Blog: Insights on Creativity, Music, and Personal Growth

Got a hard drive full of half-finished songs? They’re not failures—they’re compost. Try this simple 3-step ritual to revisit your old demos with fresh ears. You might find your next song growing from the scraps. Includes a story, tips, and inspiration from Brian Eno.

Exciting News: "Doubt Riding Shotgun" Audiobook is OUT!

I’m thrilled to announce that the audiobook version of "Doubt Riding Shotgun" is officially complete and will be available very soon! Recording and editing this audiobook myself was a labor of love. It was crucial for me to deliver this in my own voice, believing in the power of my own authentic, personal touch.

Why is context setting important for effective meetings? Even in a one-to-one conversation, context-setting is vital and often helpful to grounding the conversation and determining the agenda of what needs to be discussed. In an effort to help you have better meetings, here is a quick checklist to set the context and clarify the reason you are meeting: State what is the meeting about. Propose why is it important now and any recent developments. Define what you are trying to accomplish in this meeting. (Hint: the big opportunity — lean in folks! This is important.) Optional: If time allows, you might open the floor to questions before you begin. This can usually be done in less than one minute (with a few more minutes for questions).

Inspired by a powerful message from Andrew Huberman’s podcast, I reflect on the idea of living without waiting for a diagnosis. Don’t wait for life’s wake-up call to start appreciating and acting on what truly matters. In this post, I discuss how the simple advice, "Don’t wait for the diagnosis," can motivate us to take action and embrace life fully.

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to be interviewed on several podcasts where I discuss leadership development, self-doubt, and my coaching approach. Check out my conversations with Matt Poepsel, PhD, Sharon Spano on Other Side of Potential, and JP Hogan on Next Steps. We dive deep into topics like personal growth, the power of music, and how coaching helps us navigate life’s challenges.

Here's a fun and historic piece of music I performed on with Michael Shrieve (The original drummer for Santana who played at Woodstock ‘69)

I am so proud to have played at this event and am thrilled it ended up being something that Michael released.

I even helped composed few of the drum set grooves along with Michael and another Seattle drummer named Conrad Ormsby.

In my book "Doubt Riding Shotgun," I reference an inspiring story from the remarkable Irish poet, David Whyte. He once recounted an interaction with his aunt where she scoffed at his decision to become a poet. She said, "Well, you certainly must think highly of yourself!" And without hesitation, David replied, "In fact, I do! And so should you!"

This story has resonated deeply with many readers, so I thought I'd make a video reminding us all of the importance of embracing our worth and recognizing the unique qualities that make us special.

There is not book that can tell you the best coaching question to ask. Instead, I use my gut. My goal is to ask a great coaching questions to help the client learn what's the story behind the way the client is presenting what they are discussing? I want to help the client learn about their own story.

In Doubt Riding Shotgun, Dave Hill Jr. explores how to work with self-doubt rather than against it. This book helps readers understand their inner critic and transform self-doubt into a manageable passenger on their journey. Through personal stories and practical advice, learn how to navigate imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and other common challenges.