In the spirit of the season, I would like to thank the incredible team of people who helped me publish Teamwork 9.0 this year. When writing a book on teamwork, it made sense to apply the concepts in the book. I formed a diverse team of talented individuals that complimented and enhanced my own contributions. I’d like to express my deep gratitude to everyone who accompanied me on this journey.
First and foremost, I would like to thank Rev. Roger Morimoto for all his tutelage on the Enneagram over the years. He gave me the reading list that led me to my discoveries on the intersection of teamwork and the Enneagram. I can always count on Roger for guidance and support.
I discovered Peter Savich’s book, Personality and the Brain, during a web search about the links between the Enneagram and the brain. I read the book once. Blown away, I reread it two more times! Personality and the Brain gave me the confidence in the validity of the Enneagram, confidence which allowed me to base my work on the Enneagram system. Since we’ve met, Peter and I have had countless conversations about the topics in Teamwork 9.0 that helped me clarify and sharpen the concepts. http://personalityandthebrain.org/
Illustrator James Yamasaki had the ability to read my mind and turn my rough outlines into fully formed ideas. I love the animated numbers that he developed, each conveying the primary idea of each Enneagram type’s contribution to problem solving. Those and all the illustrations in Teamwork 9.0 bring the concepts in the book to life. https://jamesyamasaki.com/
One of the concepts I discuss in the book is having a coach whose Enneagram type lies on your path of integration. As a Type 6, I looked for and found a wonderful Type 9 coach in Lucy Freedman, principal at Syntax for Change and author of Smart Work: The Syntax Guide to Influence. Lucy expertly guided me through my Type 6 ups and downs and provided a beacon for me to follow to successful completion. https://syntaxforchange.com/
Who better to copy edit the book than an Enneagram Type 1? I interviewed copyeditors until I met DeAnna Burghart who excitedly told me that not only did she know the Enneagram, but that she was a Type 1! Hilarity ensued as we passed the manuscript back and forth and whipped into shape. Not only did she structure my writing to be more succinct, she also commented and validated my writings on Type 1. https://deanna.burghart.us/
The layout was quite challenging with all the illustrations, and Joanne Shwed of Backspace Ink ensured a uniform and consistent look throughout the book. She also performed the final proofreading. As of this writing with hundreds of copies of the book sold, I am still waiting for the first report of a typo that may have slipped through. http://www.backspaceink.com/
I wanted the cover design to be consistent with my website design and turned to my wonderful creative team of Jeffry Fulp and Sarah Ruediger. They ensured that the cover design and copy are, well… Perfect As Always! http://PerfectAsAlways.com/
With the book released, I turned to Henry DeVries of Indie Books International for advice on how to market the book and develop a platform for speaking and engaging with my audience. Not only has he helped me meet and exceed my goals for book sales, Henry has developed a wonderful community of authors in which I am honored to be included. https://indiebooksintl.com/
Any book on the Enneagram requires a team of reviewers representing all Enneagram types. I am grateful to the many contributions and insights from Kimberly Wiefling, Susan Schwartz, Scot Kleinman, Neil Beaton, Gideon Shaanan, Adrian Bray, Dr. Frumi Rachel Barr, Pat Grogan, Stewart Levine, Stevie Bobes, Marc Bookman , Stephen Dobrow and Natalie Snyder. Natalie, a budding journalist, reviewed the book both from the Type 1 perspective and from the millennial/Gen Z perspective.
Also, I am grateful for all the help and support from my family over the course of the 3 years while I wrote and finalized the book. Special thanks to Helen, Robin, Sakura, and Jill.
Finally, a very special thanks goes to Chris Thollaug, a longtime friend and mentor who reviewed Teamwork 9.0 from the Type 1 perspective. In the beginning, Chris was skeptical of my approach but warmed up to it as he worked through the manuscript. During my last phone call with Chris this past summer he said of the Enneagram, “It is the expression of everything.” He added, “I used to think of everything in terms of right and wrong. Now I appreciate the multiplicity of approaches.” Perfectly said. Rest in peace, my friend.
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