I am past, present, and future indebted to Peter Ferdinand Drucker for inviting me out to California in April 2004 for what would become the first of our many visits. Peter overlooked my initial ungainly attempts to distill his ideas for the twenty-first-century manager. Instead, he patiently, tactfully, and engagingly answered my questions, while helping to fact-check the manuscript. During the writing of this book, Peter had two pieces of advice, which I attempted to follow: First: “In synthesizing my ideas for the twenty-first century, you must do so as if you were the CEO of Drucker, Inc.—that is, question the whole of my work and let go of what has turned out to be misdirected, is no longer relevant, resultless, or just plain wrong”; second: “Don’t get caught up in the theoretical, stay with the actual. There is a lot that has already happened.”
Thank you, Peter, for liberating me, for allowing me to step out of my comfort zone, for helping me to challenge my assumptions, and to raise my expectations.
I also want to express heartfelt thanks . . .
To the many Drucker clients, friends, students, and coworkers who graciously shared their Peter stories with me. They breathed life into my interpretation of Peter’s wide range of ideas. They provided perspectives of Peter the mentor, who changed each of their lives. He asked each of them to think, to play to their strengths, to do what is right. They taught me how he helped each of them clarify their ambition and embark on journeys to places and accomplishments they never thought they’d see.
To my friends Mark McClusky and Robin Esterson, who shared with me how simply reading Peter’s ideas changed and enhanced their lives.
To my clients and partners over the years who educated me by being living examples of Drucker doctrines. To my friend and adviser, Arnoldo Hax, for helping me understand the business needs of today.
To the many colleagues and friends who helped me navigate through my emotions, insights, frustrations, and challenges: Joe Maciariello and Kerry Boyle, for helping me through the Claremont world, the Drucker archives, and just enjoying coffee in California; Nan Stone, for helping me understand the map and gain insight from her experiences as I was getting started, and repeatedly as I made my frantic phone calls to her office and home; Cecily Drucker, who in one call explained the inner workings of the Drucker household to me, and later took the time to be the “outsider” with inside blood reading a draft and offering suggestions; and Alice Martell, who quickly secured a contract with an excited team at McGraw-Hill.
To the team of editors, writers, researchers, and friends who read and contributed to countless versions of many of these chapters. Joan Wilson helped me get the words down the first time. Jeanne Glasser saw the potential of this project. Cheryl Hudson worked endlessly getting the pages ready for production. Jasmine Cresswell exhorted me during the revisions. Leah Spiro showed me how to rewrite. David Marcus, now at Newsday, made me write a story; every time I didn’t, he called me on it. Paige Siempelkamp and Don Penny took photographs, designed pages, fixed computers, and read into the night. Jackie Barry, Mel Furman, Jim Wade, and Sara Roche never got tired of giving me feedback. Violet Edersheim said, “This is not bad, it just needs a little bit of translation,” and then went to work translating. Ellen Harvey and David Meyer fact-checked, compiled, researched, drafted anecdotes, and proofed every detail. Herb Schaffner brought his verve to the project at McGraw-Hill.
I am especially indebted to Louise Amell, Atsuo Ueda, and T George Harris. This book would not exist without the significant contributions and global reminders of Louise, the challenges and Druckerian perspectives of Ueda-san, and the constant flow of encouragement and anecdotes from George.
To my father, Felix Haas, who shared the importance of a global perspective, allowed me to understand a Viennese critic’s view of the world, and stressed the necessity of intellectual honesty since my childhood. And to my mother, Violet Haas, who showed me the power of not being afraid to tackle important challenges and who shared Peter’s very fundamental belief that every person deserves respect.
And finally, to Alvin and Violet, who understood every time I said, “Just one more chapter,” and then, “Just one more week,” and even encouraged me to keep at it while we lived out of boxes waiting to be unpacked. I hope my generation leaves you a world with ethical, innovative companies that create opportunities while sharing your love of the environment and your sense of what’s right.
Thanks to the illustrators whose works appear in this volume:
Title page: Illustration copyright © 2007 by Opoku Acheampong.
Page 16: Illustration copyright © 2006 by Rodica Prato. All rights reserved.
Page 46: Reproduced with permission of Bob Buford. Calligraphic illustration by Timothy R. Botts.