One of my favorite people in the whole world is T. Harv Ecker. His book “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind ” changed my whole perspective and financial thermostat surrounding life and money.

One of his creeds I live by to this day is: “Don’t believe a word I say – unless you can verify it on your own to be true.”

Harv is launching a brand-new 3-part Teleseminar/Webcast series called “Your Turning Point to Financial Freedom.”

And I am inviting you – your friends, family and colleagues to be a part of any or all sessions free of charge. Personally, I urge you to stick with the entire series. (Why not, it’s complimentary – and that’s hard to beat!)

In this Teleseminar, you’ll learn the 3 key strategies to creating your financial freedom in any economy.

You’ll become even more successful and watch your earnings and bank account soar.

And you’ll avoid the “feast or famine” cycle that millions of people go through.

Here’s what’s in store for you and your referrals at these life-changing sessions ….

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Session #1: How to Create Financial Freedom
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One of Harv’s students once asked him, “I wish I had enough money so I didn’t have to work anymore.”

“And, how much money would it take?” He asked him.

As with most people, he couldn’t say.

Listen: the key to financial freedom is to have enough money that you don’t have to work anymore if you don’t want to. Then you have the freedom to do only what you want.

The “Freedom Number” is the exact amount of money you need never to have to work again — and in this session, we show you how to calculate YOUR Freedom Number down to the penny!

Once you know your Freedom Number, your wealth-building efforts can focus on that goal. Make sense?

To register for this free Teleseminar/Webcast, click here now:
www.millionairemind.com/webinar

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Session #2: The 98% Mistake
============================

In this Teleseminar/Webcast, you’ll learn how to avoid the one mistake that 98% of people make in managing their money.

You’ll discover key strategies that flatten out the personal boom and bust cycles so many folks go through … and in this economy, it’s more bust than boom!

You’ll master the money rule of rich and successful people. And you’ll learn how to create a steady plan and follow it all the way to financial freedom.

www.millionairemind.com/webinar

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Session #3: Success with Balance
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In our third Teleseminar/Webcast, you will learn:

• A new definition of success and how to define success for yourself.
• How to create wealth with balance in all areas of your life.
• How to build your net worth while making your life more meaningful.
• The Big Rocks formula for achieving what’s most important to you.
• The 80/20 rule for getting more done in less time.

Registering for “Success with Balance” is easy and free:

www.millionairemind.com/webinar

This is for you AND the people you care about.

Not only can this series make a major difference in your life, it can do the same for your friends and colleagues too.

Getting trusted information that can alleviate your financial struggle and help you and those you care about get ahead has never been easier.

** It takes almost none of your time – each session is just 45 minutes.

** You can do it from the comfort of your living room with only a telephone – no need to travel or even leave the house.

** It’s absolutely free of charge.

Take the first step and start doing something to help you – and your friends – achieve greater prosperity and abundance.

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There are several things that make me proud to be a member of YTB and ZamZuu. I mentioned Flags4Vets just before Convention. The company has also been a part of Feed the Future in years past, which provide toys, computers, musical instruments, and other gifts to children. We also can’t forget Passport To Giving which provides a steady stream of income for non-profit organizations who no longer have to beg for money.

This fall YTB and ZamZuu will expand its community service to help even more people in the form of security services for the average person. We know all too well about nut cases who poke and prowl the internet for your personal information and end up posting it publicly for everyone to see. While the information age we now live in can be a huge benefit – there is a segment of society who is suffering for whatever reason – and in their own dysfunctional way, they believe that victimizing others will make their pain go away.

While these people may or may not take responsibility for their own wellbeing and happiness – there IS something YOU can do to protect yourself and your family from this ugly segment of society.

That’s why we have a special interest in what ZamZuu will roll out as a new premier identity theft recovery product called the Entrust America ID Recovery Plan. In the event of an identity theft, the covered member is assigned a certified “Rush ID Recovery Specialists” from Entrust America who performs all the recovery and restoration work on behalf of you, the victim.

Most other plans on the market today merely offer assistance and expense reimbursement, and the victims are forced to do their own recovery. Don’t be fooled by slick marketing tactics, partial solutions and fine print exceptions that protect them, not you.

Last year, as many as 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft according to the Identity Theft Resource Center.

We know how nasty and foul these perpetrators can be – but there is a way for you to remain in control and have peace of mind. Entrust your identity to local, regional, and national police associations and law enforcement (who also use THIS product) with Entrust America who fully recovers the victim’s identity, repairs the damage done, pursues the perpetrator, and takes legal action on your behalf.

