The Dad Edge Podcast

I recently had the honor of interviewing Jack Canfield one-on-one for an hour. I have to tell you it was one the most inspiring interviews I have done to date. For those of you who don’t know Jack Canfield, he is one of the most successful authors and success coaches of our time. He known world-wide for his Chicken Soup for the Soul Series and his Success Principles Series. His books have reached the lives of over 100 million readers and his inspiration is reaching more people every day. Before I did this interview, I only knew Jack Canfield as the successful person he is today. I have often heard the quote: “When you see a successful person, we usually only see the tip of the iceberg. We usually don’t see all the hardships, failures, and challenges these people have gone through in their lives to get where they are today.” After spending an hour with Jack, I can tell you I was shocked to hear about his challenging childhood with alcoholic parents, the number of times he was rejected for “Chicken Soup for the Soul” (144 rejections), and that he earned a C+ in writing at Harvard. Below are just few takeaways I learned from spending just 60 minutes with Jack Canfield DON'T LET YOUR CHILDHOOD CRIPPLE YOU Jack had a very difficult childhood raised by a father who was an alcoholic. The cool thing about Jack Canfield is that he used his childhood as an example of what he didn't want to be as an adult. The main point is we have people in or society that live in two camps. Camp #1- Those of us who leverage challenging times to fuel our future success. Camp #2- Those of us who use our backgrounds for excuses as to why we are not successful and never will be. So my question to you guys is: “WHAT CAMP DO YOU LIVE IN?” If you are in camp #2: Congrats because you have made an awesome choice on the path to an empowering life versus a victim mentality life. If you are in camp #1: it’s time to re-evaluate your life and ask yourself better questions. If you are in camp one...go back and listen to Episode 28 with Navy Seal Commander Mark Divine on HOW TO CREATE AN UNBEATABLE MIND. That episode will give you a solid foundation on how to forge mental toughness and become resilient. DON'T LET YOUR GRADES DICTATE YOUR SUCCESS IN LIFE Jack got a “C+” in writing at Harvard and was always told he was an "average writer.” Jack is now one of the most successful authors of our time. Had he listened to his professors at Harvard and didn't move forward with his passion to tell stories, our generation would not know the Jack Canfield we know today and he would have never had such a positive impact on the world. S So, my question to you is: “WHAT HAVE OTHER PEOPLE TOLD YOU ABOUT YOUR SKILL OR PASSION THAT YOU HAVE BOUGHT INTO?” What if for a minute you no longer bought into those labels? What if you decided to step into your greatness? What would be the worst that could happen? I grantee 2 things are certain: If you failed you would be no worse off than you are right now. If you decided to pursue your dream, whether you failed or succeeded, you would not live a life of "I wish". Pay Flynn has a great quote that really hits this home which is..."I would rather have a life of "oh-wells and not a life of I wish I would haves.” DON'T LET FAILURE STOP YOU Jack was rejected by 144 publishers for his first “Chicken Soup for the Soul” Book. Let that sink in for a second...144 rejections. How would you feel about your purpose/passion if you were rejected 5 times, 10 times, 50 times, or even 100 times? What if Jack Would have thrown in the towel at the 143rd rejection? The cool thing that Jack Canfield mentioned is that he would have self-published no matter what. It's empowering to have a backup plan and know you will move forward even if it's on your own when no one else believes in you. The lesson here is to fail forward and not give up. Each time we fail there is a life lesson, we learn, and we move forward. Guys, thank you for tuning in to our new segment - Five Minute Thursday's. The goal of this mid-week podcast is to give you the powerhouse cliff notes of the week, to kick start your weekend, and ultimately to empower your life. Guys make sure you head to gooddadproject.com to get several free resources. Also make sure you grab a copy of “The Dads Edge” on Amazon. It's an easy read and has become a bestseller. See you next week with a powerhouse guest! Up next week have Jason Mackenzie with The Book of Open, we also have Joe De Sena, founder of the Spartan Races and NYT BESTSELLER of SPARTAN UP. FINALLY also have professional UFC fighter Frankie Edgar also coming up in a few weeks. Guys have a great weekend and live your life with purpose and without regret!

Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul as well as a new book, 30 Day Sobriety Solution, gives a fresh perspective on this sometimes difficult balance. Jack Canfield on Resiliency So, maybe you didn’t have the best childhood, or maybe you grew up with every privilege under the sun. It really doesn’t matter. It’s really all about how you come out of the situation and how you respond to the situations you’ve been through. Through this, you provide your children with the ultimate example of resiliency and success. “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself. They come through you, but not from you. And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.”- Khalil Gibran. Wow. Such an impactful statement, but one that might be hard to put into practice. We want so much for our children to have the best of everything that we sometimes lose sight of our role in their lives. Sometimes we forget that our children are their own person, not a smaller replica of ourselves. In not understanding this difference, we may try to put our children in activities or situations we wish we would have had for our own childhoods. Jack Canfield on Intention But, it’s also about having the intention and willingness to put in the time. Jack had regrets and guilt in parenting, but he was able overcome those feelings because he knew he had to be the best example as a father. He knew he had to love each of his children individually. There’s a lesson here: you’ve got to love each child the way they want to receive it, not the way you want to give it. Accept your child for the person they are, not for whom you want them to be. Sometimes we try to turn our children into the children we wished we could have been or have the opportunities that will make us look like good parents. You have children; you are not your children. You have to let them be themselves. Correcting Behavior and Praise When children make mistakes, instead of constantly correcting them for what they have done wrong, point out what they have done right. Leave it there. Then, when they attempt the same task again, praise what they did the time before and then give a suggestion regarding the part of the task they need to correct. If you have young children, be careful with how you approach moments where they fail and succeed. Between the ages of 3-8, Jack says, research indicates that their self esteem is at its most vulnerable. Granted, during their entire childhood children are building their self worth, but it is these years that seem the most critical. Jack Canfield and The 30 Day Sobriety Solution But being the best parent for our children stems, as we’ve seen so many times on the GDP, from how we respond to challenges in our daily lives. Jack approaches this in his new book, 30 Day Sobriety Solution. You may not be an alcoholic, but Jack says in his book that even when we are casual, social drinkers, we still may be using that glass of wine or a beer to “wind down” or “take the edge off.” You may even find that when you have that drink, you aren’t really present for those you love: you’d rather fall asleep instead of reading your child that bed time story after the simple glass of wine (or two). Maybe you question how you’ll enjoy a night out without that one drink, or how you’ll get through that social work setting without the beer. But as Jack points out and his book addresses, there may be some underlying factors we may be covering with that drink. It's about being your BEST SELF It’s really about being your best self in all aspects of your life-putting down a drink may just be one of them. Jack’s advice? Be as committed to being a great dad as you are to your job, your hobby or other things you find important. If you want something different, you have to do something different. The choices you make and actions you take today determine your outcomes for tomorrow. Free Resources: Check out a free chapter from: THE DAD’S EDGE on UNLIMITED PATIENCE HERE Check out this free resource on: CONNECTION WITH YOUR SPOUSE Check out this free resource on: CONNECTION WITH YOUR KIDS Links Amazon Bestselling Book: The Dad's Edge - 9 Simple Ways to Have: Unlimited Patience, Improved Relationships, and Positive Lasting Memories Larry’s New Course: The Dad’s Edge - 6 Strategies to Achieve: Unlimited Patience, Improved Relationships, and Positive Lasting Memories Larry’s Twitter Page Larry’s Facebook Page Larry’s Instagram Page Shawn’s Website Shawn’s Twitter Page Shawn’s Facebook Page Shawn’s Instagram Page Jack Canfield Links: Jack Canfield Website The 30 Day Solution Jack Canfield Facebook Fan Page Jack Canfield Twitter The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman Thank you for checking out this episode with Jack Canfield. This episode is one to remember!

In this episode, you will discover the importance of sleep and how it effects every critical aspect of our lives. You will also discover the detrimental effects of sleep loss. Finally, you will walk away from this episode with several sleep tips that will greatly improve your sleep quality and you can start using tonight!

George Bryant: Marine, successful author, innovator in the field of the Paleo Diet. These accolades don’t exactly trigger images of someone you might believe has had to battle through some of life’s greatest challenges. Though, George Bryant is just that man. It is only through his incredibly difficult childhood, one of tremendous neglect and abuse, that he found his true strength. George has taken what could have been one heck of an excuse to opt out of being successful in life and turned it into the ultimate inspiration.

Jim Harshaw believes failure, struggle and setbacks are not only an inevitable part of life but a necessary step on the path to success. Jim Harshaw has learned many life lessons on the wrestling mat. Having been a Division I All American and won three ACC Championships for the University of Virginia, trained at the Olympic Training Center and competed overseas for Team USA he has experienced significant triumph and devastating defeat. He relates those powerful lessons of failure, struggle and setback to empower his audiences to overcome their own challenges and achieve success despite their inevitable failures.

Larry and Shawn interviewed Jim Miller to discuss his perspective on living life to the fullest and living a life without regrets. This show is a game changer and by far one of our best yet for the Good Dad Project Podcast. There are so many nuggets in this interview that are life changing. Tune in, enjoy, and share it.

Larry reveals why he is so passionate about being a dad with purpose, his challenging childhood, and how he has become a student of fatherhood. In this episode, he shares details of his childhood, fatherless environment, the lowest points in his life, and how he has turned his struggles into strategies for success.

