Acknowledgments

It would seem that every significant effort takes a team. Anything meaningful I’ve accomplished in life has been through the help, support, and partnership of others.

This book, as you might expect, was no exception.

And given that I wrote this book during the COVID-19 crisis of 2020, everyone who helped did so as the world was falling down around them.

To all of my dragons at Dragon Army—I’ve never worked with a more passionate, more talented, and more ‘Team First-y’ group of people. Your incredible competence and dedication gave me the freedom to spend the necessary time to write this book, and for that, I thank you so, so much.

To my various editors and team members who helped make sure this book was put together well: Michael Stanley, Andrea Whitcomb, Katie Foster, Cortney Rosen, Erica Warhaftig, Jenn Leahy, Ashton Lane, and Dorothy Miller-Farleo (DMF!). And Jennifer Jessen, my beautiful sister, who read and edited the book while quarantined and recovering from COVID-19!

To the ultimate editor, Rachelle Kuramoto, who I am so blessed to work with every day. Your tireless, can-do spirit and obvious writing talent inspire me more than you know. Thanks for keeping me honest while I tried my best to put words on the screen in an order that makes sense, with you graciously and patiently re-ordering them, so the sentences and overall story was, well, you know...coherent.

To Jessica Carruth, my book partner-in-crime, who was the first person I told that I wanted to write and publish this book—in a little more than 30 days. (Our first book took about a year, start to finish). Not only did you not quit on the spot, but you also did what you always do. First, you asked, “Are you sure?” and then quickly got to, “We can do this!” Thank you for saying yes and for working so hard to get this book across the finish line. It wouldn’t have happened without you.

To Jenn Leahy and Ashton Lane, for so, so much. Immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic hit us in mid-March, my dear friend Ryan lost his battle with cancer. I was devastated (and still am). For several weeks after that, you two grabbed hold of our company and steered the ship, allowing me time to grieve. Ashton, as I’m sure you can tell, a great deal of this book is a reflection of your financial expertise and wisdom. And Jenn...I’ve never, in my 20 years of leading businesses, had to hand the reigns over to another person. I did so during this period to you with no hesitations, and you surpassed even my lofty expectations. You are a treasure.

To my kids, Zac, Drew, Kaitlyn, Hannah, and Kai, who never cease to inspire me and brighten my days. It was a joy writing this book while the five of you spiraled around our house, us being all locked in there together during the quarantine period. In fact, given that I wrote The 5-Day Turnaround in the same manner (then we were locked up together in Scotland on holiday), perhaps that’s the only way I know how to write books.

And to my wife, Emily, who always supports me, and who I can’t imagine going through this crazy thing called life without.