During my second full year with YTB, the company launched what was known as a Regional Travel Training. The tour hit several of the major markets around the country where vendors and suppliers came to us, instead of requiring us to come to them. At the time, YTB had grown to a size that enabled suppliers to hit strategic cities in conjunction with YTB to offer information, support, and additional training for the field.

I remember sitting in the large audience at the time, taking notes, and thinking that YTB was well on its way to being a major player in the travel industry. It’s not that vendors don’t do this kind of training for other large Host Agencies, they do. But they don’t do it for just any Agency. (Maybe a BDM would, but not the President of the Company.)

The trainings inspired me to research more about the companies that spoke during the day and what they had to offer. I left with new tools and ideas on how to promote my travel business. Because of the training put together, I knew YTB was serious and I needed to get serious. It tools were always there, I just needed to take the time to go do it.

What also impressed me during that day was how excited the suppliers were about being with us. I’ve seen it for years. YTB happens to be a real breath of fresh air for most suppliers because of our passion and excitement. I remember seeing a vendor just last year up at Red Carpet who just raved about our Company. I believe the exact words were “Completely blown away”. It was such a shame to see that sour because Travel Professionals couldn’t accept the partnership. Anyone who actually catches our enthusiasm and passion are soon trashed by this group who’ve never seen or experienced the passion or enthusiasm they see when it comes to travel.

Remember Robert Dickinson? If you don’t, I sure do. (Wrote about it here.) That was another example of someone who saw the vision of YTB and was excited about being on YTB’s Board of Directors only to suddenly “decline” less than 24 hours later.

Regardless of the number of times I’ve seen individuals or companies pressured or harassed to drop YTB there are companies who see the fears and phobias that traditionalists have about MLM’s and support us anyway. (They’re just a little quieter about it publicly to keep from being spit at.)

If you want to know more about how vendors really feel about our company, go watch some of the videos in the Media Center in your back office. (Sorry, you’ll need to log in to see it.)

Or, you can show up at one of this year’s Travel Training Roadshows that kicks off this weekend in Costa Mesa, California.

President and Founder Kim Sorensen will be hitting cities, including here in Atlanta later in March, to offer travel training from some of the industries most respected suppliers in the travel industry. It’s your opportunity to see for yourself why suppliers and vendors appreciate YTB Travel Network, and why we as a company should support them. They’ve all got some great product and the proper tools to help you succeed in the travel industry.

The biggest advantage I’ve found in Regional meetings like this is more face time with the vendors. Funshine is great, but it’s also very crowded. With the country split up into regions there are fewer people, giving you a better opportunity to ask questions, get additional information and develop relationships. Heck, I ran into one of the supplier from the first Regional Training a year or more later and she remembered who I was.

Check your travel portal for cities, dates, vendors and times and make one of these roadshows this spring with YTB. I can tell you from personal experience, it inspires me to this day when I get around other passionate travel agents with a hunger to learn and grow their business.

It’s there for those who want it – and I know plenty who want to build this side of their business.

So go out and get it – starting this weekend.

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Do You ZamZuu?

I enjoy Trade Publications. I subscribe to a variety of publications in both electronic form and in traditional print. I’ve always enjoyed reading and learning about the industry, and have promoted learning as much as you can about any subject that interests you. There has never been a time in our history when so many mediums are available for someone to learn and develop a skill or a trade.

I’ve enjoyed the way suppliers and trade associations have embraced training, enabling me to learn about the industry. From seminars and webinars; from a training call or port of call via ship inspections, the variety of ways to learn and develop in this industry is abundant.

I’ve seen many changes within the industry over the last several years when it comes to doling out credentials in the industry. I’ve also supported the upgrading of requirements for FAM eligibility from both suppliers and associations.

One thing that hasn’t changed much are the Travel Agents who think they “own” the industry.

I was walking home with the kids and my neighbor on Thursday and we stopped in the culdesac to chat a bit longer. While talking, I opened up my mailbox to get the mail with my monthly issue of Travel Agent Magazine in the mix. I typically look forward to each and every publication and wanted to see this months “cover”. When I saw the cover, I smirked, shook my head and commented “Good grief”.

