As I wrote the ending, I realized this book is not only a description of Emergineering but a true example of its application as well. It turns out Emergineering is so customary in our office that we subconsciously apply it to everything we do. Each chapter of this book was written with the principles in mind, and each principle was fully evident in our office as we worked feverishly to the end using WEteams (see Principle 4). Here is how I assembled our Denver employees to help me create the outline for Work That Works.

First, I assembled them for an hour and a half of their time. We brainstormed all the things about our office that we prize. Every-body had a chance to add their ideas. Each person had a sticky note pad, and each person wrote down, one note at a time, all work that works in our office. We ended up with more than 200 notes!

Second, three people took all the notes and grouped them into what finally became the seven principles. The most interesting conversation was about the Love Principle. Some thought it was too touchy-feely for a business book, whereas others argued that this is what we experience in our office. Ultimately, we agreed that love is an essential aspect of work, regardless how touchy-feely it seems.

Third, I organized the WEteams and gave each group one of the seven principles and one hour to design an outline for each principle that included a paragraph describing the principle, a story to accompany it, the ROI, three implementation steps, and a suggested template.

The next day, we spent another hour as each group made a presentation about their principle and solicited feedback. Bingo—in two and a half hours the beginning of this book came alive.

These employees are:

Kerry Anderson, Shari Biesboer, Linda Bontrager, Shana Bosler, Debbie Brown, Morgan Browning, Meghan Bush, Kellie Carroll, Julie Clukies, Mary Cook, Alyssa Evans, Céline Fischer, Kelly Fullerton, Jeff Gingrich, Jeneen Hartshorne, Brad Hoffman, Karen Hulett, Linda Jares, Nikki Korkowski, Annie Lengacher Browning, Katie Lindauer, Stephanie Medley, Abby Medved, Michael Miller, Caitlin Murphy, Betsy Orton, Liz Palizzi, Adrienne Quilliam, Melissa Ress, Heath Schmalzried, Sharon Taylor, Marie Unger, Jerry Van Leuven, Kelli VanderPal, Chance Villarreal, and Herm Weaver.

Later, we asked our APAC and EMEA office to add their thoughts:

Deborah Chew, Linda Ashley Chua, Ashley Devers, Sinead Devlin, Frank Diamond, Chelsea Dillon, Justin Koh, Amos Lim, Imee Anra Lim, Mark Lim, Lini Lingam, Samantha Low, Jan Ng, Dorothy Oh, Alvin Peh, Terence Quek, Naweera Sidik, Cheryl Tang, and Colin Yeow.

But they are not the only “family members” to whom I am grateful:

Wendell Williams, Ph.D., my colleague, friend, and brilliant industrial psychologist.

Chris Cox, Scott Halford, Marty Lassen, Harold Suire, my first Associates; and Mary Case, MD, Neuropathologist, who keeps us updated on the latest neurological research.

Josh Teo, entrepreneur, who initiated Emergenetics Asia.

Our Advisory board: Armistead Browning, Robb Caseria, Andy Krupski, Annette Quintina, and Steve Yocum, who keep us on track.

Global partners:

Steve Bentley, Georgeta Dendrino, Bassem Emad, Ferruccio Fiordispini, Salvador Garza, Masanori Kagawa, Sangeeta Kaur, Geraldine Koempel, Nattavut Kulnides, Chris Lam, Siddharta Moersjid, Shinya Nakao, Bridgit Parise, Herve Roy, David Sales, Maria Santos, Hyuen Jeong Seo, Tieu Yen Trinh, Deanna Werklund, and Andre Wiringa.

Our Master Associates:

Shana Bosler, Rita Bouwens, Kellie Carroll, Chris Cox, Alyssa Evans, Ferruccio Fiordispini, Kelly Fullerton, Salvador Garza, Masanori Kagawa, Geraldine Koempel, Diane Lujan, Yasuhiko Nakamura, Shinya Nakao, Yumiko Nishi, Kohichi Okamoto, Bridgit Parise, Deborah Peterson, Terence Quek, Kelvin Redd, Hervé Roy, David Sales, Samantha Sales, Maria Santos, Hyuen Jeong Seo, Donna Simonetta, Harold Suire, Sharon Taylor, Oleta Tam, Josh Teo, Marie Unger, and Colin Yeow.

The colleagues, clients, and employees who gave their names and their anecdotes to illustrate these principles.

Our clients from many organizations and countries who have brought us in to Emergineer their companies. We enjoy serving them, and they teach us at the same time we are teaching them.

And most important:

Nellie Sabin, gifted editor, who tirelessly acts as a muse, friend, and intelligent guide. Without her, this book would not exist.

Tom Fishburne, clever marketoonist, and a man I am proud to call my nephew.

Key contributors were Kerry Anderson, Annie Lengacher Browning, Deborah Chew, Mary Cook, Joanne Leclair, Katie Lindauer, John Nelson, Erin Peereboom, Melissa Ress, Sharon Taylor, and Kelli VanderPal.

Denise Marcil and Anne Marie O'Farrell, agents, who believe in our work and push us forward.

Jeanenne Ray, who approached us and encouraged us to work with the creative Wiley team, which includes the brilliant brains of Tessa Allen and Peter Knox.

The people who bring special joy to my life: Rebecca, Annie, Karen, John Armistead, Willis, Holden, Emily, Nathan, Lewis, Reuben, Emmett, Lexi, and Margot Browning, Don Browning, Barbara Browning, Betty Burke, Glenda Crouch, Len Crouch, Harriette Fishburne, Cary Fishburne, Judy Girardot, Andy Girardot, Mary Gay Gordon, Connie Graham, Andy Graham, Barbara Grogan, Bob Hancock, Elizabeth Holtze, Steve Holtze, Carol Hunter, Jane Gilbert Johnson, Eddie Johnson, Christy Miller, Carol Kingery Nelson, John Nelson, Mary Jo Rodeno, Tom Rodeno, Fran Root, Emmet Root, Tim Rouse, June Schorr, and Paul Schorr.

As I look at this impressive list of impressive people, I am reminded again that we are all connected, and that all of us are greater than some of us. My wish for you is that you will Emergineer your way into a place of such gratitude and humility. This would be my goal for your organization as you use WORK THAT WORKS!