I found a really a really nice article in Travel Weekly this weekend that highlights YTB and our Passport to Giving program.

If you don’t know about Passport to Giving, it’s one of the finest programs I’ve seen. Coach and YTB designed it for non-profits to help raise money by turning the non-profit members vacations into donations. I was actually trained in this program back in 2005 before I was trained as an RTA.

YTB donates a booking engine to the non-profit or association a custom site with their own logo free of charge, which includes waiving the monthly fee. Members of the association then turn to the non-profits travel web site to book travel and the commissions earned are paid to the association just like they are to the RTA’s, but tax free.

No strings, no catch, just our way to give back to the community by offering something totally unique to help raise money for non-profits.

According to the Travel Weekly article, the National Academy Foundation is operating an online travel agency for Freshman and Sophomores at Rochester’s East High using our Passport to Giving program and YTB Booking Engine to train students with real world examples and booking travel for real customers. Classes help prepare the students of East High for a potential carrier in the Travel Industry.

You can view their site at www.easthightravel.com. (Note: the YTB logo is replaced with NAF.org’s Academy of Hospitality and Tourism logo.)

Now in it’s second year, the students earned about $2500 in commissions their first year. The facilitator of the program, Jim Spawton, is looking to boost that number to about $10,000 by asking the faculty, students’ families and local businesses for bookings that earn real commissions for the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. The commissions earned help pay for other student programs, all while teaching students what it’s like to run a real travel business.

East High is one of the 78 U.S. high schools with hospitality and tourism academies that are overseen by the National Academy Foundation.

Other big name companies such as Marriott and PepsiCo are also helping students of the academy. PepsiCo gave $7,000 to six graduates to further their studies, while Marriott offers internships to students to help them attain real world experience inside their hotels. A picture posted in the Travel Weekly article also has students working with the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.

I applaud both YTB and the National Academy Foundation for offering these programs to our future business men and woman.

While researching this article, I found a great “about us” video from the NAF.org website that highlights this important non-profit and how it’s changing our youth for the better. A great example can be found at about the 3 minute mark with a young lady named Nathsha who apparently started as an intern with Marriott and is now an Assistant Controller at the Bethesda Marriott Suites.

Enjoy!

UPDATE: Apparently, the constipation over YTB continues for one Anti-YTB Zealot. It’s been a long time since I’ve linked to anything this moron has written, but this one is just too classic to pass up.

Yes, John Frenaye has also found the Travel Weekly article, only to react with his own demonic twist and spin that no doubt matches all the classic myths, misrepresentations, and false claims we’ve come to know, but not quite love about this ignorant and constipated know-it-all.

I don’t know about you – but I’d love to take him up on his bet regarding the Facilitator being a member of YTB. Unfortunately,  we’ve learned John never delivers (just like he never properly researches) when shown point blank that he’s once again on loosing end of such unsubstantiated speculation and claims.

John, maybe the reason they didn’t pick you or any other “agency” is because you can’t get past your own dysfunctional behavior and limiting beliefs. Hell, you don’t even know the difference between a FAM and an internship. (Or who sponsors the internship you ignorant putz.)

Instead of being privileged like you were growing up – maybe a program like NAF could have shown you how the real world operates to provide you with the proper skill set to cope with life’s most basic lessons. Guys like me valued opportunities like this no matter who offered the tools or the opportunity. The internship I did with Pittsburgh’s number one radio station after college was invaluable to me back in the day.

After four years of blathering like a raving lunatic about MLM and YTB – it’s apparent that the travel industry desperately needs some fresh minds and faces that are capable of working instead of spiting at people and companies they don’t agree with, don’t like, and clearly are unwilling to accept as part of the solution.

Moron…

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I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “it’s better to give, than receive”.

I have to admit – it feels really good to give, especially when it helps someone who really needs it.

The very first training class I ever took with YTB was then a brand spanking new program call “YTB Associations“. (I took the class even before my RTA Certification a few weeks later.) YTB Associations has since changed it’s name to “Passport To Giving”.

The point of the program has always been to offer non-profit organization an opportunity to sell travel and make the commission. Members of the organization would receive something of value (like a vacation) and by booking it with their favorite charity, the non-profit would generate a new stream of revenue.

The new plan was frankly a breath of fresh air for most organizations. Far more attractive than selling popcorn, coupon books or a not so fond memory from my childhood “hoagies” or pancake breakfasts. (And if you don’t know what a hoagie is – it’s Pittsburgheze for “submarine sandwich.”)

It’s nice to see this program still being used and offering a viable solution for non-profits across the country. A “Google Alert” came in over the weekend from Loveland, Colorado with a small blurb about our program and how it’s helped Adoption Dreams Come True.