My neighbor who was standing in front of her mailbox ask me what the comment was for, and I held up the front of the publication to show her. She asked “What’s that all about?” and I simply commented that the man in the mask…is supposed to depict someone like me.

She laughed and asked “That’s suppose to be YOU?!” and I responded, “No, not me specifically, but someone like me because of the company I work with.”

I told her of the issues Travel Agents have had for years concerning “card mills” and downright phobias regarding MLM’s and what we have presumably done to disgrace, embarrass, and ruin their reputations as “Professionals”. You wanna know her reaction?

“And that’s their answer?”

Yep, afraid so. I went on to tell her about forums and blogs these “Professionals” hang out on to discuss all the wrongs, all the injustice, all the problems they can think of on a daily basis. How at one time I had befriended some of them, and because I’m not willing to change host agencies or simply get out all together, I’m now an outcast and seen as the man in the mask. (And then some.)

“How does that make you feel?” she asked. I thought about it, for say… a nanosecond, and replied with “How’s it suppose to make me feel?” I went on to ask a couple of more questions, like how someone I don’t even know, or more importantly doesn’t know me, should own any feelings one way or the other? I asked if she see’s any connection to me and the man in the mask. Do I look and act like that to her?

She thought that was a strange question based on the look on her face, because we happen not only to be neighbors, but friends. To think an article or even this cover will cancel out years of friendship does sound a bit over the top. I’ve heard that if you join and MLM that you can kiss your family and friends goodbye, because you have to hound them about joining the MLM you’re involved in, (any MLM) and they eventually get fed up with the constant badgering and eventually disown you.

It’s been over 4 years now, and I’m still waiting for THAT shoe to drop.

It’s not that I haven’t heard story after story about MLM’s destroying friendships and families. There are those who can’t fathom being unemotional or unattached to an attack like what’s depicted in the picture. Family especially, would want to protect those they are closest too from being “stained” in this way. I might be the same way when I was far less secure about my own abilities and worth.

But I have to wonder, why after all this time, all this energy, all the “talk” about how bad things are, just why a professional publication would even think that an article like this is a good idea. What some in our industry have categorized as “card mills” have been around for over a decade now, and the industry is only a small fraction closer to resolving this so called problem and embarrassment than they were back then.

There have been suppliers, (who by the way are the ones who grant these FAM’s and perks not the Agents or Associations) who have taken a stand in some form or fashion. Sandals for example, was one of the first I can think of who would provide a complimentary night or nights based on production. Doesn’t really matter which host you’re associated with; if you produce, you’re rewarded. The concept isn’t much different from a frequent flier program, which provides anyone who supports a particular airline is granted perks like free airfare. It’s also why I like the Carnival requirements that came out a year ago January. A minimum of 5 full paying cabins (double occupancy) are required, BEFORE you’ll be considered to partake in a FAM with them.

But for some reason, that’s not good enough for some, as you can clearly see in the comments section of the digital format of this cover story. There are those who simply can’t get over their own hang ups about “their” industry to see that someone is there on a FAM because they earned it. We’re participating in an industry seminar with them because we have a desire to learn. We join in on a summit because we want to expand our knowledge.

Instead, they snub their nose at the supplier because they welcome anyone who produces, regardless of what Host Agency, or so called “card mill” they may be associated with, as if the supplier would even care who they consider “worthy”.

We’ve run into the same problem most recently with Debbie Maier and Mailpound. Ms. Maier took the time to come to a Red Carpet Event to roll out a new private labeled e-marketing site for YTB to help our company promote and sell more travel to our clients. While the site does have a listing of FAM’s associated with it, the main purpose of this site is to enable Travel Agents to send out promotional e-mails and marketing materials to clients to actually sell travel. When she came to the Home Office she was, and I quote, “completely – blown – away” over the passion YTB has for this industry.

