Note: a great way to make sure you are not missing anyone is to group people by category so that you are more likely to remember them. When you put your family members together, you are less likely to leave any out.
For example, this is not specific:
“I want to thank my wife, Veronica. Thank you.”
This is specific:
“I have to start by thanking my awesome wife, Veronica. From reading early drafts to giving me advice on the cover to keeping the munchkins out of my hair so I could edit, she was as important to this book getting done as I was. Thank you so much, dear.”
Being specific in thanks is all about making them feel special. The more detailed you can be in your thanks, the more you're showing that you recognized and appreciated their help. It is rewarding when someone thanks you for a particular thing you did, as opposed to just thanking you overall.
As you go further into your list, you can group people. But again, be specific in your thanks, even to groups. For example, this is not specific:
“Thanks to everyone on my publishing team.”
This is specific:
“Thanks to everyone on the Scribe team who helped me so much. Special thanks to Ellie, the ever-patient Publishing Manager; Meghan, my amazing Scribe; and Erin, the greatest cover designer I could ever imagine.”
Sincerity means honestly and deeply thanking the people who helped you (mentioning the specific ways they helped, as noted above) and remembering the way that they sacrificed for you.
At the same time, don’t feel the need to go overboard. You're not accepting an Oscar, so don’t go on and on or say things just to make yourself look good. Make it meaningful and sincere.
This is the only section I will tell you that you can go long if you want. You may only write one book in your life, and if that is the case, then take all the time and space you need to thank everyone who helped you.
At Scribe, we put the Acknowledgments section in the back so it doesn’t interfere with the average reader's experience. Readers can skip this section if they are bored, but you can never go back and re-thank the people you left out because of some arbitrary “rule.”
Bill Hicks, in The Leadership Manifesto, starts his acknowledgments off with a blanket acknowledgment of leaders everywhere, before naming a handful of them by name. He then thanks his book publishing team and closes with a paragraph acknowledging his CEO. This is a good example of an acknowledgment from a business executive:
The world is a better place thanks to people who want to develop and lead others. What makes it even better are people who share the gift of their time to mentor future leaders. Thank you to everyone who strives to grow and help others grow. It is the business version of The Lion King song, “Circle of Life.”
To all the individuals I have had the opportunity to lead, be led by, or watch their leadership from afar, I want to say thank you for being the inspiration and foundation for The Leadership Manifesto.
Without the experiences and support from my peers and team at Ultimate Software, this book would not exist. You have given me the opportunity to lead a great group of individuals—to be a leader of great leaders is a blessed place to be. Thank you to Chad, Dan, Dave, Gretchen, JC, Laura, Patrick, Scott, and Susan.
Having an idea and turning it into a book is as hard as it sounds. The experience is both internally challenging and rewarding. I especially want to thank the individuals that helped make this happen. Complete thanks to Joanie, Randy Walton, Patrick O’Neill, Barbara Boyd, Carol Raphael, and Dan Bernitt.
Scott Scherr, thank you for being a leader I trust, honor, and respect. I will always welcome the chance to represent you. “Au Au Au!”
Tiffany Haddish, a well-known comedian, continues her “simple yet emotionally powerful” style from her book The Last Black Unicorn into the acknowledgments. She thanks her close family and then closes with a joke in line with the subject matter of the book and a blanket acknowledgment to the untold masses who have encouraged her.
I want to thank:
My Grandma.
My Mama.
My Aunties.
My Daddy for donating the sperm that made me.
All my brothers and sisters.
My best friends Selena, Shermona, Aiko, Shana, Richea.
My old agent, my current agents and managers, and Tucker Max.
Department of Children Services and the court system for taking care of me when no one else would.
I want to thank EVERYONE who ever said anything positive to me or taught me something. I heard it all, and it meant something.
All the dudes I ever slept with, I appreciate the experiences, but I ain’t naming none of you!
I want to thank God most of all, because without God I wouldn’t be able to do any of this.