Losing More Than a Co-Author

Last week, I received a call from Peter Klein, one of my co-authors on Think to Win. When a call starts out with: “I have some pretty bad news”, you have no idea what is coming, and all sorts of thoughts go through your mind.

Peter went on: “I just found out John Manfredi passed away.”

Peter went on: “I just found out John Manfredi passed away.” I was stunned.

John was a co-author on our book, Think to Win. Although John and I hadn’t talked much the last year, there was not a day that went by, over the four years we were working on the book, where I was not in communication with John, either by phone, e-mail, text or in person.

In 2010, Peter and I began collaborating on the book. For two years we had several stops and starts. Whether it was time, the discipline or the focus to get this done, we were not making significant progress. We were stuck and considered putting in on hold. Anyone who has ever taken up this challenge knows how difficult it can be.

Here is where John came in. Peter suggested we reach out to John to see if he was interested in collaborating. Although the three of us worked together at Gillette, I did not know John well, Peter did since they were together at Nabisco Foods. I did know John ran Gillette corporate communications, including investor relations and PR. I also knew he was a journalist earlier in life and a published author.

We held a conference call with John. I knew he would be the one to help us ‘bring the book home’. The issue back then was, having just finished a book, John was not sure he wanted to jump on board. Peter suggested that John and I spend time together and discuss the project, scope and timing.

I agreed to meet with John at his office in New Jersey, and his first question was:

“Why do you really want to do this?”

While we had discussed this on the phone, and Peter and I shared our draft book proposal, John was not convinced I had authentically answered that question for myself. He was right — having it on a bucket list and intellectually knowing I wanted to do it, was not enough.

“Paul, the WHY is the most important part.” You are going to have to put your heart and soul into this for the next few years. Are you ready for that?”

We spent a day together, and John put me through the ringer. He was very straightforward on what I was getting into and how much I would have to commit to make this happen. We agreed to talk later in the week.

When we talked again, I said, “John, we have an important story to tell. We have a way to help people think and act differently. I have been doing this work and capturing these stories for years – and Peter has a vault of information, lessons learned, experience and is a real-time thought leader; we need to get this down on paper. It will make a difference in how people think and ultimately how they work. We know how much a difference it can make.”

John signed on that day, and we spent the next four years, researching, interviewing, and crafting a manuscript. John was instrumental in getting Margret McBride of the McBride Literary Agency to represent us, which eventually led to a contract with McGraw-Hill.

We would not have a book without John. His intellect, commitment and discipline kept us on track. It was not always easy, since John would be direct in his feedback of what we needed to do. He kept us on task and when we were bogged down and facing critical deadlines for producing the manuscript, John pulled us through.

When I heard the news of John’s passing – it hit me in a way that I had not expected. Why was I feeling this way? I have lost several close colleagues’ and friends at work. This was different.

In reflecting on this over the last few days, I realized, that I did not only lose a co-author, I lost a teacher. John taught me how to get my thoughts down on paper. He taught me discipline in sticking with something that is very hard.

He was an important part of my life. He still is. He will be missed.

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