The Dad Edge Podcast

Forging Strength in your darkest hour! I have gotten a ton of feedback from our last podcast on "How to Discover Daily Grit and Gratitude." From what I have heard, most people were surprised that my family went through such a life altering event by losing my son Gabriel. I have had a lot of emails, texts, and communication through the GDP community about how much the last episode effected them personally. What I am finding is that there is a vast majority of families out there who are afflicted with miscarriage or death of an infant. I have even had questions asking why I have opened my life up so much about what happened during that six weeks and how it ended. The bottom line is this…I shared it for several reasons. It's Healing When we go through something that is literally life altering it changes us forever. It's easy to fall into a mindset up anger. It's also very common that an event like what our family went through can easily tear the strongest families apart. When we share the events of our life to give strength to others, we heal. Simple as that. When we heal, we help heal others through our own struggles. Forging Strength of the Family Losing my son not only effected me, but it also effected my entire family. My wife and two older sons took the loss of our son very hard. To be honest, I underestimated how much it would effect my two oldest boys (Ethan 10 and Mason 8). I can tell you without a doubt a ten year-old and an eight-year old child feels the devastating effects of loss when something like this happens. However, here we are eighteen months later and I can tell you without a doubt our family is stronger now than it ever has been. Forging Strength through Gratitude My family learned firsthand the power of the right perspective even in our darkest hour. Our family literally went through six weeks of hell that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Knowing you are going to lose your son will rattle even the strongest man. However, I learned the power of having the right perspective in the midst of absolute uncertainty. I kept a daily gratitude journal during this six-week long process and I believe it literally saved me from insanity. Take 5 Minutes of Gratitude Every Morning Every morning during that six-week journey, I wrote down three things that I was grateful for every morning. I can tell you without a doubt, that most mornings it was very hard to see the positive aspects in my life. However, I can tell you without a doubt that there were several things in my life that were positive. It took a great deal of discipline to decide to focus on the right things in my life despite the chaos. I would write down things like: "I'm grateful I have a job." "I'm grateful my three boys and my wife all have their health." "I'm grateful we have a roof over our head." I will admit, on some days I stretched to find gratitude. However, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, it was the best thing I did every morning. My Hope for You I share this story and this daily routine of: Morning Gratitude – write down 3 things you are grateful for Your Power Statement – write down your statement that you will use when the fear wolf starts to whisper in your ear. Your Mission of the Day – what will you do today. Come hell or high water, what will you accomplish today? Evening Gratitude – write down 2-3 highlights through the day. Get back into the mindset of gratitude. The highlights are there every day if we decide to reflect on them. Eradicate Regret from your Life – What was the lowest point of your day? Write it down. Get it out there. Now, instead of focusing on how deeply you regret that low point, ask yourself "what is the lesson?" Resources: GRAB A COPY OF THE DAD'S EDGE HERE Check out our Dad Edge Group on Facebook Request Entry Here We have new Dad Edge T-Shirts! Grab one HERE 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 Thanks for checking out this week's Five Minute Thursday Episode on Forging Strength in our Darkest Hours.