And because she now provides this service to YTB, and has seen first hand that YTB is a real travel company, she and her company have now been black listed. There are “Professionals” who are not only promoting that other agents send her an e-mail that “they know” who she’s working with, but if any of the e-mails or comments are like the ones I’ve seen…she’ll need to shower after being vomited on by this outspoken and obnoxious group of “legitimate agents”.

That’s the game plan, to make life as uncomfortable as possible in the hope that they just throw in the towel because the backlash isn’t worth it.

Based on a webinar that I know happened last week, there may be more of this kind of tactic coming from this group. The same day YTB was promoting Princess Cruises, (a Sail-A-Thon to sell full fair cabins, not FAMS) another group was planning how to get more of these types of “cover stories” out there to media outlets to warn the public about the masked men and women who are involved in what they’ve deemed to be undesirable Host Agencies. I know that these Associations are the be all and end all for some, and there have been Agencies associated with many of them to add credibility. (We saw how well that worked out, didn’t we?)

While I was invited to this little gathering with these very prominent and important people and associations in the industry, I declined the offer. I asked the question of how this type of behavior would make me a better person, a better Travel Agent, and a better Leader, but like most of the questions I ask, they were left unanswered. (Ignored was more like it.)

They are welcome to do what they do, and I’ll do what I do. That’s promoting a rebroadcast of the Princess Sail-A-Thon this afternoon at 4:00 pm Eastern to sell more cruises. It’s far more productive, supports the hand that feeds me, (and them) and helps bring the truth to light.

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Do You ZamZuu?

Since I got my new iPhone, I’ve been enjoying a number of features along with PodCasts and MP3 books which have been feeding my mind good, positive, and healthy information. I’ve been a firm believer of “what you think about, you bring about” for a long time. It’s a big reason why I haven’t watched the news in years, if it’s important enough for me to find out about, it will find it’s way to me. Reading or watching negative news is a major reason why the majority of people in our world these days seem to struggle from day to day in one area or another in their lives, while others seem to be able to have all the luck, and all the breaks.

Still, some think promoting their own illusions and bad news by twisting words in order to fit their own agenda. I recently received a Google Alert that one critic still can’t grasp the difference between sales and promotion, even when the comments section clearly distinguishes the difference. Ignoring the true spirit of what’s written doesn’t make your views right or wrong, they’re simply perceptions and opinions. 

I’ve been resigned to the fact that I’m completely powerless in changing certain perceptions for some time. You either accept what I have to say and how I view this world for face value or you don’t. It makes very little difference to me what flavor Kool-aid you drink or to what degree you spike the Kool-aid to enable you to see things through your own set of glasses. This world is abundant with poeple who are not only capable but willing to view things my way to even worry about the unwilling or those incapable of changing their perception if they don’t want to.

We each have our own set of “files” that have been embedded into our minds that make us think and act the way we do by the people we hang with or listen to. Some can change either out of choice, and sometimes change comes out of necessity. To try to force your own beliefs on someone else can not only be exhausting, but often times, you drive someone farther away by doing so. (Even if their purpose is only to say “I’ll show YOU!”)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, nobody likes to be proven wr..wro…wrrrrrr…

Sorry…still struggling with that word.

Nobody likes to be shown they’re mistaken.

That doesn’t mean however that we can’t come up with examples of our own perceptions and beliefs on this side of the fence, and welcome those who agree with us with open arms when the opportunity arises.

Back at the beginning of the month I uncovered a number of truths thanks to someone who actually works for a supplier in the travel industry. Although this critic’s agenda is an attempt to malign and slander our company, it’s become clear that while he says one thing, suppliers actually feel and act quite differently than the claims made by a select few who want to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes.

While critics can’t quite grasp why an MLM model would work in the travel industry I eluded to a number of supplier benefits when working with an MLM, which in this economy can greatly enhance thier bottom line for a minimal investment of both time and money. Of course, what I wrote didn’t fit critics perceptions based on the Kool-aid they drink. Instead, and I’ve seen this all to often, the true meaning and intent of what I wrote was somehow twisted and spun in the opposite direction, with the hope that they can take my words and use them against me to advance their own agenda. I’m labeled as a renegade, clueless, mean spirited, and am somehow a cause of irritation.

