Just Picture It Now

Friday, June 06, 2008

Martha's Resolution

Every now and then, people really surprise me. I honestly don’t know what it is about our beliefs systems, but I’m sure that phrases like “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” or “the apple does not fall very far from the tree” has something to do with it. I for one know that anyone has it in them to change the direction of their beliefs, financial situation, and life in general if they sincerely want to.

I want to share this comment from Martha with everyone:

I expected to come on here this evening and read some severe Martha bashing which didn't happen, rather you people showed compassion. I appreciate that and don't know if I would have reacted in kind under the circumstances. I appreciate your thoughts.

I would like to clear something up that was mentioned in the comments. I do read John's blog almost every day and have for about a year. I just started commenting on his blog in the past month or around then. I am not easily influenced and I became aware of Candi through someone that sent me the link to her presentation on YouTube or one of those type, plus a link to her webpage. John had never mentioned Candi when I was introduced to her video or webpage, so John's opinion or anything else was not an issue in this as it was not known to me that he was aware of Candi. I was very suspicious only because of Seligman and I started to check things out. That was my first mistake. I am not an investigative reporter or a private eye. I am a travel agent. That is what I will be sticking with since I failed so miserably in my attempt to discredit Candi. In that process, I also became a real bitch to Doug. Yes, you read that correctly, a Royal Bitch, a Queen Bitch even, maybe even a Master Bitch. I resorted to name calling and other childish behavior, something I always taught my kids was not acceptable.I will probably never agree with the method of operations of YTB, a lot of their practices, the recruiting, and the MLM ideas. I may still inject my opinions now and again, but I have also learned a great deal from this particular experience. There are certain areas that I have no business treading. This instance was one of them.

I commend Doug for printing most of my posts, but I respect him more for slapping the snot out of me with actual proof. I was without a doubt floored when I read today's blog. As a matter of fact, deep remorse overcame me for being such a witch. It did not bother me to be proven wrong, it bothered me that I affected others in the process. That is something I'm not at all proud of.

I have no excuses, I was the one that made the assumptions and errors. I am responsible for what I posted. Barbequed crow does not taste like chicken either.

This is where I'm coming from and if you do decide to bash me, I can take it and I deserve it. I also promise to never again refer to RTAS as RATS. You just have to know I'm going to break that promise!

~ Martha Burke

I’ve got to be honest; I’m blown away at what just transpired in the last 24 hours. I was ramping up for a real fight this week concerning Candi May. As much information as I shared, complete with e-mail addresses and phone numbers to contact Candi directly, it became increasingly apparent to me that I had to come up with some way of communicating that Candi was who she said she was and while I didn’t expect either John or Martha to accept what I posted on Wednesday concerning Carlson Wagonlit, or Thursday concerning Agent Credentials, but apparently it worked. (Finally)

Candi led a very simple, uncomplicated, and rather quiet life before I posted about her industry experience last month. So I felt responsible for some of harsh words and accusations that have been posted elsewhere on the internet. Because this blog gets the kind of visibility and readership it does, I brought her “out of the closet” so to speak.

While Candi and I did consider just letting the whole situation blow over, it became increasingly evident that the accusations and comments started to escalate instead of dying down. Within hours, all sorts or rumors and stories were floating around proclaiming that Candi was nothing more than some slick talking MLM recruiter whose 20 years of Travel Agent experience was nothing more than a fabrication, simply because she’s involved in MLM. Rumors and stories like this are nothing new. I’ve heard the same bogus comments about a former Minister who got involved with A.L. Williams some 30 years ago.

What I found most annoying were comments that Candi now had to document her experience FOR them, as if those making the accusations actually deserved to be spoon fed information at the drop of a hat. This small group simply couldn’t believe that a Traditional Travel Agent, especially one of her experience or success in the Traditional Arena, would even consider YTB as a viable alternative to “their way” of life. Candi found it silly and began to question just who these “posters” were and why it was so important to them. She also began to question why they were so lazy as to not even pick up the phone to call her directly, or come down to Louisville to see for themselves.

While it simply didn’t matter to her, I however was being bombarded with comment after comment, most nobody even saw because I had deleted them. I realize that I’ve been ridiculed and vilified for not allowing an open forum and that’s their right to believe that. After what happened this week however, I’m really glad I did what I do because all of the nasty, vicious, and unsubstantiated comments surrounding Candi May (among other topics) which everyone just knew were “fact” turned out to be nothing more than a limiting and false “belief”.

It certainly shed a new light on demands that you have a right to post “the truth” when you finally find out it was all a big misunderstanding doesn’t it?

So, the big mystery of Candi May has been solved, the Candi bashing has ended, and everyone can get on with their lives. If anyone has any further questions I would simply ask that you do what I did, and that’s go to the source. Candi is an open book, and more than happy to answer any remaining questions you have, if any.

Thank you Martha for allowing me to slap you around. Wait…that didn’t sound right, but I also know she has a sense of humor.

Actually, thanks for seeing the light and thank you for the apology. It means more than you know.

With that said, I’m going to be on vacation with my family next week. Frankly, after a week like this on the blog, I need one. It’s time to revamp and re-energize for the summer and it’s a place we’ve enjoyed for years as a family.

And by the way, the FREE Newsletter will still be going out as I will have both put on auto pilot to go out right on schedule and can assure you that if there is anything new or important to share even in my absence here, I’ll be sure to have it in the there. Just like here, it’s loaded with links and documentation for you to share with clients and prospects alike.

