The Village Behind Wired for Purpose: A Love Letter to the People Who Made This Book Possible

Every book carries a single name on the cover, but the truth is that no meaningful work is ever created alone. Wired for Purpose may reflect my experiences, lessons, and worldview—but the roots, scaffolding, and heartbeat of this book belong to the people who shaped me long before the writing began. What follows is a look inside the acknowledgements—an ode to the family, mentors, colleagues, and friends who helped this book exist. 

My North Star: Melanie

Every author has a “why,” but they also need an anchor. For me, that anchor is my wife, Melanie.
Her patience, belief, and encouragement buoyed this project long before it had a title or a thesis. She supported the late nights, the rewrites, the doubt cycles, and the moments when I wondered whether the world needed one more leadership book.

Melanie believed in the vision even before I could articulate it clearly. She helped turn a kernel of an idea into something living, breathing, and meaningful.

The Kids Who Remind Me Why Purpose Matters

Olivia, Benjamin, and Audrey—you are the embodiment of curiosity and love. You are the daily reminders that purpose isn’t a theory; it’s lived.
You ground me.
You inspire me.
You make the hard work matter.

This book is as much about building a life as it is about building companies, and parenting has been my clearest example of that. 

The Foundation: My Parents and Siblings

My parents, Ron and Martha—though not physically here—remain ever-present. Their values shaped my life long before I knew what leadership looked like.
They taught me the fundamentals:

• Work hard.
• Be decent.
• Find your path.

My brother John and sister Heather were my first friends and lifelong sounding boards. The shared history we built together flows through the pages of this book more than they know. 

And to my in-laws, nieces, and nephews: thank you for the love that fills the in-between spaces. Family isn’t background—it’s infrastructure.

The People Who Gave Me My Start

Before there were platforms, stages, or executive roles, there were people who took chances on me.

• Barb and Vin at Bombaci + Mitchell, who gave me my earliest professional foothold.
• Lisa, Meryl, and Sean at Fidelity Investments, who trusted me long before my résumé suggested they should.
• Barry Libert at Mzinga, who helped me understand the power—and responsibility—of thought leadership.
• Kathy, Joseph, Kursten, and Natanya at Powered, who shaped my digital instincts and sharpened my thinking.

Every one of these environments served as a laboratory where the ideas of Wired for Purpose were tested long before they were written.

 The Real Chemistry Chapter

Jim, Bob, Paulo, Jenn and Chuck —what we built together at Real Chemistry not only defined a pivotal stretch of my career but became part of the DNA of this book.
You entrusted me with meaningful work, big ideas, and bigger responsibilities.

It was in those rooms—sometimes calm, sometimes chaotic—that I learned how purpose, people, and progress can align when the culture is right.
Those lessons echo throughout these pages.

The Mentor Who Rewired My Operating System

A special acknowledgment belongs to Milo, my coach and teacher.
His mentorship reshaped the way I think, lead, communicate, and show up.
He changed my life in a way I can never repay—but can only pay forward, which is why he appears not just in this section but throughout the book’s philosophy.

The Friends Who Are Family

To the friends who form the “chosen family”:
Erik, Joe, Gregg, Chris H., the boys of Gronk, the Lafayette Peeps, and the many others who fill my life with laughter, encouragement, and unwavering support.

Your text messages, walks, late-night conversations, and “you’ve got this” nudges held me up more than you know. This book belongs to you every bit as much as it belongs to me.

The Quiet Truth Behind Any Achievement

If there’s a theme that runs through Wired for Purpose, it’s that purpose is rarely solo work. It’s collaborative. It’s communal. It’s built in the in-between moments—on kitchen floors, in office hallways, during morning commutes, and in the everyday relationships that shape who we become.

The acknowledgements are not an afterthought; they’re the blueprint.

They tell the story behind the story—the village that raised this b