To each their own, but remember it’s much easier to blame something or someone else, rather than take responsibility for your own thinking and actions.

The spin machine and the accusations concerning my ideas in this article was certainly no different. The desperation however had escalated and my article was not only sent into the YTB Home Office, but a number of chums this critics has befriended inside of Pleasant Holidays. It’s my understanding these chums spend each weekend exchanging horror stories about YTB. (And the thought of every meeting in the Travel Industry has the letters “YTB” in it is absurd according to another critic.) Since I exposed the truth, AGAIN, this critic tried to turn up the heat to discredit and point fingers at me in order to take the focus off of himself and his own misconceptions.

To be sure, both YTB and Pleasant Holidays got my message and had a chance to read my suggestions.

So while John attempts to convince everyone that YTB costs suppliers money, a supplier himself provides a rather unique Freudian slip and let’s the cat out of the bag that suppliers don’t hire YTB, suppliers don’t provide Co-op advertising to YTB, and suppliers only pay YTB for what YTB produces. That’s my friends is a model that suppliers NEED in an economy such as this, and the smart suppliers that actually get that concept such as Carnival Corporation, Globus, Trafalgar, MSC Cruises, Apple Vacations, Disney, and many other preferred suppliers reap the rewards of our business model. I can’t remember the last time Pleasant Holidays was even mentioned in a Travel Compass, a training call, or at Funshine. They do sit on our site, but nobody pays any attention to them because nobody from the company is promoting their features, advantages, and benefits. In all honesty, how much would it cost the company to get on a conference call the we provide, or hop in front of a camera for a video that we produce?

But no…they would rather spend thousands with a bunch of struggling Agents who demand co-op dollars in order to promote them with no guarantees of any return of their investment, when one call, or webinar would drive traffic and sales to help their bottom line costing them virtually nothing.

What’s unfortunate for our critic is everyone has the ability to interpret what’s written on their own and people can and do form thier own conclusions. Not everyone drinks the same flavor Kool-aid. So what do you think happened after this critic attempted to spin my idea into badmouthing a 50 year old supplier who’s been sitting on our booking engine without putting forth the type of promotion or training like our preferred suppliers do?

Our regularly scheduled Travel Training call with one supplier/vendor was replaced with another this past Thursday night, and I’ll give you three guesses as to just who that replacement might have been. (And the first two don’t count.)

It appears that the true spirit of my suggestion was received by either YTB, Pleasant Holidays or both, because we not only had our first training call with Pleasant Holidays in I don’t know how long, but they provided a nice promotional PDF to promote the features, advantages, and benefits of Pleasant Holidays to our clients.

I’d argue that they got the message loud and clear don’t you?

I’m not going to mention just who was on this call from Pleasant Holidays, but if you’re and RTA, you can find information in both the Travel Compass, and our Travel Training call achieve in your Travel Portal. (Both dated February 18th, 2009) I don’t want to subject the Pleasant Holidays BDM to the same outrage from our critics that Vicki Freed had received when they found out she supported the YTB business model when she was with Carnival. A real shame, but that’s how immature and selfish these “professionals” can be.

Instead, I’ll simply tell those of you in YTB where to find this information and suggest that you study it, and start promoting Pleasant Holidays since they’ve shown that they too understand our business model and want to support what we do. Remember, you can only contact Pleasant Holidays directly once you have become First Class Certified and a minimum level of RTA. (Affiliates who have not been trained can only book through our booking engine.)

And our critic who thinks he knows more than I do based on what he’s been told by others instead of learning from experience…

Let’s face it, YTB has hit the skids and is at the end of their rope. Ah well, what’s one more supplier lost because of a RTA that can’t keep his ego-driven mouth shut? Bad publicity, lost revenue, and more suppliers to cut them off at the trunk. I won’t even bring up the lawsuits.