The second product ZamZuu will launch is something we believe every parent needs in this day and age. Personally, I have no problem with people coming after me – but when it comes to my family that’s an area that’s so far out of bounds I can’t even put it into words. (And you know me – I have a way with words.)

KidZafe by Zamzuu helps you protect your kids from predators, bullies and sexting and helps you protect their privacy and reputation on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and on the mobile phone.

I could go on for days writing about this – but the mind doesn’t see in words – it sees in pictures – and I want you to get the full impact of what’s at stake here as a parent and what you can do to protect those you love. The video embedded below is powerful – especially if you’re a parent of young children. What I really like about this product is that it doesn’t force you to hide or lock up your children from the scum that may be after them – but it will warn and help you protect them. It puts you back in control of the information they now have at their fingertips.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, but wait – it get better.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In case your wondering – that’s called accountability.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Typical.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See my point?

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

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

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

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

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One of the nice features about a blog is the ability to track how people find you. I’ve always kept a pretty close eye on search terms and referral links coming into this site because it’s one of the best ways to come up with new material and topics. It’s also a good indicator of what’s on people’s minds.

The biggest mistake I see people make when writing a blog is it’s all about them – and that’s the wrong way to look at it. If you want readership – you have to cater to topics that interest your readership. It’s not that you can’t write about what you want or have personal opinions about your topic of choice – but you really need to think from a readers perspective.

Case in point – a really hot search right now is finding an alternative to Bing’s Cash Back program. The current number of searches is alarming and plenty of people are scrambling for alternatives. When I wrote about Bing flushing their program back in June, not only did I find out that Bing wasn’t making any money, (giving 100% back to consumers who shopped there) but some of the extremely high cash back percentages were actually coming out of Bing’s pocket.

The plan behind stacking the percentages of cash back was to drive more user traffic. In a roundabout way, Bing was paying for more traffic in cash back in the hope that it would eventually lead to more advertising dollars. When you look at Google earning revenue of $22.8 BILLION in 2009 just in advertising revenue – you’d want a piece of that pie too. But Google also dominates 71% of all search queries in the United States, while Bing captures only 9%.

Microsoft in their infinite wisdom had a better plan. When Microsoft bought Jellyfish.com back in 2007 to get into the online shopping game they eventually stripped away the “refer a friend” percentages and the revenue split that Jellyfish.com made to continue to build and develop and gave it all away to the shopper – betting they could make it up in ad revenue.

The beginning of the end came in August of 2009 when Bing doubled their cash back percentages – costing them even more money without the sufficient ad revenue to compensate. They were betting that it would drive considerably more traffic and it did – for shoppers – but it never turned into loyal search users or more advertising dollars.

When Microsoft bought Jellyfish.com back in 2007; this small little company was profitable. The cash back splits were sufficient, and word of mouth or referrals were working like a charm. Although I had no idea who they were at the time, they were by far the fastest growing cash back option on the internet at the time. Dozens of startups tried to copy them or add their own little twist to get in on this growing trend of e-commerce.

But Bing had a better plan – while going head-to-head with traditional cashback programs firmly entrenched in the market for a decade or more: Ebates, MrRebates, Upromise, MyPoints, and Memolink.

While Bing was great for shoppers and garnered a number of loyal fans it was the wrong model for business. You can’t give away more than you make and stay in business for very long.

So loyal Bing shoppers are off searching for new alternatives. Some have already found them, while others appear to be somewhat disappointed that some of their favorite cash back stores have been cut in half.

If you’re a follower of this blog (or YTB and ZamZuu) you’re well aware of the illusions some people have about MLM and Network Marketing. How MLM is the only model who takes huge cuts out of their price to pay all the people at the top. It’s a myth and illusion I find fascinating. If you look at business as whole – every company has a pyramid structure to it. (So does government and your family tree for that matter.) Why MLM is singled out as being the only pyramid that’s wrong, immoral or a scam makes me question the intelligence of those who rant and rave with their harsh and bitter commentary.

When it comes to these shopping sites, most all out there keep about half the commission for themselves to stay in business. They need to pay for employees, local management, area management, and regional management, VP’s, Senior VP’s, Partners, Presidents and CEO’s. The higher up the pyramid (excuse me – make the “ladder”), the bigger your cut of the revenue earned.

How some miss that – makes me question their intelligence.

That being said, let’s look at ZamZuu simply from the consumer experience and compare it to other “traditional models” that have been around for a while.

