Update: I have been flooded with questions regarding the cause of Kim Sorensen’s sudden passing. From what I have been able to gather thus far, Kim was doing very well in his recovery regarding his double lung transplant last year. He was at work in the Home Office on Monday and by all accounts – doing very well.  Kim had a regularly scheduled doctors appointment Wednesday morning where he was to undertake a very common breathing treatment.

It was during this breathing treatment that he passed on.

Details are still coming in along with other arrangements.

We’ll keep you posted as we all morn this sudden loss. 

~~~

I was in a meeting this afternoon and my phone started to ring off the hook. A bunch of YTB names I knew too.

After my meeting, I picked up the voice mail – but could only get through the first message.

YTB Founder, Kim Sorensen has passed away.

I guess the best word I can come up with right now is “stunned”.

Many of us knew from this past years Convention that Kim was given a double lung transplant. A shock to most because Kim was a very private man, and we had no idea that he was even sick. We admired his strength and courage – and most like myself felt he was well on his way to a full recovery.

You may also know that YTB was the brain child of Kim all those years ago. Using travel as a vehicle for a dynamite network marketing model. I had the honor of speaking with Kim one on one several time both in person and over the phone. He was genuine, sincere, and while he didn’t talk about his faith all that much – he certainly walked the walk.

Because of Kim’s leadership YTB climbed Travel Weekly’s Power List since 2006, as well as Travel Weekly naming Kim one of the most influential people in travel directly. He most certainly made an impact in the travel industry – using average every day people to impact the industry.

Here is the notice I received from the Home Office – and really can’t express this loss in any other way. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Today we say goodbye to more than a great man.

It is with great sadness that we announce J. Kim Sorensen took his last breath on Wednesday morning, February 1, 2012. While he will forever be remembered as our fearless Founder, the man who had the vision to see beyond a failed venture and turn it in to one of the greatest stories ever told, we all know that he is much more than that. A great man to say the least, Kim was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and dear friend to so many of us.

Please join us in remembering Kim’s extraordinary life and passion for helping individuals write their own success story. As he always said, “I need everyone to get in the game.” Let’s join together to honor his memory and celebrate a life well-lived.

Please share your favorite Kim moments by clicking here.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been determined. More details will be released soon.

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As kids, we always want toys under the Christmas tree. As we age and get older, our interest in toys appears to change. For yours truly – they get a bit more technical and more expensive.

Hey – I still love my toys. ;-P

I would imagine however that a sizable percentage of us however would be very happy with cold hard cash under the tree as we get older. If I had to guess, it’s because cash gives us the ability to buy exactly what we want.

I have no idea what other companies are doing this year for Christmas in regards to Christmas bonuses. I would imagine that some will continue to ride the “bad economic times” coat tails. Bad economy or not, I remember two years when instead of a bonus – either myself or Ronda got laid off right around Christmas time.

And some wonder why we don’t consider a “job” very stable and looked at something like Network Marketing to earn income.

See – at least in Network Marketing or Direct Sales YOU control of how much you make. You’re paid in direct proportion to the results you produce. Which for those who have been brain washed into thinking you only need to exchange time for money is a real problem. For those that actually get this concept and take control of their time to treat MLM like a legitimate business (despite the low cost of entry) it can produce very lucrative results.

For anyone who’s not afraid of sales and knows how to manage their time and activities properly, there’s nothin’ better or more rewarding.

That being said – I’d challenge anyone to provide me with a bonus offer like the one I received late last week that kicks off today. Here’s a company that puts YOU in the drivers seat and enables you to create your own bonus this year.

It’s not like a traditional bonus. It’s one that you have to earn. But it’s also one that puts you in the drivers seat – enabling you to create your own outcome.

Here’s how it reads:

Earn a 25% BONUS this Christmas!

Introducing YTB Unwrapped this week – December 5-11, 2011.

With the big holiday gift giving season upon us, YTB wants to help make it a bit more manageable. For one week only beginning Monday, December 5, you’ll have the ability to earn a 25% bonus when you sell over $500 worth of products (excludes Travel Program Sales). And, that’s on top of your normal commission payout!

Here’s how it works:
Sell at least $500 worth of products (such as Suklaa, GreenTech, Z Mobile, or Ganovia) in any combination to non-Rep customers and we’ll pay you 25% of your retail amount sold.

For example, anyone who sells $500 will receive a bonus of $125 plus commission!

YTB Unwrapped begins Monday, December 5 — 5:00 p.m. Central with a special webcast on www.ZamZuuTV.biz

YTB Unwrapped will rebroadcast all week long at the top of every hour through December 11. Each product line will have its own 10-minute spot with 2 minutes in between. (We’ll also post these on our YouTube page to share individually with a prospective customer!)

Start scheduling appointments or host a party to showcase one or all of the YTB Family of products this week!

A couple points of clarification on what qualifies:
Shipping and taxes are not included in the retail price for this promotion. Sales are calculated to full paying clients outside of the YTB company. Sales at Rep pricing are not eligible for this bonus.

Let’s make this Christmas even more joyful with a 25% bonus!

