By Caleb Roose
I was working at a good, steady job, but it felt like I was running on a treadmill. Despite the security and routine, I couldn’t shake the sense that I wasn’t going anywhere. I was dissatisfied, longing for a sense of progress and fulfillment, but not sure how to move forward.
How a personal crisis sparked passion
Then the pandemic hit, triggering a personal crisis. In the midst of dealing with unhealthy levels of stress and anxiety, I realized my then career ambitions were unattainable. Worse still, I felt like I was failing as a dad, falling short of the father I had always wanted to be.
With my confidence shattered, I didn’t know how to climb out of the pit I had fallen into. I felt like I was constantly slipping, unable to find my footing.
But then I found a coach who helped me rediscover my voice and confidence. Through a combination of my coach’s guidance and personal reflection, I realized my true passion was empowering dads to be the best dads they can be—starting with me.
The inner battle that almost held me back
Yet I soon confronted a harsh truth: my biggest obstacle was not my workplace, but me. My lifelong struggle with perfectionism was holding me back. I was more afraid of failure than I was passionate about my dreams. Determined to face my fears, I committed to starting a business dedicated to empowering dads to lead fulfilling work and family lives—exactly what I wanted for myself.
I began by identifying the specific areas where I was holding myself back—things like overthinking, fear of failure, and striving for unattainable levels of perfection.
I sought training in areas I needed greater know-how—becoming a certified coach, taking courses on parenting and child development, and gaining entrepreneurial insights from leading business experts. Each step I took built momentum, but I still wasn’t living my dream.
The point came when I knew that learning on its own wasn’t enough. I had to actually take the leap and launch Good Enough Dads.
But my dream felt safer when nobody knew about it but me.
What if I don’t have what it takes?
What if I fail?
What if people don’t like what I have to offer? Or worse yet—me?
The courage I needed to launch
Yet I reached a point where the fear of not pursuing my dreams outweighed all the risks.
New “what ifs” began to fill my mind:
What if I went through life being safe but deeply unsatisfied?
What if I could have helped hundreds of dads but I was too afraid to try?
What if going after my passion was the key to living my life to fullest?
I was ready.
Without having all the answers and unsure about how it would go, I launched the Good Enough Dads blog in September 2023 and officially became a business in January 2024.
Where Good Enough Dads is today
One year later, Good Enough Dads is blooming. I’m coaching dads in career, emotional health, and parenting—and I’m witnessing incredible transformations. Dads are reclaiming their identities, deepening relationships with their kids, and building the careers they truly want—just as I am. The fulfillment I feel is beyond anything I imagined.
"Pivoting out of a longstanding career is daunting for anyone, but as a dad and husband, the pressure felt immense. I worried that a wrong move might ruin our lives. Reaching out to Caleb was the best decision I made during this uncertain time because he truly understood the challenges I faced…. Caleb guided me through my thought process, helping me not only identify potential career paths but also rediscover who I was. My previous job had consumed my identity, and with it gone, I needed a guide to help me in my journey to my new sense of self. Caleb was that guide."
—Calvin Chu, father of 2, in career transition
Though perfectionism still creeps up at times, I now know that being willing to continually learn, grow, and take action as a business owner and dad is enough to succeed. Each new connection and coaching success story fuels my passion for this work—and my relationships with my kids are better than ever.
The journey of personal growth I took to launch Good Enough Dads was one of my greatest challenges. It involved crisis and confusion—only gaining clarity after taking one step after the other into the unknown.
My challenge today is simply letting more people know about Good Enough Dads. Yet I know there are more dads out there who need what I offer. So I’m aiming to empower 100 more dads by the end of this year, offering personalized coaching, community, and guidance to help them live the life they want.
My journey reveals that you don’t have to be perfect to have great relationships with your kids, a meaningful career, and a balanced life. Just a willingness to learn, grow, and reach out for a guide whenever you need one.
Ready to transform your personal crisis into purpose?
If you’re in crisis or on the brink of something new, and you’re not sure how to take that next step, reach out for a free discovery call to learn more about how Good Enough Dads can empower you to find yourself and live your dreams.
Take it from me—it’s worth the risk.
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