As I finished teaching the final class of the semester in 1977, while I was in graduate school, one of the freshman students approached me and shared, “Every time I’ve looked at you during the course, you’ve reminded me of Herman Munster from The Munsters.”

Why begin an acknowledgments section with such a memory? I want to acknowledge the students over the past forty-three years who have provided me with the fuel for the refiner’s fire of my development. Every class taught over these decades has provided the conditions for learning how to teach. So my students deserve the primary acknowledgment for this constant reminder of my human condition.

As an elementary school student, I experienced the hypnotic powers of Mr. Stickel and Mr. Snively. In graduate school, I witnessed Bonner Ritchie and Stephen Covey use metaphor to hold their students captive.

As I began to teach, it was my close friend Paul McKinnon who showed me ways to be more precise in my course design. We taught side by side in various environments, pushing each other to take risks in the classroom. His support has been a constant from the beginning.

While I was teaching at Brigham Young University, Hal Miller, Elouise Bell, and William Bradshaw modeled how to expect more from students.

Joining the faculty at Harvard Business School (HBS) was like jumping into the deep end of a pool. Everywhere I turned, I saw excellence in the classroom. Faculty not only know content but also understand process.

Len Schlesinger, a mentor and friend, told me early on to “love the content and the students.” That wise counsel has been with me since the first time I set foot on the HBS campus. The Service Management Department treated me like family in my early years at HBS.

Ashish Nanda, a friend and colleague, taught me about curriculum design in the early stages of developing our course on professional service firms. He has developed into one of the most gifted teachers I’ve ever observed.

Other faculty at HBS have influenced how I view the teaching profession. The list is too long to mention them all.

Nitin Nohria has spent hours reading this manuscript in detail and providing feedback that enhanced the book. I left every meeting wanting to raise my sights to do better.

Scott Snook has been my partner in crime as I’ve transitioned to our course on leadership development.

Jack Gabarro is responsible for my taking on the task of writing this book. He is the one person who consistently encouraged me to capture on paper what I try to create in the classroom. Jack introduced me to the legacy of Professor Tony Athos here at the Business School. Jack would watch me teach and tell me how much I reminded him of Tony and the atmosphere he created for learning in the classroom. Tony is one of those individuals I can’t wait to meet in the next life.

Willis Emmons, Director of the Christensen Center for Teaching and Learning, has spent countless hours analyzing my patterns and processes in the classroom. Dakota Robinson, faculty support specialist, has worked conscientiously to keep me organized through the process of writing and teaching. My editor Bruce Wexler has been my guide and confidant for three books. He has been a great companion over the past fourteen years.

This brings me to my five daughters. Sara has been there for the whole teaching adventure, from Purdue to Brigham Young University to Morgan Stanley and finally to HBS. She has observed and occasionally commented on my moods after great teaching and poor teaching as well. Catharine has been drawn to the classroom and has shown over time her natural gifts as a teacher. Joanna and I shared an office for two years while she studied here at HBS. She has always had the confidence to share her insights about my teaching style. Jayalakshmi has begun to be an astute critic of her own teachers in school. Devika simply believes in me regardless of my abilities as father or teacher. An honorary member of our family is Haydee Garcia. I have gratitude and admiration for how she has helped raise our kids.

Finally, Vineeta has a way of supporting and challenging my work and helping articulate my creative intent. She has tried to refine my writing and ways of thinking. She sets the standard for both. Vineeta, thank you for being such an inspiration and partner.