Lookout Mountain, TN

This picture is taken from Lookout Mountain in Tennessee!

(Unfortunately mom and dad weren't with the kids on this trip or I am sure we would have been nervous as all get out while they stood there.)

For more Wordless Wednesday photos head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Melissa

Wordless Wednesday - The Venetian

The Venetian (Las Vegas)

This picture is from last summer (check the date/time), and even at that time of night is was still 104 degrees, what's up with that?

For more Wordless Wednesday Photos head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

9-Day Vacation

Just last month we took a 9-day vacation to Orlando and I have had quite a few people ask me how we did it and where did we stay...

Here are a few pictures from the resort we stayed at;

This was our building, we stayed on the 5th floor, so this is from our front balcony.


Here is a picture from the master bedroom...check out that jacuzzi tub!



Here's a picture from the kids suite (not a kids suite as in Nickelodeon Studios, but where the kids stayed).


Here's the view from the porch outside the master suite...that space needle thing is actually Sea World in Orlando and every night there was an AMAZING fireworks show that was clear as day from our porch!

Out at the second pool they have this little walkway that goes out to this cute little gazebo...it makes for a great "thinking" spot.

Here's the main pool, the waterfall is my favorite part!

Here's the view from our chairs...as you can see the storms were blowing in and people were leaving the pool deck quickly.

This is always one of my favorite spots...right next to the waterfall, facing the tower clock, and close to the hot tub!

Loving the Vacation Life,

Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn

Perseverance/Persistence

It takes time to build a corporate work of art. It takes time to build a life. And it takes time to develop and grow. So give yourself, your enterprise, and your family the time they deserve and the time they require.

Americans are incredibly impatient. Someone once said that the shortest period of time in America is the time between when the light turns green and when you hear the first horn honk.

The twin killers of success are impatience and greed.

How long should you try? Until.

Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you've signed up for a season, see it through. You don't have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through.
___________________________________________

Vitamins for the Mind is a weekly sampling of original quotes, on a specific topic, taken from The Treasury of Quotes by Jim Rohn (TTOQ). TTOQ, a beautiful, burgundy hardbound book with gold foil lettering, is a collection of over 365 quotes on 60 topics gathered from Jim's personal journals, seminars and books spanning over 39 years. To order the TTOQ by Jim Rohn or Excerpts from TTOQ by Jim Rohn or Brian Tracy, please go to Jim Rohn's Online Catalog

YTB is reaching towards #1

YTB Ranked #26 In Travel Weekly Power List! Not Bad considering 5 years ago no one even knew who we were.

While we know that most of the BIG NEWS is being saved for the National Convention in August the Travel Weekly Power List is out and YTB is Ranked #26 overall, and tied for the LARGEST GAIN of everyone on the Power list with $414.5 Million in Travel Sales.

Watch us continue to grow...why don't you come and join us?

Wordless Wednesday - 6/25/08

Enjoying a Sunset on Marco Island Beach, FL...what could be sweeter?

For more Wordless Wednesday photos go on over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Enjoy,

Why this is Right for YOU!

Sit down, grab a cup of coffee, get your journal and pen handy, and check out this video about "Why this business is RIGHT for YOU!!".



Let me ask you a question...What are you waiting for? Now is the time!

Email me (click here) and let me show you what do to get your business started TODAY (yep, your web site is up and running in 5 minutes, really!)

I can't wait to hear from you,

Rich Dad's 8 Core Values for Success

Robert Kiyosaki, author of the best-selling Rich Dad, Poor Dad series, shares tips for getting ahead in business.

1 - Find equal opportunities. Don't be a victim of the survival-of-the-fittest technique. Make yourself marketable.

2 - Get a life-changing business education. Feed your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. No, this doesn't necessarily mean sitting in a college classroom. Get an education from life.

3 - Latch onto friends who will pull you up, not push you down. Protect yourself from negative influences.

4 - Find value in your network. The more people you can meet in business, the better.

5 - Develop your most important business skill. Communicate, communicate and communicate.

6 - Be a leader. Influence others by being a great teacher.

7 - Don't work just for money. Work to build wealth, not money. Invest.

