Acknowledgments for the First Edition

The experience of writing this book seemed, at times, to be something like mounting a polar expedition. There was, of course, less physical hardship, and little risk of life. But the process did involve venturing into the unknown and dealing with some fairly formidable obstacles. I was fortunate to have with me in this adventure a number of colleagues who made it possible to face these challenges with a spirit of creativity and camaraderie.

I deeply appreciate the enormous contributions made by each member of the original Book Team: Peggy Holtman, Paul Kessler, and Catherine McCarthy. Although I had been using the Leading at The Edge approach for a number of years, the challenge of translating these concepts into a readable book was not a straightforward matter. The Book Team met regularly from the proposal stage forward, debating every major decision involved in structuring the book. Peggy and Paul drove long distances to my office in Connecticut, while Catherine participated by phone from Chicago. These meetings were often extended affairs, and I sometimes worried that Catherine would carry a permanent imprint of a telephone earpiece.

Each member of the Book Team wrote initial drafts of chapters, critiqued my work, and searched for business examples that would illustrate key lessons of the book. Peggy Holtman was tireless—a whirling dervish—in searching for factoids and ensuring that the key concepts of the book were bridged to practical organizational applications. Paul Kessler emanated optimism and demonstrated an awesome knack for catching errors that no one else could find. Catherine McCarthy exhibited an impressive “can do” spirit and—at the same time—played an important role in challenging the team’s assumptions and keeping us focused.

In addition to these contributions, each member of the Book Team also showed a willingness to practice the leadership strategies highlighted in the book. One of my great satisfactions in this effort is the belief that we, as a team, did our best to practice the principles we espoused.

Words can never fully express my appreciation for the contribution of Anna Gianitsos, my office manager and assistant. The name Gianitsos means “loyal warrior,” and Anna embodied the spirit of her family name. Through month after month of the most demanding work, Anna demonstrated an extraordinary level of dedication and breadth of skills. She was conscientious in proofreading and fact checking. She made substantive suggestions about the content of the book. When I was stuck on a small detail, Anna pointed at the “countdown” chart that she had made showing the number of days until the manuscript was due—and I got the message. Through late nights, weekends, and stress-filled days, Anna retained her determination, resilience, and winning smile. She and her family can be justly proud of her critical role in making the book a reality. Anna—S’efharisto apo ta vathi tis cardias mou.

Steve Elliott not only helped with editorial decisions but also served as navigator (my own “Frank Worsley”) in steering through the uncharted and often turbulent waters of the publishing world. Ellen James provided valuable editorial assistance. Nick Appelby expertly created the graphics, including the map of the Endurance expedition. Marya Holcombe’s counsel was critical in the beginning stages of the writing process as she helped me break the ice off the runners of my writing sledge. And Becky Hoffman, of Knowledge=Power, deserves special recognition for her resourcefulness in finding business illustrations of the ten strategies.

I am grateful to Bob Headland of the Scott Polar Research Institute for his timely fact checking, and for helping me avoid any errors that would qualify as major “howlers.” I should emphasize that I am responsible for any remaining discrepancies, and that any conclusions—particularly those concerning Robert Falcon Scott—are my own.

The contributions to the book made by David Nadler and my colleagues at the Delta Consulting Group were invaluable. David has been a friend for more years than I care to remember and has taught me much about the art of helping organizations achieve their full potential. My friends at Delta have shared their time and expertise generously, and I thank them for their valuable assistance.

I appreciate the steadfast encouragement of Jeff Heilpern, who has been a tremendous source of support, and who helped me maintain a healthy perspective on the process of writing and on the process of living. Virginia Herndon showed an unwavering belief in the book and its message, Martha Miller beamed support from far corners of the globe, and Dave Ellis was an important source of inspiration.

Donna Gianini deserves special mention for her early work in developing the Leading at The Edge approach, and for her continuing innovation in applying the concept. Donna first coined the phrase, “Onward through the hummocks”—a rallying cry that helped us move through many daunting ice fields. I appreciate the ongoing encouragement of Diane Russ, my long-haul partner in exploring the frontier.

I would like to acknowledge the editors at AMACOM, who helped bring the book from proposal to print. Adrienne Hickey saw the potential of the concept, acquired the book, and provided suggestions about its structure. Christina McLaughlin managed the complex production and editorial processes with laughter and competence, and Karen Brogno’s thorough copyediting of the manuscript is greatly appreciated.

A number of other individuals were important in the writing of this book, and each made a unique contribution. I thank and acknowledge Deborah Ancona, Nancy Cardwell, Fred Courtright, Jack Creighton, Anthony D’Albero, Mark Edinberg, Aaron Feuerstein, Jo-Ann Fleishman, Peg Gilliland, Lois Grady, Andrew Greatrex, Gordon Hellman, Diana Ho, Joan Imhof, Randy MacDonald, Leslie Margolin, Naoko Matsunaga, Chuck Miceli, Phil Mirvis, David Montross, Steve Moran, Renee Murphy, Robert Ostroff, Prakash Patel, Jonathan Patrick, Bill Reinsmith, Gail Robinson, Gayle Rohrbasser, Darien Roseen, Pat Russo, Barry Schlosser, Harold Shapiro, Tom Sheehan, Jane Sheppard, Paul Siegel, Scott Sklar, Lon Smith, Ken Stellar, Jim Tullos, and Grant Withers.

I am grateful to Dr. Elias Marsh, who first gave me a copy of Lansing’s Endurance, and who exemplified the spirit of exploration. And I thank Bill Gleeson, whose courage and presence under fire helped ensure that I would be around to write this book.

Finally, I thank the members of my family who have supported me through the years, and who have taught me a great deal about leadership and overcoming obstacles. My daughter, Holly, showed me that it is possible to ride a bucking horse with a smile on your face. My son, Jonathan, showed me that it is possible to negotiate tough whitewater in a kayak with no spray skirt—and still have a good time. My brother, Bob, kept the supply chain intact throughout the expedition. I thank the “Magic Girls,” Meghan and Melisa, for their smiles and courage in the face of adversity; and I appreciate Joe Hernandez’s help in carrying the load. Most of all, I express my deepest gratitude to Bernadette Bialczak Perkins, who supported my quest, and whose love and compassion helped me make it home from The Edge.