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PrivateJetBS | Edition 17

Gratitude at 41,000 Feet

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The day after Thanksgiving is usually when the world shifts gears.

The turkey leftovers are in the fridge, the kids are either building forts out of couch cushions or lobbying for Christmas decorations, and most of us are somewhere between reflection and the next flight out.

In business aviation, though we don’t always leave much space for gratitude. We move from LOI to PPI, from contract markups to delivery photos, from “gear up” to “gear down” without ever really pausing to say:

How lucky am I to even be here?

So today, I want to do something different with PrivateJetBS.

This isn’t a market update.

It’s not a deep dive on residual values or a teardown of a particular airframe.

This is a thank-you note.

To the people in my life, to the opportunities in my career, and to the industry that somehow continues to let a ski patroller turned firefighter turned broker make a living connecting people with airplanes and, more importantly, with each other.

And along the way, I want to hand the mic to two people I respect in this space—two voices who bring their own gratitude and perspective into the mix.

The People Behind the Process

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When I talk about “Trust the Process, Not the Promises,” I’m talking about people.

Processes are built by humans—

the ones who take a call after a twelve-hour day,

the ones who check a logbook entry twice,

the ones who show up even when it’s inconvenient.

Before aircraft and deals and data, my gratitude list starts with my people.

My Family

There is no version of my career that works without my wife, Amanda, and our kids, Beckett and Pippa.

There’s the part of this industry that looks glamorous—tail numbers, ramp shots, polo fields, yacht clubs, golf tournaments, evening receptions. And then there’s the real side: delayed flights, missed bedtimes, red-eye returns, and answering emails in uber rides or on the cold curb outside of an FBO. When you’re in this business, the schedule doesn’t ask permission. It doesn’t pause for plans, birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmases, or for the nights when everyone just wishes you were home a little earlier.

Through all of that, Amanda carries more of the load than most people will ever see. She is the stability behind the motion—managing the home front with a steadiness that makes the impossible look effortless. She listens to the “you won’t believe this buyer” stories, anchors me when the pace turns relentless, and still encourages me to chase the next big idea, even when it means another airport, another hotel, another 5am flight out of the airport 2 hours away. She’s the quiet strength that makes all of this sustainable, and my gratitude for her runs deeper than I can express in words.

The kids, meanwhile, bring everything back into focus in a way only they can. Beckett and Pippa don’t care about transaction cycles or off-market opportunities. They care about pancakes, paw patrol, playground dates, bath times, and whether Dad will make it home before popsicles and bedtime. To them, the mark of a good day isn’t how many calls I took, it’s whether I built the Lego tower, the train track, got in a tickle match, chased them around the kitchen, or read the book one more time.

They know how to remind me that presence is the real currency. That being home isn’t just about walking through the door but actually being present, eyes up, phone down, fully in it. And the truth is, i am still working on these skills but those moments recalibrate me. These kids make the wins feel sweeter, the setbacks feel smaller, and the work feel meaningful instead of endless.

There’s still a small guilt tax that comes with this career—the mornings I leave before they wake up, the nights I land after they’ve already gone to bed. But what softens it is how they greet me like I never missed a beat, how Amanda fills the gaps with grace, and how our home resets my view the moment I step inside.

They keep me grounded—even when I’m at 41,000 feet.
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They’re the “why” behind the work, the North Star when the pace gets chaotic, and the quiet reminder that success means nothing if it isn’t anchored in the right things.

Every day, I’m grateful that they’re mine.

Mentors, Partners, and Quiet Heroes

Some of the best people in this industry will never appear in a press release.

They’re the Presidents and CEOs who shoulder the pressure quietly and lead from the front.

They’re the MRO techs who tell the truth even when the truth blows up a deal.

They’re the CPAs who explain tax basis to a client who “heard something on the golf course.”

They’re the attorneys who protect a buyer from stepping into a bad structure.

They’re the researchers who grind through the data so we can make informed decisions.

If you’re one of those people, or one of the many I can’t list in one place without rambling on - and many of you are reading this now - thank you.

You’re the reason this industry works.

Grateful to Be in the Room

There’s a quiet truth in this business: nobody owes you a shot.

No buyer has to hire you to represent them.

No seller has to trust you to bring them a qualified, prepared, and reasonable counterpart.

No operator has to open their doors and their logbooks to someone who wants to “dig around” during a prebuy.

So when I step onto a ramp, walk into a hangar, or join a call with a client’s inner circle of advisors, I try to remember this:

Being in the room is something to be grateful for, not something to be entitled to.

And this year, that truth showed up in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

It’s only happened once so far, and has been 15 years in the making, but it stopped me in my tracks. I was in the early, hypothetical conversations with a team—nothing signed, nothing official, no timeline even set—and another broker cold-called them. The VP of Aviation names me as their listing broker before they’ve even told me they’re ready to move forward. I found out through a voicemail on my phone, from the other broker, telling me that he has been told me call me by that VP.

That is rapport.

That is trust built over years, not weeks.

That is the result of consistency, clarity, and relationship-first work—not marketing flair or a lucky email.

When a client names you as their broker to the industry before they even pick up the phone to tell you they’re ready to sell, that’s when you know the process works.

And that’s something I’ll never take for granted.

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Industry Gratitude

One of the things I’m most thankful for in business aviation is that I don’t have to do it alone, and I don’t have to pretend to have all the answers.

I asked a colleague I deeply respect to share what they’re grateful for in this industry. You’ll see more of these guest perspectives in future editions, but I wanted to start here.