In this intimate look into the life of Shawn Stevenson, one half of The Good Dad Project Podcast, Shawn shares the reason he is so passionate about fatherhood and being part of this wonderful program. This successful author, entrepreneur, health and wellness expert (not to mention being “audio velvet”) takes us behind the scenes into his upbringing and the challenges he faced that brought him to achieve his best version of himself.

Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman is a force to be reckoned with. He is a tough in every aspect of life... physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. For the most part, we only get to see fighters in the UFC in one dimension. Meaning, we only get to see these elite athletes in the cage. What if we could get a glimpse of other areas of their life? What if we could learn about their grit and drive to succeed? What do they do that others won’t to get where they are today? Today’s show you will learn all about The Spaniard. He shares his childhood, views on grit, and what is most important to him as a father and husband. Sit back, brace yourself... this show is awesome!

Joel Louis is the founder of Startup Dad Headquarters. To date, he has interviewed over 125 extremely successful dad entrepreneurs who have succeeded in business and work/life balance. There is definitely a formula for success when it comes to balancing both. Check out this rock-star interview from Joel Louis and learn some new tips and tricks for following your passion.

Larry and Shawn interviewed Carlos Condit to discuss his perspective on grit, gratitude, and fatherhood. This show is a game changer and by far one of our best yet for the Good Dad Project Podcast. There are so many nuggets in this interview that are life changing. Tune in, enjoy, and share it. His number one priority is being a father and a husband. Check out his inspiring message to all the fathers out there.

Drew Manning comes on the GDP Podcast to talk about the importance of health and fatherhood.

Larry and Shawn interview Pat Flynn, found of Smart Passive Income. Pat shares so many life lessons about work/life balance and how to start a passive income online. This show is great for anyone who is serious about taking their passion and purpose to an online business.

Larry and Shawn do a deep dive into how to achieve our desired goals for the new year. They do a deep dive into why goals that aren’t “SMART” goals, chances are you won’t stick to them. Check out this episode and learn how to make your goals a reality.

Dan Miller is a New York Times Bestselling Author of “48 Days to the Work You Love.” Dan shares so many insights and several life changing nuggets as it pertains our professional life and work/life balance.

Have you ever wondered what the mentality is of someone who is striving to be the best int the world? Jake Herbert shares several insights about having a “Gold Medal Mindset” as he chases his life dream of being the best in the world and winning gold in 2016.

Have you ever been curious to learn what it takes to build an unbeatable mind and forge mental toughness? Larry and Shawn recap Larry’s retreat at Mark Divine’s Unbeatable Mind retreat.

John Maxwell is known to many as a genius when it comes to success and leadership. In this episode, Larry and Shawn present seven habits that successful people live by. They give several examples and perspectives of how to implement these strategies in your life as a father and provider.

John Maxwell is known to many as a genius when it comes to success and leadership. In this episode, Larry and Shawn present seven habits that successful people live by. They give several examples and perspectives of how to implement these strategies in your life as a father and provider.

Tis the season for giving and sharing! The holidays are a great time of year, but can also come with a great deal of stress if we don’t plan right. Holidays are all about enjoying time together with family, friends, and kids. We can set ourselves up for ultimate success and fulfillment if we keep the right perspective and plan for success. In this episode Shawn and Larry offer five solid strategies that will be sure to make your holiday more enjoyable, create more lasting memories without all the added stress.

In today’s world raising confident kids is a must! Our kids are faced with more challenges and obstacles than ever before. As parents, it’s critical that we help arm them with ways to develop their self-esteem, self-worth, and confidence.

Work/Life balance can be a challenge for men. We are wired to work hard and provide for our families. Working hard and making money is important, but success at the office can mean sacrificing our relationships. Believe it or not, we can achieve success in business as well as relationships.

One of the things fathers crave most is a blueprint of success. In the episode, Larry and Shawn interview former olympic athlete and life coach, Dr. Jeff Spencer.

Shawn and I wanted to honor those who defend the freedoms we have in this country. We interviewed Ryan Michler, founder of Order of Man and Iraqi Combat Veteran. Ryan shares: why he chose to enlist in the military, the lessons he learned, his experience of being under attack, and the how he stepped back into civilian life after war.

In this episode, Larry and Shawn discuss the number one human fear and how we can overcome it.

Larry and Shawn discuss one of the most popular chapters in Larry’s book called “Why Perfection will Cripple you as a Father.”

Larry and Shawn reached out to GDP community and asked one simple question: “What is one life lesson your father taught you and has made you the man you are today.” We had several responses and we chose five.

Larry and Shawn interview NY Times Best Selling Author and Navy Seal, Mark Divine, to discuss the strategies and techniques to developing an unbeatable mind and forge mental toughness.

Larry and Shawn reached out to GDP community and asked one simple question: “What is one life lesson your father taught you and has made you the man you are today.” We had several responses and we chose five.

