ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is truly the synergistic product of a team of people. Without their tireless, wholehearted, unique contributions it never would have come about. Each of their names could easily be listed on the cover alongside mine, and I express my deep appreciation to them:

—my beloved wife, Sandra, for many of the ideas and stories in this book, for her constant support and encouragement, for her intuitive wisdom and her education in child development, and above all for her sacrificial dedication over four decades in raising nine marvelous children.

—my dear children Cynthia, Maria, Stephen, Sean, David, Catherine, Colleen, Jenny, and Joshua, and their spouses and children, for their revealing and often embarrassing stories and for the quality of their lives and contributions.

—Boyd Craig, for his superb management of the whole three-year team production process, his unflagging positive energy, his remarkable judgment and counseling on many key issues, and his work hand in glove with Rebecca in the editing process.

—Rebecca Merrill, for her unusual editorial ability in weaving the ideas, stories, transcripts, and research together in a way that truly sings. Never have I had such a faithful translator.

—my dear brother, John M. R. Covey, for his lifelong loyalty and friendship, his inspiration to me in the development of the ideas in this book, his gifted ability to model and present these family principles, and his excellent work as a content leader in Franklin Covey Company’s home and family area. He is also my personal spokesman for this family material. Also to his wife, Jane, a wonderful mother of a lovely family, whose early work on the book team and contributions of stories and learnings from presenting this material have been invaluable.

—my friend and colleague George Durrant, whose early work on the book team and association with us has infused both the book and us with an undying spirit of hope.

—Toni Harris and Pia Jensen, for their second-mile administrative support and their ability to interview and relate with people in a way that has drawn out so many of the powerful stories in this book.

—Rick Meeves, for incredible research and documentation contributions.

—Wally Goddard, for providing the team with decades of the learnings of many scholars, himself included, in the field of family and human development.

I also express my appreciation to many others whose contributions have made all the difference:

—my associates at Franklin Covey Company for their direct and indirect help and support to this project, particularly Greg Link, Stephen M. R. Covey, Roger Merrill, Patti Pallat, Nancy Aldridge, Darla Salin, Kerrie Flygare, Leea Bailey, Christie Brzezinski, Julie Shepherd, Gloria Lees, and our outside counsel, Richard Hill.

—Randy Royter and his associates at Royter Snow Design for bringing the visual and design elements of the book alive.

—our friends at Golden Books, particularly Bob Asahina, for his splendid professional editing and for always keeping us connected to the pulse of the reader. Also my supportive and creative literary agent, Jan Miller.

—the hundreds of families who have so willingly shared their experiences in applying this material in their families.

—the many mentors, teachers, scholars, authors, and leaders who have influenced my thinking over the years.

—the spouses and children of the book team members whose constancy of support, encouragement, patience, and belief have sustained and lifted us all.

—my parents, my three sisters, Irene, Helen Jean, and Marilyn, and my brother, John, for contributing to my happy childhood.

And, finally, I express my appreciation for the goodness of an overriding Providence in my life.