“ “As we enter the holiday season, I find myself reflecting on the things I’m truly grateful for, and my work in the Aircraft Management sector of our industry is high on that list. This field offers a rare blend of purpose, precision, and possibility. Aviation has a way of reminding you that what you do matters—every flight, every detail, and every interaction plays a part in supporting someone’s most important moments. Helping clients save valuable time, ensuring a smooth and comfortable journey, and contributing to experiences that genuinely make a difference is something I never take for granted. ​ I’m also thankful for the dynamic, fast-paced nature of asset management and operations. No two days are ever alike. Schedules shift, needs evolve, and each challenge calls for equal parts creativity, expertise, and calm under pressure. That constant movement keeps me engaged and continually growing, and it pushes me to sharpen my skills in ways few industries can. ​ But one of the things I’m most grateful for this season—and every season—is the relationships I’ve built along the way. Aircraft Management naturally intersects with the brokerage, finance, and legal communities, and I’ve had the privilege of building strong connections with key influencers in all three areas. These relationships have provided guidance, insight, and collaboration that elevate the work we all do. They’ve contributed to my understanding of the broader ecosystem of private aviation and have become some of the most rewarding aspects of my career. ​ And while my appreciation extends across the entire industry, I’m also thankful to be part of Airshare—a place that supports growth, values integrity, and allows me to contribute meaningfully to an environment I genuinely enjoy. ​ As the holidays approach, I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to be in a field that is challenging, rewarding, relationship-driven, and full of purpose. For all of that, I’m truly thankful.” — KC Ihlefeld, President, Aircraft Management at Airshare

My hope is that as you read KC’s words, you hear echoes of your own story… different aircraft, different avenues, the same underlying gratitude.

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A New Voice in the Industry

There’s something powerful about hearing gratitude from someone new to business aviation. Their perspective is fresh, unfiltered, and full of the excitement that many of us felt early in our careers—the same excitement that can get buried beneath cycles, deadlines, and aircraft specs—especially in quarter 4 of the year.

For this guest feature, I wanted someone who represents the next generation stepping into our world—a role often held as researchers, coordinators, analysts, maintainers, future pilots, future brokers, and the people who will shape the way this industry evolves.

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“ “As I wrap up my first year in business aviation, (which has flown by), I find myself incredibly thankful for the opportunities, relationships, and experiences that have shaped me in the early stages of my career. Stepping into this industry, I quickly learned that business aviation is far more than just a professional ecosystem, it is a community deeply rooted in connection, relationship, and most importantly trust. The support, generosity, and shared passion amongst biz av professionals that exists here extends well beyond company lines, and it is an honor to be a part of a group of people that genuinely invest in the success and growth of one another. ​ I am especially thankful for the team at jetAVIVA. Having access to true professionals that will answer my call at any hour, who will challenge me, guide me, and help me navigate complex situations, has made all the difference. Michael Barber and Kandi Spangler in particular have been central to my development. Working closely with these two, among others, has underlined and bolded the importance of discipline, collaboration, and constant communication. I am eager to continue growing together and to keep evolving into a well-oiled machine as we move forward. ​ What surprised me most this year about the business aviation industry is just how dynamic and relationship-driven the industry is. Every connection matters. I have come to rely on not only internal coworkers, but external relationships that in almost any other industry would be considered competitors. Every conversation opens the door to something new. Watching how quickly the pieces of a deal can come together, and seeing how much trust, communication, and reputation influence outcomes, has been equally motivating and energizing. ​ A driving force for me is the desire to become a trusted professional in the business aviation space. I strive to be someone that clients and colleagues alike rely on for clarity, integrity and results. As I look into the future from FL410, I hope to continue building a career defined by those values. I want to deepen my knowledge, expand the network of people I can support and learn from, and contribute meaningfully to the business aviation community that has taken me under its wing and already given me so much.” — Sean O’Brien, Sales Operations Specialist, jetAVIVA

His voice matters.

It reminds us that while we’re focused on today’s deals and this cycle’s challenges, the industry’s future is being formed right now, by the people seeing it for the first time.

Three Small Gratitude Habits for a High-Speed Industry

Gratitude isn’t passive. It’s practice.

And in our world, practice matters.

Here are three habits I’m carrying into next year:
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1. One thank-you call a week

Not a text.

Not a quick email.

A call, with no agenda other than gratitude.
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2. Capture one lesson from every deal

Especially the painful ones.

Especially the ones where I could’ve done better.

Especially the ones that changed the way I think.

Lessons that cost you something tend to be the ones that stick.
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3. Protect one non-negotiable block of family time

Put the phone face-down.

Be where my feet are.

This industry will take every minute you don’t guard.

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Thankful for What’s Next

Looking ahead, I’m thankful for:

• A new generation entering the industry with hunger, intelligence, and integrity.

• Clients who expect transparency and process over personality.

• Maintenance and operations teams raising the standard across the board.

• The evolution of buyer expectations—toward clarity, accountability, and fiduciary thinking.

• The privilege of being invited into hangars, boardrooms, and inboxes like yours.

• The chance to continue building something meaningful.

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Thank YOU for being here.

Thank YOU for reading this, especially on a holiday weekend.

Thank YOU for trusting me with your time, your aircraft, and your questions.

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Enjoy the leftovers, ramp selfies, and quiet moments.

And as always...

Trust the Process, Not the Promises.
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Michael Barber PrivateJetBS Newsletter Managing Director & VP, Sales Operations at jetAVIVA​ Mobile, WhatsApp, & Signal: +1.919.475.8506 ​​​​

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