Teaching your kids leadership through example is a powerful lesson. Devon Bandison, from “Fatherhood is Leadership” discusses several ways we can teach our kids lessons of leadership and confidence through example.

Larry and Shawn interview professional comedian, Justin Worsham. Justin shares why having a sense of humor is so important when it comes to our fatherhood journey. At times when we just want to snap and lose our cool in the heat of the moment. Justin shares great tips and insight of how our own sense of humor can save the day. This episode was truly remarkable!

Is your child a victim of being bullied? If so, this is an episode you will not want to miss. On October 16, 2006, Tina Meier’s life took a devastating turn when her 13 year old daughter, Megan Taylor Meier, took her own life after being cyberbullied. In December of 2007, Tina Meier founded the Megan Meier Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to promote awareness, education and positive change in response to the issues surrounding bullying, cyberbullying and suicide.

Having a strong known purpose is absolutely critical to our success as dads. Once we know what we stand for and why, our journey of fatherhood becomes extremely clear. In this episode, you will discover your own mission and your why to empower your dad journey.

Larry and Shawn interview Drew Manning from “Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit.” Drew went on a very unique journey for a year where he purposefully gained 70 pounds and got completely out of shape. He then took six months and got right back into peak shape. He shares his journey of how his sub optimal health had devastating effect on his confidence, relationships, and productivity.

Do you find it hard to stay positive when things are fighting you? Shawn and Larry share some personal experiences of how they lived with the wrong perspective and it was devastating.

Eating healthy can be expensive. Feeding an entire family healthy food can get outrageous. In this episode, Larry and Shawn share 10 simple ways to eat healthy without breaking the bank.

Larry and Shawn interview Ryan Hawk, founder of The Learning Leader. Ryan has quickly become a big name in the online self-development space. He has a full time job, he is a father of 5 daughters, and he successfully has launched a podcast called “The Learning Leader.” Ryan shares essential tips to ensure busy dads can achieve balance in their lives.

Larry and Shawn interview Brian McGraw and Jon Graf, financial advisors and show sponsors of the Good Dad Project. Saving for retirement can be stressful and daunting. However, it doesn’t have to be. Brian and Jon give great tips and strategies on how we can simplify saving for retirement and avoiding the common mistakes.

Larry and Shawn interview Ryan Michler, founder of the “Order of Man.” Ryan goes into detail about his background and surviving a negative childhood father figure. He also shares insights and techniques for positive parenting skills in the midst of being raised in a very negative environment.

Larry and Shawn interview Thomas Fiffer, chief Editor of the Good Men Project. Thomas Fiffer is an author, speaker, and a divorced Dad of two boys. Thomas gives several essential strategies to overcome parenting challenges for other divorced men. In particular: Overcoming common challenges of Divorced Dads How to model healthy relationship behavior to our kids How to Dismantle the stereotypical incompetent father stereotype

Nick Pavlidis takes us into the mind and house of a terrible husband.

Larry Hagner and Shawn Stevenson share 4 fundamental strategies to help Dads and kids improve sports performance anxiety and sports competition enjoyment.

In this episode, Shawn and Larry dive into 3 strategies about how to improve patience, especially our “dad patience.”

Larry Hagner and Shawn Stevenson interview Hal Elrod, one the world’s most popular and sought after success coaches. Hal goes in depth on being a good dad and how he uses “The Miracle Morning” strategies to be a more purposeful father.

Larry Hagner and Shawn Stevenson interview Armando Cruz about the R.I.C.H. (Respect, Inspired, Connected, Happy) Man experience and how to connect with your spouse.

Most men are extremely nervous about being a new dad. Larry Hagner and Shawn Stevenson talk about the top 3 concerns that most new dads share: money, potential changes in the marital/romantic relationship, and time with friends.

Larry Hagner and Shawn Stevenson get personal on this episode and share some of the things they struggle with most and how they have personally learned to overcome weakness.

Larry Hagner and Shawn Stevenson interview Jay Forte about how Dads can their Greatness Zone by leveraging the 3 A’s: Aware, Accountable, and Authentic.

Larry Hagner and Shawn Stevenson interview Dan Nessel, Director of Marketing for Perfect Supplements, to talk about the 5 best supplements for busy dads. In this episode: Larry, Shawn, and Dan share common supplemental needs for the everyday busy Dad. We all want to have more energy, more mental clarity, and an increase in sex drive. Dan shares some great insight as to why many men are affected by supplemental deficiencies in their diet and how Perfect Supplements can help.

Larry Hagner and Shawn Stevenson discuss the current staggering statistics of the amount of TV our kids watch on a weekly basis. Larry and Shawn share 5 key strategies to make quality time at home memorable, fun, and interactive without depending on TV. Listening to this episode will give you ideas that will immediately impact positive interaction with the entire family.