8 - Live your dreams. First of all, make sure you have dreams. Then make them a reality. You can be a successful businessperson and still make your dreams come true.

Wordless Wednesday 6/4/08

I want to be here, right now!!!

For more Wordless Wednesday posts go over to 5 Minutes For Mom!

Concentration

Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn
Concentration

The best advice I ever came across on the subject of concentration is: Wherever you are, be there.

When you work, work. When you play, play. Don't mix the two.

Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of attention.

On the way to work, concentrate on the way - not the work.

Pay attention. Don't just stagger through the day.

Success Magazine Article - Part 2

Direct Selling Offers Flexibility and Financial Freedom
Erin Casey May 5, 2008

Tap into a proven system for success. Avoid wasting time or money by learning from others’ experiences and wisdom. Direct selling companies often provide high-quality, high-impact marketing tools, including personal Web sites, brochures, catalogs, DVDs and CDs to help direct sellers present a professional image—at a fraction of what it would cost to produce the same tools on their own. Additionally, training in best practices is frequently offered online and via conference calls as well as at local and national conferences.

Start a business for $500 or less. Direct selling companies offer big opportunity with minimal startup costs. For a small sign-up fee, new reps receive access to training and marketing materials, discounts on products and sample products to show and sell. You can set up office at your kitchen table with phone and laptop. Low overhead combined with minimal(if any) inventory expenses make direct selling businesses affordable. And because many companies handle online orders and deliver directly to customers, independent representatives can focus their time on connecting with potential clients and team members.


Experience flexibility and time freedom. The flexibility to work around full-time jobs or to create an income stream that fits into their families' schedules is a huge perk. Becauseeach representative is an independent contractor, not an employee, there is no set schedule or required number of hours. On average, part-time direct sellers devote three to 10 hours per week to their businesses. Those who pursue the business full time invest 15 to 35 hours per week. In either case, representatives can set their own schedules and build their businesses during off hours and lunch breaks or on weekends.


Earn what you’re worth. When you’re the boss, you don’t have to ask for a raise—you simply go out and earn one. A results-driven industry, direct selling levels the playing field by offering the same opportunity to everyone regardless of age, ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic background. Equal opportunity, a clearly defined career path and no earning restrictions mean there are no limits on what successful direct sellers can earn. While some in the industry are earning millions, it’s more common for direct sellers to use their businesses to earn extra cash per month to pay for dinnersout, private school, college expenses, cars and family vacations.


Maximize your earnings with residual(or passive) income. By building a team of people who love the products and are excited about telling others about the opportunity, direct sellers can leverage their time and maximize their income. Capitalizing on a team’s efforts means a business owner can devote 10 hours a week to their business, but with 10 other people also devoting 10 hours to their businesses, the team leader earns a commission from the collective sales and team-building results of 110 hours’ effort. It also means a team builder’s business has the potential to grow, even while he or she is on vacation.


“I like the honesty about direct selling,” says economist Paul Zane Pilzer, author of The Next Millionaires, “because it openly tells people the way to get rich is residual income: Get paid tomorrow for something you did yesterday—and let it accumulate.”


Reap the rewards of helping others succeed. Building a team definitely makes financial sense, but it also offers significant intangible rewards. Though representatives run their businesses independently, they often develop a family-like connection with their team members and others in the business. The friendships formed and the experiences of helping others improve their personal and financial lives are often as meaningful to direct sellers as the money they earn.


Get the recognition—and prizes—you deserve. In the corporate world, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, much less free vacations, luxury cars or fine jewelry. Direct selling companies know most people work more diligently and with more enthusiasm for a reward. First-class incentive trips to exotic locations, free cars or car allowances, fine jewelry and cash bonuses are offered by many companies to those who excel. And the opportunity to earn such rewards is open to everyone.


Become a better you. Direct sellers are faced with numerous comfort-zone challenges, and by overcoming those challenges they grow personally and professionally. The encouragement and training these independent business owners receive from their companies’ leaders as well as others in the field spur them to step outside their comfort zones to achieve success.

You've Got a Friend!

