Acknowledgments
Many mentors, partners, colleagues, staff, and friends have contributed over the
years to my understanding and development of the principles in
Getting Things
Done.
George Mayer, Michael Bookbinder, Ted Drake, Dean Acheson, and
Russell Bishop played key roles along my path
of personal and professional
growth. Ron Medved, Sally McGhee, Leslie Boyer, Tom Boyer, Pam Tarrantine,
and Kelly Forrister contributed in their own ways to my work as it matured.
In addition, tens of thousands of clients and workshop participants have
helped validate and fine-tune these models. Particular thanks go to the senior
human resource strategists who early on recognized
the significance of this
material in changing their corporate cultures, and who gave me the opportunity
to do that—in particular: Michael Winston, Ben Cannon, Susan Valaskovic,
Patricia Carlyle,
Manny Berger, Carola Endicott, Klara Sztucinski, and Elliott
Kellman. The administrative and moral support
that Shar Kanan and Andra
Carasso gave me over many years was priceless.
This book itself could not have happened the way it has without the unique
energies and perspectives of Tom Hagan, John and Laura McBride, Steve
Lewers, Doe Coover, Greg Stikeleather, Steve Shull, and Marian Bateman. And
much
credit is due my editor, Janet Goldstein, who has been a marvelous (and
patient) instructor in the art and craft of book writing.
Finally, deepest thanks go to my spiritual coach, J-R, for being such an
awesome guide and consistent
reminder of my real priorities; and to my
incredible wife, Kathryn, for her trust, love, hard work, and
the beauty she has
brought into my life.