by Brian Sooy
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Acknowledgments
I have learned that books do not flow forth from the writer’s fingers like a spring, but grow like a bonsai tree. This book was a slow sculpture, carefully and diligently tended, trimmed, and pruned. The writing, design, and editing took 18 months; the preparation took 30 years.
I’m very grateful to my wife and business partner, Lisa Sooy, for her unwavering support. Thank you for the freedom to write on so many Saturday mornings. Thank you for trusting me, and taking the risk with me to launch Aespire. I could not do this without you.
I appreciate the opportunity to work with leaders, board members, volunteers, and colleagues within the nonprofit community, both personally and professionally. Your passion and dedication to the causes you believe in are boundless. You are making a difference.
I would not have considered writing this book, had it not been for the suggestion of David C. Baker. I trust I have risen to the challenge you set forth, and this is a book of which you and the RockBench authors can be proud. I do not know what prompted you to challenge me to write it. This book is proof that the work you do matters.
Thank you to Blair Enns for the coaching and encouragement, as we both realized that expertise plus perspective creates credibility. In my persistence, I have become a smarter student. You’re an excellent teacher.
I appreciate the creativity, endless patience, and exquisite attention to detail provided by designer Vance Williams. Thank you for putting my commas in the correct places.
Thank you to Matt Dray, Robert Slatt, and Vance Williams for your dedication to Aespire and the causes we serve.
Thank you to Julie Chase-Morefield, Denver Daniel, Scott Humphreys, Patty O’Brien, and so many others for your feedback and insights on this work. Thank you to the reviewers, who gave freely of their time and shared their honest assessments of my work.
Thank you to Brian Frederick, Frank Whitfield, and those who helped refine the principles of the Cause Manifesto.
Thank you to Bev for reading my blog and telling me how the Manifesto made a difference to you.
And last, but not least, this book would not have been written without vast amounts of hazelnut coffee.
Be Grateful.
Colophon
Cover and Interior Design
Vance Williams, Aespire®
Designed with Adobe InDesign CC and Adobe Illustrator CC
Proofreading and Editing
Vance Williams and Donna McGuire
The author’s last name is pronounced soy, as in soy bean or soy sauce. All other similarities end there.