~~~

I gotta tell you – this is why I love YTB and what it stands for. It’s product driven and empowers those who get Direct Sales and results based income. If you have the capacity to grasp the tools provided and the fact that you’re in control – it’s an incredible and very generous offer. 

It should make Christmas very merry this year anyone who goes out an earns it.

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One of the things that I absolutely love about MLM is a genuine desire to learn and grow.

Since my introduction into this industry, I’ve been exposed to more author’s, speakers, and mentors than I can shake a stick at. Some, like Dale Carnegie, Brian Tracy, and Earl Nightingale were in my library long before MLM. Since my introduction into MLM however, I’ve been introduced to more great – wealthy – inspirational minds in the last six years than all my prior years combined.

A new book I was introduced to last week – provided a number of amazing revelations I wanted to share with you.

The author is Robert Shemin and he’s pictured here on the cover of his New York Times Best Seller “How Come THAT Idiot’s Rich and I’m Not?”

Just the title alone makes you want to read this thing. (It’s brilliant!) I don’t know about you, but I’ve known my fair share of “idiot’s” in my day. The vast majority are miserable and broke, and not actually happy and rich however. But I get the gist of what Shemin is trying to convey here, because there was a time when I looked at some rich people and thought, “What do they have that I don’t?”

What I found out, in other books and from speakers like Shemin was there was plenty I didn’t have in regards to mindset and attitude. It wasn’t until I got involved with MLM that I really began to study and eventually understand what it takes to be successful in business. Sure, I made plenty of mistakes. I also had my share of so called “failures”. Each mistake or failure turned into valuable learning experiences that changed my thinking and my actions. Washing away all the crap that cluttered my mind and kept me from taking the proper action to attain success. It took a number of years, but I eventually replaced enough beliefs and actions with powerful thoughts and valuable tools that I now own and operate a number of businesses that has me well on my way to the type of lifestyle and net worth I desire.

Shemin’s book is centered on real estate. That’s his area of expertise. But true to that vast majority of smart, successful business minds that I’ve read both from and about – most support and promote MLM as a viable business model to get involved with. (Especially as a model for getting started in business.) The level of support and tools found in MLM far exceed anything else I’ve seen in the business world.

Shemin’s no different – but with a very nice promotion of a very specific MLM and industry.

Now I know you all don’t have this book handy, and I’m not going to bombard you with what the entire book says. (Besides, it’s mostly about real estate and not MLM.) But there’s one page that I’d like to highlight, because it’s a real eye opener.

For anyone who wants to check out the page for themselves, you can on Google Books. (Here’s the link to the Page 101) I also wanted to use this link just so there’s no doubt about what was printed in this New York Times Best Seller.