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Anti-MLM, Candi May, MLM Myths, Travel Agent Issues, Travel MLM

Posted by TravelPro at 4:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Comic Relief

I was asked to fill in for my Second Level Director Monday night to do a YTB Presentation. We had a couple of guests who were running late and while we were waiting the subject turned to my “Dear John” post on Sunday with a basic line of question and answers about Anti-MLM’ers and this small group of Traditional Travel Agents which can be generalized as “What is their problem?!”

Being among friends and knowing that they obviously have a much higher level of understanding and appreciation for what YTB is really all about, I began to list the pile of myths, misconceptions, rumors, and flat out lies about our company in a very comical way.

While I had them laughing and shaking their heads in disbelief over how anyone could be so far out in left field after so much time, study and focus has been dedicated to our model and company, it paled in comparison to what was forwarded to me yesterday morning and the following comedy of errors.

Anti-MLM’ers have always tried to justify their position with examples and the experience of others. Of course none of it is their own, they have none, so they take the word of someone else as fact and try to parade that around as their proof that MLM just doesn’t work.

As of yesterday, I was introduced to a couple of “Ghost Writers” who claim to be well educated, intelligent people one inside and one outside of the Travel Industry who happen to agree that Travel MLM’s have had a horrible impact on society as a whole. The two have collaborated together and have “caught up with” one Robert Fitzgerald to get his take on Travel MLM’s. Mr. Fitzgerald was our “expert” and was quoted and referenced his book, “False Profits” discussing how we MLM’ers basically take advantage of you poor unsuspecting souls.

As it turned out, our Anti-MLM’ers may want to consider drinking our Kool-Aid because whatever they’re drinking is not only causing them to forget the names of who they’ve “caught up with”, but which company and industry they are actually talking about!

Check this out and get a tissue because it may bring tears to your eyes from laughing so hard.

You see, Robert Fitzgerald is actually Robert Fitzpatrick. Robert Fitzgerald was a Poet who died in 1985, Robert FitzPatrick is the one they “caught up with”. How someone could forget the name of who they “caught up with” is one thing, but it gets even better when you realize the referenced book they report as FitzPatrick’s “take on Travel MLM’s” was actually written back in 1997, four years before YTB was even founded!

Oh, but it gets even better in the comments section below the post. It turns out, John Frenaye didn’t actually write the post, a woman suddenly appears in this Bad Mix, who nobody has ever seen or heard of before by the name of Kate Holmes who comes to John’s rescue to take responsibility as a “Guest Writer” for this RICH piece of work, which has turned out to be nothing but a comedy of errors.

Being a HUGE NFL Football fan, I could just hear Chris Berman’s voice giving the highlights of this gem with his “Rumblin’ Bumblin’ Stumblin’”

I don’t think I laughed that hard in a long time. These pour souls try everything under the sun to try to maim and malign our Company, and this new found Anti-MLM Zealot they “caught up with” it’s just one more example of how stupid they think people really are.

I’ve been in MLM far longer than these minions have been researching the subject, and any Anti-MLM Zealot worth their salt knows who Robert Fitzpatrick is and he is the cause of so MANY of the myths, legends and lies that are simply regurgitated as fact by those who don’t have the experience themselves to make an informed, educated decision about Network Marketing.

The “99% of all MLM’ers fail” bit…FitzPatrick.

It’s going to “eventually collapse” theory…FitzPatrick.

You’ll “loose all your friends and family” business…FitzPatrick.

And because like John Frenaye, FitzPatrick has been published, we are suppose to take his word as being some sort of “authority” and “expert” in the field of MLM and Network Marketing. If you truly want to get a good, and accurate picture on just who and what Robert Fitzpatrick is all about, and why Zealots feel and act the way they do, you need read a great piece of work by one of the smartest and most effective communicators I’ve ever come across. Len Clements has some 16 years of full time experience in the Network Marketing industry and did an excellent investigative piece back in 2005 on not only FitzPatrick, but both of his propaganda books, “False Profits” (1997) and “Pyramid Nation” (2002).

There are other names you will find that Len takes on with in his piece “Anti-MLM Zealots, Me Thinks Dos Protest Too Much” and I encourage you to read if you have time, or you can just pick up some of the key names and the Readers Digest condensed version from a post I did when I was introduced to all of them during my days of posting on Scam.com.

After the tone and anger of Sunday’s post, I felt it was time to share some “comic relief” and give all of you a good laugh mid week. Some may consider this as only an attempt to poke and attack John personally, and you’re not that all that far off in truth. I still consider this guy a Zealot and when I have something this rich to point at him showing how he constantly trips all over himself day after day with his campaign against a company that I love and respect of course it becomes personal.

Now that he and this other “Guest Writer” have been exposed, John in a classic move is trying desperately to burry this gem with a couple of posts directed at two other former members of YTB.

One post brings “American Destinations” into question with some senior party trip down to Jamaica. Could it be an educational trip to Kingston to learn about the British struggles with Pirates in the 18th Century, you never know. And early this morning for good measure a telling tale of copy and paste of a couple of e-mails, (the last one mine) of how a “Professional Scum Bag” sells some fabricated story of how Coach flies him up to Wood River, only to be scam Coach himself and be kicked out.

I don’t know if it will ever end with John and his Chain of Fools. But I’d suggest that at least for the moment, have a good laugh over this one. It’s very therapeutic and since they enjoy so much misery at our expense, I think it’s fair that we have a good laugh at theirs.

