Michael W. Sonnenfeldt - Think Bigger: And 39 Other Winning Strategies from Successful Entrepreneurs

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Copyright 2017 by Michael W. Sonnenfeldt. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Sonnenfeldt, Michael W., author.
Title: Think bigger : and 39 other winning strategies from successful
entrepreneurs / Michael W. Sonnenfeldt.
Description: Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., [2017] | Includes
index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2017023335 (print) | LCCN 2017036162 (ebook) | ISBN 978-1-119-42633-2 (pdf) | ISBN 978-1-119-42632-5 (epub) | ISBN 978-1-119-42631-8 (cloth)
Subjects: LCSH: New business enterprises. | Entrepreneurship. | Success in business.
Classification: LCC HD62.5 (ebook) | LCC HD62.5 .S6753 2017 (print) | DDC 658.4/09dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017023335

Writing a book like this was a challenge beyond what I could have imagined. I have learned things about the unique nature of some very successful entrepreneurs through the intimate experiences I shared with fellow members of Tiger 21 over the past two decades. Translating and clarifying those insights into a book that would be of interest to others was where the real challenge lay.

I knew I would need to partner with a writer who not only could focus more intently on this project than my schedule would allow but also bring skills I did not have. My agent, Jim Levine, introduced me to Ed Tivnan, a deeply experienced reporter and writer. Ed had the skills and experience writing books and interviewing peoplesomething I simply lacked. Our original focus was to capture the insights I had been developing and see what was there. As we built an initial collection of ideas and themes, it was clear that we needed to conduct more interviews with Tiger 21 members to see how their experiences could lead us to further insights. We spent a full year pursuing and digesting interviews. Ed handled the majority of them and eventually realized the best way to organize all of these insights was through the vehicle of a lesson book. What seems obvious now was not at all obvious then.

While my own story is woven throughout the book, and I knew of or identified many of the interviewees through the help of the Tiger 21 chairs who lead and facilitate each of our 35 groups, Ed did the heavy lifting for much of the book. Yes, it is my story, but his efforts are all over it. I could not have made the progress I did without his terrific work on the project.

When I thought we were done, I had the good fortune, through my close friend and book mentor Seth Siegel (who helped with just about every major decision I made on this book), to be introduced to Bari Weiss, a young superstar book review editor then at the Wall Street Journal. I was curious how she thought the book would be received, but after reading it, she immediately commented that we had not included enough stories about women entrepreneurs and any unique lessons they might have to share. Bingo! In my initial rush to capture as many stories as possible, I didnt think about the mix of the interviewees. Fortunately, Bari and I were able to capture a few important stories from Tiger 21 members who were women. I am enormously grateful for Baris additional insights and the interviews she did that added the voices of more of our female members.

In addition to the many editing changes Bari made, I also received important editing suggestions from Arthur Goldwag at a critical time in the books development, and from Christina Verigan, assigned to me by Wiley. Then the production team at Wiley really put the finishing touches on the book with their deft editing.

Throughout the project, Kathleen Dunleavy, with whom I have had the pleasure of working for 30 years, kept me on track with all the details I would have otherwise have missed. As usual, her assistance was simply invaluable, and I could not have gotten through the myriad of details without her. She has been the most constant professional colleague of my career, without whose help I would be lost most of the time.

However, my deepest appreciation goes to the many members of Tiger 21 who were kind enough to share their stories with me and share the insights that their extraordinary careers allowed them to develop. Not all of them made it into the book, but even those that didnt have helped me learn important lessons I might not have ever been exposed to. Learning from fellow members has been one of the primary joys of my life for the past 20 years. I am endlessly fascinated by my fellow members stories and ever grateful for their willingness to share in a way that I, and other members, can learn from and grow. Not only were the many chairs at Tiger 21 helpful in identifying members with great stories, but a few of them also shared their own important experiences. (Thank you, Cal Simmons, Barbara Roberts, Charlie Garcia, and Chris Ryan, for your stories and insights.) I also want to recognize the key professionals on the Tiger 21 staff with whom I have worked for the last decade and more. We could not have created the platform from which this book springs without your creativity, dedication, and brilliant execution.