Cory Gerlach, PhD
Life design coaching
You already know what you want — or at least what you don't want. But you haven't believed it's really possible — or given it the serious attention it deserves.
That's where I come in.
The riskier thing was staying.
You're successful by most external measures. But the idea of your work & life sounds way better than the day-to-day reality.
You have more freedom than you're actually using. But something is blocking you from doing what you need to do.
You've thought about making a change — new job, new city, more school. But you suspect these could lead to the same malaise.
You say it doesn't matter what others think. But you're nervous sharing your real vision with your partner, family, friends, or colleagues.
You're waiting for the "right time" — after this project, after the promotion, after the kids are older, after retirement. But you know the list never really ends.
You have a glimpse of what you actually want. But it feels impossible, impractical, or too selfish to take seriously.
The work
How We Work Together
01
Values excavation
What's actually true about you. We dig to find the roots of who you are — aspects of your identity that will help clarify what direction to start exploring next.
02
A vision built in your reality
We pressure-test your ideas against real constraints — finances, relationships, commitments, where you're at today vs. where you want to be.
03
Experiments, not leaps
Small, deliberate moves that build confidence. You'll know what you're moving toward before you make any big change.
04
A framework that lasts
Principles for saying yes & no that hold up when the opportunities come, the obligations knock, & the old life tries to pull you back.
Not everyone needs to quit their jobs & go sailing like I did. But everyone needs a path that has a heart.
"What an experience. I'm so grateful to Cory — and to myself for deciding to do this."
— Damaris Taylor · Radical Paths client, 2026
Who I am
My old life was stable. But it didn't feel like mine.
Before the months in the boatyard & getting battered by waves, I had made it from community college to a Harvard PhD, became a senior federal scientist, did oversight on federal agencies, & advised lawmakers. For a long time, it worked. Then I realized I'd built a cage — & the dreams that emerged along the way were sitting there, rotting.
I kept finding reasons to delay my own change. The comfort. The prestige. The practicality. It would've been so easy for decades to slip by, not exploring what else was possible.
Then a huge moment made me question everything: my husband suddenly lost his "secure job." I wondered, do we have to keep doing this? After giving myself permission to dig deeper, I realized I needed more adventure, more freedom, more courage to explore the unknown.
What I needed was a radical path.
Two years later, I sailed 4,500 miles on a small sailboat from the U.S., through the Caribbean, & landing in Guatemala — with my husband & our 18-year-old cat. We learned how to sail basically from scratch. We figured out how to do this without blowing up our finances. We got super honest about our needs — we don't even have a fridge.
But I proved that you can be a high-achiever & be successful — anywhere, on your own terms. And I'm just getting started.
Now I help you find what that looks like for you.
"He doesn't just talk about change; he lives it with intellect, courage, and humility."
— Laci Loew · Global HR Analyst & Consultant · Harvard Business Review Advisory Council · Fellow, Global Curiosity Institute
Let's talk about where you're at today, what your heart is telling you, & whether working together makes sense. No prep needed. Just bring yourself.
Book your free call →"If you have unfulfilled dreams and you're scared to take that first step… read this. Consider a coach, someone who has done it, to help you get started on the path to your future. I can't imagine anyone I would trust more as a guide."
— Darren Weir · Radical Paths paid subscriber