To the people of Arkansas -

Not too many years ago, the show aired regularly on AETN. We were fortunate that Southwestern Bell asked if they could sponsor the show. They did as a local sponsor where there dollars went to all the stations in their tradition Regional Bell geography. For many years, the stations all appreciated the dollars and the show was aired at a very good hour.

When Southwestern Bell was feeling too much competitive heat, the first place they cutback was the soft dollars of public television where they can be no call to action. Who could blame them? Their first responsibility is to keep their business alive.

It wasn't long thereafter that I was very politely told that the show would no longer be carried.

That's unfortunate because so many of the small business advocates throughout the state would probably have picked up that underwriting spot rather quickly. It is difficult for us because the show airs nationally and then globally. It is hard to focus on each market.

So, we specially thank you if you are here on the web from Arkansas.

We have a proposal to AETN to begin doing anywhere from 10-and-26 local productions of the show, but there has been no signs of interest. We have a local independent producer who is ready to go. And I believe there is plenty of money in Arkansas to support these local productions. Between the many local Chambers of Commerce, local Economic Development Commissions, Workforce Initiatives, CPAs, and utility companies, a local show would begin with the goal that every other week, the episode would focus on a business in Arkansas.

What is wrong with this picture? I am not sure.

Small BusinessSchool² (and Small Business 2000, 1995-2001, and Small Business Today, 1994 - 1995) focuses on the topic of work; and we are constantly in search of the best practices among those people who, in creating work and wealth, make our world a better place.

This another alternative to mindless television. Also, with so many choices, we all need to support and encourage the good businesses within our community. We can lift the ethics-morality-goodness bar within our cities and towns and by doing so, we lift the bar for our entire culture.

Every episode of this show has an overview, transcript, and case study guide so we all can learn what makes a good business. Our mission, and the mission of our nation's public television stations, have much in common and it is very different from commercial television. Our television shows are uniquely dedicated to empowering people through continuing education.

We ask and find answers to the questions, "What is work? What is good work? And, what is value?" It is a close-up on how people discover their special gifts and how they convert these gifts into meaningful work. It is education by example and inspiration and that is the heart of empowerment.

Like many programs on public television, we go around the USA and around the world to capture the best of the human spirit – people who follow their dreams. Our unique focus is on those people who start and grow a business. These people are value creators. They are often the prime movers of social capital in their communities. In the opening of every show, we say they are "...today's pioneers and quiet heroes." They forge into unknown places. These people bring out the best within their employees, suppliers, resellers and customers.

Our goal is to have at least 100,000 viewers per week in Arkansas. To reach that group, we would be focusing on the 200,000+ small business owners in the Arkansas.

If you appreciate what we are trying to do with SmallBusinessSchool, please join us in asking AETN to reconsider a show that aired many years ago for many years! Once it is on the air, we can encourage all the viewers to keep their membership current. And of all the small business owner, especialy those doing well, we can begin to encourage you to become part of a select group of 400,000 businesses (nationwide) who become members of their station's Producers' Club.

The #1 export of the USA is our movies, games, and television shows.

We need to be exporting the genius of the USA and not the stuff that pulls us down to the lowest common denominator. We should be exporting entrepreneurial education and, at the very least, our Three Sopranos who create musical harmonies not HBO's Sopranos who thrash values and make a mockery of small business. By lifting up exploitive behavior as an art form, cleverly shaping every second, HBO -- and so much of commercial television and our cinema -- encourages the bad, confuses the weak and the marginal, and weakens the strong.

All of us here at Small Business School thank you for your letters of support. These new pioneers and quiet heroes, lifted up as our Master Class teachers, can help improve the fabric and quality of our communities and the world! Thank you.

With our thanks for everything that you do
to make our world a better place,

Bruce Camber, Executive Producer

PS. This show airs on most public television stations.

References:

1. The show is going local, state-by-state and country-by-country:
There are over 6 billion of us on this little planet. Why can't we dream of transforming a bad medium, television, into a powerful educational tool about creativity and best practices? Why can't we compete and win the viewers?

I think we can. Yet, I am an eternal optimist and perhaps a bit naive even at 58 years old.

We have the technology and the tools to day that collapses all space and time. We are all learning each other's name. Whether we like it or not, we are now a global family. Granted, there are many among us who have chosen a life of hate, greed, victimization, and self-aggrandizement. There are also many television shows that glamorize it.

I still think we can compete.We've started by finding creative types and great role models. We've done a fair job over the years, but working together, we can do better. We can do episodes about goodness, integrity, and ethics and make it every bit as dramatic and seductive as the worst of the stuff that airs on television today. We can reawaken the creative spirit in people. And as we do, we can extend a hand and try to pull some of theose negative types out of their abyss; they need those role models to see that life can be good on paths that lead to higher perfections.

We are seeking to list as many good businesses as possible and from that list have no less than 4 million business owners who have joined their local public television station. We can change the face of television.

2. 4,000,000 Weekly Viewers who are Small Business Owners,
all listed and linked within a Small Business Index of Learning Companies: All of us should be members of our public television stations. We will change the nature of television so it is about teaching the children during their hours and teaching us from best practices how to live, learn, work, and perhaps even sleep! These links open the door to begin getting listed on this site. You can then opt to answer questions and so much more.

3. United States Small Business Administration: Many, many episodes of the show originated the SBA's Small Business Week and the winners of each state's Small Business Person of the Year award.