The Dad Edge Podcast

Michael Daino is a husband, father, and member of the Dad Edge Alliance community. Since his Alliance journey started, Michael has been implementing the strategies he has learned to enhance his connection with his wife and children. After college, Michael's dad gave him an engraved quote that would change his perspective in life. The quote states, "The biggest barrier to success is the fear of failure." This quote has helped Michael by allowing him to become comfortable with fear and rising above it to become successful. Today, we are going to be talking about how fear can hinder us from becoming successful in life. No matter who you are or how seasoned you are in life, fear is always present. However, what we choose to do with that fear is what sets us apart from others To become successful in life, we must choose the path of courage, feel the fear, and keep going despite it. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/friday18/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Nir Eyal is a husband, father, former professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the International Best-Seller of two books: Hooked and Indistractable. Nir worked in the video gaming and advertising industries, where he used manipulative techniques to keep users distracted from their values. Now, he writes to help companies use positive behavioral techniques to form healthy habits that contribute to one's traction toward their values. Today, we are going to be talking about what makes a habit-forming technology. Furthermore, we will be talking about the difference between a habit versus addiction and traction versus distraction. When an activity aligns with our values, it is known as traction. When an activity takes us away from our values, it is known as distraction. In this podcast, Nir goes over the four-step process to become indistractable. Step 1 focuses on mastering our internal triggers. Step 2 focuses on making time for traction. Step 3 focuses on hacking back external triggers. Lastly, Step 4 focuses on making precommitments to prevent distractions from happening. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/336/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Dakota Meyer is a former US Marine and the father of two daughters. He is one of the youngest living Marines to have received the Medal of Honor since 1973. Meyer received this honor due to his actions during the Battle of Ganjigal. Meyer is an entrepreneur and is the founder of Own the Dash and Flipside Canvas. Own the Dash is a training program and Flipside Canvas is an Inspirational and Patriotic Canvas Company. Today, we are going to be talking about being intentional with your choices. As you can see from Dakota's life, every moment is precious. It's not about the dates on our tombstone that matter, it's about all the moments in between. When Dakota made a life-altering decision, he decided to stop playing the victim and start taking action. Since that dark moment, he has shared his story and inspired millions of people. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/335-2/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Nelson Tressler is a motivational speaker, author of The Unlucky Sperm Club, and founder and CEO of IGOTSMARTER: Goals Elevated. Tressler was the first person in his family to graduate college, joined the US Airforce, became the top worldwide producer for the top commercial real estate company, and started over 10 businesses. The goal of IGOTSMARTER is to change the world, one person and one goal at a time. The company implements strategies Nelson learned throughout his grueling childhood experience. He uses goal-setting and personal development techniques to transform the lives of struggling people. Nelson's experience with adversity has allowed him to rise above his circumstances and make a name for himself. His grandmother's belief in him fueled his ambition and he never backed down, despite what everyone thought of him. Tressler stresses the importance of not letting what someone else thinks of you determine your future. You are in charge of who you become, not who other people think you'll become. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/friday16/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Dr. Zach Bush is a triple board-certified Physician with an expertise in internal medicine, endocrinology, metabolism, hopsice, and palliative care. The breakthrough science that Dr. Bush and his colleagues have delivered offer profound new insights into human health and longevity. His education efforts provide a grass-roots foundation from which we can launch change in our legislative decisions, ultimately upshifting consumer behavior to bring about radical change in the mega-industries of Big Pharma, Big Farming, and Western Medicine at large. Dr. Zach Bush's mission is to apply the rigor science, the strength of humanity, and the intelligence of nature to transform our health and our world. He explains the body's close relationship to the Earth and how we can unlock the intrinsic ability to heal. He also talks about why need to get rid of our to-do lists, allow space to happen, and change our identities as men and providers. Dr. Zach Bush is going to go over the innate wisdom our kids possess. When we are broken as fathers, we are the most fertile for change. Fathers need to stop seeing themselves as just providers and fixers. Finally, Dr. Bush will cover why the phrase, "I'm proud of you," can be extremely destructive. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/334/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Kalid Yeung is a Mastermind member, business owner, husband, and father of three children. Kalid grew up in a happy-go-lucky household which projected into his later years. Kalid recalls fond memories of his parents and how wonderful his childhood was. Since Kalid joined the Mastermind group, he's gained valuable skills, improved his relationships, and strengthened his outlook on life. Today, we are going to be talking about what accountability is and why it is the path to success. Accountability can sound a lot like budget or diet. We sometimes see the word accountability as a joyful process. However, we also tend to think of it as a chore. If you want to take action in your life, accountability is key. According to the American Society of Training and Development, if you have an idea or goal, you are 10% likely to complete the goal. If you consciously decide you're going to reach the goal by yourself, you are 25% likely to reach the goal. If you decide when you're going to reach the goal, you are 40% likely to reach the goal. If you make a plan to reach the goal, you're 50% likely to reach the goal. When you commit to someone that you will reach the goal, it raises your chance of success to 65%. If you have a specific accountability appointment and weekly cadence, you are 95% likely to reach your goal! For example, I've done the 75 Hard successfully four times. I've also failed the 75 Hard four times. The four times I succeeded, I had an accountability partner with whom I checked in almost daily. The four times I failed, I did it alone. This is a prime example of why accountability is the key to success. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/friday15/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Todd Herman is a high-performance coach and is the best-selling author of the book The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life. Over the past 20 years, Todd has worked with celebrities and professional athletes, of whom the majority of his clients are kept secret. In his book, Todd teaches us how alter egos work, how we create them in different aspects of our lives, and how to activate them to help us become the most effective businessmen, the most intentional husbands, and the most patient and present fathers. Alter egos help us find the real version of what we are capable of. This is due to the fact that you no longer care about people judging you for who you are. One thing Todd mentions is that there's only one person keeping you from your full potential and that's YOU. According to Todd, the way to bypass fear, doubt, and limiting beliefs is through creating heroic alter egos. Todd's biggest aspect of coaching is mental toughness. He tells us the true definition of mental toughness which is, "Mental toughness is your ability to be flexible and adaptable despite what your circumstances are giving you right now." For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/333-2/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Troy Mangum is a husband, father, and author of the book Fatherhood Faceplants. Troy uses his life experiences to write applicable tactics for men to pick themselves back up again after failing. Something that Troy really emphasizes is that men don't always have to get everything right. They may be crushing it in their early years, but as time goes on, it's perfectly normal to be wrong at times. Fatherhood Faceplants emphasizes this idea of imperfection and teaches us how to recover versus always striving for perfection. Fatherhood Faceplants is a story of redemption and restoration. The book shows us that nothing is impossible with God. Fatherhood Faceplants highlights several topics such as overcoming dad guilt, how to live free, and how to love your kids by loving your wife first. Furthermore, it is important to equip your children for spiritual warfare, especially in today's times. In order to become a better father, you should prioritize your family's success over your personal success and pass on personal victories as your children's inheritance. You can lead your family into their greatest days; you just need to know how. Fathers pass down who they are more than what they know. Today's podcast touches on the subject of: Fearful dads raise anxious kids; bold dads raise bold kids. You may not be a superdad yet but don't be discouraged. There's always hope. Whatever you're going through, it'll end pretty quickly if you put in the work. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/friday14/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Gary John Bishop is one of the leading Personal Development coaches in the world. He is an Urban Philosopher and a NYT Best-Selling Author of the books Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life, Stop Doing That Sh*t, and Wise as Fu*k: Simple Truths to Guide You Through the Sh*tstorms of Life. Gary is famously known for his direct, no BS method of speaking and coaching. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Gary uses his childhood lessons and events in his life to teach others how to analyze themselves and get real about what they really want in life. Gary is also a public speaker and commands audiences with his authentic, transformational lessons. Today, Gary is going to be talking to us about the self-limiting beliefs we have about ourselves, how we can deal with our own BS, and how we can interact with ourselves at a higher level. Finally, Gary is going to be revealing to us why searching for your purpose is flawed. Our purpose is right in front of us, we don't have to go find it. Gary tells us that people "search" for their purpose when they really need to get real with themselves about what they want out of life. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/332/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Brian Bisher is a member of the Dad Edge Alliance and is the owner of his own health and wellness company. Brian brings us some interesting perspectives on your mental and physical well-being. Another topic Brian shares with us is how we can not only be physically present in our kids' lives but also emotionally present. Being emotionally present with your kids provides them with a deep emotional connection to you. Kids associate love with time spent, not money spent. Deep emotional connection creates an environment of psychological safety for our children. As fathers, we can provide not only physical protection and safety but also provide a space where our children can tell us anything. Your kids want to feel as though they are heard and important. When they hear these affirmations, it fuels their mental state and well-being. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/friday13/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