By the way, if you want to find out what’s REALLY going on with YTB and how we’re doing, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. I’ll have the May monthly out tomorrow and our lead story has a video of a news clip that will give you a sneak peak at what will be unveiled at the National Convention inside the Edward R. Jones Dome.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Travel!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Anti-MLM, John Frenaye, Len Clements, MLM Myths, Robert FitzPatrick

Posted by TravelPro at 5:56 AM | Permalink | Comments

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

That Didn't Take Long...

Looks like the move over to the OTC-BB didn’t take very long. As of Monday, YTBLA.OB became the new ticker symbol for our Class A Common Stock.

I told you that some critics would be yammering that this was no big deal, or something is STILL fishy and like a book, I found many of the watering holes attempting to discredit what just happened. I even paid a visit to an old board that I grew tired of just to see how some of the old favorite Anti-YTB Zealots would try to spin all this.

True to form, I found one of the most obnoxious and outspoken critics of YTB steeling bandwidth over on Scam.com. I’ve mention this Zealot before. Or should I make that plural? I’m not sure, because this same cat went by the name of MJ363 before he was officially shown the error of his ways last summer and sent packing, only to come back as ChrisN to start his whole “YTB looks like a pyramid” theory all over again.

My guess is that because he could never find anyone who would agree with him as MJ363, he decided to create an alias of ChrisN to make it look like somebody actually agreed with what he was yammering about.

Apparently, YTB managed to slide under the radar of the SEC once again, and the argument is that if the Government would actually look at our Financials we’d be found to be an illegal pyramid scheme.

We’ve been doing this for years and the frustration is that even with all the attention and mud they try to throw up on the internet, the Government is just being slow to catch on. To be honest, I can appreciate that particular theory, but there are instances when it just gets a little too obvious that someone had to have looked at our financial picture and put two and two together the way these Anti-MLM Zealots have.

One of the favorite pieces, that got thrown up all the time, but don’t see much of any more is a Los Angeles BBB report from July 2005 which stated that they believe YTB to be an illegal pyramid. Many confused the BBB as an actual Government entity, and claims that YTB’s days were numbered were running all over the internet. One of the most popular threads that remain on the front page of Scam.com was started on July 14th, 2005. While pyramid theories are still going strong after more than 89 pages of banter and 3500 posts, YTB is still here.

Two years ago, they also came close in July of 2006, when the Attorney General in Florida opened up an “investigation” concerning one of our top producers. It was truly the first sign for them that the Government was finally catching on and our days were numbered. By November, YTB was told that the corporate entity had been cleared, and the investigation was closed concerning our Top Producer without any Civil or Criminal case ever being filed.

If we fast forward to Monday, April 21st, we find that someone of authority gave the all clear to upgrade our company listing from YTBLA.PK to YTBLA.OB. Last I checked the SEC is a Government entity, but apparently we’re back to having YTB slip through the cracks of obvious illegal activity once again, and questions are still swirling concerning inaccurate accounting practices, and questionable “Pump and Dump” by Directors in our company.

And yes, I have been told both here and on various forums that my post on Friday is nothing more than an “opinion” and I have no proof that the FIRNA Member YTB filed with even looked at the forms and paperwork in order to grant this move from Pink Sheets over to the OTC. For some, there are still questions and concerns that have been unanswered, and the frustration for them seems to be mounting, especially after yesterday’s development.

It’s my belief that part of that frustration may stem from the fact that many of the Critics used Yahoo link too, and while there have been years and years of messages, press releases, and financials tied to YTBLA.PK on Yahoo, none of them are working as of Monday morning. Now, when anyone finds a link or thread attempting to provide documentation to what they are talking about, they’ll find a dead link. All those years of posts and links just gone.

I was with my Second Level Director last night, and during the Opportunity Presentation he mentioned something that just made me laugh. With all the attention YTB has been getting these days, all the moves that are analyzed and scrutinized to death, when do you think the Critics might begin to simply tire of all the meaningless activity and just accept the fact that YTB is here to stay?

I guess you’ll have to ask them, but I got to warn you, don’t hold your breath for any answer. YTB is already in it’s 8th year of existence, and while we have only just started to expand Internationally to Canada, Bahamas, and Bermuda, and the OTC-BB listing is only the first step to moving to a National Exchange, some still want to hang on to unanswered questions in a feeble attempts to slow this company down.

All part of the FEAR tactics of the Anti-MLM crowd. Problem is that some are starting to figure out that FEAR is nothing more than False Evidence Appearing Real. Much like Royal Caribbean didn’t produce the onslaught of suppliers pulling the plug, and IATA didn’t stop us from selling, booking, or obtaining commissions on those bookings, now we find that the Pink Sheets didn’t destroy the company either.

One last note before I move on with my day.

I’m pleased to see that either nobody is reading, or that it simply doesn’t seem to matter one iota to any of us in YTB that John Frenaye totally missed the fact that YTB Cars now has an Authorized Dealer in Florida for YTB Cars program on Monday. (It’s archived in the Biz Report in your back office for 4/18/08)

I remember the days when this oversight would have produced quite a stir because John missed the mark, once again. Now it appears that like me, nobody really cares what this "Critic" pumps. Like RCCL, IATA, and the OTC listing, the truth eventually comes to light, and there's really very little anyone can do to help educate those that already know all they need to know.

