Mark Tielens Thomas [Mark Tielens Thomas] - React in Action

Dont wait for things to be perfect before you share them with others. Show early and show often. Itll be pretty when we get there, but it wont be pretty along the way.

Ed Catmull, Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

Few worthwhile endeavors are undertaken alone. In many cases, a single person or handful of people is entirely credited with success, but this singular attribution belies the larger network of contributors who work toward an end. Those who would claim to have done it alone often fail to realize the ways in which others have helped them, whether by example or by instruction. Whats more, failure to realize the strength of working in a community pushes success and excellence even further out of reach. Working alone means being limited to what you, and only you, can do. Collaboration provides a path to excellence by opening us to humility, new ideas, different perspectives, and invaluable feedback.

I wont be so foolish as to think, even for a second, that Ive written this book by myself. My fingers pushed keys, and my name will be on the cover, but that doesnt mean this was a one-person show. No, this booklike all the things in my life that Im grateful foris the result of a rich community of smart, humble, loving people willing to be patient, kind, and sometimes firm with me.

First, I would like to thank my wife, Haley. Shes my joy, my best friend, my creative partner. Shes put up with this book for a long time. Late nights, more late nights, and endless talking about the book. Shethe brilliant and better writerhelped me when I had writers block. She encouraged me when I felt as if finishing the book was impossible. Shes always constant in love and in prayer. Shes always comforted me in low times, challenged me when I doubted myself, and celebrated with me in times of joy. Shes been incredible through the entire process and I cant wait to return the favor and help her with the many books shell write in the future. Im always and immeasurably grateful for her.

I would also like to thank the other people in my life who have supported me in this process. Im humbled and thankful to have an incredible family. My mom and dad, Annmarie and Mitchell, have been encouraging throughout the writing of this book (and my whole life). Theyve also promised to read it in its entirety, though I wont hold them to that. My brothers, David and Peter, have also been supportive and encouraging. They havent promised to read the book, though, so Ill be reading it aloud to them for the next year (or however long it takes). My friends from church, childhood, and work have also been incredibly helpful. They did me the great service of always asking, Is it done yet? to spur me on, and they put up with my explanations of React. I would also like to thank my professors, especially Dr. Diana Pavlac Glyer, for teaching me to think and to write.