Shut up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life, Second Edition, Revised & Updated

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my wife, Rose Mary, who has put up with more than any person should ever have to put up with in order to learn how to be in a relationship with me. I am not an easy person to live with or be around most of the time—I know that and so does everyone who knows me—but she knows and understands that better than anyone and loves me in spite of it all. She deserves a prize for putting up with me, my eccentricities, my rage, my passions, my energy, my intolerance, my silliness, my boundless ego, my noise, and my stuff. Bless her.

To my boys, Tyler and Patrick. No two siblings could be as different and yet similar in so many ways as well. They have given me a ride on a roller coaster of emotions that I wouldn't trade for anything. I am proud of them in every way and grateful to them for becoming men who are my two best friends.

To my friends, and there aren't many. This includes my speaker buddies and the other few personal friends I have, as well as some other individuals who appeared quite anonymously along the way to guide me when I needed help, and gave me encouragement and chastisement. Each helped me more than I can ever say in their unique and different way.

To Matt Holt of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Matt was the first guy willing to step out on a limb and publish an edgy, confrontational book that went against the grain of the entire self-help genre. He took a chance on me, an unknown in the publishing world. Look how well it worked out for both of us!