Acknowledgments

I start the acknowledgments for every book I’ve ever written the same way—by thanking my amazing wife, Kalebra. If you knew what an incredible woman she is, you’d totally understand why.

This is going to sound silly, but if we go grocery shopping together, and she sends me off to a different aisle to get milk, when I return with the milk and she sees me coming back down the aisle, she gives me the warmest, most wonderful smile. It’s not because she’s happy that I found the milk; I get that same smile every time I see her, even if we’ve only been apart for 60 seconds. It’s a smile that says, “There’s the man I love.”

If you got that smile, dozens of times a day, for nearly 26 years of marriage, you’d feel like the luckiest guy in the world, and believe me—I do. To this day, just seeing her puts a song in my heart and makes it skip a beat. When you go through life like this, it makes you one incredibly happy and grateful guy, and I truly am.

So, thank you, my love. Thanks for your kindness, your hugs, your understanding, your advice, your patience, your generosity, and for being such a caring and compassionate mother and wife. I love you.

Secondly, a big thanks to my son, Jordan. I wrote my first book when my wife was pregnant with him (20 years ago), and he has literally grown up around my writing. It has been a blast watching him grow up into such a wonderful young man, with his mother’s tender and loving heart and compassion way beyond his years. I can’t believe he’s already off to college (out-of-state no less—sniff, sniff), but I know he knows that his dad just could not be prouder or more excited for him (though he may not realize just how much I miss seeing his big smile every morning before school and at the dinner table every night). Throughout his life, he has touched so many people, in so many different ways, and even though he’s so young, he has already inspired so many, and I just cannot wait to see the amazing adventure, and the love and laughter this life has in store for him. Hey, little buddy, this world needs more “yous!”

Thanks to our wonderful daughter, Kira, for being the answer to our prayers, for being such a blessing to your older brother, and for proving once again that miracles happen every day. You are a little clone of your mother, and believe me, there is no greater compliment I could give you. It is such a blessing to get to see such a happy, hilarious, clever, creative, and just awesome little force of nature running around the house each day—she just has no idea how happy and proud she makes us. She is awesomeness wrapped in a layer of chocolate with sprinkles. It doesn’t get much better than that.

A special thanks to my big brother, Jeff. I have so much to be thankful for in my life, and having you as such a positive role model while I was growing up is one thing I’m particularly thankful for. You’re the best brother any guy could ever have, and I’ve said it a million times before, but one more surely wouldn’t hurt—I love you, man!

My heartfelt thanks go to my entire team at Kelby Media Group. I know everybody thinks their team is really special, but this one time—I’m right. I’m so proud to get to work with you all, and I’m still amazed at what you’re able to accomplish day in, day out, and I’m constantly impressed with how much passion and pride you put into everything you do.

A warm word of thanks goes to my in-house Editors Kim Doty and Cindy Snyder. This update to the book—the first I’ve done without my old friend and co-author Matt Kloskowski—wouldn’t have happened without their hard work, dedication, and push to get this all done, and I can’t thank you two enough. This was a lot of work, and you both did it with a great deal of grace and smiles, and it really made my part incredibly easy and fun. I’m indebted to you both.

I’m equally as lucky to have the immensely talented Jessica Maldonado working on the design of my books. I just love the way Jessica designs, and all the clever little things she adds to her layouts and cover designs. She’s not just incredibly talented and a joy to work with, she’s a very smart designer and thinks five steps ahead in every layout she builds. I feel very, very fortunate to have her on my team.

To my best buddy and book-publishing powerhouse, Dave Moser (also known as “the guiding light, force of nature, miracle birth, etc.”), for always insisting that we raise the bar and make everything we do better than anything we’ve done before.

Thanks to my friend and business partner, Jean A. Kendra, for her support and friendship all these years. You mean a lot to me, to Kalebra, and to our company.

My heartfelt thanks to Kleber Stephenson, for helping us get over a mountain we haven’t been able to get over for years, and for putting together a team to get us there.

A big thanks to my Executive Assistant, Lynn Miller, for wrangling a “kitten that’s always trying to jump out of the box” each day, and for keeping me focused, organized, and on track, which has to be just an insanely challenging job, but she seems to do it pretty effortlessly, which is a testament to how good she is at it. Thank you, Lynn.

A big high-five to Nikki McDonald, my “Editor of Awesomeness” at Peachpit Press, to Nancy Davis, our “Mistress of Midnight Publishing,” and to Sara Jane “SJ” Todd, and all the wonderful folks at Peachpit. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to making the kind of books that make a difference.

Thanks to my former co-author, Matt Kloskowski, who co-authored many of the previous editions of this book with me. His words and influence are still felt throughout, and the book is better for it.

Thanks to my friends at Adobe Systems: Brian Hughes, Terry White, Sharad Mangalick, Scott Morris, Jim Heiser, Tom Hogarty, Stephen Nielsen, Bryan Lamkin, Julieanne Kost, and Russell Preston Brown. Gone but not forgotten: Barbara Rice, Rye Livingston, John Loiacono, Kevin Connor, Deb Whitman, Addy Roff, Cari Gushiken, and Karen Gauthier.

I want to thank all the talented and gifted photographers who’ve taught me so much over the years, including: Moose Peterson, Joe McNally, Bill Fortney, George Lepp, Anne Cahill, Vincent Versace, David Ziser, Jim DiVitale, Cliff Mautner, Dave Black, Helene Glassman, and Monte Zucker.

Thanks to my mentors, whose wisdom and whip-cracking have helped me immeasurably, including John Graden, Jack Lee, Dave Gales, Judy Farmer, and Douglas Poole.

Most importantly, I want to thank God, and His Son Jesus Christ, for leading me to the woman of my dreams, for blessing us with two amazing children, for allowing me to make a living doing something I truly love, for always being there when I need Him, for blessing me with a wonderful, fulfilling, and happy life, and such a warm, loving family to share it with.