The morning is wetter today. A light drizzle taps against my shoulders and settles on my sleeves. I don’t pull my hood up. I let the rain hit the fabric and soften my posture. There’s calm in accepting what you can’t shield from. I listen to the way the water lands. It’s gentle, persistent, indifferent to urgency. Care often sounds like that. Not grand, not overwhelming. Just steady enough to make its mark.
You’re joining me on The Ember Walk, where curiosity meets motion. I’m David Dysart. Together we’ll take a few minutes to step through one idea that shapes the craft of enrollment.
We think being heard is about the moment. But it’s really about what lingers. The most impactful conversations don’t feel powerful when they’re happening; they reveal their weight hours later, when a difficult truth keeps repeating in your chest, or when someone’s attention stays with you long after the interaction.
In the forge, there’s a moment after cooling when the metal seems quiet. Nothing moves. But if tempered correctly, that stillness holds strength that will only be proven under future pressure. Care works the same. It’s less about what you say and more about what remains with the person once the talking stops.
I’ve met leaders who give powerful speeches that fade within the hour. And then there’s the quiet ones whose presence is still felt a week later. The difference usually isn’t talent. It’s sincerity. You can’t fake care and expect it to echo.
The people on our teams, the students we support… they don’t need loud passion. They need steady witnessing. When someone feels deeply understood, they absorb confidence. That confidence persists even in your absence. That’s the echo of care.
Today, think of a moment when someone made you feel heard beyond the moment you spoke. What was different about how they listened? Let your spark speak, and let us know in the comments or DM me. Where in your own work could you offer that kind of presence?
Carry that kind of listening with you tomorrow. The ember of genuine attention can travel farther than any motivational fire.
And that’s The Ember Walk. The forge is yours now. Go make something worth the heat.