Becoming a travel agent is simple. I signed up for something called Your Travel Business, or YTB, and presto! I became a travel agent. You can too. Just go to my special site, www.ytb.com/robertshemin, and sign up. Now you’re a Rich Idiot, too.

So book that trip and live rich now. By the way, I should tell you that when you sign up, I get benefits for introducing you. That makes me an even bigger Rich Idiot. But wait – you’ll get the same added goodies when you share your travel agent site with your friends and family. Remember, Rich Idiots want others to be rich, too!

Imagine that? Here’s someone who’s already rich – promoting YTB as a great way to get rich yourself. No special training involved – no requirements or classes. Just sign up and start telling your friends and family.

Now I know this kind of promotion drives the travel professional’s nuts. (Makes the hair on the back of their neck stand up with disgust and anger.) What these travel professionals have never really grasped is that travel isn’t rocket science. In fact it’s so simple that 4 of the Top 10 travel agencies today are do it yourself type agencies. (Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, and Priceline.) If the average person can book their own hotel, cruise, and airline ticket – there’s no reason why someone like you and I can’t sign up and point people to your own site.

Also note, there’s full disclosure here. Robert makes it very clear that he benefits from introducing his readers. Broke Idiot’s call that “profiting” – as if there’s something wrong with making a profit in business. For anyone who takes issue with Robert, me, or anyone else making a profit from introducing others about all I can respond with is – “Duh?!”

In other words, profits are a major component in owning and operating any successful business. Just because it has “MLM” attached to it – doesn’t make it any different. It’s business.

Moving on – and you’re going to love this.

At most resorts or hotels, there are better rooms and bigger rooms with more interesting views, concierge floors with special services, and even luxury suits. When checking in, simply ask if you could be upgraded. Here’s how I empower the staff. I say, “If anyone can make this happen, I know it’s you.” Then I offer them a gift (I often carry chocolates with me), not to bribe them but to brighten their day. You’ll be surprised how often a hotel will oblige. Presto! You’ve just become a Rich Idiot for the duration of your stay!

Now wait just a cotton picken’ minute here! You mean to tell me after all these years that all I really needed was a box of chocolates? What about the all-powerful and necessary IATAN that I’ve been whacked over the head with more times than I can count? Here – I’ve been soooo concerned because I’ve been told by so called industry “experts” that IATAN was the be all and end all for upgrades!

What a rip! ;-P

Truth is guys. I’ve really only used my CLIA once way back when for a trip to Sandenstin for a FAM. Other FAM’s and Seminars at Sea were offered via YTB without any such requirement. Likewise, I’ve never owned an IATAN because contrary to what’s been said about YTB and IATAN, there’s no possible way YTB could actually “sell” their IATAN to a third party. There’s only one way to attain that credential, and that’s earning it from IATAN directly with proof of $5000 in commissioned sales. By the time I was able to earn mine directly, they pulled the plug with this nonsense YTB was selling the card.

All these years, all I’ve really needed was a smile and the guts to simply ask for an upgrade. If it was available, I usually got one.

If not, here’s the next tip that I’ve also done.

Here’s one thing I do at least once a year. I put together a group of my friends for a trip or a cruise. This vacation strategy also works very well for school groups, churches, and civic groups. If enough people participate, the airline, the hotel, the resort, or the cruise ship will often give me my trip for free. Not only do I get a fantastic vacation, but I get to spend it with all my friends and I get it for free – just for having the idea and putting it together. By the way, Rich Idiots take a portion of the price of the ticket they would have paid for but didn’t and donate the money to a worthy cause.

Soon after my trip to Sandestin, Royal Caribbean launched Freedom of the Seas. I really wanted to get on this ship but there was just no way RCL was going to kick some full paying customer off this ship just to put me and my family on the ship for a fraction of the cost.

So I did what other Rich Idiot’s do and got a small group of eight of us together. Granted, the group was so small at the time that there wasn’t any “freebie” for us, but because everyone booked at full price, yours truly did earn over $1000 in commission to recoup some of the cost. In addition, when I got back I posted pictures and wrote a really nice review of our experience.