Those of you who are subscribed to my free Newsletter are free to find an archived call on March 13th, and listen in on how this program is moving forward and expanding. (Just click the archived calls on my weekly newsletter.) If you’re not part of this Newsletter and are part of YTB, you’re more than welcome to sign up, it’s free and full of information about all that’s new with YTB. I have all the Newsletters archived through RSS.

I can promise you, it’s going to be a lot more worthwhile than reading any Anti-MLM or Anti-YTB dribble that quickly proving to be nothing more than a bunch of hot air.

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Anti-MLM, Scam.com, YTB Cars, YTBLA

Posted by TravelPro at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

A New Perspective...

It never ceases to amaze me how certain things just show up in life. Late last week I came down with the flu and was laid out for days sick in bed. My wife almost dragged me to the Doctor, but you know us guys, we don’t need no stinkin’ Doctor. So I’ve been out of touch with the outside world and while my weekends are usually spent planning, which includes ideas and drafts on posts for the week I never got that done.

The combination of being out of touch with what’s going on, and not having anything planned for today’s post left me stumped for something to write about. I finally came up with one of these “We interrupt your regularly scheduled Blog to bring you the Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 NFL Football Schedule” since the schedules were in fact released yesterday.

While the post I had ready last night was fine, I went to bed last night uncertain because I really didn’t have anything topical to post about. I just let it go, and told myself that something would come to me in the morning. (Which often happens.)

When I got up this morning and finished up my morning routine of reading over goals, to-do’s, and morning gratitude, it was time to check e-mail before I posted my Steelers Schedule post, and low and behold, my story for today appeared.

Some time ago, you may recall that John Frenaye and I had fallen out of favor with each other, while we don’t communicate any longer, we do “check in” on each other from time to time via our blogs. As our paths have changed course, I find myself reading less and less of his negativity, and more and more productive positive material.

Even though we may have opposing views and strong beliefs about which direction YTB is going, I have to give credit were credit is due. John will at times, set the record straight and I’m pleased to see that is still owning up to some misinformation when the opportunity arises.

John found an article in Travel Trade which “assumed” Carnival was making a move towards Direct Bookings, which in turn, would eventually eliminate Travel Agent commissions much like what happened in the Airline Industry back in the late 1990’s. There are many in the Travel Agent Community who fear the worst with this, and are just looking for signs that’s going to happen.

You’ll see further examples of this paranoid mentality in the comment sections below the post. (More on the comments in a bit.)

As it turns out, Carnival caught the error in Travel Trade and forwarded this statement for them to post.

“In the Travel Trade email blast on Monday, April 14, the news item under the headline "Carnival Increases Direct Communications" was wrong because of an editing error that resulted in incomplete information. Carnival Cruise Lines is not moving to more direct marketing as the item wrongly implied. Rather, its contract with SAS technology, which the news item reported, aims to analyze the effectiveness of its existing marketing programs. Based on an editing error, a section of the Carnival quote within the SAS release, which discussed driving business to travel agents, was deleted. The full quote from Shannon Balliet-Antorcha, director of database marketing and customer data integration at Carnival, stated, "We increased berths and we want more cruisers to ask travel agents to book their cruise on Carnival. Customers appreciate Carnival's wide range of vacation choices. More effective marketing campaigns will build brand preference and contribute to filling this new capacity. Using SAS Marketing Automation, we expect a better return on marketing investment."

And John, like he has done in a few cases before, made the correction on his Blog. I’m not surprised that John stayed true to form with his “spin” of all this, that it’s Carnival who is back peddling, not himself. He and others in his community are still extremely paranoid that just like YTB, suppliers are also out to get them, and they aren’t buying the fact that the Cruise industry will eventually go NET just like the Airlines have done to them.

Why someone chooses to live in that kind of fear and negativity in their profession is beyond me, but it’s not my place to tell them how they should live or what they should do about it.

While I was there, I decided to catch up on what was going on and I pointed to the comments section before. It appears this community believes I’m posting “Anonymously” just to irritate them. I have seen a certain poster, Olescorekeeper, there for some time, but two of the Anti-YTB members there seem to be convinced that I’m hiding and posting under his name just to have my voice heard. He’s told them it’s him, but they are certain that I’m trying to trick them.

I wondered if posting under my “Travel-Pro” Blogger account informing them that I had been out of pocket for a number of days wouldn’t help the situation, even just a little, but who am I kidding. I’m just another one those lying, stealing, detestable YTB’ers who’s only trying to bring attention to myself.

I just find it ironic that I was ridiculed for working on letting this community go and allowing them to exist without any emotional attachment, and even though there hasn’t been a single post from me on that Blog for over a month, I’m still being talked to like I’m actually participating and playing with the rest of the kids on the playground.

Looking at this in the new perspective I have, I have to wonder why I ever entertained trying to help any of them in the first place, but we all make stupid moves, even me, from time to time. It’s just good to see what a little time has been able to do in obtaining some real growth and healing. I’m willing to bet that much like those who post daily on Scam.com, that same old same old will still being talked about, while the rest of us who want some true change in our lives, just let them wallow in their own brand of PMS. (Poor Me Stuff)

Thanks for the e-mail this morning! It was sent with a gift you didn’t even know anything about.

Sign up for our FREE Newsletter for news and updates concerning YTB!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Anti-MLM, John Frenaye, MLM Myths, Travel MLM

Posted by TravelPro at 6:19 AM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Seriously…

It’s not surprising that I’ve had a huge increase in readership since the Annual Report came out more than a week ago. YTB’s third profitable quarter in a row, and first full year of profitability has sent the stock on a rollercoaster ride with more than 10 Million shares trading hands.

