Before YTB, I was living the American Dream – or so I thought. The “reality” was I had been bumbling through a number of companies that left me high and dry. Any illusions I had about the corporate world were quickly being shatter. Family Golf ran out of money and was bought out by an Asian group who promptly fired everyone. Anicom got caught cooking their books – was shut down by the FTC and the founders imprisoned. ISP lost its manufacturing contracts to the internet for the territories I covered. iAutomate never reached the internet dominance it aimed to achieve and was downsized. And my last stint with Hi-Fi Buys eventually ended in bankruptcy court.

The American Dream of getting a good education and finding a J.O.B. was a carrot I wasn’t willing to chase any longer. My discontent over the lie about working for someone else had me frustrated and looking for options when YTB came knocking.

Three guys – Coach, Scott and Kim turned me onto the idea of being in business for myself. They offered my first products I could offer and sell as an “independent representative”. Harv Ecker and Bob Proctor soon followed in my journey who showed me other income streams. All of the streams they create are “passive” – meaning I don’t have to be there to generate income. Guys like Mike Dillard taught me the value of branding myself. If you’re a newsletter subscriber, you’ve heard that name before – and many have bought Mike’s Magnetic Sponsoring courses. Mike’s primary business teaches the value of something called a “funded proposal”.

Coach, Scott and Kim taught the value of building a business within the YTB business, but I also like what Mike calls it.

“You, Inc.”

I became a student of “You, Inc.”. While everyone knows I’m tied to YTB, now ZamZuu – my brand is “Just Picture It Now”. With this brand, I now own a well visited blog with various tools and affiliate products that create income. I also own a list of subscribers that now reach thousands each and every week. Auto-responders within our newsletter create a steady stream of income that work on auto-pilot. Articles on this blog also create a steady stream of income with well ranked organic links. Articles I’ve written years ago continue to produce income almost every month. Those are the passive income streams that Ecker and Proctor taught me.

“You Inc.” provides me the option to pursue opportunities that interest me such as writing, up-in-coming technology, and pay-per-click income that keeps my brand diversified, fresh and profitable. I pick and choose who and what I promote with incredible flexibility and versatility. This diversity has enabled me to stay with YTB far longer without any worry of the outside forces attempting to tear it down. The economic meltdown of late 2008 and 2009 and the hit the travel industry took forced many to make changes. The needless “YTB bashing” that goes on about their “model” being something other than viable or legitimate has forced others to make changes as well.

Me? I was diversified enough that income actually increased while millions all over the country were being laid off, downsized or scrambling to find other sources of income which had dried up.

I’ve always been an independent thinker. I never would have gotten involved with YTB in the first place if I wasn’t. I saw right through the hype and trash talk about pyramid schemes that we often see from those who haven’t any experience to speak of. I’ve heard it said that if somebody tells you what they think – take it with a grain of salt. If someone tells you what they’ve experienced however – you better listen.

What I’m about to tell you may sound shocking to some – controversial to others – but it rings true for me. Based on my experience in the corporate world, the bickering and fighting going on by traditional travel agents who have seen commissions either diminish or completely vanish and the Directors in YTB who built large organizations who are now with different companies – I’ve come to this conclusion.

True independence and success comes from multiple opportunities and various streams of passive income.

Last week YTB announced its new Director level and enhanced compensation starting at 250 active IBC’s. The new level also provides additional guaranteed income with fully paid medical and life insurance paid for by the company. I didn’t write about it here, but I did put it in last weekend’s newsletter – because it’s news. Honestly, when I heard about the new level, I was surprised at me first initial thought’s. When I did put it out on my newsletter to my subscribers, it was uncomfortable.

Then, earlier this week I was asked to pick either YTB or my other “ventures” and my gut reaction was shocking – even to me.

As good as the Directors program is and as much as it provides to individuals and their families – it’s not the right goal or option for me.

I’m an “Independent Representative” not a “Director”.

How do you like them apples?

I got into YTB to create my own independence. Over the last 6 years I’ve built and now utilize several profitable income streams. It’s enabled me to survive the chaos and the slandering where others haven’t because they were counting on a single source. Directors who built large organizations are now gone because they relied on one company. Travel Agents have been bickering for years, or are out of business doing something else because they rely on one stream. Even I was forced to jump from company to company for years because I relied on a single revenue streams before I found YTB.

The true value for me in YTB are all the income streams – not the Directors program. The position lands me right back where I was 6 years ago and doesn’t provide the current options and streams I’ve been able to create and build on my own.

It’s not that I’m upset or angry with YTB. To the contrary – I couldn’t have dreamed of a better vehicle to start my journey. YTB has been a wonderful experience for me and was the first company to provide multiple streams. I had never been with a company with so many possibilities prior. Likewise, the Director program is a first of its kind. The medical, life and guaranteed income benefits not only rival but are the envy of the corporate world. With benefits like these – the company has every right to attach reasonable conditions for that privilege.

