ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Feel free to start the music (or flip to a commercial) if I drone on too long.

Thanks to my parents, who always pushed me to create my own map and follow my own path. Thanks, Dad, for, as long as I can remember, telling me to write my own paycheck.

Thanks to my grandparents, the late Orville and Vera Fleming, June Farbiak, and especially Grandpa John, for sharing your amazement of life with me.

Thanks to my good friend Troy Loop. Your relentless daily mentorship, feedback, and ideas were invaluable during the writing of this book. Thanks to Shawn Veltman, the second-smartest person I know, for the almost-daily Skype chats, late-night phone calls, and brainstorm sessions. You are a true marketing genius.

Thanks to my literary agent, Esmond Harmsworth, for your wonderful advice, support, and encouragement while I was writing my book proposal and for your careful pursuit of the right publisher for this book. Thanks to the hardworking group at AMACOM, including senior acquisitions editor Bob Nirkind (you believed in this book from day one!), and the incredible design team (your cover design is ingenious!).

Thanks to my editor extraordinaire, Alison Hagge. Your attention to detail, optimism, and encouragement was invaluable.

Thanks to my mentor, Alan Weiss, for always reminding me the ultimate goal of writing a business book is not to be an author, but to help others improve their businesses and enrich their lives.

Thanks to Seth Godin, for dinner in Chicago, where you challenged me to “ship.” I still remember the response you wrote to my e-mail where I confessed that I wished that I could write books like you. You said, “If you write a book, I’ll read it.” Well, here it is, Seth.

Thanks to all my clients for being open to new ideas and trusting in my advice to help your organizations grow. Thanks for following me, and not the herd.

Thanks to my cousin Holly Morin, one of the most talented designers in the world. You transformed my scribbled-on-a-napkin ideas to the effective process visuals found in this book.

Finally, thanks to all my supportive family members, friends, and colleagues: Wes Fleming, Josh Stipancic, Dan Weedin, Roberta Matuson, Jean Oursler, Gary Patterson, Yael Grauer, Andrew Miller, Colleen Francis, Dorie Clark, Shawn Casemore, and Stu McLaren.