kept up with Tony over the years and still get communications from him as a subscriber on his list. He’s always been one of my favorite writers and I enjoy his insight and perspective.

He sent me an e-mail the other day that spoke volumes concerning wealth consciousness.

Yes, it’s a long e-mail – but it’s also a long weekend – and there should be plenty of time to read it. And just like he said before he got going about this subject – the smart ones will take the time to read the entire thing.

If it speaks to you – and you want to find out more about what Tony is doing here’s his website: www.best7minutes.com. I’m not working with him, nor do I know what it’s all about. I happen to be very happy with my direction and company, but I can still appreciate great wisdom and insight.

Enjoy!

~~~

I love movies. All kinds.

But, did you know that there are all kinds of hidden messages in today’s entertainment that will keep you broke??

Don’t believe it?  Check this out:

Think of the most common “good guys” in popular movies:  Harry Potter, Clark Kent (Superman), Peter Parker (Spider-Man),

What do they all have in common?

– they’re all orphans
— they’re all poor and broke
— they’re constantly having to deal with the agendas of wealthy people

Then, think about the bad guys like Lex Luthor, Draco Malfoy, Normon Osborn (that bad guy from Spider-Man), Parker Selfridge, (the bad guy in AVATAR):

– they’re all billionaires
— they’re all malicious, mean, nasty people
— they have no regard for anything but their own money and power

Sneaky stuff, huh?

And that’s not the half of it.  Most of these blockbuster films have hidden messages that you pick up on and carry into your real life.

Things like:

– you cannot be wealthy and be spiritual
— if you focus on having more money, you’ll compromise your values
— being poor allows you to have more spirituality and love

Guys, this stuff is insidious.

Think about the movie TITANIC.  Another Jim Cameron movie full of hidden messages that are designed to appeal to the “mass thinking” of the herd.

You’ve got the hero who is….you guessed it….broke as a convict. The babe in the movie is dating a guy who’s richer than God and he is …..that’s right again…..completely immoral.

EVERY single wealthy person in the movie is shallow, superficial and completely without any spirituality at all.

And, of course, all the poor people are having a good ol’ time, stomping around in the manure down in 3rd class, and they’ve got wonderful relationships and they’re all great parents, etc.

You see it coming, don’t you?

That’s right:  the “journey” of the movie involves the girl (“Rose”) who has to turn her back on prosperity and abundance and choose a life of squalor and poverty.  This is the only way for her to truly be happy.

Of course it’s all BS but that’s Hollywood for you.

By the way, did you get that ending?  Rose is now about 100 years old and she’s been mooching off her daughter who’s working hard to raise a family AND take care of Rose.

And in the final scene, we find out that Rose has been hanging on to this huge diamond ever since the Titanic sunk….this thing is worth tons of money….and instead of using it to help her family or her friends or her daughter or herself…..

….the old bat throws it into the ocean!

Oh, man!  How can anyone see this ending to be about anything other than “Throw away money….it brings you nothing but pain.”

What a crock.

And yet this movie made MILLIONS of dollars.  How’s that for irony?  The filmmakers made millions of dollars teaching you that you should be poor!

So, why am I talking about this?

Simple:  most people are sabotaging themselves and don’t even know it.

They want to be wealthy….but they feel guilty about wanting it.

They want to make money but they think that having lots of money will mean they’re not going to be a good parent, spouse or person.

They want to have a life of luxury and abundance….but they think that achieving it will make it harder to be a spiritual person.

And -  snap — just like that…..you’ve got yourself a nice new recipe for staying stuck in life.

Seriously:  you need to understand this if you want to create a life of freedom.

If you have any of these beliefs, you need to get clear of them NOW:

– money is the root of all evil
— rich people are evil
— rich people get rich at the expense of the poor
— it’s hard to make money
— making money takes hard work
— money is the opposite of spirituality
— money doesn’t grow on trees
— if you want to be wealthy, you’ll have to lie, cheat and steal

Think about it.  If you have ANY of those beliefs, do you really think your subconscious mind is going to let you become wealthy?

No way.

You’ll sabotage yourself faster than you can imagine.

How will you do it?

Oh, you’ll come up with a way.  You’re good at it.

A master.

Next time you spot a juicy opportunity to make money you’ll say dumb stuff like “that’s too good to be true”.

Or next time you someone offers you a way to earn thousands of dollars per week….you’ll say, “That won’t last.  Real wealth is supposed to take a long time to build.”

Or, you’ll turn into the World’s Most Analytical Person and say, “Well, I need to think about it”….and you’ll pretend to think about things for a few days or weeks.  Heck, people have decided to run for PRESIDENT in less time than it will take for you to figure out if you’re ready to get started in a lucrative home business!

Or you’ll say, “Well, I need to understand every single detail before I move forward”.  Which is a lot like saying you won’t start on a vacation trip until all the traffic lights are green at the same time.

I don’t know how you’ll do it.

But you will.

Know how I know?

Because I did this for years.  And so have you.  You’re already doing it.

Seriously.  Everytime I got close to actually making some decent money, I’d somehow manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory……and do something to screw it up or postpone it or to just outright reject it.

And I guarantee that you’re doing the same thing to some degree.

Here’s how I know:

Are you rich right now?

If not,…..why not?

Answer that.

Got your answer?

Well, try this on:  whatever reason you gave for why you’re not wealthy is what’s running your life right now.

In fact, whatever answer you have is actually not even real.  But it’s the stand that you’re taking against being wealthy.

If that were not true, you’d be wealthy already.

Success is a choice.

It’s not difficult.
It’s not hard.
It doesn’t take years of hard work. And it has nothing to do with compromising your morals or values or integrity or any of those things.

But, if you don’t change what you believe is possible about making money……then you’ll always be in about the same situation you’re in now.

Think about it:  don’t you find that your bank account never gets above a certain number for long…..?  And then something comes along to knock it back down again?

Self-sabotage.

Believe me or not.  But this may be the most important financial message that you ever read.

Because if you don’t do something about developing a prosperity consciousness…….

…..well, things will always involve about the same amount of struggle and work and scrambling around to make the ends meet.

What’s the solution?

Here are a few tips:

1.  Start hanging around people who are living the kind of life you want to live.  Lifestyle.  Leisure.  Income.  Whatever.

2.  Start a personal development program.  If your life sucks, it’s because you suck.  It’s not the government, the economy or your job.  It’s you. Start working harder on yourself than you do on your job and you’ll find out that the solution has been with you all along.

3.  Start a business that actually pays you what you’re worth.  Forget working 40 hours a week.  Find something you’re passionate about – or find a solution to a problem and start helping people solve it. Those desires you had as a kid were divined in you for a REASON. It’s time to go after it.

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