YTB Travel has donated $3,500 to the agency Adoption Dreams Come True. Proceeds came through a European river cruise organized by Cinda Lopez and Carma Hilliard. More fundraising trips are planned in 2011. On the Web: www.adoptiondreams.org.

Imagine that. Members took a European river cruise – which I know is one of the most spectacular ways to experience Europe, and the commission earned from the trip helps support a cause that’s near and dear to their heart.

I personally sponsor someone in my organization who focuses exclusively on this product. He’s been doing it for years and I commend him for his desire to help and his patience with these non-profits.

It’s a completely different breed of animal – with more hands and votes to overcome and pass than anything else I can think of. It’s nice that everyone has a say in the matter, but it can be a very long and drawn out process without much movement for months at a time. John, (my personally sponsored person) has been extremely patient and never let go of his dreams and desire to help others.

His largest account, which I’ve helped design and host the site for is the American Legion Auxiliary. The amount of money and time he’s spent on his own to get this non-profit off the ground is a testimony of what it takes to help others. Working non-stop, and taking countless hours to create a program that’s tailored to that organization.

Personally, I couldn’t be prouder of anyone in my organization for his dedication and time spent helping others.

That’s the kind of people I love to surround myself with. Visionaries and people who get things done – no matter how long it takes and how hard you have to work.

It makes everything I do, my association and promotion of this company and it’s people worth every penny I’ve spent – and every minute I’ve dedicated to writing about it over the years.

It captures the true essence of giving and what it’s truly like to change lives.

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Remember the exercise on goals we posted from good friend Andy Cauthen at the beginning of the year?

Do you really remember – or are those ‘goals’ distant memories by now? If they are, I’ve been there. (Done that – and also have a t-shirt that says so.)

Some years I do really well with this exercise, while other years – not so much. The biggest difference for me during this year’s goals setting was being sick and tired of all the crap. For the most part, I’ve always chosen to enjoy life. So much so, that I have a really hard time understanding why people feel this need to complain (on a daily basis no less) about what’s wrong.

Truth is – the only thing wrong is THEIR thinking and perspective. What you focus on expands. If negativity and lack are what’s running around in your head, that’s what’s going to show up in reality for you. On the other hand, if you what you focus on is abundance and good – evidence of the same will show up for you.

I made a conscious decision to move in the direction of prosperity and good this year and focus on the natural abundance that nature creates effortlessly. Sometimes that’s easier said than done – but if you can take that first step in the right direction – you’ll move mountains with ease.

Best example I can think of is my own personal experience this summer.

Every summer for the last couple of years I swim laps for exercise. In years past, I would do my laps during the adult swim sessions that the Life Guards would mandate every hour during the summer. Last year, the Home Owners Association decided not to renew the contract with the Life Guard Company, which meant the adult swim time was taken away as well. Therefore, I never got into a rhythm or kept up with my exercise routine.

I not only felt like crap – the guilt for not exercising ate at me all summer long.

This year however, I decided I was going to make time because it was on my goals sheet. I love the swimming experience and it’s truly the only exercise I enjoy. Our entire family loves the water.

It had been two years since I’ve done regular laps in the pool – and at the beginning of the summer it was all I could do to complete just 4 laps in the pool without my arms and legs going limp on me. It also took me forever to recover from such a short stint.

But I kept up with it. Sometimes I had to swim around kids. Other times – I had to head down first thing in the morning or late at night to get my swimming in.

As the summer progressed, I felt myself getting stronger and stronger every week. As a consequence, I felt better and better as the weeks went on with more and more laps being done every week and more and more energy to complete other tasks on my goals list.

Later today, I’ll head down to the pool and swim 1.4 miles or 40 laps without stopping and my arms and legs won’t give it a second thought. It’s become so routine and part of my everyday life that once the pool closes in two weeks, I’ll keep up with it the rest of the year in an indoor pool because it’s something I truly enjoy.

As an added benefit – I find myself thinking more powerfully. Those good vibes radiate out and have attracted more and more opportunities in my life that match what I’m thinking and feeling inside.

This shift in thinking and feeling has been so profound that I’ve befriended on of the most knowledgeable and professional people in the travel industry who has offered up an incredible opportunity to me this weekend. It’s still just an idea at this point, and there’s some ground work that needs to be done before I can open up what it’s all about. If you’re serious about selling travel and have a sincere desire about learning more from the best of the best – you’ll want to keep close tabs in the next few weeks to find out more.

All I can tell you at this point is this: This idea that critics attempt to embed in your belief system that you’re not good enough, not smart enough, and simply can’t accomplish because you’re involved in with a company that “recruits” via MLM – is pure crap. Everything I’ve either known or at the very least suspected about the people who truly make a difference in the travel industry has been verified as absolutely true this weekend in a very enlightening phone conversation.

I’ve been writing about it for years – and it’s because of what I’ve documented here – on this blog and in our newsletter – that I’ve attracted an opportunity that everyone can benefit from.