If you've ever felt as though you needed guidance in regard to following your dreams, but your colleagues or friends simply couldn't provide the help that you needed, you're not alone.

There are millions of people in the world who are frustrated with their careers and who feel as though they have no one to turn to for advice - but I'm writing to you today to let you know that I am here for you, every step of the way.

The business opportunity that I would like to share with you is not an overwhelming or daunting enterprise, but since it may be new for you, I'd like to offer a helping hand. Not just any home-based business partner will do. I will go above and beyond the call of duty to help you in your new entrepreneurial venture.

After all, who couldn't use a friend in the business world?

Let me offer my assistance. Simply select the Web site below to get started and let me guide you through your first steps in a business opportunity that will change your life for the better!

Watch this quick 4-minute video The Right Place, and then check out this web site ---> Money4Vacation

This could be the beginning of something amazing!

Sincerely,


P.S. An idealist is a person who helps other people to be prosperous. (Henry Ford)

Moms Online

Moms Online: Browsing, Researching, Buying Summary

Once upon a time, marketers advertised on daytime TV and soap operas to reach mothers. Today, more than 40% of all women who go online in the US—approximately 35 million of them—are mothers who have children under 18 at home.

The Moms Online report analyzes the changing Internet habits and decision-making patterns of this all-important consumer demographic.

Moms regularly engage in parenting-related activities online, but they are also involved in other online activities such as search, entertainment and shopping.

In fact, moms rely on the Internet for purchase decisions. Upwards of two-thirds of online moms of young children research products online, so it is critical for marketers and retailers to understand the role of the Internet in their purchase decisions.

Key questions the “Moms Online” report answers:
* How many mothers are online in the US?
* What types of Web sites do they visit?
* How are moms using the Internet during the purchase process?
* What role does search play in online and offline purchase decisions?
* How does word of mouth impact moms’ shopping habits?
* And many others…

eMarketer Reports—On Target and Up to Date

The Moms Online report aggregates the latest data from marketing and communications researchers with eMarketer analysis to provide the information you need to make smart, accurate business decisions.

This article is from eMarketer.com - click on the name to go directly to the page.

Book Review - 5/2/08

Network Marketing is an interesting field to work in. It can be the life you've always wanted but it can also take a lot of work and time. Every so often I will do a Book Review here on this blog to let you know about some REALLY amazing books that I have read about this phenomenal industry.

Knowledge is POWER and I truly believe that we can all grow to be at our absolute BEST if we continue to learn, grow, and care for others. The first book I want to tell you about is probably one of my ALL time favorite books about Network Marketing and that's because it is told in a parable in which you become intertwined into the characters of the story's lives.

Let me share with you what I found about the book on the Random House web site.

Network marketing is a burgeoning field, and it can be a frustrating and difficult experience. There are many who have achieved minimal success, and many more who have made no money at all. With these discouraging figures, how can one become a member of the successful elite? Millions agree that the best way to do this is to spend some time with The Greatest Networker in the World.

John Milton Fogg’s extended parable is the story of a young man on the verge of quitting the multilevel marketing business. As he prepares to give his final opportunity meeting, he meets the individual everyone refers to as The Greatest Networker in the World. This warm and wise man takes in his young counterpart and shows him the trade secrets so he too can become a successful network marketer.

The young man soon learns that the trade secrets have very little to do with conventional marketing techniques. In fact, he has to unlearn everything he thought he knew about business. "The paradigm of network marketing is so fundamentally different and distinct from all other paradigms of business, that it requires a pretty complete shift from the way we normally view business to appreciate and understand it."

The new paradigm is built around one’s habits of thought and discovering that the secrets to network marketing success are within oneself. The values of responsibility, team building, and caring for one’s downline play a much more important role than competitive promotion and advertising. A critical skill for all marketers is the ability to teach people to teach others.

Once one has mastered the new paradigm of multilevel marketing, he needs to not only show his downline how to master it, but also how to teach those techniques to others. This leads to greater leadership within the organization, more stability, improved productivity, and as a result, long-lasting success.

About the Author
John Milton Fogg is an international speaker and the author of more than two dozen books and tapes, including The Greatest Networker in the World. He is the founding editor and chairman of Upline and Network Marketing Lifestyles magazines. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Take a minute right now and head over to Amazon.com and pick up a copy of the book, you won't regret it!

Have Fun

There are basically two types of activities; those you enjoy doing and those you don't. From the grim faces of the office warriors commuting to and from work each day, it's safe to say that for most people work falls into the second category.

No so in this business. Network marketers enjoy what they're doing - mostly because they have control over their time, their incomes, and their life. They know that when the going gets tough, they are still better off than the average worker, who is pummeled by long hours, demanding employers, office politics, and salary increases that trail inflation.

If you are an executive or employer, you know that the tensions don't subside just because you're on the management team. Many will argue it gets worse, not better, because the pressure to compete is greater.

Either way, you will discover that working for yourself is a dream in itself. Not least because of the two-second commute to your office; working in the clothes you choose to wear; making appointments that avoid rush hours; enjoying quality time with your partner; playing your favorite CD in the background; being home for the kids after school; and, above all, having the freedom to decide how and when you will work.

When you work for yourself, you have no excuse not to be happy. And researchers are quick to point out that happy people are more likely to be successful.

Happiness is a mind-set. You can choose to be the type of person who lights up a room when you enter it, or you can choose to be someone who lights up the room when you leave.

Decide that building your business will be a fun experience.

Start with expectations. If you expect a Fantasy World where nothing goes wrong, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. If you commit to succeeding on Planet Reality, where the best plans come unstuck, appointments get cancelled, you drive ten miles in the rain to a no-show, your star recruit leaves, your brilliant prospect turns out to be a turkey, your partner phones to say he's working late when you are counting on him (or her) to babysit...you'll make it to your destination.

We get what we give. Be warm and respectful to difficult and delightful customers alike. Love your demanding recruits as much as your gems. See difficult situations as character building! Don't rush. It takes just one minute to make someone feel special with your undivided attention.

Liven up your presentations. Most people would rather be entertained than lectured to. Hold fun meetings. We learn best when we're having fun. Actively seek out happy people, and cross the street to avoid the miserable and mean-spirited ones. Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small.

Stress is a major turnoff. Make sure you come across as relaxed, no matter how busy you are. Not only will you feel better; you'll look better too. There's nothing like stress for digging lines into the face, and nothing like relaxation for ironing them out.

Look for ways to increase the "fun factor" in your life and in your business, and you will become a beacon for other enthusiastic, fun-loving people who want to enjoy what they do.

Taken from the book, "Be a Network Marketing Superstar" by Mary Christensen (with Wayne Christensen)

What's YOUR State's Ranking?

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the resident population of the United States, projected to 04/25/08 at 01:44 GMT (EST+5) is
303,930,503

That's a WHOLE lot of people in the United States of America, right? You know what is so absolutely AMAZING about that statistic is when you partner it with the number of people in YTB right now.

There are approximately 125,000 (maybe a little more or less) in YTB (Your Travel Biz) right now, and with a population of 303,930,503 in the United States (as of right now) I would say that it is definately an opportunity for you to be "IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME", wouldn't you agree?

Take a look at the January 2008 State by State Listing of RTA's (Referring Travel Agents) in YTB...

AK…306 AL…1281 AR…335 AS…3
AZ…2080 CA…20352 CO…3736 CT…1547
DC…973 DE…564 FL…22648 GA…10096
GU…15 HI…1027 IA…281 ID…645
IL…5824 IN…1875 KS…808 KY…1173
LA…1094 MA…1563 MD…7310 ME…75
MI…3903 MN…599 MO…4006 MS…492
MT…89 NC…4031 ND…85 NE…169
NH…195 NJ…3550 NM…198 NV…2469
OH…2325 OK…508 OR…399 PA…2287
PR…886 RI…643 SC…2356 SD…50
TN…1968 TX…6706 UT…642 VA…4079
VI…103 VT…109 WA…1051 WI…397
WV…201 WY…124

Do you know what that says to me....one word...

OPPORTUNITY!

Opportunity is knocking...what's stopping you from opening the door?

