Dan Purvis - 28 Days to Save the World

The ventilator project was a game changer from a culture perspective.

Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors

28 Days to Save the World is both a fascinating story of achievement under remarkable circumstances, as well as a practical guide for building company culture. From the incredible story of building ventilators in the first days of the pandemic, to practical guidance for building and leading a company based on culture and values, this book is a valuable read for founders and leaders at companies of all sizes.

Eric Starkloff, CEO, National Instruments

Dan Purvis delivers one of the most insightful business culture books in these changing times. Set against a backdrop of the life-threatening global pandemic, he graciously reveals how he developed a business culture of honor, customer value and employee well-being to deliver unprecedented results and save lives in America and around the globe. His step-by-step guidance will get you on the path to creating and benefiting from a superior culture in your own business.

Dave Wilson, VP Marketing (Ret), NI

Colin Powell once defined leadership as the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible. Clearly, different situations require different styles of leadership. If you are a technical entrepreneur who wants to build a business that hires highly skilled knowledge workers to push the frontiers of science to build new products, 28 Days to Save the World is a must-read. Dan Purvis lays out the blueprint for building a culture that can produce outstanding results even in chaotic, rapidly-evolving, crisis situations.

Larry Bickle, Director, SM Energy

This book resonated with me at so many levels. Whether you own your own business or manage a group of employees or even if you are an entry level employee reporting to a manager, everyone should read this book to help gain perspective on the thoughts that are at the heart of every tough decision. I particularly loved the struggle associated with the conflicting message that arises from preaching work/life balance but needing customer satisfaction at all cost. The common denominator in all things will always be strong culture... it is undefeated in my life of experiences in life and work.

Ronnie Beason, PhD, Senior Partner, The Colex Group

Ive already thought of 5 companies that would love to read this book!

Patty DeDominic, Founder, DeDominic & Associates

Lots of books touch on the importance of culture, but few (if any) lay out an actionable plan to both distill and implement it as well as this book. I appreciated the realist tone and found more corollaries than I could count to my own experiences and beliefs. I wish 25 years ago I had read this book, it would have accelerated my self-awareness of so much of what just felt right to a younger, more nave version of me. Dans authenticity shows throughout the book. Particularly poignant for me was the discussion on principles versus rules and their relationship to high performance. This exact phrase is on a sign that has adorned our companys walls for many years!

David Lashbrook, President, Alicat Scientific

From the very start, 28 Days to Save the World draws you in with a compelling story told in a clear voice. It presented the vision of Great and gives the courage to chase after it. The authors passions exude from every aspect of the book and they define culture, explain how to identify the culture you want, and then how to implement it within your organization.

Katie & Michael Ringer, Co-Founders, Foster Village Houston

Ive watched Dan Macgyver his way through hundreds of situations. Weve taught class, traveled, and parented our kids together. Ive never seen the man quit. If you can put up a tent in the dark with seven children present, you can lead a team that saves the world. This book shows how those unwilling to accept inevitability can make almost anything happen regardless of the resources available.

Andrew Hovis, VP Real Estate, Cross Development, Franchise Co-Owner, Childrens Lighthouse of Nottingham

An inspiring story of how building intentional organizational groundwork creates space to respond in a crisis! Dan gives us a window into growing your vision-driven leadership and collaboration muscles to do world-changing work.

Kate Denson, Associate National Director for Justice Programs, InterVarsity/USA

Inspiring. Great real-life story about how this highly effective team was built and managed. Demonstrates how a strong team that is grounded with vision and principles can seize opportunities.

James Burrows, CEO, Paradromics

Companies with a strong culture can weather any storm. Your storm might not look like the global pandemic that Velentium had to contend with, but by building a human centered company, inspired by the example in this book, your organization will be prepared to not only endure, but thrive.

Zak Schmoll, Founder & Chair, An Unexpected Journal

This book is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information about organizational culture. Neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services by publishing this book. If any such assistance is required, the services of a qualified financial professional should be sought. The author and publisher will not be responsible for any liability, loss, or risk incurred as a result of the use and application of any information contained in this book.

28 Days to Save the World copyright 2022 by Dan Purvis and Jason Smith

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Matt Holt is an imprint of BenBella Books, Inc.

10440 N. Central Expressway

Suite 800

Dallas, TX 75231

benbellabooks.com

Send feedback to

BenBella and Matt Holt are federally registered trademarks.

First E-Book Edition: July 2022

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022013759

ISBN 9781637741900 (hardcover)

ISBN 9781637741917 (electronic)

Editing by Camille Cline

Copyediting by Michael Fedison

Proofreading by Madeline Grigg and Kellie Doherty

Indexing by WordCo

Text design and composition by PerfecType, Nashville, TN

Cover design by Brigid Pearson

Cover image Shutterstock

Author photos by Sabrina Casas Studios and Lancia E. Smith

Special discounts for bulk sales are available. Please contact .

To Julie & JoBeth,

The joys of our lives

and

In memory of Navor:

It was an honor to spend 28 days working alongside you to combat the pandemic, unaware that the disease we labored together to contain would take you from us just a few months later.