The Dad Edge: Fatherhood and Intentional Living with Larry Hagner

Larry Hagner's "Because" and Mission

• 💡 Larry Hagner's deep purpose, his "because," stems from a desire to break generational cycles of absent fatherhood and ensure his four sons have a different experience.
• 🎯 He is driven by the fear of meeting "the man he could have been" on his deathbed, aiming to live a purposeful and legendary life.
• 🧠 A pivotal moment involved accidentally hitting his 4-year-old son, which made him realize he was repeating negative patterns and committed him to lifelong learning in fatherhood.

Defining a "Great" Father

• 🔑 Larry identifies two key traits of good fathers: being lifelong students and having the ability to sidestep ego.
• 🌱 This involves a willingness to learn new things, even if it means looking imperfect, like learning guitar with his 18-year-old son.
• 👨‍👦 The relationship with adult children evolves, requiring a balance of being a dad first while fostering a growing friendship.

Intentional Living with the Brave Man Code

• 🛠️ To combat feeling overwhelmed, Larry advocates for intentional living through his "Brave Man Code" (Bond, Raise, Amplify, Vitality, Enjoy).
• 📅 Using the "General's Tent" method, he sets three SMART goals per week in each of these five categories, scheduling them into his calendar.
• ✨ A crucial element is prioritizing "Enjoy," recognizing that joy is essential to give to others, and scheduling activities like walks with friends or Bible study.

The Power of The Dad Edge Community

• 🤝 Inspired by Aaron Walker, Larry built The Dad Edge community to help men stop "white-knuckling" life's challenges and find authentic connection.
• 🚀 The community empowers men to grow in their marriages, parenting, and personal well-being by sharing experiences and supporting each other.
• 🌟 Larry believes this collective effort can change the trajectory of families by encouraging more men to engage in personal development.

Cherished "Dad Win"

• 🏆 Larry's most memorable "dad win" was training for a bodybuilding show with his 18-year-old son for 16 weeks.
• 💖 The true value wasn't the competition results, but the deep connection and conversations shared daily in the gym, creating a lasting memory.