Acknowledgments

People really can become self-made success stories, and no one can truly be self-made. Embrace both, because both are true.

To Go Ahead, working your tail off is just a prerequisite. It guarantees nothing. You’re also going to have to take some risks, and no one else is going to take them for you. When you jump, the landing belongs to you.

To avoid landing economically rump-side up, someone must reach out their hand to pull, push, or just catch your fall. You, like me, landed upon thousands of days someone who didn’t want to show up to work, coach, teach, or listen did it anyway when they could have been doing anything else. If you aren’t grateful, look back and count the millions worldwide who would love to end their story where yours starts.

I would have gotten nowhere without tremendous help. The compounding returns from others’ kindness, in deposits big and small, are the reason I am thriving and that this book exists. A non-comprehensive list of people who reached down, pushed up, or told me to stop whining, include: the late Robert Calhoon, my agent Scott Mendel, and editor Kirby Sandmeyer. Scholars and friends who read various drafts or offered ideas (or simply listened to ad nauseum rambles) including Elizabeth Amato, Chris Cameron, Albert Churella, Mandy Cooper, Donna Cornachio, Casey Delehanty, David Dyer, Ben Gaskins, Amanda Gibson, Lindsay Keiter, Greg Jackson, Jim Joedecke, Greg Krafcik, Bryan McGovern, Mark Noll, Tom Okie, David Parker, Stephen Rios, Donna Schronce, Rachel Van, Tim Vanderburg, and David Yelton. Writing wardrobe by LAKE Pajamas. Family support was unfathomably generous, especially Dale and Gail Stockamp, Celia and David Stockamp, Kurt and Tamara Ward (who are like family), Jim and Becky James (whose class started this crazy journey), Steve Contianos, Monk and Megan Moore, Louise and the late Joseph Moore, and Michael and Rachel Moore. My wonderful daughters were patient with all the money books, give/save/spend jars, and get-rich board games. I am so proud of you both for being such great kids and future adults. My beautiful, smart, insightful wife read every word and made each better—your investments in me were the greatest I’ve ever received. Saveos.

Intellectually, the people who shaped my thinking, for less than $25 a book and a few hours’ time, are like cherished teachers I’ve (mostly) never met but who nonetheless changed my mental map forever. If their thoughts bubble up here and there, I mean imitation as the sincerest form of flattery. These include: Edward Chancellor, Tyler Cowen, Morgan Housel, Clark Howard, the late Benoit Mandelbrot, Deidre McCloskey, Dave Ramsey, Russ Roberts, and Nassim Taleb.

Finally, you. Thank you. You don’t owe me anything, and certainly not your time. I hope these ideas do for you what they did for me. May you Go Ahead to where you want to be.