Ep 36: A CEO Dad On Emotional Intelligence And Letting Go

A CEO and father of two opens up about why raising kids became his real education in emotional intelligence. Topher Stephenson had his children while in medical school and residency, and looks back on how becoming a dad reshaped how he sees himself and everyone around him. Key takeaways: Emotional intelligence starts with realizing you're not the center of the universeKids reveal how far your own emotional maturity has (or hasn't) comeEmpathy means letting someone else's experience be real without needing to agree with itBoarding school and letting go are their own kind of parenting lessonThe skills that make you a better father also make you a better leaderTopher also shares the one piece of advice he wishes someone had given him as a brand new dadIf you enjoyed The Dad Manual, leave us a rating on your podcast app! If you loved it, share this episode with a Dad! Send your questions to dadmanualpodcast@gmail.com. Connect with Tony Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonycooper/00:00 Cold open00:29 Meet Topher Stephenson01:24 Larkin and Finn, his two kids03:34 Having kids in med school05:13 What fatherhood taught him07:15 Reparenting yourself as a dad09:21 Defining emotional intelligence13:10 Growing up in a stoic household16:02 The LifeSpring retreat story20:44 Empathy and holding two views23:43 Why fatherhood shifts your focus26:04 Nature vs nurture in his kids28:28 Boarding school as a family choice33:23 The bittersweet of kids leaving home36:16 From dad to CEO39:57 Advice for a brand new father43:01 Being a father, the best role