Between where you've been and where you know you're supposed to be. That space — the hard, uncertain, sometimes beautiful space — is exactly where the best work gets done.
It's not really "how do I be more productive." It's "what am I actually building, and why does it feel hollow?"
It's not really "how do I be a better leader." It's "is the person I'm becoming someone worth following?"
I've been sitting with those questions for most of my adult life. Studying what the ancient teachers knew. Testing what modern science confirms. Trying both — in the weight room, on the Harley, at the homeless shelter, in the classroom.
This is where I share what I'm finding.
More About DaveWhether you learn through reading, reflection, or relationship — there's a path in for you.
Personal experiments. Habit research. Stories from the road, the shelter, the weight room, and the classroom. I write what I'm learning — the wins, the failures, and everything that surprised me.
Read the WritingFrom Marcus Aurelius to James Clear. From the Desert Fathers to John Eldredge. Honest summaries of books worth your time — and what to actually do with what they teach.
Browse the LibraryReady to go further? I work with people one-on-one across all seven dimensions of a flourishing life. Coaching, spiritual direction, leadership development — practical, personal, and grounded.
See How I Can HelpThe Stoics, the Desert Fathers and Mothers, and modern neuroscience all agree: real transformation isn't a hack. It's a practice — across every dimension of who you are.
Clear thinking, focus, and the habits that protect your mind from noise and drift.
The body is not separate from the soul. Strength, movement, and recovery all matter.
Name what you feel. Own your story. The buried stuff runs the show until you don't.
Ancient disciplines. Daily practice. A faith that has calluses on its hands.
You become who you're around. Your closest relationships shape everything else.
Influence is built before it's exercised. Character first. Strategy second.
Stewardship is a spiritual discipline. Freedom and generosity live on the same block.
I grew up in a small town in Michigan. Married my high school sweetheart. We've been together 42 years. Four kids. Five grandchildren. One very good life.
I spent three decades in public education — leading schools, districts, and people. Earned a doctorate in educational leadership. Retired. Then realized retirement wasn't the point — the work was.
These days I teach at universities, serve at a homeless shelter, coach leaders, and spend a lot of time reading and asking what the ancients knew that we've forgotten.
I've ridden a Harley through all 48 continental states. Run a marathon. Dunked at 40. Bench pressed 335 lbs. And I've got a goal list that's still growing.
My one question is this: how can we live better? Not in theory. In practice. Starting tomorrow morning.
The three newest essays — always live here first.
Every November my gratitude goes flat, so I started taking one good thing out of my life on paper, and Seneca, Paul, and a psychology lab explain why it works.
Read more November 2026When our daughter called with good news, I answered like a fixer, and Shelly Gable’s research showed me what that cost.
Read more November 2026A retirement folder held two notes from me in twenty-two years, and Adam Grant’s research and Romans 16 taught me what a specific thank-you can do.
Read more November 2026This month's new books and tools. (Newest writing is above, in Latest Writing.)
"Your story is unfolding in a much bigger story that is being played out. You can achieve at high levels by taking small steps every day. Stay focused on the future, live in the present, and keep learning."
— Dave Barry, davidbarry.netWhether you want to read, be coached, or just ask a question — the door is open.
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