Gratitude is the Secret Sauce to a fulfilled life and is the fuel that develops our grit. It takes Grit to Climb to the Top Some of us look at a mountain and immediately think, "Eh-there's no way I'm climbing that thing." Others of us will look at the mountain and think, "I'm climbing it. It's not going to be fun or easy, but I'm climbing it." To climb that mountain takes grit-the stuff that separates those who do from those who simply watch. Of course, having grit is not necessarily something we inherently have. Sometimes, we have to develop it. What do you do with Adversity? Shawn and Larry share their stories of how they developed grit. Both share the pivotal moments where they had a choice: give up or face the mountain. The essence of their stories is this-developing grit is a process, it's getting up every day and knowing there is a choice. This choice is to live with gratitude, even in the face of extreme adversity. Why Morning Gratitude is a MUST Easier said than done, but if we choose to wake up every morning and look at what lies ahead of us with a grateful heart, challenges will seem easier. Larry suggests making daily gratitude deliberate. In other words, one of the first things he suggests doing each morning is writing down what you are grateful for. (He even includes his kids in on the practice and they look forward to doing it!). What is your ONE MISSION OF THE DAY? With this in mind, he then suggests creating a daily mission statement. Think about it-when you know what you are going to do, you have a better chance of actually doing it. This mission statement doesn't have to be profound, it can be something as simple as, "Today I am going to read a book to my kids before bed." There. Done. And guess what? Mission accomplished. YOUR POWER STATEMENT! If you happen to see your day getting off track, your mission statement in jeopardy of being derailed, Larry says he uses his "power statement" to bring him back to home base. This "power statement" is the phrase that you utter to yourself when you feel fear keeping you from climbing up that proverbial mountain. It's the same thing the Navy Seals use when they face a challenge (for more on this, listen to Episode 28 with Mark Divine. Oh! And he's coming back!). Choose something simple like, "I've got this" or, really, whatever speaks to you. Eradicate Regret from Your Life with EASE Even when you have done all of this, there will be times when we won't be the best versions of ourselves. But, instead of allowing the regret to take over, embrace it. Yep, that's right, embrace regret (sounds oxymoronic, but stay with us here). Regret can be a great teacher; it can show us where we need to improve. So, when we embrace regret, we not only learn from what we did wrong, but we also know how to improve in future events. This way, you really are eliminating regret from your life by absorbing its lesson. Back to Gratitude Finally, when the day is done and you have a chance to reflect on all you have accomplished, look back at two of your most positive moments that day and one regret. Be grateful for each of them, but take a lesson from them as well. Once we learn to master our failures as well as our successes, climbing our many life mountains won't seem so impossible. Resources: GRAB A COPY OF THE DAD'S EDGE HERE Check out our Dad Edge Group on Facebook Request Entry Here We have new Dad Edge T-Shirts! Grab one HERE 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 Thank you for checking out our show on How to Discover Daily Grit and Gratitude.

Work Ethic: The Ultimate Lesson We had an awesome guest this past week on the Good Dad Project Podcast featuring Joe De Sena, founder of the Spartan Races and New York Times Bestselling author of "Spartan Up!" Shawn and I have been trying to find the perfect guest to come on the show and talk about work ethic. Joe not only talked about work ethic but also how to teach work ethic to our kids. Work Ethic and Purposeful Suffering Joe shared several ways he teaches work ethic to his own kids. Some parents listening to this week's show might cringe at some of the things he said as it relates to "purposeful suffering." However, I think his theme on this point was solid! Parents today can be so incredibly over protective that we shelter our kids from any type of growing pains. No parent likes to see their kids experience failure, loss, or even really hard work. However, what we don't realize is that we are robbing them of critical life lessons that teach work ethic and grit. If we don't allow our kids to go through any type of pain and suffering and we throw them a life line at every twist and turn, what are we teaching them? I think it's safe to say when we shield them too much from a lesson of grit and failure, we are doing them a disservice. Teaching Work Ethic Through Example It's been said time and time again that kids learn the best lessons from the example we teach. If we want to help our kids understand the value of hard work, we have to show it to them and teach them how to work hard. Desire and work ethic is one of the most difficult lessons we can instill. However, we have several opportunities to teach it. For example, the next time our kid wants something (a new bike, a new video game, an expensive toy, a car, etc.) we have the opportunity to show them how to work for it vs. give it to them. For example, my eight-year old loves football cards, baseball cards, and gum. Instead of just buying him whatever he wants, he has learned to work for things so he can buy them himself. He will sell candy, rice krispy treats, wash cars, or even help with yard work to make a few bucks so he can buy what he wants. It may sound tough to make him do certain things for simple things like games, baseball cards, and gum, but it's an excellent way to teach him these lessons now. Plus, I have noticed that when he buys something with his own money, he takes much better care of it. Talking Work Ethic on the MFCEO Project Podcast I was recently on the MFCEO Project Podcast with Andy Frisella and Vaughn Kohler (aka "The Pastor of Disaster). On that episode Andy and I talked about ways we can leverage our kids failures to teach work ethic and grit. For example, I can't stand that kids today get trophies and medals for participation. Awards are meant to be earned and not given. Don't get me wrong, we should always point out the effort our kids put out through communication and encouraging words. However, we should never give out trophies for just showing up. Awards, trophies, and medals keep kids hungry to keep striving and keep pushing themselves. If awards like this are just given for showing up, what's the point in trying your best? Asking Empowering Questions Teach Work Ethic and Grit When our kids fail, we have a great opportunity to ASK QUESTIONS and not lecture. For example, if your kid participates in a karate tournament and finishes last, it's a perfect opportunity to ask them questions to get them thinking about solutions to be better. You can ask your kid: What did you think of the tournament? If you had it to do over again, what would do different? If you could be better at something specifically with karate, what would be? Your kicks? Punches? Speed? What place would you like to finish in the next tournament? What do you think we should do to prepare for the next one so you feel confident? Questions like this get a kid (and adults) thinking about solutions. It also helps identify what needs work and what is needed to get better. Work Ethic and Grit come from knowing what we need to improve and putting in the time and effort to be better. Resources: GRAB A COPY OF THE DAD'S EDGE HERE Check out our Dad Edge Group on Facebook Request Entry Here We have new Dad Edge T-Shirts! Grab one HERE 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 Connect with Joe De Sena Joe De Sena Book Spartan Up! Joe De Sena Podcast Joe De Sena Website Spartan Races Thanks for che