Whenever I have an increase in readership like I do it’s mostly due to relevant and timely topics, and being the computer geek that I am I like to research how people are finding me, and what they are reading. While I’ve heard that both YTB and my blog really don’t amount to much, some of the stats I’ve been looking at recently are showing me a completely different story. I can’t deny that positioning after years of posts and links help in people finding me in the first place, what I found most recently was quite telling.

Its one thing to obtain a hit or a click on the internet, but it’s something entirely different when you are able to capture the attention and keep that person whomever he or she may be on your site or blog.

Google Analytics calls it a “bounce rate”, and like golf, the lower the score, the better your doing. When the Royal Caribbean blunder happened last October not only did I notice a huge increase in readership, but this bounce rate went down dramatically. The same thing happened when Lisa Bauer moved over to Hotel Operations, and when Vicki Freed moved over from Carnival.

While this bounce rate percentage had improved gradually over the last 6 months, and while readership may go up and down due to the timing of relevance of the topics posted here, this bounce rate has been steady and slow to improve.

Until last week.

Much like all the attention the stock has been getting right now, my blog has gotten increased readership, but with a key difference in the bounce rate this time, a dramatic 16% drop in bounces and a huge increase in page views and minutes spent on this particular blog. (Almost double!)

While I wasn’t sure what all this meant earlier last week, I certainly know what it means now after conversations with several people either via phone or e-mail, and I’ll get to that in a minute.

I first want to point out that there are other contributing factors working here, and that being the strong showing of YTB’s financials. John Gilliam's “Travel Darling” article and the BenchmarkJournal.com analysis of what these financials actually mean also contributed to the rise of readership here.

Many people for many years never agreed with Coach’s way of laying down this foundation. I’ve seen several people unable to get over a real phobia concerning how we build this business and recruiting. I’ve endured ridicule and speculation that this company would never turn a profit and eventually end up bankrupt. When the stock went on its first roller coaster ride more than a year ago now, I was warned that I needed to sell. Many thought I was nuts for hanging on, and it’s been pointed out to me that many didn’t as we only had 366 share holders at the end of 2007.

Now however YTB is a “Travel Darling”, and I look like some type of stock market genius for hanging on to the split shares that I have, and people are finally starting to take this company more seriously.

Just a second…I just want to sit here for a minute….

Can I tell you something? Can I do just a tiny bit of gloating?

I told you so. ;-P

After the pages and pages of posts that have been read on this blog since the financials came out on March 31st, it’s become very clear that people are finally willing to look at this company with a new perspective. Many of the myths, rumors, and misconceptions that a few “Critics” are still trying promote on various blogs and message boards are now in question, and people are looking at this company in a more realistic light.

The financials, the heavy trading, and the stock price has certainly helped in turning that around, but it’s also become apparent that people want to find out what others like myself think about this company.

If there’s one thing I can attribute all this too, it’s this.

Documentation.

There’s a reason why I have so many links on this blog. While it certainly helps with marketing, more importantly people are using this blog as a source, a reference guide, to getting to the bottom of many of unintelligent, negative ramblings and mud slinging out there on the internet.

I commented a post or two ago about how pleased I was to see how some in YTB are now positioning themselves. It’s becoming increasingly evident that much of the mud that’s been thrown up against this company is just that - mud. If those that oppose YTB are so sure it will crumble, then let it go and let the chips fall were they may.

I was over on the Yahoo message board yesterday doing some reading and someone copied and pasted the first few lines of the Quarterly financials. It was quickly pointed out by an investor that if you look at the entire financial picture, it shows a net profit, not the loss this “Critic” was trying to convey. It’s nice to have actual numbers and documentation to back things up instead of rumor, hearsay, spin and what I like to call "half truths".

When people take a look at the whole picture, it's a totally different story.

I just want to leave you with one last quote I saw on the Yahoo message board that just warmed my heart to no end. I don’t know if this person is an investor or an RTA, (I believe the latter) but I love this quote and wanted to bring it to light before I close and spend the rest of the day with my kids who are off on Spring Break this week.

“Anyone who has to lash out with detectable anger is afraid of something. Intelligent investors offer countering opinions with relevant points. To that, I will listen and give my attention. However, someone with limited English vocabulary who can't give solid reasons why he or she disapproves of something to save his or her life-- is rarely charismatic, convincing, or successful. Thanks for the input. I expect to see it higher tomorrow.”

Think about it.

Labels: Anti-MLM, bounce rate, Coach's Playbook, Critics, John Gilliam, Yahoo Message Board, YTBLA

Posted by TravelPro at 5:59 AM | Permalink | Comments

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Another Resounding Thud? Not Quite...

I’ve been reviewing and reading some over the weekend on the internet about what’s happened concerning our company stock, YTBLA. If you didn’t know, the stock has made a significant rebound this past week, while at the same time YTB’s Annual Report is due to be out this coming week. (Monday, from what I understand.)

Over the last month or so, I’ve been just laughing at how so many people know so much about stock, especially YTB stock. Apparently, we were left for dead and the shares I own should have been cashed in to salvage what little was left about two weeks ago. The sudden drop and rise has something to do with the purchase of a Lear Jet and it’s not out of the question now that Coach, Scott and Kim have access to a private plane, they just may be ready to make a run for it.

Where DO they come up with this stuff?

Now that the stock has rebounded, simply because many took advantage of the sale price, there is nary a peep from those who have been so extremely vocal for the last month. I don’t know how you could do this on the internet, but if you could, you can hear a pin drop in most of the message boards right now that were so extremely active with doom, gloom and gloating.

Besides a claim from one of the finest “brainiacs” I’m enjoying right now claiming something about insider trading for a pump and dump the rest of the group has been busy scratching their heads this weekend.

How could this possibly happen?

What went wrong?

YTB was supposed to tank?

What’s it going to take to rid this industry of the evil YTB?

The hopes that suppliers would follow Royal Caribbean’s lead ended with a melodramatic thud. IATA didn’t even make YTB skip a beat as we’re still booking travel and getting paid on that travel, even expanded into Bermuda, Bahamas, and Canada. (Bought an Agency there too.) Now the company stock is looking to make a significant rebound with an Annual Report that could produce the third straight quarter for profits and growth. All it needs to reach is $3.33 to match the company high of last year before the 1:3 split.

So what is it that these critics, cynics, skeptics, and naysayers know that none of us in YTB seem to know?

Well, in nothing short of an epiphany I firmly believe I figured it out. More importantly, I figured out how to handle all the mud and negativity being thrown around concerning our fine company. It came to me while reading a new book, which I’ll tell you about later.

It’s chilling what’s happening now that I’ve been able to get clear.

The important thing right now is this. I’m expanding my horizons folks, I’m currently writing my first book on this very subject. What I’ve learned and how YOU can learn from my mistakes and insight. It’s witty, it’s thought provoking, and it hits the nail right on the head concerning what’s REALLY going on right now.

I’ve been working most of the morning on this, (the wee hours of the morning) and have just sent it off to a couple of team members who I’ve asked to write the forward for me. It just flowed right out of me. Pure inspiration!

My first book! How cool is that?!

Here’s the best part…It’s going to be my gift to you. I aint gonna charge a dime for it. One because I feel it’s an important issue, and two because I simply want to get your opinion if I should continue writing more books about my unique insight.

Stay tuned and be on the lookout either early am or after 5:00 Monday for the 2007 YTB Annual Report.

(Okay, you can be on the lookout for my new book too, but you’ll only find that HERE!)

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Labels: Annual Report, Anti-MLM, YTBLA

Posted by TravelPro at 3:04 PM | Permalink | Comments

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Thanks For Sharing...

I’ve gotten several comments, private e-mails, and even some phone calls concerning my falling out with John Frenaye. It appears that I’m now the brunt of some criticism and poking which I will take complete responsibility for. I’ve released the need to blame, complain, or justify my current situation. Most people apparently would want to worry and obsess about what is going on with a company that they aren’t even involved with. About all I can say at this point is this...

“Thanks for sharing”.

The Spin Machine known as “MLM’s and Travel: A Bad Mix” has just gotten way too low for my intellectual level. I had mentioned before how comments and questions were merely thrown out to cast doubt and spread rumor about our company. It’s a trick and tactic Anti-MLM Zealots use to keep us in YTB on our toes and busy deflecting and defending nothing more than lies and rumors started by them.

These tactics became way too obvious for me when accusations were thrown up concerning our Carnival Pinnacle Awards. The spin was made that YTB was not only not awarded the Pinnacle but the question was all of the sudden thrown out concerning the Awards dating back some 3 years. When I posted published pictures dating back to April of 2005 and another set of pictures from the 2007 National Convention and recalled more than 12,000 witnesses for our most current award, the blatant way these pictures were simply ignored and the way accusations were pointed back in my direction just got a little too childish for my taste.

The final straw for me was when John tried to defend his position by twisting words to insinuate that I was calling a High Level Executive with Carnival a liar. That’s when an image formed in my head and I just called a spade a spade and made it known in no uncertain terms that I was insinuating that it was John Frenaye who was the liar.

What a waste of my valuable time, talent and energy.

I now have to let this go and trust that like everything else that’s been thrown out there to cast doubt and rumor will eventually come to light and set the record straight. Truth always had a way of doing this with our company, and I believe it’s partly due to Coach and his relationship with his Higher Power.

An RTA forwarded me an e-mail from Ann Sedgewick (the one in the two sets of pictures with Kim Sorensen.)

YTB was presented with Carnival's Pinnacle Award for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. (The awards that were presented in February 2008 were for 2007).

We gave YTB their award in October 2007, presented by Vicki Freed. We actually gave it a little earlier than normal because of the FUNSHINE event in Orlando and so many RTA's in attendance. Normally, it would not have been presented until February.

Thanks,

Ann N. Sedgwick
Business Development Director
Carnival Cruise Lines
3655 N.W. 87th Ave. Miami, FL. 33178-2428

Based on the font and Ann’s signature in the e-mail which matches all the e-mails I get from her, it’s authentic. I would imagine once the Home Office renovation is complete, all these awards will be prominently displayed. If anyone would like to invite our Traditionalists to a Red Carpet Day to take their own pictures, feel free.

One other note that I found out yesterday as well is that YTB will need another case for Apple Vacations. Business Development Director Sandy Meyer made a special stop at the YTB Edwardsville office to present YTB with the Platinum Apple Award for 2007. Our second year in a row, and an upgrade from Gold for 2006.