When you take a look at this document which lists a side by side comparison of other leading cash back programs, you’ll clearly see that ZamZuu stacks up really well. While some may be a percentage or two higher or lower, nobody really comes out as a clear winner in this chart from a consumer point of view. It’s interesting to note that all the programs listed are “traditional models” and not MLM or Network Marketing companies.

From this perspective, ZamZuu is no different from a traditional model or cash back program.

The key difference for me and why I promote ZamZuu is the “refer a friend” percentage – which clearly trumps the others by a long shot. There is a distinct difference in model and mindset in this instance however. I look at ZamZuu as a business model – not a hobby. The ability to refer friends, family, neighbors, and co-worker and earn 60% of what they earn in cash back is the game changer for someone who understands business. Instead of that 60% going to the President or CEO of Fatwallet or Extrabux it comes to me as an Independent Business Owner.

Clearly, these “friends” will be hard pressed to find a better all-around cash back alternative for themselves in this growing market of online shopping. It’s free for them to sing up, and they have the added benefit of finding comparable travel deals through a 10 year old Travel Agency that also ranks with other power houses in the industry.

Just our way of separating fact from the fiction. More like illusions if you ask me – but that’s another article for another day.

So if someones looking for an alternative to Bing Cash back – feel free to save this document and show them a side by side comparison. I can promise you, they won’t have any better relationship with anyone from these other companies. But they do have one with you.

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Back from our family vacation – but a little smaller in size. We got about half way home and realized that we forgot the kids! ;-P

Actually, they’re on a “Grand Adventure” this week which is reserved for Grandparents and Grand kids. It’s something my parents have done since my sisters kids were growing up and it’s something everyone (including Ronda and I if you know what I mean) look forward to.

That being said, I’ll be easing back into the articles – at least for this week. There are a couple of projects around the house that need to be taken care of and with the kids being gone and feeling well rested and relaxed this is the perfect week to get most of them done.

While I was off vacationing and enjoying myself however, the Home Office appeared to be rather busy setting up a whole new category of products for everyone to promote.

ZamTek is a new technology category for things like Digital Voice & Video Phone Service – Wireless Telephone Services & Accessories from all the major carriers – Satellite Television from DirecTV or Dish Network – Super Fast Internet Solutions – and Home Security are all now partnered with ZamZuu.

Brings back memories of my security and home automation days.

I’ve always liked this category of product – I am a technology geek at heart. For the record, back in the day, there were some riffs in this industry too about “service” and “professionalism” when putting technology systems together like this. While I saw some get upset that online companies were selling security and satellite systems to end users without the “professional installation” – it actually helped business.

When someone got in over their head and needed help – they called in the pros. When a “professional” showed up that was trained and qualified it was very easy to win their business because they took the pain away and solved their problems. Much of the grunt work was already done, and it was a simple matter of trouble shooting which paid just as well (sometimes even more) than if they got the job in the first place.

One of my favorites was the guy who bought a complete home theater system thinking he could do it himself. All the equipment was already purchased but he didn’t have a clue how to connect it all together. A “service call” to help out the poor guy was nothing but pure profit. Hourly rates paid far more than the wage paid for the technician.

After the pain was taken away and the problem was solved – what do you think happened the next time he needed an upgrade or a new gadget – who do you think he called?

Referrals where also a huge perk when turning a client’s nightmare into a dream come true. The level of respect and ability to install the system from the very beginning always increased margins and profitability soared through the roof.

What we’ve seen in the travel industry the last few years and the bizarre behavior by that category of “professionals” shows me a real lack of creativity or a willingness to cease opportunity. Instead of enhancing their profession, they’ve defiled their own industry with the way they think and act. Too selfish and bitter to consider that they’re only damaging their own reputation.

I don’t know about you but I don’t care how good some of these travel agents are – the fact that they treat other human beings the way they do pushes more people away than it attracts.

Another lesson learned from technology industry is that manufacturer’s look for vehicles to move their product off their shelves and into the hands of paying consumers. While those who work in the travel industry and technology industry may have misgivings about who was authorized to sell either a satellite system or a hotel room – the objective for business is to get it into the hands of consumers.

What makes ZamZuu (or Network Marketing) so attractive to business is the massive ROI by putting these products into the hands of thousands of Independent Representatives to sell by word of mouth. Any business that “hires” a MLM doesn’t pay a dime to that MLM until a product has actually been sold.

It’s the most attractive and profitable distribution model available – period.

Because there are so many “representatives” selling these products the leverage creates better commissions to the field – while still keeping margins high for the manufacturer because there are no advertising costs. It’s a win – win for both manufacture and representative.