It’s their company and they make the rules.

But as good as it is and as much as I wanted it – along the way I found my own true independence and own income streams where I make the rules.

The world has changed. Likewise, the internet and technology continues to evolve and change at a rapid pace. It’s exciting – it’s fresh. The internet offers up endless possibilities and an abundance of opportunities to market and promote whatever I want. It didn’t really occur to me until I was asked to make a choice between my own business here on the internet and the one I run with YTB. Without realizing it until this week – I’ve successfully generated a brand that’s more valuable and meaningful on my own.

I don’t know what’s going to happen over the next couple of days guys. While my gut reaction was instant and sure – I told YTB that I had to think about it. But my gut has never been wrong. It’s a message from the Divine. There may be an applicable resolution to all this that I can do both – and I’d like to do both. I love YTB – and I especially love the people I’ve been able to help. Thousands rely and count on me each and every week to inform and mentor them. I’m not looking to steal anyone or trash YTB in any way. That’s selfish and unprofessional.

Overall, YTB has been far too good to me and I’m incredibly grateful to them for showing me the path to my own independence and freedom.

But I also own this blog and my list of subscribers which provided me the freedom and flexibility to speak my own mind and provide my own path.

I’m at complete peace with anything that may come my way. If I can survive horrendous economic conditions and needless trashing of a company I promoted wholeheartedly – I can survive anything.

That my friends is real – true independence.

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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I did a phone interview about a week ago with my good friend Samuel over on Traffic Is King. We talked at length about blogging, Social Media, creating your niche, finding your voice, and how to become an authority on the internet.

Some of the topics we covered:

• How I got started in the travel niche
• How to be viewed as an authority in your niche
• How to have readers hungry for your content
• Using relevant social media tools at appropriate times to connect with your readers
• Silencing your toughest critics and getting them to send you traffic
• Remaining the Top Dog in your niche and maintaining your readership

This was a really fun interview for those that have been following me over the years.

Listen to the call over on Traffic is King.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

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

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Every once in a while I see something that surprises even me. I was just sent an e-mail from someone who told me to take a look at what he had found.

Much to my delight, I’ve been nominated for a Blogger Choice Award as the Best Travel Blog. I have no idea when it happened, who nominated me, or just why I was nominated. Frankly, I don’t care and have to admit, it’s pretty cool!

I’ve always enjoyed writing and this blog has been a real joy to write, especially since YTB took center stage last October. To be honest, I didn’t want to write about what was going on back then. I really struggled with it. But I also knew that what was going on at the time had another side to it and knowing YTB, it’s Founders, and it’s people the way I do, it was more important to document and link to the facts. Being able to keep the facts separate from fiction has always been important to me and to get the e-mails and phone calls I have about how much people enjoy and appreciate what I do is extremely rewarding.

I constantly tease about something I call R&D, which stands for “Rip-Off and Duplicate”. I’ve used this term for years, and while it’s a twist or play on words in what’s actually known by those who teach success principles as “modeling”, to see all the people who duplicate what I write on their own blogs and to see people talking about me in message boards and forums is really something.

Many people use paid advertising, others use links in signatures. Others just blatantly promote their blog everywhere they post to try to drive traffic to their sites or blogs, in an attempt to recruit people, even when it’s against the policies of such forums.

I on the other hand, like the “organic” type of links. Organic links are produced naturally from others who happen to like (or dislike) what you’ve written. It’s unsolicited, and obviously has some relevance to those who link to you. I can’t list all the top links that point here, but all kinds of people link here for content and updates. I’ve been amazed when I look at some of the referrals and links from other Network Marketers, other members of YTB, and even from another unrelated web site. (Barry Manilow?!) Of course, I also get a ton of links from those that claim I don’t matter, but they still keep commenting and reading based on time per hit. (Nice to know I take up so much of their time and energy.)

By writing about relevant and interesting topics, these organic links can be very beneficial and provide very high rankings within minutes. When WGN aired the Lady Liberty story, I found myself at the top of the search rankings within minutes of posting. The Travel Weekly Power List also produced a ton of traffic here.

I think my first post on this blog was very apropos given how far reaching and relevant this blog has become. It all started with a dream that I simply took action on. Now almost three years later, to see how far it’s come and what it’s evolved into is humbling and amazing.

I don’t know at this point if who sent the e-mail, nominated me, but who ever nominated me, I wanted to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude for the honor.

Thanks to all who have sent e-mails, called me, and offered personal expressions of how much they appreciate what I do.

The pleasure is all mine!

Now damit…go VOTE FOR ME! ;-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?