In case anyone is wondering, yes, I did send his blog and the offending part to Pleasant Holidays and another copy to Eran at YTB. I’m sure they’ll all be amused.

Missed it by that much.

Let’s try this on for size. If nothing else, I’m personally indebted to this critic. “Agent 99″ has single handily exposed the truth about more lies, myths, and misconceptions about our company and our business model than all the other “Agents” who have been attempting to do the same for the last year and a half.

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Do You ZamZuu?

I can still remember the first time I saw the YTB booking engine. My wife called me at work and told me to take a look at the site. It took me all of about a millisecond to know that I wanted to find out more about who this company was, and what it had to offer. Back then, you really couldn’t find anything about YTB. It was difficult to do any type of research over the internet about the company. I do recall finding a couple posts about how some considered the company nothing more that one of those “pyramid deals”. Even then, I was able to see through the ignorance and hype, and wanted to verify on my own what the company was all about.

Many who are currently with YTB have no idea what the booking engine looked like “back in the day”. A couple weeks ago while browsing some old photos, I found a screen capture from April of 2005 and to look at the booking engine today, you certainly wouldn’t see what I saw in the company back then.

I wrote a little bit on Friday about how you need to constantly monitor and check your course, then make adjustments accordingly based on the current conditions you find. Those of you who subscribe to my newsletter were able to listen to a conference call with Scott Tomer who told us that for the first time we have a clear understanding of what California really wants. More importantly, we know how to address California based on the discussions we’ve had and this weekend we’ve seen our first glimpse of the result of those discussions.

First Class Training.

I couldn’t tell you how many people were actually bombarding the servers of the First Class Training on Saturday, but the training modules being served up were obviously pushing bandwidth to the limits. While Sunday seemed to be somewhat better, personally, I found the only time feasible to enjoy these courses was early Sunday morning. It will be interesting to see if we can get an actually number, and I’m betting it will be in the tens of thousands.

About all I could think of while watching these training modules was how much trouble our critics will be in now that we have this very thorough and leading edge training available to us via a few mouse clicks. Most of the issues that you find our critics complaining and crying about are directly addressed in these modules, and to make matters even worse for them, it’s by far the most thorough training I’ve seen from any single industry supplier or association in all the years I’ve been attending industry events, seminars, and trainings.

The courses included video modules form CLIA, Marc Mancini, along with Carnival, Pleasant Holidays, Oceana, Globus, and other vendors. To see how these industry leaders took the time to be filmed and offer up their experience and expertise in the industry for YTB spoke volumes about what they think of our company. (Although some will lead you to believe they feel differently.)

Other features that impressed me were the quality of videos themselves. Done in wide screen and in high definition with professional film crews and editing scored very high marks for me. The entire course is extremely professional and broadcast quality.

Some may find it odd or out of character that something was noticeably missing in this updated training. The “R” word. You know the one I’m talking about, because of the huge phobia that surrounds it.

“Recruiting”.

Nope. Not one mention of that aspect of our business, nor were Coach and Scott even seen or heard from during the entire training. To have YTB talk for close to 4 hours and not even mention the Rep side of the business could be equated to a fish being out of water.

This was all about travel, from some of the best in the business, and the only company that has this comprehensive overview of the entire industry is YTB. I love what Marc Mancini said in his interview concerning the “E-Campus” courses he’s put together for YTB. “The educational training and learning landscape has changed because of technology.” The Travel Weekly Leisure Summit is a perfect example of this, (both Marc and Kim will be participating) and probably a big reason why Travel Weekly described Kim as one of ‘three people who are defining the contemporary landscape for home agents…’

A new day has dawned in YTB, and while our critics will continue their attempt to shame and embarrass anyone involved in YTB, you as an RTA now have First Class Training to arm yourself in everything travel related to become just as knowledgeable, and just as competent as they claim to be.

Please don’t mistake or misconstrue that as First Class being the ONLY course you need to take in order to achieve your goals as a Travel Agent. That however will become evident as you work your way through the modules. It is however, the best foundational tool I’ve ever seen in the industry to enable you to chart a course that will rival any industry veteran out there.

