Acknowledgments
Where It Begins and Ends
To my wife: Every word spoken in front of an audience and written in a chapter comes at a cost. It's another moment that my wife, Kimi, doesn't get on the couch talking over wine, walking the dogs, breaking bread at the dinner table, or simply cuddling in bed with the man who promised her all those things when we committed to do life together. It's another minute of caring for two wonderfully loving, woefully dependent, equal parts fragile and strong-willed, foolishly risky, prone to self-harm, 100 percent boy, and laughter-instigating children without her partner to sub in, provide a second pair of eyes, kiss-fix the ouchy, correct the bad behavior, or tuck the “not tired” kid into bed. And yet she continues to encourage and support this dream, fully aware of the cost. I knew it was a good decision in 2012, but she has far exceeded my expectation of what good could be.
To my parents and sister: If I told you what my childhood was like, you would think I lived in a fantasy land. I am the product of parents who love each other, who pushed their kids to excellence but didn't demand unrealistic perfection, who celebrated our successes but didn't need it to compensate for their own shortcomings, who disciplined but didn't raise their voices, who let us be kids but wouldn't let us stay kids. The adult version of that child risks and relates radically differently because of such a rare and firm foundation. Not to say it was all perfect. It's not fair being the younger brother of the perfect sister. (A single B would have been nice, as would the occasional getting caught in a lie.) But then I wouldn't have the sounding board I cherish or encouragement I respect if my older sister wasn't so damn smart, hard-working, disciplined, or kind.
To Pap: I bear the name of my grandfather, Curtis Wheat. He whistled everywhere he went. People don't whistle anymore. It's impossible to be around someone who whistles without having the joy rub off on you. He married his middle school sweetheart, my Mammaw. Her strength made our family a single unit. I wear their wedding band. The standard has been set. I miss him.
Along the Way
To the Marketplace One community: My life can be effectively divided between PM1 (Pre-Marketplace One community) and AM1 (in the age of Marketplace One community). For late nights, whiskey tastings, honest questions, serious disagreements, big hugs, guttural laughter, real tears, and the feeling of oikos whenever I'm among you. Specifically, Lukas Naugle for being the first to tell me my business was unfocused and my message was distraction and for continuing to let me lean on him for strategy and wisdom.
To the Focuswise core team (Jared, Steve, Knic): For keeping me focused, making me look good, and always having my back.
To the Center for Generational Kinetics: For their insight, support, mentorship, partnership, commitment to excellence, and letting me come along for the ride.
The Words on the Page
Growing up, I wrote my debate cases while en route to the speech tournament. I should not have a book that bears my name. And of course, I wouldn't if not for the village of people who played an integral role in every stage of its development.
To Paul Matthies: The greatest teammate, partner, advocate, encourager, business operator, and gift giver in the world. I wonder if most attempts by easily distracted visionaries fail simply because they haven't found Paul. And no, he's not available.
To Jake Johnson and Vic Vogler: Any help this book offers, any success this project experiences, any ideas that make sense on these pages will be because of your writing prowess.
To Trevor Boehm: For bringing order and a plan to the chaos I created for this book project.
To Greg Johnson: For taking a risk on me years before the growth and sticking with me through years of running in circles on this book project.
To Josh Farrar and Michael Thate, PhD: Whose ideas and words are littered throughout the pages of this book.
To Mick Lesko and Daniel Turner: Their care for this project because of their care for me would be rare at any time in history. In a world that limits friendship to the convenient, their approach serves as a reminder of the limitless life-giving nature of that true and rare gift of friendship.
As Zig Ziglar would say (relayed through Bryan Flanagan, another mentor who deserves more than this single line), “Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.” It's not difficult to carry this attitude with the people who surround me and this project. Thank you.