How - Dov Seidman [161]
Nelson Handel made unique editorial contributions throughout. You helped me better tell the story and lay out the ideas. Our collaboration—intellectual and literary—was intense, and the book is much better for it. No one argues with me like you do. Thank you.
No book that attempts to cover this much ground would be possible without a resourceful and enthusiastic team of researchers. Your passion for the message and relentless digging brought to light many gems that helped the story shine. Liza Foreman, Lisa Derrick, Maureen Brackey, Brian Hong, and especially Diane Wright for her meticulous efforts, I am grateful to each of you for your contributions. I’d also like to thank Catherine Fredman and Mark Ebner for your additional editorial contributions; Adam Turteltaub for your thoughtful research and support; Caroline Heald, thank you for your caring assistance; and Dave Lambertsen for your illustrations.
I am fortunate to have benefited from the uncommon intellect and erudition of Eric Pinckert. At the beginning, when the book was taking shape, and at the end, when it needed to stay in shape, you were invaluable. Mark Detelich, thank you for your unique enhancements. Rob Shavell, thank you for our various collaborations, especially the last one, which resulted in the subtitle of this book.
Ideas never come in a vacuum, and I have been honored over the years for the inspiration and challenges of many brilliant thinkers. Steve Kerr, you are foremost among them. We have been on an intellectual journey together for years, and you have had a profound influence on me. If anything times zero is zero, than anything times you is nearly infinite. You are one of those rare people with whom nascent ideas begin and bloom. When this book came about, you became an active participant, helping me refine and extend the work, make each idea more precise, and make each principle more grounded. I’m proud to call you friend.
My thanks also go to Marcus Buckingham for your wise perspective as I began this effort and helpful feedback near the finish line. Having been there many times before, you helped me stay focused on the book’s promise and you stepped in at key moments to help me deliver it.
My friend Tom Friedman, you sat me down in Aspen one day and said the things that a new writer needs to hear in a way no one else could have, and our ongoing conversations since then have been invaluable. What a special privilege for me. Through our “Aristotelian days” on the gondolas and the slopes, Aspen will never seem the same.
Murray Hidary, thank you for our close friendship especially during the journey of discovering this book in myself. Our many conversations on life’s issues through the lens of HOW have been illuminating.
Ben Sherwood, my dear friend of 20 years, your inspirational example showed me that you can write a book and still keep your day job. Then you introduced me to Joni. For what more can a friend ask? Thanks for your rare sensibilities, wise advice, and for pushing me past the points of no return.
Among the many things I learned from a great teacher of mine, Rabbi David Ellenson, is the expression from the Mishnah, “make for yourself a rabbi, and acquire for yourself a friend.” David, I am honored to be able to call you my rabbi and blessed to be able to call you a dear friend. I cherish our many meaningful conversations on matters of HOW.
I am grateful to all the people with whom I spoke about the ideas in this book, from business executives and thought leaders to line and middle managers to professional cheerleaders, some of whom read and commented on various drafts, some of whom were interviewed, and all of whose insight and