Email me today so we can partner together to make a difference in your state, your family, your finances, your dreams, and your life!

Exponential Growth

A lot of the time I get a glazed over look when I start talking to people about the benefits of EXPONENTIAL GROWTH and how it can greatly benefit their families to build a business this way. Here is a short, sweet, and simple illustration on EXPONENTIAL GROWTH I found in a book called, "Shoot for the Stars", by Pete Billac.

In this business (YTB calls it REFERRAL MARKETING) you will hear the words "duplication" and "exponential". Let me tell you how POWERFUL these two words are. Here's my favoritre "for instance" concerning exponentail growth. It has to do with playing golf.

If you wager ONE PENNY on the first hole, then DOUBLE IT on the following 17 holes, that last BET is worth over TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS! Grab a calculator and see for yourself.

What this REALLY means is that if you TELL a few people each day and they tell a few who tell a few, SOON you'll have a lot of people who are working for themselves (but ALSO working for you) to help you succedd. It's so simple yet totally awesome.

By "telling" others and "training them" to tell others, you are duplicating your own efforts, and this exponential growth just happens. And your business can skyrocket.

The results can be simply amazing...I am not saying that it is always easy, but the opportunity is definitely there, for me, for you, for everyone.

The choice is yours...
what will you do?
what's stopping you from starting your new adventure right now?

Your Dream Begins Today

What will you life be like when you've acheived your most deeply held dreams? Let's take a look at how you can start living your dreams this very day.

Do you have a specific dream, a vision of the life you wish to live?
How specific is that dream?
How clear is that vision?
How do you intend to reach it?
What obstacles stand in your way?
Are your fears holding you back or are you using them to move you forward?

Your fears can actually lead you to success. Fear is an intense emotion. But that doesn't mean it has to control you, or even stop you. Fear can prepare you and push you forward just as strongly as it can hold you back. Fear heightens your awareness and icreases your physical strength. Fear brings your mind to sharp focus. With all that going for you, does it make sense to just run and hide? Of course not. Fear gets you in shape to take action!

Are you waiting for things to get better before moving ahead? If you're serious about success you need to start taking action today. If you're waiting for things to be perfect, you'll wait forever and get nothing will ever get done. The way to achieve is to bloom where you're planted, to do what you can, where you are, with what you have. It's easy to think up excuses for not taking action. "If only I had more hours in the day. If only I had a better job. If only I could meet the right person." But excuses won't bring you anything of value. You've got to change your "If only" into an "I will". "I will make better use of my time. I will work on improving my career, create and nuture my relationships." Take a chance. Have faith in yourself. Your circumstances will improve when you make the effort to improve them. Start where you are right now. You have everything it takes to reach for whatever you desire. Stop wishing. Use your time, your energy, your thoughts and efforts to make it happen! You'll be glad you did!

By Les Brown
(Les Brown is an internationally recognized speaker and author)

Question...

Is it better to earn an extra $10,000 or save $10,000?

Well, let’s take a look at three different scenarios to see…

For the case of consistency we will look at the average American annual salary as our basis for the analysis, which is $42,000 a year.

Scenario #1 – This is your average household

$42,000 average household income
-$14,000 taxes
$28,000 Total after taxes

Scenario #2 – This is what most people do
Go out and get a part-time job, work over time, and/or find other supplement source of income

$42,000 average household income
+$10,000 extra income earned for the year
$52,000 new total with the extra income added
- $17,000 taxes
$35,000 Total after taxes

Scenario #3 – This is what happens when you start your own home based business

$42,000 average household income
- $14,000 taxes
$28,000 Total after taxes
+$10,000 Refund (for owning your own business/tons of tax deductions)
$38,000 Total after taxes

Which one makes more sense to you?

Go out and get another J.O.B. (see that post here), spend more time away from your family, make your life more hectic and stressful, or open up a home based business where you can work from home, spend as much or as little time as you want, and substantially improve your financial future.

The choice is YOURS! Why would you not accept this incredible invitation?

Right now there are people on our team that are getting tax refund checks from $1,000 - $8,500…that can really make a difference in ANY family!

What’s stopping you from taking those steps for you and your family today?