I love the Christmas Season. While I love the Season, it’s also the most hectic time of year for our family – especially this year.

The business venture we took over back in August has compounded our busy schedule but has also paid off in spades. We just finished up on a six week mission to reach out to and service every single location we have in time for Christmas. While we worked double time the last six weeks, the kids had several events going on with school and extracurricular activities that added to our busy schedule.

At times – we didn’t know which end was up.

The hectic schedule finally wound to a close on Friday, and by the time you read this, we’ll be off on a two week vacation with family. Long breaks like this is one of the many perks of the business, and it’s why we committed to working so hard that last six weeks.

While we’ll be vacationing the next two weeks, both Ronda and I are way behind on our goal setting that we do each and every year. It’s a habit that we’ve always done, but really didn’t take seriously until we got involved with YTB. It was one of the many tools we bought into in order to achieve success.

Overall both of us agree that 2011 far exceeded our wildest expectations and dreams. So much so – the future’s so bright…

We gotta wear shades.

(Oh COME ON! You had to of known it was coming.)

With the current year coming to a rapid close, we’ll be setting aside time the next two weeks to take a look at 2012 and beyond to dream and strategize about what we’d like to accomplish and what our world should look like.

Both Ronda and I are dreamers. On top of dreaming big – we also believe that somehow – some way the resources and avenues will find its way to us to make it happen. The most difficult part of the whole process is having the patience and persistence to follow through and take the appropriate action to make it all happen.

We’ve heard it time and time again, and I’m sure you have too at one time or another:

“Never – Ever – Give Up.”

I have to admit – there were times that a comment like that felt like lip service. I mean, I heard it, but the words didn’t have the impact that was intended, because I was still in the thralls of reaching for my goals but not quite achieving them.

If you’re feeling like that at this time of year, I want to ask you – actually I really need to beg you – “Never give up.”

Now – I don’t want to come across as hype or some pie in the sky dreamer. I can assure you, that I’ve been there – done that – and even have a T-shirt that says so. I know how the mind can play it’s tricks and that voice can be so loud that it can cancel things out.

But I want you to do this before the new year – because it’s probably one of the most important steps you can do to create a world that’s so bright – you’ll be wearing those shades.

I have a close friend who really helped me with this and most of you may remember Andy Cauthen. If you didn’t know Andy – you should have. Andy was President & COO of YTB Marketing, Inc. and a very dear and close friend. One of Andy’s legacies, was a popular series or course that he produced a number of years ago and caught fire on the subject of “Goal Setting“. It’s one of the finest and most thorough pieces we’ve ever read on the subject.

Andy not only goes into how to set goals, but the type of goals you should be thinking about. It’s a time to dream – and dream big.

Why is this step of goal setting so important? Try this exercise the next time you work on a jigsaw puzzle. Turn all the pieces over, and attempt to complete it upside down. Fact is – the pictures on the other side make a huge difference in completing the puzzle. And that’s what goal setting does – completes a picture. Think about it. You don’t take a trek across the country without a road map do you? You don’t build a house without a set of blueprints, right?

Far too many people actually plan to fail because the fail to plan.

If you want your future to be bright and full of promise – both Ronda and I want to invite you to take some time before the new year to set some goals and work out a plan. Neither one of us can truly express how much it’s meant to both of us. Not only in our professional lives – but our personal life including our family and our marriage.

If you’ve never done something like this – it’s time to start. But only if you really want to enjoy your life and be all you can be.

You only get one shot at this journey we call life – so why not take some time to plan it out so you can really – truly enjoy it?

Who knows you might be wearing the same shades and singing the same tune we are this time next year!

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One of the best aspects about being part of YTB are the friendships I’ve been able to form over the years. I’ve never been with a company with more quality leadership than with YTB.

One of those at the very top of my list is Andy Cauthen.

In my humble opinion, Andy missed his true calling. He should have been a comedian. He’s one of the funniest, most witty men I’ve ever met. I once asked him why he never pursued comedy as a carrier. He responded that he has a severe phobia about being in front of people, and his parents demanded that he get a “real job”. I can promise you, if he did pursue comedy, he’d be one of the highest paid comedians to date. Through our years of phone conversations and e-mail correspondence there have been far too many rolling on the floor laughing moments to mention.