Note: no lime green t-shirts were required with “I got here free, ask me how”. No shenanigans about recruiting everyone on board. Instead, before RCL pulled their little stunt, several people saw our photos or review, and booked full fair cruises with us on BandBVacations.com earning somewhere in the neighborhood of $13 million in the first nine months of 2007.

And Royal Caribbean is demanding that we change our tune in order to have the “privilege” to sell a cruise with thier company? What the hell for?

Makes you wonder who the Idiot is don’t it?

It’s entirely up to you which “Idiot” you want to be. You can be rich – or you could really goofy and be broke. My experience with both (or at least attaining wealth and net worth) is it’s much easier and more fun being rich rather than broke.

Broke as we’ve seen time and time again, leaves you angry and miserable.

Being rich however, takes all those people who want to call you an idiot and makes it incredibly easy to just flick them off like flies. ;-P

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You know what I love about YTB? They’re always one step ahead and cutting edge. Masters at spotting hot markets and finding a reliable product to sell that makes us money. They’ve been doing it for 30 years which started back in the A.L. Williams days. And just like YTB turned travel on its ear – A.L. Williams did the same thing with insurance way back when.

Today, if you’re not doing e-commerce and reaching out electronically – well, you’re just plain sunk without much hope of succeeding in this modern age.

I’ve heard rumblings about this new shift in marketing for about a year now. A vast number of “Marketing Guru’s” that I subscribe to have been telling me that mobile is the next big “boom”, and we better get our feet wet. When it gets the attention of the likes of Jay Conrad Levinson – you better make note.

Speaking of Mr. Levinson, if you’ve never heard of that name, find a way to read some of his books. The guy is absolutely brilliant. And when I say “Marketing Guru” – I don’t mean just “Network Marketing”.

Mr. Levinson has been contracted to work with the likes of Wells-Fargo, Citicorp, Visa, Viacom, BF Goodrich, Honda, Club Med, Rolling Stone, Montgomery Ward, Nissan, Mercedes, Volvo, and Holiday Inn. His book “Guerrilla Marketing” is a must read for anyone who needs to promote a business or product.

Any-who – back to mobile, and why I like Z Mobile.

Take this new business I just came under contract with this past week. I just got a Sales Report for the Fall of 2010 and Spring of 2011. During that time, the territory did a whopping 1450 of what they call “events” in the territory. Now these “events” are actually set up in more of a “B2B” fashion because they’re held inside a business – but it services more like a “B2C” which sells to the clientele inside that business.

I mentioned that my knowledge and experience with YTB would serve me well in the new business model. Over the last two weeks I’ve had another run on subscribers to our YTB Newsletter because of Convention and the word of mouth from current subscribers talking about how good it is. (Thank you, by the way.) My thinking was that I could do another newsletter with this new business venture when promoting all these events we’ll be scheduling and doing.

I’ll still do e-mail, but I’ve run into a bit of a wall – or more accurately, a “firewall”.

See, if these new subscribers enroll via their work e-mail address the company firewall may block my communication letting customers know when and where we’ll be. Sure, the subscription is a double opt in, just like the one I have for the fine folks of YTB – but the company may only allow what they would consider “work related” communications as acceptable and block communication like mine.

Problem is, these customers actually look forward to seeing us walk in the door. One of my sales guys has been with the company for 10 years and knows these people by name. While out in the field yesterday, I told customers that the company was under new management and the first thing they asked was “Where did Michael go?” After clarifying that management was new and not their representative, that’s when communication opened up and I discovered that this “firewall” might be an issue.

Have you ever had one of those problems that you’re trying to figure out a solution for and you just can’t come up with an answer? Then, all of the sudden, like the clouds separate, the heaven’s open up, and a ray of light from God himself beams down the answer.

That was me yesterday.

I was talking with Michael, my representative, about this “firewall” issue. While he agreed is was a problem, neither one of us could figure out how else we could reach this customer base to market and promote our product and schedule during the conversation. It was only about an hour home, but it was killing me so bad, that it felt like days.

Then, just as soon as I walk in the door, I checked e-mail and there’s a flood of Facebook notifications from the YTB groups I participate in all talking about Z Mobile being launched ahead of schedule. I also flashed back to earlier in the day when I first met our contacts for my new business and realized that they had smart phones sitting on their desks. I even pulled mine out to show them that the new site I launched was mobile ready.

At that point – I kind of felt like God was whacking me back upside the head for not seeing the answer all along. Thing is, Z-Mobile was something that was presented as a product I could sell, not really a product I would use for my own business.

I know. “Duh!!” right?

Truth is – it’s a perfect solution that will solve a real problem I have with this new business. It will also put me light years ahead of my competitors in the same market. Why buy from them, when they know I’m going to be showing up with better product and service via the communications I’ll be sending out?

That, my friends is how you become a product of the product. While I certainly won’t be tipping my competitors off to my new found mobile wepon, it will be a useful tool for some of the businesses I currently service – providing more value and making everyone more money in return.

Boyah!

~~~

UPDATE: Speaking of my new business. It took me a bit to wrap my head around this idea that YTB might sue me for getting involved in this new business. I know it sounds bizarre, but the self-proclaimed “expert” in all things YTB, John Frenaye, is apparently warning that this could happen in his latest round of nervous twitching. Knowing how brainwashed and unenlightening John actually is, it’s my guess that John is under the impression that my new business venture is another MLM or Network Marketing company.

Therefore, I’ll be recruiting everyone to come aboard.

Fear not however. The spiked Kool-Aid John has been drinking for years leads to this belief that once involved with MLM or Network Marketing, you become what’s known as a “lifer”. Meaning it’s the only option guys like me would even consider or get involved with. According to the Zealot creed, it ruins anyone who gets involved, making us unworthy and unclean for the “real business” world.

From my experience, MLM and Network Marketing is a perfect proving ground to discover practical real world experience in business. Truth be told, there are more similarities than there are differences. While most everything I mentioned in Thursdays article could be applied to MLM, the business I was actually writing about isn’t MLM or anything of the kind.

While I’m impressed that John considers me this huge “recruiter” – that’s not part of the current business model I’ve ventured into. It’s a simple sales and management opportunity that presented itself that I decided to invest my time and money in. There’s no need to be “diplomatic” or have a care in the world over any speculation of being sued. Like the Class Action that’s being thrown out of court more times than I can count – any lawsuit aimed at such a claim doesn’t have a prayer.

In other words: Sorry John, I know how desperate you are to remain relevant and riveting in this charade you’re hanging on to. However, you’ve just shown everyone yet again that you’re nothing more than an ignorant, nervous twit who doesn’t have a clue.

The time to step away from the Kool-Aid is long overdue.

Idiot.

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If an employer told you that you’d be working from 8:00am in the morning until 9:30pm at night – most would baulk at the thought of and 13 hour plus day. Yet, when you own your own business there’s a completely different take on such a long day. Instead of being long and dragged out, it’s exhilarating.

That’s been the general consensus surrounding yesterday’s vendor workshops. Vendor workshops in the morning, Coach’s Way mentoring in the afternoon, and a very special KidZafe training at night. A day jam packed with learning, expanding and growing.

A couple years ago, I wrote a review on Chris Andersen’s book called “The Long Tail”. In a nutshell, and you can review via the link, the book describes how companies like Amazon, once known for selling just books, have expanded their product offering into smaller niche markets to increase sales for their bottom line. Amazon is still best known for their books, especially with Kindle sales now exceeding paper books, but the vast assortment of ancillary items that are sold continue to grow.

The model has proven to be so successful you have companies like Wal-Mart who now offer just about everything under the sun via WalMart.com for shipping either to homes or site to store.