I’ve got a lot of projects going on right now – and getting this set up will take some time to cross the “T’s” and dot the “I’s” but I truly believe it’s what’s best for our company and the people who are involved. Therefore, it will fall into place in due time.

If you’re passionate about YTB Travel and the travel industry – I promise – you’re going to love it!

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One of the many positive aspects about being a part of YTB is the generous heart’s I’ve seen from the field and our Founders. It’s my firm belief that the more you give – the more you will receive. While the idea of giving (in the form of tithing 10%) was something that was instilled in me growing up – the concept of service and giving has broadened since I started my journey with YTB.

I might dive into the topic of “giving” more on Thursday – but in the meantime I wanted to get the word out about a program that both YTB and we have given to over the last couple of years.

The following came from our YTB Travel Network President:

From the Desk of J. Kim Sorensen

I am reaching out to you with a special request. You may already know YTB Travel Network supports a charity group called Flags4Vets. F4V is a not-for-profit organization that hosts flag ceremonies in different areas all over the United States. Once they have completed a flag ceremony, they place those flags on the graves of U.S. Veterans in that area. We are teaming up with them and sponsoring two events a year, one on Memorial Day and one on Veterans Day.

We are asking for your help. We are in need of volunteers to help with a fund raising program. We need what we call “Geographical Location Coordinators.”  YTB Travel Network has taken on a large project by choosing to support and back a charity that’s near to our hearts. This is an organization that helps us to remember and recognize our fallen heroes like U.S. veterans, law enforcement officers and firefighters by holding fundraisers at local venues such as Wal-Mart, local grocery stores, churches and many others.

If you or someone you know are interested in volunteering or you just want more information please email Kari Stone at kstone (at) ytbtravel (dot) com

The website is: www.flags4vets.com — check them out and thank you all again, have a great week!

Kim

Please do what you can for this organization and our veterans. Without them, we might not have the freedom and the choice of working in MLM that we enjoy today.

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One of the quickest and easiest ways to expand business is to hire “virtual employees”.

I first read about the idea of outsourcing certain tasks in an effort to be more productive a few years ago in a book by Timothy Ferriss “The 4-Hour Workweek“. While I’ve always understood the concept, and there’s a part of my that likes it – I’ve always been the type that likes to do things on my own. Especially when it comes to working on the computer. (I’m a computer geek – what can I say.)

Business however has gotten to the point that I need some help if I’m going to expand and grow beyond my current levels. There’s only so much of “me” to go around – so the time has come to start outsourcing.

Here’s the thing – there are plenty of companies I can do this with – but I’d kind of like to “share the wealth” so to speak with my readership. I mean why not? I know someone has the talent I need and it might as well come from someone who’s been faithful and responsive to this blog or our newsletter.

Here’s the deal:

I’ve got a couple of new newsletters that I’m producing and a couple new blogs that I’m ghost writing for. I’ve scoured the internet for just the right template and simply can’t find one that fits my criteria.

So the only way I’m going to get what I want is to create it myself or outsource it.

While I love programing and code – Microsoft in their infinite wisdom decided to base their HTML rendering in MS Word to be difficult. (It’s a huge thorn in the side of programmers and copywriters.) I just don’t have the time right now to create something on my own that would fit what I need for both formats.

But I bet there’s someone out there I know that can do it for me. ;-P

What I need is an HTML and CSS based newsletter template compatible with MS Outlook 2007 or 2010 Beta versions. (Among other formats.) The template newsletter will be distributed with Aweber and the template needs to display identically on MS Outlook compared to the preview page of Aweber. The template will have 4 main sections plus a footer and a header. Each section and corresponding subsection will also require the proper comment brackets inserted within the code so that each sub section can be easily identified and/or moved and changed via code only. Updated graphics and a Web 2.0 look is also a huge plus.

I can supply some examples and some of the key issues and difficulties I’ve run into to help clarify any questions.

I do have a budget for this particular project and if the work meets my expectations (solves my problem in a timely manor) there will be other projects that will be available as we grow and expand. (A number of lucrative JV opportunities are being discussed at this time.) Any programming will also be properly credited to the designer and linked to the proper contact information and/or website.

So what do you say? I’d much rather give this to someone I know – rather someone I don’t via some service.

If interested, feel free to contact me with samples of your work along with pricing.

Thanks! And enjoy your extended weekend!

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I had the following story forwarded to me this weekend by one of my subscribers. I have no idea who the author is, or it’s origins. Heck, I don’t even know if it’s true or not. (Although if it isn’t – it should be.)

If you do an internet search on this piece you’ll find pages and pages of this piece – my guess is because it’s touched a lot of lives. My hope is that’s exactly what it does for you.

Change Your Thinking

It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking.

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity an color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.

Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.

‘Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.’

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