Our witty exchanges over the years made our correspondence not only memorable but incredibly entertaining and I can’t think of another person I enjoyed communicated with more than Andy.

Andy’s other key attribute is his attention to detail. I’ve never seen anyone who’s more organized. He’s constantly taking notes and if he doesn’t have the information himself, he knows exactly where to access it. Up until this past year, YTB’s conventions were directed and organized exclusively by Andy. Coordinating something like YTB’s conventions requires a very special dedication and skill. He was perfectly suited with those traits and it wasn’t until last year’s Convention that Andy found someone “worthy” of being charged with its undertaking.

Most importantly for me however, Andy is a trusted friend. Because of our friendship, I’ve been privileged to gain insight on our company that not many people have. You see, like so many of you, Andy (as well as others at the Home Office) is a fan of this blog and our newsletter. Hundreds of new subscribers came into our database due to Andy’s recommendation, and because of his blessing, I’ve been able to gain insight from key people to ensure both timeliness and accuracy when writing about our company.

That’s why this article is bitter sweet for me. For reasons I’m not going to go into completely, I knew yesterday was inevitable. Andy is very much like our Directors in the sense that he had been flooded with offers and courted by other companies. Someone like Andy (or our Directors) is a HUGE feather in the cap of another company. They’re proven Leaders who get incredible offers from all sorts of companies. A longtime friend finally had an offer that he couldn’t pass up. It not only returns him to his home State, but it moves him closer to his family and his mother and father who are getting up there. I admire and respect that his family was a big part of his decision.

While our company has lost a great Leader, I couldn’t be happier for Andy personally. It’s a quality move for both him and his wonderful wife who’ve I’ve also come to know through the years. During both a private conversation with Andy, and during a company call yesterday afternoon there’s an inner peace I can feel in Andy that this is the right move for him and Kathy.

But don’t take my word for it. You’ll be able to see and judge for yourself on this week’s Saturday Morning Leadership Show.

One of Andy’s other attributes is honesty. I can’t think of a better way to get the truth than being able to see and hear Andy speak about his decision and this move from him personally.  From what I hear, Andy taped a very powerful and emotional show done yesterday afternoon with Scott Tomer. Andy is extremely concerned about how this move will be misconstrued and manipulated by those who get their panties bunched up over anything YTB does. Andy asked, and to Scott’s credit, he was granted an opportunity to speak with those he cares most about (the YTB field) so we have a true understanding about his choice and decision – not some emotional bantering that creates questions and uncertainty that I’m certain you’ll find elsewhere on the internet.

Andy’s well aware of the drama created by those who can’t seem to find anything better to do with their time. He also knows how skilled critics are at manipulating, misleading and twisting anything YTB does way out of proportion. Because both Andy and I have come to enjoy how easily distracted these critics can get, consuming their own valuable time, the decision was made to make this video a private communication between our Executives and the field. The only ones who matter or are worthy of getting any type of real answer.

So to the critics, yes, we know it’s probably going to annoy and upset you that your “demands” for answers won’t be heard or answered. All you’ll get is some Press Release to gnaw on that really won’t say much other than we’re sad to see Andy go, but wish him well in his future endeavors. Frankly – that’s about all you arrogant bunch of babies deserve. (Although, most have gained unethical and unauthorized access to just about every aspect of YTB to feed their uncontrolled obsession.)

To the YTB and ZamZuu field. You’ll have a chance to hear from Andy directly, and you have earned the respect of our former President and COO who admires and respects you. Log into you back office for a link to Andy’s message in the next day or two. You’ll hear directly from him concerning his decision. You can’t ask for much better than that.

In closing, I’d like to leave you with one of my favorite pieces Andy has ever done. He absolutely hates this video and claims it’s his goofy twin “Randy”. For me, it highlights a spirit that I think most of us forget all too often. One, enjoy what you do. There is nothing like turning your passion into a profession to make you happy. And two, don’t take yourself too seriously. If you can’t poke fun at yourself every once in a while, you’re not all the confident about who you are and what you do.