ZamZuu appears to be following this model as well with specialty niche markets. With the companies vast diversity that includes men, women, African American, Latino, White, and Asian the company continues to find products each demographic can sell too. Best example I can see at this year’s convention is the new Suklaa line of cosmetics.

I often tease that when Ronda got involved with Mary Kay before we found YTB that I really liked the model, but there was one big problem. I don’t do makeup. Apparently, I still don’t know anything about makeup – because I had no clue that the current Chae Organics line available through ZamZuu isn’t designed for “women of color”. The new Suklaa line however is – and it’s been a very welcome addition for the “women of color” at this year’s Convention.

The highlight of the day however, was the Coach’s Way Mentoring Program offered up yesterday afternoon. I was amazed at how I pulled up my Facebook page late last night and how many people posted the quotes and life lessons that came from that session. Being a student of life and business, many of the quotes were familiar, but what impressed me most was how intently everyone was listening and soaking up the information heard. They were also students of life and business.

In closing – and speaking of Coach’s Way. We just got word that if you couldn’t make it to this year’s Convention, and in Coach’s Way – there’s a special link for a live video feed in your back office to watch the General Session today. I know it’s nothing like actually being there, but you can get the news and announcements as it happens.

Very cool feature and a welcome asset for those that want to be mentored by a Millionaire.

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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Years ago YTB Travel Network launched a newsletter called “The Travel Compass”. It’s a weekly publication that got off to a slow start when it was first released but found a rhythm after a few months. “The Travel Compass” has been a regular read going on four – maybe five years now.

I’ve never been with a company that communicates so effectively. Not only can I count on the information being in my in-box at the same time each and every week – the information is timely and relevant. We model our own newsletter after this type of publication.

Last week, ZauZuu launched a new daily publication called ZamZuu Pulse. It’s a daily, short piece that contains relevant and valuable information that not only gives an inside scoop on what’s going on with the company – but highlights the upward trend the company is currently experiencing.

For example :

During our recent ZamFest event over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the companies sales skyrocketed. Looking at just two of the four Affiliate shopping networks that we partners with, sales tripled when compared to the same shopping days one year ago. That’s TRIPLED to over $264,000 in retail sales for those two networks alone.

Or how ’bout this :

Most experts agree that the average person in this industry sells or recruits somewhere between 2.6 and 2.8 people. In September, the first full month of the Free Revolution, ZamZuu had six new Free Agents for every new Broker. In November, that figure was eight to one – nearly three times the industry average.

It’s this kind of communication that everyone in the company can use and benefit from. It takes just a couple minutes and it helps you stay plugged in and motivated – giving you a “pulse” on what’s going with your company.

I’d highly recommend this piece as part of your daily routine – so if you’re not getting this submit a support ticket in you back office and make sure you get it. You’ll be glad you did.

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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Three years ago, YTB’s most famous cynic came bursting onto this blog with the mission to tell me – you, and anyone else who could stomach it – that MLM and Travel was a bad mix. When John Frenaye landed here, it took a nanosecond to figure out how this guy ticked. It’s a very standard and predictable M.O. that works by categorizing, separating, hiding, judging, condemning, attacking and rejecting.

Today, the name John Frenaye is synonymous with Anti-YTB after three years of rants and obsessive – compulsive behavior. Daily life consists of prowling the Internet for any tid-bit or morsel of food that can be reworked or rearranged and thrown back out in an attempt to justify his radical cause. His obsession has also compelled him to join every Facebook Fan page YTB or ZamZuu has – opting in under various aliases on several YTB newsletters (including ours), and even joining YTB a few years ago as a free “Rep” just to gain access to company information and communication to rework and refine with his own twist in an effort to satisfy his immense appetite over YTB.

Proper etiquette, rules or boundaries have little place for someone who needs to feed a powerful addiction. Nor is there any room for reasoning or solution based alternatives. All “pro” statements that don’t conform to the “Frenaye Creed” are quickly met with a direct rebuttal or even better – an abrupt and public reprimand. Many have described his uncompromising behavior cult like.

John is personally responsible for spreading his “creed” to every available board, forum, and blog, promoting his radical thinking and perceptions. Always watching – always monitoring the vast amount of communication and sites about YTB, just as soon as there’s a comment to support YTB – you can bet that John will be there to distract everyone from the topic at hand to trash the model, company, Founders and members.

After years of incessant rants – about the only option anyone has these days is the “ignore feature” found on these forms and boards to protect your computer (or your mind) from being infected. I have very little knowledge or care about what he’s writing these days, but there’s only one person I can think of that fits this description:

“Obviously, from your blog you will spin anything to the negative against this company. Some of it may be for good reason…some of it seems like an old crazy girlfriend I dated in high school.”

What’s also obvious is that John’s reputation precedes him.

While I’m years removed from the confines of alcoholism, I remember what it’s like to be consumed by addiction. How the compulsion controls every aspect of your life. True, to outsiders who see the daily rants, it looks to be bizarre and dysfunctional. For John however, life feels quite normal – even “right” because it’s so routine.

His own blog throughout the years, has been the home port to spew all that’s wrong with YTB. He’s prided himself on an open blog forum that allows all views and positions. A few months back however, his open blog forum policy was drastically changed and comments have since been shut down – completely.

The only views expressed or allowed are those of the owner now. Mind you, it’s no big loss. In fact – I applaud the disposal of daily rants and trash talking designed to keep emotions, rumors and fear at a frenzy level.

However, when I heard about the excuse in this thread (sorry, no direct link because Ainsworth is also on “ignore”) – I couldn’t help but think how John has deceived his own flock. Has John told his followers that someone was attacking his kids on Facebook?

Mind you, I would agree that would certainly be enough to scare any parent. (This one included.) If that were truly the case, I’d even feel applauded over John’s situation. It’s just not right – and if I find documented proof this is the case – beware.

Truth is however, from what I know about the comments made on his blog – they weren’t about his children at all – but about John and his personal failures as a young adult and travel professional. After all the years of poking and prying into everyone else’s lives and publicly posting them on his blog, someone has finally had enough and exposed the real John Frenaye and his less the perfect behavior and past on this site.

Several members of YTB have known about John’s troubles for some time, including me – but nobody has stooped to this level before. I’ve been asked on several occasions to post these findings in the hope it would turn the tables against John. Some have even speculated that it would shut him up.

About all it would do for sure would provoke more anger and resentment. John’s clearly not able to look at himself or his views as anything less than admirable and above reproach. With John’s bizarre behavior and ridiculous spin over the years, I’ve really never seen the need to add this information into the mix. In my opinion, the documentation provided here related to YTB would conclude this guy isn’t playing a full deck.

Some may consider this new blog unfair or underhanded.

If that’s the case, would it be underhanded for John to purchase “thefactsaboutytb.NET” to link to his blog? Would it be considered unfair that John also created a “Zam (space) Zuu” fan page to mock and poke fun at the name, our members and our Founders? Would it be considered a personal attack that John posted a link to a news story similar to the one about him surrounding one of our Directors? How ’bout posting personal bankruptcy findings?

John’s been guilty of all these offensive and abusive actions over the years. Frankly, I’m somewhat surprised it took this long for it to show up in cyberspace. When you play with this kind of fire, you’re bound to get burned sooner or later.

With that said – I have no idea if John’s going to wise up or straighten up. It’s not my place – and I’m completely powerless in helping him at this point. The only person that can help John is John – that much I do know.

My hope however, is this information will help you let go and move on like I have. John’s perception of YTB is similar to telling me the sky is purple. Rant all you want about it – it’s not going to change the color from blue to purple simply because you yell louder than I do – or make believe you know any more than I do.

That charade ended the second he barged in here and he opened up his mouth.

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