"My father was a big part of my life because he showed up." Emily McCarthy is a former case officer for the CIA, and the cofounder of GoRuck, a brand with Special Forces roots that leads backpacking events all over the world. Emily lost her father when she was just getting out of college and it was a devastating blow. However, the foundation he laid will echo for generations to come. Emily's dad gamified safety and defense so she would always be ready to protect herself and others. She also talks about how her father showed up in her life in many ways and made her into the incredible, mentally tough, resilient, empathetic woman she is today. Emily's story is proof of the ripple effect that a father leaves on a child's life, even if that time is cut short. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/331-2/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Larry Hagner shares with us the humble beginnings of the Dad Edge. He opens up his heart and shares a story that inspired him to create the Dad Edge. Before Larry statrted the Dad Edge, he was a leader in his workplace. However, his marriage and relationship with his kids were failing. One night in 2012, Larry had a moment that would change the course of his life forever. Larry spanked his four year old son out of anger and hit him so hard that he fell on the ground. He went to help him up and his son looked at him as if he were a monster. From that moment on, Larry knew he had to make a change or his relationships would suffer for the rest of his life. As a faith-based man, Larry had a moment of divine intervention. He sat down in front of the computer and the words "Good Dad Project" came out onto a Facebook page. From that moment on, Good Dad Project/The Dad Edge was born. Larry made a committment to learn something new every day that would help him become the husband and father he was meant to be. If you want to have more patience in your life, you have to surrender to the fact that you are always going to have stress in your life. Whether it's professional, mental, physical, or emotional, stress is always going to be present. However, that doesn't mean that we can't manage it with a little patience. Patience does not start in the moment of chaos; patience starts from the moment your feet hit the ground in the morning. Patience and emotional resiliency do not come naturally. There are skills needed to learn patience. Patience is tied to emotional resiliency and mental toughness, which are learned through consistent practice and a dedication to becoming a better person. The other thing Larry talks to us about today is failure. In Larry's sales job that he had before the Dad Edge, he was nominated to become the sales manager. However, he lacked the necessary skills to be a leader in the workforce. After he was humiliated in an interview because he didn't know any of the leadership questions, he went out to learn those skills. What Larry learned from this event was that there is no failure, only learning. He learned the necessary leadership skills he needed for that job, went back a year later, nailed the interview, and got the job. If he had defaulted to failure and let it consume his thoughts, he wouldn't have gotten the job. He took that failure, learned from it, and came back harder than ever. The moral of the story is to never let failure define you. You can take a failure in life and turn it around to be a lesson that you learn from. If you give up, you take away any chance you have of improving yourself and turning the situation around. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://thedadedge.com/friday12/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Dr. Meg Meeker is best known for Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters and has spent more than 30 years practicing Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine where she counsels teens and parents. She is the National Best-Selling Author of Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, 10 Habits of Happy Mothers, and Boys Should Be Boys. Dr. Meg is a popular speaker on Pediatric Health Issues for Children and Children/Parent Relationships. She is a frequent guest on National Syndicated Radio and Television Programs. She also works with the NFL (National Fatherhood Initiative). A famous quote that Dr. Meg stresses thoroughly is, "You are already wired with everything you need to be a good dad." Most of us constantly second-guess our skills and abilities. When we live isolated and we constantly question ourselves and we have that negative self-talk chatter that's constantly in the background of our minds and our hearts, it's really difficult to believe that statement. All we focus on is the things we are messing up, the things we are doing wrong and that can be so defeating. Today, Dr. Meeker is going to be going over why fatherlessness is the biggest problem in our country. Your presence as a man and father has an enormous impact on your household. She also says why we should get the big stuff right and why it's important to bring our kids into the world, such as bringing them to work. Dr. Meg shares a story of how her father used to bring her to work when she was a kid. Dr. Meg will also share how to be a good dad after a hard day. She will explain why expecting yourself to be 100% engaged as soon as you walk in the house after a really long day is unrealistic and how you can overcome this in a matter of minutes. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/330-2/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Alex Wang has been practicing Real Estate in Silicon Valley Bay for the past 17 years, embracing his role as a Real Estate Evangelist. He strives to move the industry towards a model of a small and mighty business with a strong fidelity to clients while combining focus negotiation, innovative tech, and reliable Real Estate practices. Alex has been ranked by the Wall Street Journal as one of the Top 100 Real Estate Agents in the country. He and his wife Lily have been married for the past 16 years and have three kids. Alex is also a part of the Dad Edge Business Accelerator Mastermind. Today's podcast is centered around giving yourself advice from a future you's perspective. For example, what advice would you give yourself before you got married, got your first job, or had your first kid? Another piece of advice to take away from today's podcast is, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Alex gives us very sound advice on why working together will bring you much more success and meaningful relationships than working alone. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/friday11/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Russell Dickerson is a multi-platinum, Nashville-based, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has established himself as a prolific songwriter and a powerhouse showman through memorable, high-energy performances in songcraft with spiked spirit. His gold-certified, full-length debut album, "Yours," was number 5 on the Top Country Albums chart and number 1 on the Emerging Artist chart. Ultimately, it yielded 3 consecutive number 1 smashes and was christened as one of the hottest wedding songs of the year by The Knot. Nominations piled in from the Academy of Country Music Awards, CMT Music Awards, and iHeart Radio Music Awards. In his 2020 highlights, Russell received an ACM nod in the category of Best New Male Artist of the Year. He has electrified audiences on tour with Thomas Rhett, Florida-Georgia Line, Darius Rucker, Lady A, and Kane Brown. In addition to headlining sold-out venues every year, Russell sustained a huge following on social media. He finally refers to his followers as the "RD Fam." To give fans more insight into his life, Russell recently launched a new YouTube channel called, "This is Russ." In 2020, he released his second full-length album, "The Southern Symphony," a long-awaited masterful compilation led by the platinum-certified number 1 single "Love You Like I Used To." This song spent a record-breaking 21 weeks on Billboard Country's Top 10. Russell is a very humble, faith-based man. He claims that he's just an everyday guy, a regular dude, and a rad dad. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/329/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Sarrah Rose is the founder of Tantric Activation which is a company that advocates pleasure as a way of life and a path to awakening. Sarrah is the daughter of an Evangelical pastor and grew up in a very religious family in Pheonix, Arizona. Growing up, sex was an unspoken topic that had a bad connotation around it. Although she prayed to Jesus every day and asked him to forgive her of her sins, she never felt worthy enough. She associated love with rejection, which made her feel worthless. However, Sarrah knew that she needed to know more. Over the duration of 19 years and over $100,000 spent on learning about tantra and sexual awakening, Sarrah realized that unconditional love for oneself is the key to achieving a pleasurable life. All this learning led her to where she's at now: making the experience of tantra available to all women and giving them the pleasure-filled lives they crave. Making love to life is the mantra that Sarrah teaches in her coaching. She helps thousands of women discover their true potential in not only love-making but also in life as well. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/friday10/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

In 2008, Mark Herzlich, was one of the best college linebackers in the country, an All-American, and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. After his junior year, at the very top of his game, Mark was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. He was told by his doctors that he had as low as a 10% chance of survival and that his playing days were over, that he might not ever run again. He was just 2116 months after Mark was diagnosed, he was back on the field playing for Boston College and in another 16 months he had won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants. Mark played in 11 games, starting two at linebacker for the 2011 Super Bowl Team. Mark went on to play 7 seasons for the New York Giants and retired in 2018. In May 2015, Mark married his college sweetheart Danielle, who is a retired Captain in the United States Army, New Jersey National Guard. Danielle, who was a victim of physical, mental and emotional abuse as a child, and Mark have made it their mission to end relationship violence. The couple are national board members, fundraisers, and constant volunteers for The Joyful Heart Foundation, which works to create a world free of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. They are also national board members for A Call to Men, which works to create a world where all men and boys are loving and respectful, and where all women and girls are valued and safe. Mark and Danielle have spoken all over the country to schools, Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams and college teams, educating them on healthy relationships and healthy manhood. In 2015, Mark also published his memoir titled, "What it Takes: Fighting for My Life and My Love of the Game". Mark currently works for ESPN as a college football analyst and is the founder and host of "The Superhero Dad Podcast." The podcast works to inspire men to put their capes on when they walk in their front doors, not just when they walk out of them. Mark has two children and lives in New England with his family. Mark's life journey was a rough one, but he consistently talks about how his father was there for him through it all. As fathers, we can learn from this and try to create a realm of psychological safety for our children. They look up to us and open up to us. If we don't make them feel safe, they will learn to hide their problems and seek help elsewhere. Being a present father in our children's lives is something that we should never take for granted. Take Mark for example. If his father hadn't been there to say, "Let's do this," he might have taken the wrong path that would have ended his career. The fact that his father was there throughout the entire journey and finally said, "We did it" shows the commitment Mark's father demonstrated throughout his son's life. Take the time today to allow your children to come to you with any and everything. It's such a gift to have your child feel safe enough to come and talk to you. It builds a bond and trust that you don't find anywhere else in life. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/328-2/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Larry Hagner is bringing us a personal account of a conversation he had with his 13-year-old son about cutting the grass. When his son questioned him on it, Larry responded in a way that he wished he hadn't. After apologizing to his son, he realized that it wasn't the fact of mowing the grass; it was that he didn't explain to his son why he wanted him to mow the grass. Having a stubborn child can be both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because your child has a gift; they challenge the status quo and stick up for what they believe in. On the other hand, their stubbornness is also a curse because they are willing to argue with you if they don't understand something. In the case with Larry's son, he mowed the grass because his dad asked him to, but with a poor attitude because he didn't understand why he had to mow the backyard too. Once Larry explained to him why he wanted the backyard mowed, his whole demeanor changed. He then understood that there actually was a purpose to mowing the grass. A strong-willed child means they have a gift. They are not willing to budge on their beliefs because they hold true to their values. As fathers, we are leaders in our household. If we teach our strong-willed children that if you challenge the status quo, be respectful about it. If they aren't respectful, it's our job to course-correct that behavior, so it's not ill-received. Challenging the status quo is how people change the world. Yes men don't change the world because they are too afraid to say no. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/friday9/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

