To all the builders I’ve had the privilege of working with—thank you. There were times I led and times I followed, but I was always learning. From you, with you, and sometimes in spite of you. The lessons came in brainstorms sessions and standup phone calls, in presentation deadlines, and milestone releases. You showed me what’s possible when curiosity outpaces ego and building trust is the priority.

Thanks for reminding me to always start with some Yik Yak, before we dig into the agenda.

To the gatekeepers—thanks for the motivation. Your stubbornness gave power to my persistence. You made things harder than they had to be, and through that resistance, I learned a great deal about myself. Your resistance gave us an opportunity to show what great teams are capable of when their motivations are aligned and their trust intact. For all the friction, I’m grateful.

To the writers, thinkers, and podcast talkers—thank you for offering perspective, humor, case studies, examples, failures and successes. Yvon Chouinard; David Ogilvy; Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson; Marty Cagan; Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, & George Spafford; Derek Sivers; Richard Banfield, Martin Eriksson, & Nate Walkingshaw; Patrick Lencioni; Eliyahu M Goldratt & Jeff Cox; James Clear; Frank Chimero; Erika Hall, Safi Bahcall; Adam Grant; David Epstein; Jaron Lanier; and Kobi Yamada.

To my dad—You were the first entrepeneur I'd ever met... Because of you, I build.

To my kids—Effort and attitude. The only two things you can control in any situation. I’ve seen it on the field, in the classroom, and in the hard days when nothing goes your way. Keep showing up. Keep choosing postivity.

To my wife—For seeing the things I do not see.