Joe De Sena, founder and CEO of Spartan Race, bases his company on the foundation that we, as humans, cannot really reach our full potential until we have gone through struggle. It's what he calls "purposeful suffering". Coming from a childhood where he had to learn, on his own, how to make it, Joe De Sena firmly believes his success has come from this purposeful suffering philosophy. As we've seen many times before on the GDP, some of the greatest success stories have come out of a poor upbringing or incredibly challenging circumstances. But there are lessons to be learned from these situations. Joe De Sena on an "Attitude of Gratitude" We are the creator, not just the product of our environment. Teaching your kids that their circumstances do no define them empowers them to face obstacles they will certainly come across in their adult lives. Instead of being a victim of circumstance, help your child, and yourself, adopt an attitude of gratitude. While the situation may be difficult, find the growth opportunity. Joe De Sena on the value of "Delayed Gratification" Delayed gratification. Joe tells a great story of how his desire for greater things helped him turn down opportunities for instant gratification, and thankfully, his actions paid off. By showing our kids that putting off an immediate want for something greater, we are giving them the gift of patience and teaching them to plant the seeds for their future goals. Perseverance Enough said. The success stories on the GDP are not from overnight successes-those are few and very far between. The true successes, the ones that get to the marrow, are those that are had from great sacrifice and tenacity. When we teach kids that they can conquer obstacles they did not think they were capable of conquering, we provide opportunities to build their self-confidence and lay the foundation for them to reach their full potential. Of course, these lessons take time to teach, and we may need to learn them ourselves, first, but they are critical for survival in this world. Instead of handing our kids everything they desire and protecting them at every turn, give them something greater: the inner power to reach the best version of themselves. Resources: GRAB A COPY OF THE DAD'S EDGE HERE Check out our Dad Edge Group on Facebook Request Entry Here We have new Dad Edge T-Shirts! Grab one HERE 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 Connect with Joe De Sena Joe De Sena Book Spartan Up! Joe De Sena Podcast Joe De Sena Website Spartan Races Thanks for checking out this week's podcast on How to Teach Our Kids Work Ethic and Mental Toughness with Joe De Sena.

Anger Management Tip #1: Forget Perfection First and foremost, we need to forget about being the perfect father, because in all honesty, it doesn't exist. Being a dad is extremely rewarding, but it is also a tough business. As men, we take a lot of pride in providing for our families and sharpening our craft in the workforce. We are wired to hunt and problem solve. Being a father is a dynamic that constantly sharpened and we can be humbled at every turn. Keep in mind, perfection is a myth. If you want true happiness, focus on progress and not perfection. Anger Management Tip #2: Know your Triggers Being proactive in our mindset will set us up for ultimate success. Most of us men have the lowest amount of patience when we first wake up in the morning, come home from work, and right before bed. Why is that? In the morning, we are just trying to clear the cobwebs before taking on the day. Not taking time to wake up 15-30 minutes early (before the kids) is like going for a 3 mile sprint without a warmup. When we come home from work, we are usually exhausted, overloaded, and "hangry" (hungry and angry). Late at night we are usually pretty spent, exhausted, the kids can be fighting us in every way possible to go to bed. Solution for the morning Get up early, shower, pray (if you are spiritual), meditate (if that is your thing), listen to a podcast (if you are more of an audio person), etc…you get it. Do something for yourself to warm your mind and patience up. Solution for the ride home from work Grab a snack to get that blood sugar up and listen to something empowering (podcast, audiobook, your favorite workout music, etc). The point is get the blood sugar in check and your mind in the right place. Solution for late at night Keep in mind that your evenings are meant to make the best memories, so don't blow it. Set the evening up for success by doing something (other than watching TV) as a family. Also, spend time with each kid before bed (pray together, talk about the day, ask questions that bring our gratitude, etc.) This will honestly propel your evening and experience into a new orbit. Anger Management Tip #3: Calm through the Breath Even the greatest dads have bad moments. We all have been moment no matter how hard we try. We all have the knee jerk reaction when we blow up and explode. After we react like that there is a ton of guilt, shame, and defeat that follows. Want to know the secret to staying calm, cool, and collected? Here it is: you have to create some "mental space" between your knee jerk reaction and your response. Meaning, think before you act. We can all achieve this by doing the most natural thing that we do unconsciously…breathe. We can use the breath to calm ourselves. Three deep breaths is all you need in the heat of the moment to calm yourself just enough to respond versus react. Go check out our interview with Mark Divine on How to Create an Unbeatable Mind - Episode 28, for more information on breath control. Resources: Check out our Dad Edge Group on Facebook Request Entry Here We have new Dad Edge T-Shirts! Grab one HERE 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 Thanks for checking out this week's podcast on Optimal Anger Management for Dads.

Ah, Clark Griswold; the preeminent example of a father and husband with the best of intentions, but reaction challenged when it comes to dealing with life's hurdles and controlling his temper. Of course he wants the best for his family: from great vacations to Wally World to finding the biggest Christmas tree. Unfortunately, on his quest to be the "perfect father", he tends to respond in anger and frustration when things don't go the way he plans. Sound typical? Ok, so maybe Griswold is a bit extreme (or maybe not), but you have more than likely had a moment or two when frustration has gotten the best of you. Larry and Shawn provide 5 easy ways to keep your anger and frustration at bay. Your Temper and the "Perfect Father Myth" Before we go any further, let's dispel the "perfect father" myth; there is no perfect father, doesn't exist. We're human, have emotions and sometimes, those emotions get the better of us and that's okay. As Larry says, "great fathers have bad moments", it's what you do in those moments that build your character and provide a positive example for those around you, specifically your children. Controlling our Temper Means Knowing our Triggers So, what's a guy to do when it seems like the world is pushing all of your buttons? Know your triggers. Maybe it's repeating yourself to get your kids to pick up after themselves or you've just come home from a full day of work and you are barraged with requests to help with homework and the kids. Whatever your triggers, identify them so that you can do what you need to do to prepare yourself ahead of time and following these 5 ideas might just help diffuse your response: Temper Tip #1: Breathe Be able to take a breath. Not just that little hyperventilating breath, either. This breath needs to be a nice, long, drawn breath, enough to calm you and bring you back to a state of peace. It should allow you to reset yourself and prepare you to deal with the situation at hand in a rational manner. Temper Tip #2: Walk Away Walk away. In the heat of the moment, our adrenaline may make us want to stay in the situation and argue. But cooler heads do prevail, walking away when we feel our blood boiling will keep us from saying things we may later regret. Not only that, walking away gives us a chance to get perspective on the situation. Adrenaline only muddies the waters. Temper Tip #3: Stay Active Stay active. If there's one concept that is driven home on a regular basis on the GDP, it's the benefits of exercise and overall health. In the case of anger and frustration, physical activity can also help us to channel this aggression into something more positive. So, there's really a dual benefit: your anger remains at bay and you stay fit! Temper Tip #4: Surround Yourself with the RIGHT People Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Enough said. You need a sounding board that has been through similar experiences and can give you either advice or a simple listening ear. Temper Tip #5: When you do Lose your Cool, Apologize Finally, when you do lose your cool, apologize. Even if it goes against everything you feel like doing, an apology goes a long way in repairing a bridge that may be a little singed. Apologies disarm people and pave the way to build a relationship into a stronger force. Forget about Perfection Forget the "perfect father" myth. Let it remain just that: a myth. We are human, prone to the same emotions of all other humans; it's what we do with those emotions that make us who we truly are. Free Resources: Check out our Dad Edge Group on Facebook Request Entry Here We have new Dad Edge T-Shirts! Grab one HERE 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 Thanks for checking out this week's podcast on Five Ways to Control Our Temper as Dads.

Teach GRIT! The Good Dad Project Podcast with Frankie Edgar was a game changer for so many reasons. The coolest thing about the GDP and having a dad podcast is that no matter fame nor fortune, men jump at the chance to share their views, their journey, and even their struggles. For this week's five minute Thursday, I wanted to recap some highlights from the interview with Frankie. When under pressure, be calm, cool, and collected When the UFC Octagon cage doors close…anything can happen. The secret to a successful outcome in the octagon is being prepared for anything because anything can happen. Frankie shares that being calm, cool, and collected is absolutely necessary to be able to think rationally. Being calm, cool, and collected is a skill that transfers from the cage to the family. Through our journey of fatherhood, there will be situations that test us under pressure. When we respond calmly and avoid a knee-jerk panic reaction, it illustrates our emotional resiliency. How to teach GRIT Teaching grit is probably one the most difficult lessons to teach our kids. Our instinct is to protect them from anything that is difficult. Our society also puts such an emphasis on winning at all costs. Frankie mentioned that he loves leveraging sports to teach his kids grit. For example, he doesn't really care if his kids win or lose a wrestling match. What he wants to see if how hard they fight for the win. If there isn't a desire and a fire in the belly to win, that is a bigger problem. None of us can coach desire. Desire is either there or it's not. However, we can teach how to leverage our desire to win to tap into our grit. We can even leverage our losses to teach us lessons on how to win in the future. Finally, we can teach grit through losing and failure. A victory is even sweeter when we have to work at it extremely hard. Lessons of grit are learned through sports and as parents we can use situations like losses to teach these lessons. For Parents of Youth Sports: Take a Seat and Enjoy Frankie had some excellent advice for parents of youth sports and that's "take a seat and enjoy." Be the silent voice of love and support when it comes to sports. Its extremely difficult to not get emotionally wrapped up in our kids sports performance. I am speaking from a father who is a parent and a coach of my kids sports teams and I see it all the time. Parents can be extremely tough on their kids even when they think they are helping. I didn't really get this mentality until I read The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. If you really want to see your child love sports and if you want to see peak performance…take a seat, enjoy, and let the coaches do their jobs. Free Resources: Check out our Dad Edge Group on Facebook Request Entry Here We have new Dad Edge T-Shirts! Grab one HERE 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 Connect with Frankie Edgar: Frankie Edgar Website Frankie Edgar Twitter Frankie Edgar UFC Profile

Frankie Edgar comes on the Good Dad Project Podcast and shares amazing insight with our listeners on work ethic, family, and grit. This interview is EPIC on so many levels. About Frankie Edgar Frankie Edgar is a professional MMA fighter in the UFC. Frankie started his successful fighting career with a solid foundation of wrestling. Two-time State Place Winner for New Jersey, 2nd in HS Nationals in 2000, 4x Division 1 National Qualifier for Clarion University and College Freestyle All-American in 2004. He currently fights in the 155LB weight class in the UFC with 18 wins, 4 losses, and 1 Draw. Frankie has 3 kids – 2 boys and 1 girl. Frankie Edgar's Upbringing We are responsible for what we do, or for that fact, do not do. Frankie Edgar, UFC Champion fighter knows this very well. Growing up in New Jersey in a working class family, Frankie's father showed his kids a life template for how to get through the good and rough times in life. Through his sacrifices for his family, Frankie learned from his own father that even when life doesn't deal you a fair hand, it is up to the individual to do what is necessary to make the situation right. Extreme Ownership and Life Lessons of Wrestling Frankie took this mindset to the mat as a wrestler as well. Frankie says the sport is different from other sports in that when you lose a match, the blame falls solely on your shoulders. There's no one else to point the finger at. You either pinned your opponent or you didn't. And so it goes in life: those who are successful are willing to take the blame for their mistakes and also know how to take a lesson from those mistakes. Life Lessons Learned from the Cage In the cage, Frankie says, even when he is faced with mind-wrecking punches, he has to remain "cool, calm and collected and make rational decisions." Demonstrating this in the ring and in his life, he is able to set the example for his children that even in the most trying conditions, a calm mindset will help to fully understand the situation and make the best decision. Take a Seat and Enjoy Even when it comes to his own children, and those he coaches, he says he "take a seat and enjoy." He gives the same advice to parents of athletes. Instead of forcing your own desires on your kids, give them a choice so they feel empowered and know that they can make the decisions that impact their lives. (This seems to be a pervasive theme among all elite athletes we've spoken with). Frankie Edgar on Teaching Grit Overall, Frankie Edgar wants to make sure his kids learn to have grit, be good people and have a sense of culture. When it comes to his kids, Frankie says, he goes with his gut. Free Resources: Check out our Dad Edge Group on Facebook Request Entry Here We have new Dad Edge T-Shirts! Grab one HERE 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 Connect with Frankie Edgar: Frankie Edgar Website Frankie Edgar Twitter Frankie Edgar UFC Profile Thanks for checking out this week's Good Dad Project Podcast Episode featuring Frankie Edgar. Other Shows Mentioned in this Episode Good Dad Project with Carlos Condit on Grit and Gratitude Good Dad Project with Jake Herbert on the Gold Medal Mindset Good Dad Project with Charlie Brenneman on Driven for Excellence Good Dad Project with Jim Miller on Living a Life without Regret

Hey guys for this week's "Five Minute Thursday" I wanted to highlight a few takeaways from our interview with Jason Mackenzie, founder of the The Book of Open. Empowerment through Vulnerability For most men, we associate vulnerability with weakness. To be honest, even hearing the word "vulnerable" my first thought is "unwanted exposure to weakness." However, vulnerability is a strength. Vulnerability is empowerment through authenticity, which is being true to one's self. I have been working with men/fathers for the past three years, and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that if men are going to be "vulnerable" with each other, it has to be in an atmosphere or situation where it "cool thing." I can tell you from experience that men will check out when you start talking about sensitive stuff like "let's share our feelings." Men simply don't respond to that when in the presence of another man. In fact, it's even hard for us to do this with our wives for the most part. However, men are good at one thing…problem solving. We love to problem solve. We feel empowered when we share our wisdom and give advice. To be honest, being vulnerable is sharing a struggle or an obstacle and simply asking for input. The way to kick start a "cool atmosphere" of vulnerability is to ask for advice from a friend. Here's an example that will really hit this home…If you are sitting across that table with a friend and he says: "Hey Mike, I am struggling in my marriage and I need to share my feelings with you about it." OR "Hey Mike…man…so check this out, Jen and I are having some tough times lately. There is a ton of tension between Jen and me. I can't really figure out how to get things back in the groove. Have you and Becky been through this? If so, how can you help me out man?" Which one of those sounds better and would be received better? It's the same dilemma and situation…just teed up better. Abundance versus Scarcity Jason hit upon a great topic that is powerful for all of us and that is having the right mentality. Our brains are wired up to default to fear and keep us from danger. This part of our brain is the amygdala and it has been a part of our hardwired DNA since the beginning. This is the part of our brain where we hear the voice of fear and consequences. It's the same part of your brain that will talk you out of risks and tells you are not good enough. It's not our fault; it's just part of our hardwiring. It takes a trained and disciplined mind to look at our lives with abundance vs. scarcity. Successful people don't think about what they are going to lose by taking a calculated risk. Successful people consider what they will lose if they don't take a calculated risk and move forward. So, the next time that fear voice starts to bend your ear, remember the words of wisdom from Jason Mackenzie on this subject. It's all about perspective and reframing. No One Relates to Perfection I grew up in the 80's and I was a die-hard WWF professional wrestling fan. Hulk Hogan, Rick Flair, Jimmy Superfly, and so-on were my heroes. The most hated guys in that sport at that time was "Mr. Perfect and Mr. Wonderful." Want to know why? It's because no one can relate to inflated egos and perfection. People relate to real-life authenticity and transparency. Our greatest human need is the need for community and relationships. It's impossible for us to relate to others that view themselves as superhuman or "perfect." The big lesson here is there is connection and empowerment through being authentic, vulnerable, and transparent. People relate to us better in that mindset and we are more willing to accept ourselves. Guys, thanks for checking out this week's "Five Minute Thursday." See you next week and have an awesome weekend!

The life that Jason Mackenzie had longed for was ripped out from underneath him when the mother of his daughters was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After years of trying to hide the pain of watching his wife literally fall apart before him, Jason had to face the reality that his dream life was gone. His wife committed suicide and left him to raise their two daughters on his own. To deal with the pain of his wife’s condition, Jason turned to drinking.

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