I can’t imagine the cost and time it would take to ramp up all these categories and product models. Travel, online shopping, and now technology products – all under one roof for what? $250 to start and $50 a month. You couldn’t get started for any less than that or start selling any quicker than what YTB and ZamZuu has created. It’s a complete turnkey opportunity that puts anyone who wants to make additional income a breeze.

Now if they could just figure out a way to have customers and clients flock to these new websites without promoting it or opening up your mouth.

That I’m sorry to say hasn’t changed in business. You still have to market and promote when it comes to selling these products – customers don’t just appear out of thin air. Marketing can only be considered marketing or promotion when someone actually knows about it. If you don’t do it – somebody else will and they’ll get the sale instead of you.

It doesn’t have to be hard or difficult. It could be as easy as writing an article just like this and telling people that ZamTek is now available through ZamZuu.

Just the name ZamZuu or ZamTek right now could be odd enough for someone to actually take a look at what the heck it is!

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You know, I looked for this list last week and didn’t see it. Then mid-morning yesterday, it dawned on me that it might be out this week. After writing about this Power List the last 4 years (because YTB has made the list all 4 years) I can go directly to the URL without even needing to look it up. I’ve enjoyed the publication (I enjoy it all year long actually) and it’s fascinating to see the chess match that goes on in the travel industry.

Ironically, Travel Weekly appears to see it as a chess match as well, but on a much grander scale – the last decade. There have been some new faces (like YTB) that have shown up in the last few years and others that have either gone completely out of business or have been acquired by or merged with other companies. (More of the latter from what I can tell.)

The biggest surprise to me was who knocked off the #1 and #2 positions the last few years. American Express and Carlson Wagonlit have had a lock on the the number one and number two spots respectively until this year. (American Express has had a lock on #1 since 1992, when the Power List first came out.)

Online giant Expedia jumped over both this year to take the number one spot.

Yep, online travel is now king.

The list also shrunk in size this year (from 61 total to 52) because – well 2009 was a rough year for travel. Bookings may have been up – but with prices cut in half to get people on board ships, into hotel rooms, and on vacation you literally needed to sell twice as much in order to even maintain your spot from last year.

How did YTB fair in all this?

Not too bad actually. YTB did drop from 25 to 29.

Considering the economy, the incessant and dysfunctional obsession from industry “professionals” about YTB’s MLM model and our fine group of ambulance chasers who can’t quite grasp the meaning of the word “NO” – 29 is actually pretty good.

On the other hand, most clients who book with YTB don’t know (or don’t really care) that there’s an MLM arm attached to the company. Technology plays a big part in that.

I’d highly recommend taking some time to read Travel Weekly’s cover Story “10 Years In Review” to attain their perspective on how technology has changed the face of travel. I’ve been writing about it for years here – but I’m just one of those MLM “Yahoo’s” – a newcomer to the industry who really doesn’t know how things work. (Or so some would have you think.)

Turns out that the internet and technology has not only changed the rankings considerably over the last ten years, but it’s essential in the growth and viability of the vast majority of the agencies who are still around. That’s not to say high touch and high service doesn’t continue to play a role like most of the old dogs would have you believe. (The ones who demand this type of service from YTB in order to legitimize the model.)

A total focus on high touch and high service however, would have certainly landed YTB on the outside of this Power List looking in.

Back in 2001 when YTB was founded, they saw a trend towards technology. Today, over $50 BILLION in travel was purchased online last year between Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, and Travelocity. While all four certainly produced top 10 rankings, Travelocity didn’t provide sales numbers and wasn’t included in this years rankings. (See “What happened to…” in the Travel Weekly report.)

Those who have embraced this shift and taken advantage of the paradigm shift from brick and mortar to click and order have done very well for themselves over the last ten years.

Those who haven’t? Well, you can now find them on various message boards, forums and some have even created their own blogs to bitch and complain about how MLM not technology has ruined their business.

Change is a little more difficult for some – and honestly, some may never come around. (I certainly wouldn’t count on it.) I wouldn’t worry about it however. They’re the ones who are faced with another Power List with the name YTB Travel Network in it for the forth year in a row.

Instead, embrace the technology YTB has provided with new an innovative ways of booking travel.

In fact, you can do that tonight if you’d like. Carnival will be featured once again on our booking engine with yet another “Sail-A-Thon” to wind down Carnival Month with YTB. It’s a live 4 hour blowout sale and you could get up to $160 Cash Back from Carnival if you book with us tonight.

Technology and travel…

It appears to be the right mix if you ask me. ;-P

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