Our guest, Barry Dean, is a double threat. Not only is he a writer of No.1 country and pop songs but he's also the CEO of Luci, a company dedicated to creating smart wheelchair technology for individuals with disabilities, like his daughter Catherine. Our conversation is one of the most compelling we've had on the show -- he's a fantastic, funny, and wise storyteller. He talks about his journey from aspiring rock star (at 19 he "ran out of brave") to businessman and shadow artist to songwriter (not starting until his mid-30s) and then CEO in a new-to-him industry where he challenged the entrenched powers-that-be, and helped to create innovative technology that is changing lives. HIs curiosity, creative process, and courage are beyond inspiring.

Takeaways:

• creativity is an act of courage
  
• beware of being a shadow artist, someone who encourages other people to be creative, but who doesn't pursue their own creative potential
  
• it's never too late to step into your passion
  
• collaboration in music and in life is about listening and finding shared truths
  
• personal experiences, especially those related to family, are often the catalyst for some of our most compelling creative endeavors.
  

Resources:

• Follow Barry on instagram @thebarrydean
  
• Learn more about his music at creativenationmusic.com
  
• Check out Luci and learn more about smart wheelchair technology
  
• And watch God's Will, which Rolling Stone listed as one of the saddest country music songs of all time. And here's Moving Oleta. Get ready to cry.