Come to think of it. If our critics who claim to be embarrassed or insulted by YTB RTA’s not knowing anything about the travel industry would simply point those they find to YTB’s First Class Training, many of their problems would be resolved. Me thinks however, they’re far more comfortable simply complaining and pointing out what’s wrong instead of working on a solution.

You in YTB however, know how to pick up the ball. If you’ve already taken the course like I have, you know how valuable this is, so maybe you can offer up the support to your fellow RTA’s our critics find and help them get on course with this foundational tool.

How nice it is to have such an outstanding and powerful program to help take care of our own.

Hats off to the Home Office and YTB.

Thanks guys!

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Do You ZamZuu?

Late last week I wrote about creating a “Happy File” which is simply a collection of testimonials which can do wonders in keeping you positive, upbeat, and moving in the right direction. Since that post, I’ve received several more e-mails about how much people appreciate what I do on this blog and the newsletter.

Since November, not one other vendor has made the same error in judgment.

That’s not to say that there hasn’t been plenty to write about over the last year, or my three plus years I’ve been posting here. But it’s really been the last year that this blog has taken on a life of its own. I’ve had plenty of help, from both sides of the fence. One side appreciates me, and another side seems to have this fascination about my waste size. All things considered, waste size is a good thing because it shows they can’t argue facts.

Like the supplier I described earlier this week, we find critic concerns and questions have less and less value as we move far beyond critic fears and misconceptions and move on with our lives, and business.

As a side note: I did see that the “employee” of the supplier was so angered over exposing what his employer really thinks, that he put his fist through his monitor. You may recall my argument that they do an outstanding job of ruining their own reputations. A fist through a monitor (although used simply as an expression) should be noted as a very good example.

Any-who…

While a small group of critics will gather this weekend to discuss YTB, both privately, or on a public forum, tens of thousands of YTB RTA’s will be upgrading and watching video clips from Marc Mancini, CLIA, Carnival and others who have taken the time to help us produce an online travel training program specifically designed for us. Gone are the days of the “recruiters” who some claim don’t know squat about travel.

Part of what I enjoy so much about YTB, aside from the great relationships I’ve been able to form, is the journey. To see how far this company has come and the uncharted territory is exhilarating. It’s not always easy, and there have been a number of surprises along the way. Since the days of Bill Alverson’s TravelMax back in 1996 when it all started, there hasn’t been a Travel MLM who has even sniffed at the levels of success and stature of YTB.

As we’ve moved into these uncharted territories and bumped into the obstacles and land mines put in place to trip us up, I’ve been impressed with how we’ve managed to navigate our way through. I booked a few clients on Carnival’s refurbished Destiny that set sail out of Miami for Key West and Cozumel yesterday. Little do they realize that when a cruise ship exits the port for its intended port of call, it constantly needs to make adjustments during the entire cruise. Very natural conditions such as winds, current, and storms can and will take a ship off course if it’s not monitored on a regular basis.

YTB as a business model is no different. Market conditions, suppliers, and even critics have to be monitored and adjustments need to be made along the way to insure that we reach our intended destination.

Last year this blog took a change of course and while the risk was high and the waters have been very turbulent at times, the feedback I’m getting has been overwhelming. Imagine my surprise when I had another item to add to the “Happy File” on our GEM Team conference call Wednesday night with the CEO of YourTravelBiz.com, Scott Tomer.

I’ll have the complete call for all the RTA’s in the Newsletter this weekend, but wanted to file this clip in the “Happy File” to remind me that I’m right on course.

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Do You ZamZuu?

I was talking to a woman around the New York area late last week. She found my web site after doing a search and requested more information. I followed up with her and she mentioned she was actually looking to go back to school to become a travel agent. After asking a few more questions I found that she had been arranging family travel plans for some time and had a lot of people who used her as a resource on where to go. She had become frustrated with her own “brick and mortar” agency because she could actually find better deals on the internet than her own agent.

I mentioned what my wife and I have been doing with YTB Travel and Cruises and how I could actually get her up and running as her own referral agency, and supply a plethora of information on how she could book this same travel without spending hoards of time and expense in school. After sending her a few links on industry certifications that I know of, and have taken, she sounded very interested in our business model. Both she and I were certain she would get started with us late last week.

I got an e-mail from her Monday:

“Thank you for all your information and answers to some tough questions. After careful reading and consideration and conversations with some people locally I have decided to obtain a degree in Travel and Tourism Hospitality Services at our local college.”

WHAT?!! She more than likely ended up getting that advice from the same agent who couldn’t find the deals she could find on her own! She will also find out very quickly like I did that people who can…do, people who can’t…teach. I’m also willing to bet that she will find out like I did, she is far more intelligent than any of the teachers she will run into. Than why is she listening to others instead of me? Because she’s been trained like I was from a very early age that going to school is the only way to go to get ahead in life. She simply doesn’t know what she will be learning when she does go back to school.

She is looking for know-how, and isn’t aware that travel agent schools are designed, primarily, to train low-paying, entry-level employees for travel agencies. Consequently, travel agent schools concentrate on dull, rote tasks like using a computerized reservation system. Furthermore, travel agent schools do not teach you how to think like an agency owner or how to get out in the community and sell travel. That’s because travel agent schools are designed to serve the needs of storefront travel agencies, providing them a steady stream of entry-level employees who will sit at a computer screen all day and enter orders.

Travel agent schools also don’t go out of their way to teach you that selling cheap, point-to-point airline tickets is no way to get rich quick — or to get rich at all, for that matter. Once again, this is because travel agent schools serve the travel agency business first and foremost.

I ended up wasting 2 years of my life and over $40,000 with nothing to show for it but debt and depression after doing the same thing. I went to school for Audio Video some years ago. It wasn’t until I got an internship at a local radio station in Pittsburgh that I found mentors, not teachers, who were willing to teach me all the tricks of the trade FOR FREE. These men and woman had actually been working in the field of my choice for 15 to 20 years and I learned more from them in 6 months than I did two years sitting in some class room. They also had the connections I needed to get my own gig in radio and by the time the other classmates got out of school, I was already established in the same industry they were trained for.

Every year hundreds of thousands of people aspire to participate in this business transaction called “college”. We have graduating seniors in high school all this month and next who will be listening to their parents and friends to do the same thing.

I’ll give you $80,000 and 4 years of my life, and in return, I get to scramble for a JOB that starts at $32,000 on the high end.

AND PEOPLE STRIVE FOR THIS. Corporate America has done a GREAT job at selling the public that this is a really good deal! That “college” is the way to go!

Well here’s the truth.

As a business owner, I attended a free Sandals Seminar on Tuesday of this week here in Atlanta. The top executives of the company trained my wife and I on the benefits of booking family vacations, honeymoon packages, and large corporate events with their resorts. I make more money, and save money earning free nights at these beautiful resorts selling these packages! This bright, intelegent woman will spend her time and money sitting in a classroom learning how to book airline tickets for pennies for someone else.

A college education does NOT teach you how to make money. It teaches you how to become a productive part of corporate America. It’s a training camp for the next participants of the rat race. They are nothing more than “employee farms”. They don’t have your best interest in mind. You are a product. You are nothing more than low grade human fuel for the guy who started the company.

And you will continue to pay the ultimate “stupid tax” for the rest of your life until you wise up and take matters into your own hands.

If you want to pursue a life in business, college is a scam. If you have dreams and desires to make a 6 figure income, why do we listen to people who don’t make that kind of money themselves? Until you find MENTORS like I did in the REAL WORLD, you will never learn what you need to make it in any business.

Like I said, this was a very smart woman, who is simply misinformed about which direction to go when it comes to learning about the industry of her choice. If she’s as smart as I think she is, she’ll soon realize that what she has been told by others she knows and trusts is not the way to go.

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