And Andy, like it or not, this is how I’ll always remember your tenure with us at YTB. ;-P

Love ya Buddy!

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So, how do they look so far? Remember – “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time”.

We spent the majority of Saturday ‘De-Christmasing’ the house. As we were packing all the ornaments and lights for another year, we kept thinking about our goals and got more and more excited about the new year. While the Holiday’s have been great, we’re ready to get back to work!

We sent out our Monthly Newsletter on Friday and also posted 76 “Goal Setting Tips” that President and COO of YTB Marketing Andy Cauthen put together. We checked some of our stats late Saturday night and were completely blown away over how many people actually downloaded Andy’s “Guide”.

It’s EMPOWERING isn’t it??!!

Now that your goals are out of your head and onto something you can see like paper our thinking and perspective has changed dramatically. It makes a big difference – and somehow these goals that have been nothing more than passing thoughts have substance and passion behind them.

Believe it or not – the hard part is over – actually taking the time to write these goals down. Now comes the fun part – going after them.

To some, this may seem like a daunting or impossible task.

Jack Canfield, author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul ” and one of the teachers of the hit movie “The Secret” expressed in this same movie that we can drive at night only seeing the next 200 yards in front of us to reach our intended destination. Reaching a Goal is much the same way. You know it’s there, but you find your way a little bit at a time.

Just remember that the impossible can be broken down into possibilities. Napoleon Hill said “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe – the mind can achieve.”

Everything you see and use today was first born as a goal. The computer you’re reading this on – the software used to enable this communication – the house you live in – the warm air from the furnace – all conceived first from thought – as a goal.

So how do we turn our goals from paper into reality?

Andy’s Goal Setting Tips has some great tools attached in helping you. Here are some great tools from the list and a couple of our own that we’ve learned from experience.

• Use a journal to keep track of your goals: Keep daily or weekly records of your progress including affirmations, successes, appreciations for your hard work, rewards, resistances, obstacles, etc. We found that writing at night, just before bed is very effective. Many times we dream about what we’ve written in our journal. What that means is that you’re subconscious is working on your goals – even in your sleep! (How easy is THAT?!)
• Create a collage to support your vision: To make a goals collage, cut out pictures and words that you like from magazines and glue them onto a piece of paper the size of a placemat. (We use a cork board and pin them up – both are hung in our Master Bath.)
• Use your computer to support you in reaching goals: There are many ways you can put your goals on your computer. Scan your collage or a poster/picture that inspires you into your computer, and use it as wallpaper. (You can also use Google Images and search key words) Create a screensaver with your images or just put up a digital “post it” with your goals list.
• Carry your goals with you and read them out loud: We purchased a pack of 3X5 index cards and write down our top ten goals for the day. We write them in the present tense as if you have already achieved them and say them out loud at various times of the day. It’s important NOT to use the same list from the day before. Don’t just copy them, start with a new sheet and write down the most important goals of the day. (Some can remain the same goals from the day before, but don’t use your previous list to remind you.)
• Be grateful for what you have NOW: This is probably the most important aspect of attracting newer, more meaningful aspects (or Goals) into your life. It puts you in a positive frame of mind – what’s going right – not what’s going wrong. Ever notice how people who complain about not feeling well are always sick? People who complain about bills and money are always broke? Likewise, the people who always talk about being lucky are the luckiest people in the world. An attitude of gratitude puts you in a vibration that attracts more things to be grateful for.

These tools work – and while we don’t have the time or space to document the science behind them, there some very compelling studies that prove they work.

It’s a new beginning – a clean slate. Life is meant to be fulfilling and enjoyable – not some chore or filled with excuses to do just enough to get by.

You have no idea the POWER you possess within you. We put men on the moon – communicate with each other from all corners of the world instantly – and sit in the air at 30 thousand feet while surfing the internet at the same time.

Look at your list – what are YOU going to do that makes your life outstanding?!

You’ve taken the first – and probably most important step in achieving your goals. That’s writing them down. Now it’s time to go after them. You may not have any way of knowing just how yet – but until you doing something to move towards them – you’ll never reach your intended destination.

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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