Seeking New Courses, Embracing New Solutions and Distancing Ourselves From The ‘That’s The Way We’ve Always Done It…” Mindset

Analysis/Commentary and Opinion By James R. Campbell, ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief

“Sometimes People Don't Want To Hear The Truth Because They Don't Want Their Illusions Destroyed.”
-- Friedrich Nietzsche

OK… Pay attention, folks… we have a LOT to discuss and only a few hours and days before we drop the hammer on the first in a series of efforts that have been underway for much of the last year. We’ve been talking about (some of) it all for a while, but the fact of the matter is that we’ve been designing and building a set of tools that we want to use to upgrade and enhance our mission… and the first of those tools (of quite a number of them) will deploy in a few short hours.

Why do we need them? Because as much as we’ve complained about how the rest of the aviation industry has done (or not done) business, we needed to look at ourselves quite critically, and admit that we could do far better, ourselves.

And that’s just what we’re doing.

The past few years has taught us much… both about our abilities, the needs of the industry, and how incredibly inept/corrupt/myopic/naive certain facets of our industry have become… and worse than that, though, is the institutional arrogance that has festered for so long and allowed aviation to become a sliver of what it once was.

One of the most startling revelations about walking around Sun ‘n Fun this year… after many years’ absence was not just how much the event had fallen, but how far the industry has, as well. Using past years (the better part of a decade) evidence as a counterpoint, the difference between then and now is startling… and while many of the misfortunes of Lakeland revolve around some of the abysmally bad management it’s had under a few arrogant malcontents, you can’t help but notice that much of aviation hasn’t fared so well, either.

If you’re OK with that, read no further… but if you want to see something done about it (and most importantly, play a role in in it all), then stick around.

First item…. We (meaning ANN, Aero-TV, Airborne, Kindred Spirit Press, and our usual gang of suspects) need to get back to business – with a vengeance.

There was a time when this was a VERY profitable and hard-charging business. But then, as many of you know, ANN took on a number of tough subjects over the years when our exposure of the lies, distortions, frauds and unsavory business practices brought about quite a war where Cirrus Aircraft used the legal system (and some other really vicious tactics) and an extraordinary amount of money and ‘Bravo-Sierra’ to try and silence us.

It cost us dearly… but despite demands from Cirrus for actions that would constitute a breach of faith with you, not to mention a violation of our constitutional rights and privileges as journalists, we eventually emerged with our integrity intact… but little else. Seriously; Cirrus mounted a wasteful, vicious, expensive and sickening campaign that various senior parties admitted was an attempt to get us to abide by terms that would allow them to control our editorial product. They didn’t like what we wrote, they were unwilling to (and could not) prove us false and thereafter after set about to punish us for our editorial courage. After spending hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars paying some pretty intense legal games, Cirrus offered to settle everything if we would delete stories they selected, give them specified control over what we wrote, and to cease referring to their past history in future editorial stories... which (as ethical journalists) we refused... at GREAT expense.

While we ‘won’ back our rights as free citizens of the USA, and as journalists in particular, our stand cost us (ultimately) the better part of a half-million dollars. I’m proud of the stand we took… but ashamed that such actions took place. I’m ashamed that Cirrus still tries to act as if they are an ethical and honorable corporation when my direct observations, records, and some of the statements made in their video-taped depositions (among other evidence) seems to show otherwise.

But… we did what we had to do… and based on recent events, it seems that Cirrus’s many deceits are starting to come to light and are beginning to penalize them in some pretty extreme ways… and we believe that this is just the start of it all. And lest we forget, we still plan an exhaustive book and documentary on all this -- and in light of some recent events, its publication is coming on quick and strong -- and may be more important than ever.

In the meantime, though, we struggled.

Damn… we struggled.

I dare any small company like ours to take a half-million dollar hit and survive… but we have… and it now appears that far better times are ahead… so long as we keep working hard, stay on course, and continue to serve the best interests of the aviation world… even though we’re the only journalistic entity that has taken on the threats we have… while the rest of the aero-journo biz creates more worthless advertorial pabulum and keeps running feel-good stories that are a true dis-service to you all. Seriously… ask the rest of the aviation process if they would have fought for their rights as we did… ask them if they’d have caved in like we DIDN’T and then ask them why they didn’t support us (their so-called fellow journalists) when the rights of ALL journalists were being threatened. I believe I know why we didn’t get the support of AOPA and a few so-called popular aviation publications… and it simply came down to the fact they were too busy being cowed by Cirrus BS and cashing Cirrus checks to speak up when we were threatened.

So be it… but ask yourself this… can you trust ANY of them for not speaking up? I don’t. I won’t. And rather than bitching about it much longer, it is my ambition to build a much stronger ANN that STAYS WORTHY of your trust, support and faith.

