There Really is No Manual for This
I’m Hans. I’m a full-time family man, full-time pastor, half-time leadership coach, and quarter-time writer. I write about the relationships that shape us—with God, friends, family, church, and work. I’m confident we get there, though rarely as planned.
Behind the scenes, yet integral to the entire operation, is Courtney, my editor and social conscience. Once a year, we pose for photos. This one was from a couple of years ago (2025’s were lame).
Why this, why now?
Most of my life is spent speaking, which comes far more easily than writing. But I’m committing to the written word again to prove I still can and to get better at it. I spent much of 2025 into 2026 writing a marriage memoir called You Talk Too Much (currently undergoing edits). I started this Substack as a way to test the memoir ideas, but it quickly grew past that.
This site has become a place to write about the relationships that matter to us—the ones that make life worth living. If you’re zealous about learning how to grow—and know platitudes don’t work—this place is for you.
Here, you’ll find what I’ve learned from over 17 years of pastoring, 16 years of parenting, and 21 years of marriage (so far). I got a few degrees in that time, too, but nobody really cares about those.
My plan is to post once a week, with most posts coming on Mondays.
Why subscribe?
Leadership posts are a dime a dozen, most offering the latest hack for something you already know you need to do (like “keep a schedule”). I have a PhD in Leadership and I rarely talk about it (except in bios).
But what I care about are how we relate to one another as we lead and live our lives.
I bring humor, wounds, and a deep desire to build a relationship with readers in a way that serves them. Subscribing is a vote of confidence I don’t take lightly. You become part of the extended family.
I’d love to have you join.
Hans
PS - Want to get in touch? Find me on Twitter (@HansGooger), message me on Substack, or shoot me an email.
PPS - If you’re still skeptical, I’ve also spoken and prayed at the launch of not one but two Chick-fil-a restaurants (yes, the same operator, but still). These are the moments we dream about.
Here are some posts to consider . . .
On getting hard feedback that makes you a better leader:
From the book:
Any why I don’t think today’s accountability works:
