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Originally Posted by smit0847 (Post 31472742)

Hi all

James/Ben from OMAAT (and now TPG UK) here. I had no idea so many people I don’t even know were discussing me in such detail on the internet.

There’s a lot of strange rumours and speculation in this thread and forum and I don’t want my name dragged through the mud anymore than it already has been, so to clear things up:

• Ben and Tiffany were wonderful to work for and freelancing for OMAAT was a fantastic experience. I still read OMAAT regularly and think its one of the best travel blogs in the world. I have no hard feelings against either of them.
• When I first applied for the role I requested to write under my middle name of James at OMAAT because Lucky and I happen to have the same first name, initials, and our surnames start with the letter S. It would be far too confusing for the readers having two ‘Ben S’s regularly writing in such a small team.
• I also requested to never write about US politics on the site which Ben was happy to accommodate.
• I was approached by TPG UK out of the blue late last year via social media about the possibility of joining their new UK business. I had never met anyone at TPG. At the time I was halfway through a 4 month trip abroad so didn’t have any discussions with them at the time about it.
• When I eventually returned to London in January this year (at the end of the trip) I was looking for a new ‘day job’ as I quit my previous one to do the 4 month trip (I was working as a lawyer as many of you know). I had plenty of free time so met with TPG more out of curiosity than anything. I told them I didn’t want to freelance for them as I was already very happy doing so at OMAAT and it wouldn’t be right to write for both.
• I mentioned that I was looking for a new ‘day job’ and they raised the possibility of me joining full time. Initially I didn’t realise I could do something I loved full-time but the more we discussed it the more I saw the career opportunities within a larger company like TPG/RV (I didn’t think writing about miles and points was a career when I first discovered it!). One of the key factors that influenced me was that TPG UK had a team on the ground in London where I live whereas OMAAT I was 100% remote which can be difficult for someone new to the blogging game.
• It took a long time to work out all the details and for me to make up my mind as it was the hardest career decision I have ever made. Quitting jobs at top law firms with clear partner-track paths was far easier. After a lot of soul searching and discussions with my family in Australia (it was that difficult to decide!) I eventually accepted the role at TPG UK and gave my notice to Ben and Tiffany. I didn't feel OMAAT should offer me what TPG could just to keep me as it wouldn't fit with their business model. They were understandably surprised and disappointed. Given I was moving to their biggest competitor we all agreed it was best for me to finish up as soon as possible. I will say that I wish they had announced my departure formally for the readers in a short post rather than just responding to the odd comment here and there as I still see people commenting six months later asking 'what happened to that Australian guy James' but that is their decision as its their (very successful) business. While a lot of the OMAAT readers hated me from Day 1 (perhaps because many of them had also applied for my role), it was awesome to receive so many messages from readers and see so many comments saying they enjoyed what I wrote and wished me the best for the future.
• I chose to write under my legal name at TPG as there’s no other Ben S’s there.
• Both sites are very different and very good at what they do. They are completely different business models and audiences and there's plenty of space in the market for both.
• That’s as exciting as the story gets. If there’s scandalous rumours beyond that they aren’t true. I wasn’t fired, I don’t have any issues with OMAAT and I’m very happy doing what I love full-time. I know TPG gets bashed around here and as I said, both sites are competent and very successful at what they do. You may not be TPG’s target audience : ) People on here suggesting TPG is about to fold made me laugh out loud - maybe do some research on Red Ventures!

Originally Posted by mikex163 (Post 31601029)

OP, if you don't read OMAAT how do you even know who James is? Or how do you know how much OMAAT writes (or not) about Trump? Perhaps James is not the one lying here.