The personal toll was intense. It put my staff at risk (though none of them complained about the stand we took… for which I am grateful and impressed), it hurt the growth and progress of our business… and worst of all, it hurt those closest to me – especially my family. Over the last two years, my multi-year friendship with a lovely and talented girl grew into something far more profound, unique, and loving than anything I could have expected. This extraordinary lady made incredible sacrifices without complaint. Our marriage last November, with only a few close friends and family was (by regretful necessity), the ultimate low-budget affair… which took place on the banks of the St. John’s river in a backyard of a family friend, and in a short sweet ceremony presided over by yet another friend (one of ANN’s greatest riches are our friendships) -- ANN’s Dr. David Juwel (the only Doctor/Pastor that I know who was also a former Secret Service Agent… a truly amazing, humble, man). My sweetheart’s dress cost only a little over $100 and was discovered in a classic dress boutique… second-hand… though she looked amazing and happy and beyond any definition of the word ‘lovely.’ Despite the fact that it was a very small affair, it created incredible joy, indelible memories and a lasting foundation for our future. In the months since then, her support for my life, and her ability to deal with the hassles of being married to an occasional aero-crusader/aero-grouch has never wavered and despite some very trying outside influences, our life has been joyful, enriching, and has grown to amazing proportions… far more than I dreamed… or deserved ... or expected.

And yes, in response to all of you (so many!) who have asked… yes, despite what it took to get here, I’m a very happy guy.

And so we come to this point…. Fully/brutally/exhaustively tested, battle weary, but far smarter and even far more empowered for that effort and THOROUGHLY committed to the fact that we have things that we believe truly, deeply and dearly… and that no one is going to take that away.

So enough of the past history—let’s get back to the first order of business – to aggressively TRANSFORM ANN and its associated brother and sister programs into a far more stable and infinitely stronger platform from which we can pursue our dreams, upgrade our mission, and serve your needs. And as I noted previously, that starts with building a more successful business model for us all… to provide the tools, security, strength and resources needed to go forth and fight for what we believe.

We're intent on being a better business… so we can be a better partner to you all and a source of strength and inspiration for the battles to come. We are rolling out projects, programs, and efforts that not only present a benefit to the aviation and aerospace world we serve, but also provide solid values to those who want or participate in them. And to be as redundant and (ultimately) as strong as possible… there are (so far) EIGHT aggressively designed projects under way that can support our growth, our security, and provide lasting value for the aero-biz.

The first… an extraordinary book about the Tenth Anniversary of the mighty XPRIZE revolution, will be fully announced and implemented early next week. Some truly amazing people have allowed me to get this project ready for primetime—and for its release on the first day of Oshkosh 2014.

XPRIZE Founder Peter Diamandis, says that, “Without Jim Campbell’s effort, this story would not be properly told.”

Wow, that’s high praise from a friend that I respect so very greatly… and I assure you that it was my intention throughout this project that you would all feel the same way once you got your hands on it.
Two special programs will herald its introduction… one of which will aggressively finance, support and promote some XPRIZE programs and agendas of value to young and older folks alike… but it’s one particular kid’s program we plan to support -- called “Eggs Prize” -- that is a particular favorite and source of boundless joy… and just one more way that I want our combined efforts to build a better world for all those who dream of what the sky and space might bring their lives.

There’s more… we are well on the way to producing some pivotal books, EBooks and APPs… we are planning to pull off the long-awaited Aviation Innovation Conference within the year (on hold since Cirrus decided to be – IMO -- such a despicable problem)… we have an EXTRAORDINARY redesign of ANN and Aero-TV sites that is as much a pivotal effort as ANN was when we first started -- years before a fair number of Aero-News wannabe’s started copying our every move (and not too well, we might add)—there is a new future afoot as to what we need to do with the content we produce about this industry—and the tools we give your readers, viewers, listeners and supporters and while it will be an evolving process, the final version of this new reality for ANN should be truly revolutionary—and we intend it to be just that.

There’s more… much more… ANN and Aero-TV are actively involved in getting the go-ahead for demos for at least two unique, aviation-centric, reality television programs – either of which we believe to have incredible potential to show the public how extraordinary the aero-world really is… and should be fun to produce and watch, as well. We’re going to take an aggressive role in helping today’s aviation businesses learn to be more successful and professional, to undertake better marketing and be true aviation professionals—we’ve been complaining about this issue for a long time and in addition to taking our own advice (see above), we plan to play a strong role in improving our lot. We have some truly radical ideas about supporting and identifying a new generation of aviation leaders… so very much need because we’ve lost some very good leadership and much of what remains is sub-par. We want to help lead the industry in selecting and defining our biggest problems and issues… and then to find solid means by which to defeat them. And most of all, we’re going to take big radical steps into the future… just like we did nearly 20 years ago… and this time, instead of waiting for the industry to try and catch up, we’re going to lead as aggressively as we dare… with the aid and support of a magnificent group of friends, advisors, and truly aero-centric people.

There’s more… but enough for now.

I’ll simply end this missive this way… if you REALLY believed in us all along this way… if you agree that we need to take greater and more aggressive steps to build a better future for aviation, if you appreciate the risks we’ve taken, if you understand and support the tribulations we’ve fought and our sincere desire to build a better aero-future; stop by next week for the next installment of Barnstorming and PLEASE support our initiatives as strongly as you can… and implore your friends and associates to do the same. WE NEED YOU… and we promise to support you to the very utmost of our abilities.

From here on out, we will hold nothing back… please support and join us.

BTW… if you want a sneak-peak at one of our first offerings, check out www.kindredspirit.com… and be sure to check out the Premier edition of “Beyond The Blue.”

FMI: jim@aero-news.net, Where Do You Think ANN Should Go From Here?, www.kindredspirit.com