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What if the fastest route to a meaningful life is slowing down for the people at home?  Today, we welcome the founder and CEO of Arena Staffing, Dave Kooiman.

In our conversation, Dave opens up about small-town roots, a painful college cut, getting fired, and the surprising breakthroughs that followed. The result isn’t a hustle story; it’s a playbook for building a family culture with clear values, humble leadership, and daily presence.

We start with gratitude and the simple joy of being together—church, school, coaches, and late-night game watching. Dave introduces us to his family’s world: a long love story with his wife and three kids on different paths—golf, cheer, flag football, and baseball. When his daughter lost the spark for club soccer, he didn’t double down. He listened. That choice reframed attitude and effort at home and became the seed for the “Kooiman Compass,” a visible set of family values—Kindness, Obedience, Opportunity, Initiative, Mission, Appreciation, Non-judgment—posted in the kitchen to guide everyday behavior.

From there, we head into the hard stuff. Dave relives getting cut from college soccer for being “not all-in,” a lesson in commitment that stung for a year but forged resilience. Later, a corporate firing pushed him to launch Arena, a skilled trades staffing and headhunting firm in the AEC space. We unpack risk, personal guarantees, and the early years of living lean. The quiet hero is his wife—steady belief, tightened budgets, and a simple charge: “I’ve got the kids. Figure out what’s next.” Her support didn’t just save a business; it safeguarded a family.

The throughline is presence. We talk about guarding evenings, coaching golf, and choosing a family Scotland-Ireland dream over a buddies-only trip. We confront ego, set boundaries, and remember that happy homes make better teammates at work. If you care about faith-driven leadership, parenting with purpose, or practical ways to build character at home, you’ll find tools you can use tonight—questions to ask your kids, values to post on the wall, and a calendar that finally reflects what matters most.

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