Some projects are sprints. Writing this was a marathon. No question, without the help of many and varied people I’d still be puffing along, most likely a long way from the finish line.
To begin with, this book’s very existence is directly attributable to my agent, Al Zuckerman. Believing in the concept, and that I could deliver on it, he sold the yet-to-be-completed manuscript to St. Martin’s Press.
Now, with a deadline to meet, it was time to really get to work.
Writing can be a lonely process. Chuck de Castro and Patrick Gramaje both helped me to write faster.
Chuck kept me on the straight and narrow over the many months it took to reach THE END. His continual feedback, crits, and suggestions made the words flow way faster. Without Chuck’s help, I would never have finished this project on time. While Patrick’s comments, combined with his ability to analyze company financials, dig into the venture capital sector, fast casual, tea, and other sectors, to mention just a few, were invaluable.
Raquel Narca read (and reread!) each chapter “hot off the press,” dramatically improving the flow and clarity, while Alexis Gotladera typed and retyped tens of thousands of words, not all of which appeared in the final manuscript, and prepared most of the tables and diagrams.
Kris Wadia’s input was an immense help in refining my understanding of management. I first experienced his management abilities when he “cleaned up my business” some twenty-five years ago. He has since gone on to higher (and much higher-paying) positions—and deservedly so.
Larry Abrams guided me through the potential pitfalls, potholes—and profits—of venture capital.
I must also thank my daughter, Natasha, for being in the right place at the right time to investigate Bettys, Chilango, and the London branches of Chipotle and their competitors on my behalf.
But, sad to say, a first draft remains a first draft until several pairs of eagle eyes have gone through and (too often!) torn it to pieces.
Byron Callas and Eunice Rivero both gave me detailed and hardheaded crits, some requiring extensive rewriting. All of them dramatically improving my words.
Bay Butler, Ivy Choy, Anthony Dawson, Dale Haling, Don Hauptman, Jae Jung, Ellis Levine, Janice Matthews, Henry Newrick, Robert Nirkind, Dan Rosenthal, Tim Staermose, Jerome Summers, Anthony Wile, and Ellen Young all provided helpful information on a variety of different topics, in addition to useful feedback on the manuscript itself.
Finally, it’s hard for me to thank the amazing team at St. Martin’s Press enough. Steven Henry Boldt did an incredible job of editing the manuscript, adding major improvements and refinements to my all-too-often awkward words. St. Martin’s production team came up with a dramatic cover design, better than anything I had ever thought of. Their marketing and publicity team of Laura Clark, Paul Hochman, John Nicholas, and Sarah Becks helped place this copy in your hands, while Michael Homler and Lauren Jablonski made it all happen.
Thank you all.
Naturally, any remaining mistakes are mine. So if you happen to find one that slipped through the intensive editing process, or have bouquets rather than brickbats, I’d love to hear them either directly (www.marktier.com/contact) or in a review on the Web site of your choice.