Thanks for Stopping By
I’m Hans. I’m a full-time family man, full-time pastor, half-time leadership coach, and quarter-time writer.
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.
Why this, why now?
Most of my life is spent speaking, which comes far more easily. But I’m committing to the written word again to prove I still can and to improve. I spent much of 2025 into 2026 writing a marriage memoir called You Talk Too Much (currently querying agents). I originally added this Substack as a way to test the memoir ideas, but it quickly grew past that.
What this site has become is a proving ground that that life and leadership never need to be separated. For those who are zealous in their commitment to learning how to grow in both areas, this place is for you.
Here, you’ll find everything 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.
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:
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).
What’s less common is someone willing to talk about the life behind the leader (and, in my case, the people who receive the good, bad, and ugly of it).
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.