I don’t know what it’s going to take to help give some people this clue they need to help them with their perception of YTB and MLM’s. No matter what we do, no matter where we are ranked, no matter how many Travel Awards we have, I just get the feeling someone, somewhere will say “It’s just not good enough”.

I pulled out and am re-reading Joe Vitale’s "The Key" currently. I remembered a quote from my first reading concerning “The Law of Attraction” that I just loved. Many naysayers will tell you that “The Law of Attraction” doesn’t work. It’s all a bunch of hocus pocus. That’s like saying “The Law of Gravity” doesn’t work simply because the ball you dropped from the roof didn’t hit your intended target or mark. I attracted these comments and accusations towards me just as sure as the ball hit the ground, but neither hit exactly where I wanted it to hit.

This experience has been a real life lesson for me with our Traditionalist. Here I am trying to attract people who for a myriad of reasons want to join a home based business or YTB and I’m directing my attention at a blog and people who absolutely detest the model, founders and company. On the other side of the fence, our Traditionalists are blaming, complaining, and condemning how unprofessional, untrained, and classless YTB is, and what do you imagine they find more of? What you focus on expands and there is no way to get around that. (Believe me, I’ve tried.)

A couple years ago I read the book "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind ". I also participated in his “Millionaire Mind Intensive” twice, once as a participant, and once as a volunteer. I remember reading some of the testimonials before I went to the first seminar and was myself skeptical about just how good this program was touted as being. (Nothing can be THAT good...right?) It was one of the most remarkable weekends I ever experienced and it was no mistake that less than a month later I qualified for Coach’s Corner and was heading for Director before I got my attention and focus distracted by our Traditionalists last October.

A couple of things I want to share with you that I learned. One, I often hear that we in MLM have been “Brain Washed”, and when I hear that, I think of two words, “Thank God”. Yes, my mind has been washed of all the limiting, false, negative, self defeating beliefs that I have been told my whole life. My mind has been cleansed and I make no apologies for allowing others to help me do that. (Including Harv Ecker and Joe Vitale.)

I can think of another “cleansing” for some of our Traditionalist, but that’s another topic and I think there may be one or more MLM’s out there that can provide the product I’m thinking of to help with the constipation they have concerning our business model.

Two, fear is nothing more than False Evidence Appearing Real. Things are never quite as bad as everyone makes them out to be. Look at what was being said about Royal Caribbean and the onslaught of suppliers that were going to cut off YTB. Look at how loosing IATA hasn’t affected your ability to sell or get paid on Travel. All that hoopla with doom and gloom 5 or 6 months ago, and yes, I fell for it too. Looking at YTB today with some 50,000 new RTA’s, our expansion into Canada and the Caribbean, other suppliers like Carnival and Trafalgar coming to bat for us, it looks to me like YTB is stronger than ever.

I can’t wait for June 23rd when the 2008 Travel Weekly Power Rankings come out to see how far YTB climbed up the list.

My final point is this for those of you in YTB. I had a personal conversation with Kim Sorensen a few months back. He told me that when he, Coach, and Scott were building AL Williams back in the 80’s, they were going through the same issues YTB is having right now. Traditional Insurance Agents were saying and doing the same things Traditional Travel Agents are doing to YTB right now. The similarities are remarkable. While I have not read this book in it’s entirety but I did find a chapter which I think everyone in YTB needs to read Chapter 15 to help put our current situation into perspective, and how we can learn from the lessons of the past.

In closing, I don’t know how much I will be posting for the time being. I have a number of things I need to do for me, including clearing and cleansing many of these limiting believes that Traditionalists are trying to shove down my throat. I’ve overcome this garbage before, and have been bitten by snakes many times before. Sometimes it can be difficult to step on their heads when they’ve got them buried in the sand.

Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Anti-MLM, John Frenaye, MLM Myths, Travel MLM

Posted by TravelPro at 7:09 AM | Permalink | Comments

Thursday, February 21, 2008

All a Big Misunderstanding…

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I think you'll be glad you did! ;-P

I started a huge task weeks ago when I promised John Frenaye that I would get his questions answered. ALL his questions. Over the next couple weeks due to the length of this list, I have focused on each of these questions one at a time. My goal here is not only to answer the question, but also point out why this question is even asked in the first place.

This will also be an excellent opportunity and tool for anyone with additional comments about each of the specific questions to get better clarification. Use the comments section to discuss each of the questions in greater detail. I remind you that I learned how to accomplish such a huge task from Brian Tracy and his courses, which teach that you focus on the each task one at a time, focus on the solution, break it down into manageable chunks, and before you know it, you’ve achieved your goal.

It should be a really fun debate, and for those of you in YTB, take this information and documentation and use it. Here are the questions we have gone over thus far.

Question #1 - Why a compensation plan takes 12 pages to define?

Question #2 - How YTB arrived at $226 Million in travel sold for 2006. (Still waiting.)

Question #3 - Why so little of the "training" at the annual convention was for travel. (OK, YTB only believes in training at other meetings. We can let this one go.)

Question #4 - How nearly 150,000 RTAs can pay in the course of 9 months $79 million dollars in website sales, fees, and training; and receive $9.3 million in return. (This is huge...anyone?)

Question #5 - And for those that say I don't get the math, I did not learn how nearly 150,000 people paid in $79 million dollars and only got $64 million in return. (Hello? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?)

Question #6 - Why it is a good thing to have your top executives selling off stock. (There were no takers on this one, so I am gonna assume that it probably is NOT a good thing as everyone initially thought.)