EJ Snyder EJ Snyder is a husband, father, retired US Army combat veteran, actor, and survivalist. He has appeared on the show Naked and Afraid and Naked and Afraid XL. He was also a host on the TV show Dual Survival during its 9th season. EJ is married to his wife Amy, and they have two children, Tyler and Kassidy. EJ's claim to fame can be seen through his extraordinary survival, tracking, trapping, navigation, self-reliance, and self-defense skills. He is known as The Skullcrusher, an extreme survivalist, and adventurer who has been teaching survival skills to soldiers and civilians for over 20 years. After serving in the military for 25 years, EJ knew he wanted to be in entertainment and inspire people to develop a survivalist mindset. Mindset is crucial to the element of survival. EJ is considered a master of mindset, and he talks about how you never quit just because it's hard or because you're in pain. You work around it, you force yourself to overcome obstacles, and finish the race. EJ's mantra is live every day like it's your last, and I think we can all benefit from this as fathers, husbands, and men. We have to take every chance we have in life to be the best husband, father, and man that we can be. It may be difficult at times, but with the right mindset, we have the power to live epic, legendary lives. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/327-2/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

The word "why" should be eradicated from our vocabulary for several reasons. First, every time we use the word "why," we instantly put the person we are talking to on the defense. We don't necessarily mean to. It sometimes occurs because we are curious why the other person thinks that way, or why someone did something. The reason we hate hearing the word "why" stems from our childhood. When we were younger, we heard a lot of, "What are you doing? Why are you doing that?," if you were doing something you weren't supposed to. The problem with this is that we probably didn't know it was wrong, and we were immediately thrust into defensive mode. This made us cringe at the word "why" because we associate it with something bad, even though it doesn't always mean that. For example, you might have an employee that does something really well, and you want to know why they did that. However, when you ask your employee why they did that, it immediately puts them into a defensive state. Instead of asking them "why," ask them to tell you about it. They will be much more open to explaining why they did what they did, without being defensive about it. Another example could be a person asking you why you gave your child their name. They might not be asking in a bad way, but it makes us feel like we named them something wrong. The person might actually be thinking that they're name is really cool and wants to know the meaning behind it. However, we don't see it this way when they say the word "why." Providing an environment of psychological safety is the number one way to get someone to open up to you. Instead of feeling defensive about something, they will feel invited to communicate why it happened or what they did. For example, if your child gets a bad grade on a test, our immediate response is "why." This propels them into becoming defensive and coming up with excuses why they got a bad grade. Instead of asking them why, try saying, "tell me about that." This opens the door for communication and lets your child feel comfortable telling you what went wrong. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/friday7/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Jason Harris is a CEO, co-founder, best-selling author, and father of 2 boys. He is the CEO and founder of the company Mekanism, and co-founder of the Creative Alliance. He is also the best-selling author of the book titled The Soulful Art of Persuasion. We see persuasion in our lives every single day. Persuasion is not about facts and argument, it's about your personal character. What persuades people is the person doing the persuading, not the facts themselves. The soulful element of persuasion makes you more inspirational and more persuasive as a person. Another thing we're going to touch on today is how to develop the habits you were not born with, and how you can perfect the ones that you were born with. There are a couple principles in life that we should strive to live by, according to Jason. Number one is "be yourself, everyone else is already taken." This is when you tap into whom you really are and figure out your passions and interests in life. Being yourself is the building block of persuasion, and to pass this notion onto your kids. The second principle is generosity. The whole purpose of this principle is to make that person better off than when you found them. Generosity goes a long way in the art of persuasion, because it shows people that you care. If you show someone that you care, you can easily persuade them. However, the goal is simply to be generous, not always to persuade. If we apply these principles to our lives, we'll find it a lot easier to influence and inspire people. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/326/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Barton Scott is a Chemical Engineer, Nutritionist, and founder of UpgradedFormulas.com. Barton is passionate about helping people combat the stressors of daily life, the toxicity of the modern world, the utter lack of nutrients, and the mineral absorption issues that we all face, and he has made it his mission to reduce suffering by increasing the public's understanding of the human body's interrelationships. Scott started his business, Upgraded Formulas, when he began to have short-term memory loss and brain fogginess. Scott, a Chemical Engineer, had a very sharp mind and was always on top of his game. However, when he started to experience brain fog, he knew something was up. It was after years of reading and research that Barton realized he was deficient in minerals. After performing multiple tests, he discovered a test that actually delivered meaningful results. Barton knew all the supplements he would have to take in order to remedy his problem. However, Barton knew that mineral supplements had trouble dissolving into the body. The purpose of Upgraded Formulas was to upgrade the mineral formulas, so they could better absorb into the body and produce astronomical results. Using his background in Chemical Engineering and nutrition, Barton created mineral supplements that actually worked. The website provides an at-home hair test that you send in to the company, so they can test what minerals you are deficient in, and recommend a product for you. Barton's research and knowledge is astounding and enlightening in our world today. We are so consumed with food, but we don't realize that most of the foods we eat, don't contain the minerals we need for health. Barton's mission is to educate people to understand the purpose of how the food we eat affects our health, and what we can do to fix it. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/friday6/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Carlos Reyes is a husband, father, serial entrepreneur, and owner of 31 businesses. He came to this country illegally as a young boy and watched his mother struggle to take care of him and his 2 siblings. Carlos eventually gained citizenship and quit his corporate job in 2015 after 14 years. Reyes found his passion in real estate and pursued the dream of becoming the owner of a real estate investment company. Carlos' mantra in life is being more intentional with your time in order to get the most out of life. There is an extreme importance in being intentional with your time, family, and moving with a purpose. You can't just say your main priorities are your family, yet you don't intentionally carve out time to spend with them. Children spell love like T-I-M-E. All children want is our time, and they feel the most loved when we give them it. They don't care about how much money we make, or what we buy them. They just want our undivided attention in order to feel important. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/become-more-intentional/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Dan Doromal is a husband, father, and CEO of several businesses. Dan graduated with an Engineering degree; however, his main focus is on creating new businesses and marketing. Dan is a mastermind member of Dad Edge Alliance and shares some of his experiences in this podcast. He is the founder of Everest Ice and Water systems, which created a patent for a one moving part ice vending machine system. Dan has been married to his wife for 10 years, and they have a daughter and a son. Dan stresses the importance of becoming the CEO of your own life, whether it's in your business, your marriage, your children, or even with yourself. It's important to prioritize the things that are important to you when you're trying to live legendary. In this podcast, Dan recalls the lessons he's learned throughout his marriage, the lessons he's learned from his children, and the lessons he's learned through creating several successful businesses. He gives advice to men that are behind him, and how they can best implement the CEO strategy into their lives. He also talks about what he would like to be celebrating at the end of the year, and all that he's accomplished. Dan also talks about how it's important to get on your child's level and see the world through their eyes. It can sometimes change your entire perspective on life. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/become-ceo-of-your-life/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Kevin Gilliland is a husband, father, and author, and licensed clinical psychologist. He is the executive director of Innovation 360, an out-patient counseling service that helps individuals and couples struggling with mental health, relationship issues, and substance abuse. Kevin is the author of Struggle Well. Live Well. - 60 Ways to Navigate Life's Good, Bad, and In-Between. This book is told through the eyes of Kevin and his approach to going through life. The topics in the book range from simple things such as work-life balance, to heavier topics such as mental illness and addiction. Kevin's podcast Struggle Well. Live Well. Worry Less. helps people overcome anxiety, worry, mental health, and how we can treat the things that lead to a worry free life. There is a certain psychology that comes with marriage. Marriage is one of the most rewarding and unique relationships that we will ever have. It's hard to be aware of things we're focused on when we're in it. Sometimes, we are blinded by emotional resentment; we need the other person to give us input on how we perform best and what we need to do to work on things. The great thing about our spouses is that they can act as a mental coach in our lives. They see the things that we can't see because we are unaware of what's happening. They also can give us the potential to unlock our best selves when they give us their outside perspective. This doesn't mean that you need to be their coach or vice versa; this means that you can give them constructive reinforcement for things they can work on or things they are good at in order for them to better themselves. This is important to remember because we don't want to damage the connection we have with our spouses. We want to elevate them, not mentor them. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/psychology-behin…ge-relationships/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Matt Wells is a husband, father, Business Technology Specialist, and creator of the video series Basic Dad Stuff. Matt Wells is currently enrolled in the Mastermind program at the Dad Edge, and is applying those principles to his life today with his video series Basic Dad Stuff. He coined the term from the creator of Basic Dude Stuff, and turned the series into short clips that talk about basic things that dads deal with every day. Through his humor and wit, Matt paints a picture of how fatherhood is meant to be humorous and fun, not a chore. Matt claims his two passions are being a father and helping other men be present and devoted dads. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/intentional-present-father-husband/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Dan Purcell is a husband, father of 6 children, and an entrepreneur. He is the founder of Get Your Marriage On! and CEO of Virgo Dev. Purcell has always been an entrepreneur at heart, and is motivated by creating products people love and creating a positive effect in their lives. Purcell and his wife founded Get Your Marriage On! because they both found a passion in helping couples discover their true potential as spouses. Through this passion, came an app called Intimately Us which helps people discover what makes a passionate marriage really passionate. As married couples, we sometimes fall into this ceiling of intimacy or the "peak" of intimacy in our marriages. We think that this is it in terms of connecting with one another on an intimate level. We're scared to take the next step and ask one another pivotal questions to improve upon our intimacy because we don't want to fall down a few levels. Relationships are always a choice. Once you make your choice, you jump in with both feet. You can't keep the back door open because you're never fully committed to the person you're with. Once you figure out that you're with the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, the back door closes forever. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/level-up-your-marriage/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Eric Franco is a Dad Edge Alliance mastermind member, husband, father, and author of the children's book Introvert Ninja. In the book, he talks about a four-step process consisting of the steps: Honor, Energy, Action, Retrospect (HEAR). The Honor step is about honor who you are as a person, and realizing that it's okay to be an introvert. The Energy step is all about how you spend your energy and how you re-fuel it. The Action step is about the things you need to go do with your energy. Lastly, the Retrospective step is about looking back on what worked and what didn't when you took that action in engaging in a conversation with someone. An example of this would look like a kid who goes to school, sees other kids connecting, and feels upset because they can't do that. They feel like they're less than them, and that there's something wrong with them. However, what these kids don't realize is that they have their own strengths, they just need to learn how to tap into them. The book then goes on to talk about how you first honor your strengths, then find the energy to be able to use those strengths, take action on this energy, and then reassess how it went and what they can do differently. Our lives are full of energy; how we spread it around is our choice. Since 2020, there has been a huge shift in how we spend our time. Before the pandemic, some of us used to focus more on our businesses than we did our families. However, post-pandemic, there's been a shift in mindset where we have begun creating a balance between our work and our families. Creating a business can be something that's really special and makes you come alive. This isn't for the faint of heart; it's time-consuming work that has to be put in, day in and day out. It's even harder when you have to balance a marriage and kids on top of that. It can be done; however, it takes some very intentional goal setting and time-management in order to balance all three. You want to create a legendary marriage and legacy for your children. You also want to create a psychological place of safety where your kids will come and talk to you about anything. We're trying to create trust and memories, all while trying to take care of ourselves. What You'll Learn: [3:13] Eric talks about how walking has brought him joy over the past year. He states that he listens to an audiobook or podcast to wind down, and takes this time to reflect. [6:25] Eric talks about the visions he gets when his thoughts transition from work to family. [11:20] Eric talks about the four-step process in his book about raising introverted kids. [15:00] Eric talks about the feelings he felt growing up introverted and the feelings that parents raising introverts feel. [18:05] Eric talks about the process of dealing with being an introvert. [20:00] Eric talks about the kind of advice he would give him self back when he was unmarried and about to walk down the aisle. [23:05] Eric states how he makes his wife feel seen and heard. He does this by keeping a journal of all the things he's grateful for about her. [27:02] Eric talks about digging deep to find the gratitude to write in his journals. [30:10] Eric talks about the problem with the words "more" and "better" when we try to be intentional in our marriages and relationships with our kids. [31:37] Eric talks about what he's grateful for that's happened during his Mastermind course. He mentions that he is most grateful for the consistency that he's displayed throughout an 8-week period. It's the small steps that compound to great success. [33:38] Eric talks about what his family would be celebrating by the end of the year. [35:49] Eric talks about what life lessons his kids will have learned from him in order for Eric to step into the mentorship role and let his kids take the wheel. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/optimizing-your-life/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Ben Newman is an author, public speaker, and financial advisor coach. He is famous for being the Mental Conditioning Coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide Football Team. Ben helps sales and sports teams around the world and specializes in mental toughness. He helps people build a stronger commitment to their purpose and process by educating them on building mental toughness. Taking ownership when you're wrong is the first step to maturity. It allows you to look past your pride and admit that you messed up and that you want to make it right. Taking ownership also means figuring out what you want to do in or with your life and OWNING it. Finding strength in adversity comes from within. It happens when you're at the end of your rope, when you feel the most hopeless. You have a choice to make. Do you want to give up, or do you want to find your inner strength and push forward? Lastly, taking action. Taking action occurs when you least WANT to. It happens when you're tired, and you don't feel like doing anything, or you can't find the motivation. After taking action, you begin to feel better and wonder what the big fuss was all about. This is the first step to CHANGE. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/finding-your-inner-strength/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Scott Holman is a husband, father, business owner, and founder of the program Stop Clowning Around. Scott's day job is the Director of Sales for national accounts for a very large security company. Scott's organization, Stop Clowning Around, is about developing human beings into a level of mastery. He has also recently taken on two properties that he has flipped for financial investment. Scott's number one asset that he pushes is learning how to view things from someone else's perspective. Perspective drives everything in life, especially our interactions. Everyone has a different set of lenses they see the world through, and we can't change that. You will be much better as a person and as a business leader if you learn to look at things from someone else's perspective. Another thing that Scott practices regularly with his wife and children is communication. Communication is key to healthy marriage, along with being each other's best friend. Communication and time are the key to raising your children to be strong men and women. Being there for your wife and kids, and not telling them how to do things or "fix it" for them is the driving factor in successful relationships. Asking someone a series of questions that will lead them down the path of discovery is much better than fixing the problem for them. Most people don't need us to tell them that we're doing something wrong, they need us to walk the path with them and allow themselves to vocalize it, so they can take the action step at the end. This means, being intentional and allowing yourself to sit and listen, when you'd rather take control of the situation. As men, we are the leaders and masters of 3 areas - ourselves, our families, and our businesses. In order to live legendary, we have to understand that life is always about the journey of mastery. It isn't about the destination of mastery, and never having to learn. We are constantly learning along the journey, and that's how we become legendary! For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/living-your-most-authentic-self/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Vernon Fox III is a retired football player, husband, father, coach, consultant, and international public speaker. Fox played for the San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, and Denver Broncos. He was awarded MVP for Special Teams He was raised in a strong Christian household where his father was physically and emotionally present in his life. Vernon speaks fondly of his father as a positive role model; he was a faithful and stable figure in Fox's life. When it comes to success, it's really about your mindset that makes you successful, not your skill set. If you have a strong mentality to persevere through hard times, you'll be ten times more successful than the person with just a strong skill set. Mindset requires training and practice, it doesn't just happen overnight. Excuses are justifications for losers; it's you trying to find an escape route. A reason is something that's outside your control. Most people will try to find a way to turn their excuse into a reason, and you can't live life that way. If you own up to what you can control, and you understand what you cannot control, you can separate it from the beginning. When you do this, you end up not living by the excuses. Perseverance is not something you are born with. It's something you learn and adapt to. You have to decide within yourself that you aren't going to quit, no matter what life throws at you. You're going to pick yourself and try again tomorrow. This is how you become successful no matter what your skills are and no matter where you come from. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/mindset-success/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

David Anderson is a husband, father, owner and creative director of Chimaeric Motion Pictures. He has been doing videos since high school, but has professionally been making videos since 2007. He started working for Chimaeric Motion Pictures in 2007, and eventually took over ownership in 2014. "Intelligence is knowing what to do when you don't know what to do." In life, we are sometimes faced with problems and challenges, and we aren't sure what to do. Being prepared is the ultimate tool for overcoming this unknown and making the right decisions. Knowing what you can and can't control allows you to navigate a situation in ways you wouldn't have if you weren't prepared. There are times in our marriages and parenthood where we have to learn things the hard way. Two lessons that can be learned from these relationships are - communication and vulnerability are critical. We try to portray a certain aura of who we are as a human being to the world. In doing that, you tend to put up barriers for how you actually feel, and you don't commit to being vulnerable and 100% honest in the relationship. You shouldn't wear masks in front of them; you should be totally and completely who you are. You have to go through hardships in order to fully appreciate and understand those lessons. It's one thing to read about something, or talk about something, than it is to actually experience it. When you experience it, that's when you actually learn it. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/friday-1/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage

Greg McKeown is a husband, father, author, public speaker, and leadership and business strategist. He is the author of the books Essentialism and Effortless and the CEO of McKeown Inc. McKeown is a renowned LinkedIn Author for the Harvard Business Review and his writings have appeared in the New York Times, The Huffington Post, Fast Company, Fortune, and Politico. Greg's main purpose is to help people and teams discover what drives success and what doesn't. McKeown thrives off of challenging conventional wisdom and focuses on what you really need in order to be successful. Mistake-free living is not something we should be interested in, either for us or our children. Honesty, humility, and leadership are the key elements that allow us to come back from our mistakes and better ourselves so that we can strengthen our relationships. Our children learn from our actions, so if we make mistakes and recover quickly from them, they learn how to do the same. Greg is a huge proponent of gratitude. He talks about following a complaining statement with a statement of gratitude; this can make a vast difference in mindset. Mindset is the key to going from a chore, to a habit, to a ritual. These three things are how we can achieve a state of effortlessness in our lives. For the show notes and exclusive links mentioned in this episode go to https://gooddadproject.com/effortless/ ———— Join the Free Dad Edge Facebook Group at gooddadproject.com/group. Apply for The Dad Edge Alliance at gooddadproject.com/alliance. Watch this interview on YouTube gooddadproject.com/youtube. Follow us on Instagram at @thedadedge! FREE RESOURCE – 21 Days to an Extraordinary Marriage