Dave Dlaney

Hey there, I’m Dave 👋
I build startups, make music,
and write books for kind people.

Building, learning, and sharing what I make.

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Illustration of a circle of small daily blocks, one of them gold

Life

Systems, Not Goals

Oct 18, 2026 · 3 min read

For years I set goals every January and nothing changed. Then I built a small daily system instead. Here’s the switch.

 Illustration of steps rising, with a paper plane taking off

Startups

I Built Seven Startups. Here’s What I Got Wrong.

Oct 18, 2026 · 5 min read

Seven companies, seven honest mistakes. What I got wrong at each one, and the lesson it paid for.

 Piano keys in warm morning light, with a notebook and pencil

Music

I Practiced Piano for 99 Days Straight. Here’s How You Can Too.

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

I started from actual zero and kept the streak alive for 99 days. The five rules that made it work, so you can run your own.