Question #7 - Why a 3:1 split was a good deal when two of the three shares are worthless. (Thanks to Doug for the most reasonable explanation of this. The split may have been a good deal but with the current value of the stock, it is anyone's guess.)

Question #8 - Why employees at YTB could not sell me a cruise on November 9th. (Still no answer on this one yet other than they don’t do anything till an RTA sells it. Well, the YTB site said to call them. Coach in an interview was touting how the res center is all staffed with professional agents. So, why is it that they cannot sell me a cruise, and how is it that they do not know that cruises do not depart from Phoenix?)

Question #9 - Why when presented with facts and figures, the argument mysteriously turns to "you don't understand". (This is another one that we will just have to say...because that is the way it is.)

I would have to agree with John on this one. It’s amazing that some people can be so stubborn and bullheaded that they are unwilling to look at another side, or alternative. I’m sure we’ve all done it at some point in time. (Except me of course. ;-P)

I rely very heavily on documentation to back up what I have to say, providing links all over this blog to help prove or disprove what’s being thrown out there. I’ve stated several times here before that I follow the same guidelines as
Neil Boortz and Harv Ecker and that is “Don’t believe a word I say, unless you can verify it on your own to be true.” I question everything I come across, and will often find several sources that verify what I’ve been told. I also rely very heavily on personal experience, I know something works because I’ve been there, done that, and even bought the T-shirt that quotes the same.

I know this can be very difficult, even for me at times, I find myself looking just like the picture to the right when I read some of the garbage that’s posted. The key here is to stand your ground and present your facts and figures logically, without adding emotion into the equation. (Easier said then done, I know.) Often times, I will read something and my first reaction is to attack with emotion because I have been unsuccessful in proving my point and the opposition still doesn’t get it. It’s natural, and nobody likes to be made a fool or be told “they don’t get it”.

If you need to, take a break, step away, or do something else for awhile, and if it’s important enough to respond, you’ll have time to do so in due time. The nice thing about the internet with forums and blogs like these is that it will still be there when you come back. Often times when you re-read something, it’s shown in a whole new light. Sometimes for me, I’ll read something again and see that I’ve missed just one sentence or word in the text which is in fact relevant to the post or does prove a valid point. If so, acknowledge it.

Letting someone know that you are willing to look at their side of the story goes a long way in adding credibility to issues and topics you have. It’s a two way street, and the objective here is to find a way that both Traditionalist and MLM’ers can co-exists. (Both John and I agree this is possible by the way.)

If however, they are still missing the context of your message, you need to logically, factually document what makes your position pass the mustard test. If you know your right and have the documentation to back it up, there is no need to bring emotion into the equation. If you can document it, it might look something like this. I’ve spent years of study and time invested in being able to overcome objections. While some of it is tied to Network Marketing, much of it is found outside the MLM arena. In my course of study I’ve found when dealing with objections is this. If you can put yourself in the shoes of the other person, you have a far better chance of getting through. I’m not just talking about the “Feel, Felt, Found” approach, which is good, but you need to seriously put yourself in the shoes of the other person. I’ve said many times to prospects, this isn’t about me, it’s about you and what you want out of this business. The Anti-MLM crowd is a crafty bunch. They will answer direct answers and documentation with more questions. (Often times never acknowledging the documentation provided.) It’s like riding a bucking bronco or wresting a bull to the ground.

The key here isn’t to change anyone’s mind, the key is present your case in a rational, logical manor so that others who stumble upon the posts see the documentation for what it is. And you need to trust that they will. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten calls or e-mails from someone who has stumbled upon a post or a thread that I stand out and they feel compelled to call or write.

Whenever I see someone resort to name calling or “you don’t understand” it’s a sure sign for me that they have nothing left to prove a point. It’s a last resort and while it certainly makes them feel better, it accomplishes nothing. In this day and age of anonymity on the internet I find that we’ve gotten very lax in our respect for one another. It sad, but true. It’s possible for me to be debating my next door neighbor on the internet and have them call me an “assclown” on the internet by an anonymous poster who doesn’t like what I have to say, while this person is in fact my next door neighbor. (One of the nicest, sweetest women I’ve known for the past decade. Who knew?)

With so much attention being centered specifically on YTB these days from people outside of the company who want to rid the world of YTB’ers or Network Marketing period for that matter, we get all kinds of opinions, figures, posts, and topics to discuss. If you can rise above the name calling, and the simple, “you don’t understand” and prove your points and your case logically, (even if the other person still doesn’t get it) someone will come along and agree.

As time goes by, your points and facts will come to light if true and the best example I can give you is company profits. I heard for years from the opposition that YTB wouldn’t last because we were loosing money hand over fist. We showed losses of MILLIONS for years. I knew and trusted that the company was re-investing money back into the company, as show by our new 120,000 square foot building renovation, or upgrades to our Booking Engine and Marketing sites. Sure enough, profits start to pop up and all of the sudden “bankruptcy” is no longer tied to YTB.

On June 23rd, the new Travel Weekly Power Rankings come out. While all those opposed to YTB saying that our numbers represent “Hosting Fees” for the time being…they will be hard pressed to keep this myth alive when YTB moves up the list from #35 to a Top 20 Agency in the industry. The goal for 2008 is $1 Billion in Travel Sales. Only 12 Agencies in the US have reached that mark.

Knowing this…does it really matter to you that some “don’t understand” right now?

Didn’t think so. We help them understand by walking the walk, not talking the talk.

Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent